Love
May 2025
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Articles
Loving Others
Loving Difficult People
God's Amazing Love
by Joyce V.
God's Amazing Love
Loving Difficult People
God's Amazing Love
by Leah Childers
Loving Difficult People
Loving Difficult People
Loving Difficult People
by Robin Vickers
A Christian's Love for Others
A Christian’s Love for Others
by Joyce V.
How does a Christian love someone else?? Great question and it has no one set answer I believe.
I believe the first thing must be that the love of God has been instilled in each of our hearts. If you don’t have God’s love in your heart, you cannot give His love through yourself to someone else. However, when you do have that love in your heart, you distribute it to others in many and various way.
When one reaches out to others it is His love flowing through us as willing vessels. It is given with a grateful heart and it meets others in their need. The things that one does for others depends on their God given talents and abilities.
Some of the ways we give love is through a few of the ways I have listed below, but it is not an exhaustive list:
- Making a phone call or a text
- Making a meal/part of one for a sick or needy family or for a church dinner that has suffered a family loss
- Sending a card to a person who might be sick, in the hospital, or just because you thought of them
- Driving someone to a place they need to go and can’t do it themselves
- Visiting friends in the nursing homes, hospitals, or in their homes
- Sharing with people of how God has impacted your life
- Meeting and greeting people wherever we happen to be
- Praying, praying and praying-which I believe is the most important.
A few years ago a group that I had the privilege of leading, began to text others in the group with prayers. It is one thing to say I will pray for you, but with the texting prayers, they, the receiver, knows that we prayed. I have seen this bless so many in the years since we started sending texting prayers.
In summary, there are so many ways for a Christian to love others, but there is no one way to love. God has way too many servants to just do it in one way. Let God show you how He wants you to love others.
Just love others!
God's Amazing Love
God's Amazing Love
by Leah Childers
I was a mess. I really was.
After decades of living, I can look back in complete honesty and say that this is true.
My sister and I were blessed. There were just us, the two sisters, with two wonderful parents who loved us very much. Our father passed away over 30 years ago when he was in his 60s, however, God allowed our mother to live 95 years. A few weeks before my mother passed, although her memory was failing, she knew who we were and she expressed how much she loved us and how proud she was of us.
Why am I sharing this background?
When I explain God's love to others, the best way that I can describe it and understand it for myself is by likening it to a Mother's love.
On my worst day or my best day, I knew that my mother would be there. If I messed up, I'd be chastised BECAUSE I was loved and if my day was wonderful there could not possibly be a better cheerleader.
What does the Bible tell us about God's love?
Even while we were sinners, God loved us. Romans 5:8
He SHOWED His love to us by sending Jesus to die for us so we are able to have eternal life. John 3:16,17
Nothing can stop Him from loving us. Romans 8:38,39
Wow! There is no greater love than this.
When I chose to believe all that the Bible said about God and I decided to ask Jesus into my heart and to follow Him, my life changed so much. Yes, even me, as the flawed person that I describe as a mess, I KNOW that I'm truly loved by God.
As God's child, I can tell you, God gives the best gifts.
He promises to never leave us or forsake us.
He hears our prayers.
MOST importantly, God has arranged for us to have eternal life with Him.
Before I conclude, I want you to know that God loves you very much.
You can have peace as you go through life because the God of creation can be your Father and will hear your prayers. He'll be with you and you can have eternal life.
Have you accepted His gift of salvation?
If not, it's easy.
Like me, admit that you're also a sinner who needs a Savior. Romans 3:23
Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and He rose from the dead. John 3:16
Choose to obey and follow Jesus. Ask Him to be your Savior. John 1:12
Pray something like this:
Dear Jesus, I am so sorry for my sins. Please forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I choose to put my life in your hands and follow you. Thank you for making me your child. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
If you've chosen to become a Child of God, this is the best decision that you could ever make. To grow in your new life, find a good Bible teaching church, read your Bible and get baptized.
Congratulations to you.
I hope that when you think of God, the Creator of the universe, that you also think about the fact that you are now and always have been completely loved by Him.
