Compassion/Love – My Beloved is Mine

Walls of Pride

mybelovedismine — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 07:36:00 +0000

Pride prevents intimacy and love. You can’t get pass through a wall if it is not broken. We must seek brokenness of heart, without which we cannot know love or feel loved.

Walls not only prevent love coming in, they prevent it going out.

You cannot feel loved unless you are willing for your sin to be exposed.

“that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Presumptions and Vulnerability

mybelovedismine — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 20:37:00 +0000

We want people to be vulnerable with us, for vulnerability brings intimacy and safety. Though we long for this vulnerability, sometimes we actively discourage intimacy through our presumptions. Before a person has had the opportunity to open up to us, we have already decided some “facts” about the person or situation and as they are opening up to us we quickly come to conclusions before fully understanding. We create in our minds a persona about this person that doesn’t exist and filter their words and actions through this persona. Someone could be pouring out their heart and being vulnerable, but we miss it, because it doesn’t fit our persona of the person.

And so sometimes when we get upset because a person is not being honest and vulnerable with us, the issue is that we don’t believe they exist. We filter out what doesn’t fit our “persona”. We forget that it is difficult to talk with someone if we don’t believe they exist.

And sometimes, we are unwilling to give up our “personas” because it means we would have to be vulnerable ourselves, even if it just means something as simple as admitting we were wrong in our presumptions.

It is important to realize that we all do this. Because of the fall, we are creatures of misinterpretation. Understanding that we are misinterpreters is part of learning to get to know people. When we realize we do this often, we don’t hold on to those “personas” very tightly, and we are willing to have your “personas” destroyed. In fact, we expect to have false ideas about people and begin actively listening to others in order to destroy our false perspectives about them in a search to truly get to know who they are.

Assuming the worst

mybelovedismine — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:41:00 +0000

It is better to assume the best in people and later find out that you were wrong, then it is to assume the worst in people and later find out that you were wrong. A lot of miscommunication occurs because we assume the worst, instead of pursuing the truth about the person.

Forgiving the small

mybelovedismine — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:07:00 +0000

Among other men, sin is so small of a thing, and yet we our slow to give grace, when we are wronged. But before God our sin is insurmountable, and yet Christ was willing to die for our sins against Him, and He cries out, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.

The poor are with us

mybelovedismine — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Definition of the Poor
Don’t think of the poor as just those who have little. In the scripture the idea of the poor can be extend to the orphan, the widow, the sojourner, the broken and destitute, someone taken advantage of, the low paid worker, etc. Basically it involves social justice. So as you read this don’t just think of the person who is in financial straits, but think deeper to those in need of the gifts God has placed in the church, people God has placed in your life who need you to intervene on their behalf and whom you need to be a part of your life.

God has ordained that there would be the poor

Questions:
Why do you think there are poor in this world?
Can we get rid of poverty?
What does the fact that there are poor in this world mean?

Reading:

“For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You will freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’”
–Deuteronomy 15:11

God is about to take his people, Israel, into the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land and a nation that was supposed to represent God’s Kingdom breaking through on earth, and they are told something startling and seemingly out of place, “the poor will never cease to be in the land.” Why in this nation that is called the Promised Land, and is supposed to represent the best of all nations, are they told there would always be poor in their land? This promise is given with no condition on whether or not they followed the Lord or not. It was to be. God in His providence and mercy ordained that in this great nation there would be poor. The scripture show that God has an intimate concern for the poor. So what is God doing here? Why is this so? Let’s explore this. . . .

Scripture reading:

Read these verses and discuss what they mean to you and in regards to ministering to the poor.

Matthew 26:11
For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Matthew 25:41-46
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Questions:
Do you believe that God has ordained that there will always be the needy and the poor in the land?
What do you think God is doing here, when He tells Israel that “the poor will never cease to be in the land”?

False Motives

mybelovedismine — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:50:00 +0000

Some people will neglect doing good, because what prompted that good was a false motive. I have learned to thank God for using the false motive to remind me to do good. I will do the good and ask him to work on my heart so that my motivations are good as well.

You see, it is not about me or my motives, I am saved by grace. And it is grace because my motives will never be right. If you are obsessed by being perfect, you’re trying to save yourself, it is a self-righteousness, and no gospel. The Gospel has faith in the work of Christ, not one’s own works. We make much of Christ, not ourselves. It is about the Gospel and glorifying Christ.

I fight vigilantly against false motives, and I do plead fervently with God for pure motives, they are sweet, but my hope is not in them.