Dealing with Difficult People
Dealing with Difficult People
by Robin Vickers
We all deal with difficult people. Seeking God’s guidance is crucial to avoid being trapped in bondage to their hurtful actions. These interactions can influence our thoughts, responses, and actions, leading to anger, bitterness, or hatred if left unchecked, and playing the same broken record… why does this person treat me this way? Why can’t they just be kind?
Finding Freedom through Prayer and God’s Presence
When dealing with someone who continually hurts us, the first step is to pray. Stop, drop to your knees, and pray so you can put out the fire of bitterness, anger, offense, and hurt that’s burning in your heart. Surrender completely to Him and walk in His guidance. When we walk with God, we learn to let go and forgive, just as He has forgiven us. It’s way deeper than them; it’s about our relationship with God. We need to look past the person and see the enemy’s tactics to stir up anger, offense, and pride. Otherwise, we believe we have a right to hold a grudge and that’s the most dangerous place we can be because that is not who God has called us to be and it does not bring Him glory.
Love is an Action Word
If you’re struggling to forgive, reflect on God’s love for you. As my Nana reminds me, “Love is an action word and we have to love people with an agape love.” God demonstrated His love by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). He commands us to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34). Lean on God’s strength and guidance as you seek to forgive and love others (Ephesians 4:32).
Prayer and Trust
Pray for the person who has offended you, trusting that God will fix the hard parts and guide you. May you find peace and healing as you seek to forgive and love others as Christ loves you.
Moving Forward with Faith
Give this situation to God and make obedience, love, joy, and let the fullness of God be your response. Lean not to your own understanding when dealing with difficult people. Let love be your objective and really mean it and really show it as much as you can because you want to please God. It’s not about you, or the offensive behavior of another person – it’s about Christ. Sometimes it’s healthy and wise to create boundaries with people who are so difficult that they can cause a lot of grief in your life, but create boundaries with the expectation that God can break barriers at any moment. You can create boundaries without carrying bitterness in your heart. You can create boundaries and still show the love of Christ and not mistreat another person because then you run the risk of holding on to unforgiveness and pride. Ask God to break down those walls and surrender to Him in everything. Live with the expectation that the difficult person will more than likely continue to be difficult, but that doesn’t give you the right to change course – you are a child of God. Cast your anxiety upon the Lord, remove bitterness, and ask God to take every thought captive. Let your light shine and rejoice in the Lord always. You have a purpose and special calling on this earth; focus on that and be joyful. Everyone won’t be in your corner, but when they need you, you’ll be in theirs.
Prayer for Breakthrough and Joy
Lord, we love You and thank You for Your goodness, grace, and mercy. We repent for any unforgiveness and pray that You help us love others as You have called us to. Help us heal from wounds caused by difficult people. Surrender every situation to You, especially the hard things. Break every chain and remove any bondage or anger in Your mighty name of Jesus. Smile, knowing that God is in control and working everything out for your good.
Now let’s cut off the broken record, break free, and worship the Lord. We got this because God has us.
Daily Reading
Daily Reading
MAY
05/01 Romans 8:38, 39
05/02 Romans 5:8
05/03 I John 4:10- 12
05/04 Ephesians 5:I/ 2
05/05 Romans 12:10
05/06 Galatians 5:14
05/07 Mark 12:30/ 3 1
05/08 I John 4:19- 21
05/09 I Corinthians 16:14
05/10 I John 5:I- 3
05/11 St/ John 14:15
05/12 I Corinthians 13:I- 7
05/13 Romans 13:10
05/14 Matthew 5:43- 45
05/15 St/ John 13:34, 35
05/16 I Corinthians 13:13
05/17 Jeremiah 3 1:3
05/18 I John 3:17-19
05/19 Deuteronomy 7:9
05/20 Ephesians 4:I, 2
05/21 Luke 6:27, 28
05/22 I Thessalonians 3:12
05/23 Romans 8:28
05/24 I Peter 3:8, 9
05/25 2 Timothy I:7
05/26 St/ John 15:9- 12
05/27 Matthew 6:24
05/28 St/ John 14:21
05/29 2 Timothy 2:22
05/30 I John 4:7
05/31 I Corinthians 2:9