Training for one of the most important careers

mybelovedismine — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:22:00 +0000

Our society tends put an emphasis education and on training for a job, but little emphasis is placed on training our children for the most important career they will have – being a husband/wife, father/mother and keeping a home. These skills take a lifetime to learn and require purposeful and intentional training and growth. We are foolish if we take them lightly or wait till, we are in those situations to learn. Thankfully God’s grace is there for us all and God is a good trainer and shepherd, and if our hearts our willing to pursue these things He will be there.

Is our love for God “erotic”?

mybelovedismine — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:45:00 +0000

In our love for God, I believe it is easy to have an “eros” (or erotic) kind of love. Being caught up in the experience and awe, we are full of excitement and our desire for this experience becomes lustful and dangerous. The experience overshadows God.

It is so easy to be constantly seeking the “emotional high”, the “movement of God”, “the power”, instead of understanding the true greatness of who God is and trusting His character. We become in love with and addicted to some experience and not God, Himself. Just as one is more interested in the physical experience than the person.

But there is a deeper love, an “agape” love, that is interested only in God and not some idolized version of what we want or an “experience” we desire to have. We take Him for who He is and trust Him for who He says He is. It is coming to know (in the biblical sense) God, in a deep and full way. You don’t need a “movement” of God or have to see some “power”, or even to feel anything, because His character thoroughly satisfies you.

In the Bible, love is not a noun, the focus is not what we feel or an experience, but what we do. You can seek an experience, or you can seek God.

Husbands love your wife well

mybelovedismine — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:16:00 +0000

The Bible compares the love and admiration and romance of marriage to the bond that that Christ and the Church have. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.”

Husbands, learn to love your wife well. What does the scripture say, “We love, because He first loved us.” Husbands, love your wife as Christ loved you and enabled you to love Him. Lay down your life for her, love her with the word, be gentle washing her as something that is cherished, a precious jewel, bringing out her beauty.

Husbands, it is for us to love and to love first and to love well. May God help us to do so.

Love is worth fighting for

mybelovedismine — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:33:00 +0000

The last few weeks, God has been really impressing on me this verse. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” This Sunday, my pastor talked about a man who was in a fox hole in the middle of a battle trembling, afraid, frozen with fear, and unable to get up and fight. Later, after the battle, a sergeant talked with him, and he told him that those who are able to fight are able to do so because they already know that they are dead.

Love is not something that is experienced and lived in the comfortable Christian-ease lifestyle. Love is something that is lived in the reality of the battles of life. Love is a theology that must be learned in the trenches, in the mud, and in the mire of life.

We often try to protect our hearts. We stay trembling in the fox hole, afraid because running out into the battlefield makes our hearts vulnerable and puts us at risk of dying. We stay in our comfortable Christian-ease environment seeking “safe and holy” relationships. We believe . . .A Christian’s heart shouldn’t be broken or hurt or devastated or unprotected. Relationships shouldn’t be messy. . . But then Christ comes and shocks us. He doesn’t live a life of protecting His heart. He comes to love by dying.

He tells us to forgive those who have sinned against us. He tells us to turn the other cheek when we are wronged. He tells us to serve more when we are taken advantage of. He tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. He tells us to love as He has loved us. You see, you cannot love until you are dead.

The scripture tells us to protect our hearts from seduction and evil, but it never tells us to protect our hearts from righteousness and godly love. When it comes to godly love we are commanded to die.

How good and pleasant . . .

mybelovedismine — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Psalm 133: A Song of Ascents. Of David.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.

I think if we want what is good and pleasant, if we want the blessing. We must press in to love each other, even in difficult circumstances. Even in the most broken of circumstances. Even when we have wronged each other. Even when we are afraid. Healing is not found in running from hard situations but running toward each other in love. A good and pleasant life is found when we choose to love and live together and walk through hardships together.

I think it is hard sometimes because our hearts are involved. When we pursue love our hearts become vulnerable. And it’s scary because we don’t know if we can hold up. Here is the thing, we are not any good at protecting our hearts. It doesn’t work. But when we pursue and run after God abandoning our hearts to Him, and we pursue to love others in His strength, He upholds us and becomes our refuge and strength. He is also our healer and our rescuer.

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Trying to figure out my mess, my broken heart, my sin

mybelovedismine — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:46:00 +0000

When I struggle or my heart is broken or I’ve failed or I don’t feel anything at all, I find myself wanting to figure it all out. I rush to and fro trying to understand the situation, my heart, how to get better. I don’t sleep at night and don’t get things done in the day, because my mind is trying to wrap around the events and feelings. I am wanting to understand who I am and why.

As God’s love washes over me, I am learning that I don’t have to figure it all out. I don’t have to run to and fro. There is only one place I need to run. And that is into the arms of Jesus. When I come to Him, He doesn’t always give me the answers I was searching for or I thought I needed or make it so that I have it all figured out. Instead of listening to us and fixing it, He loves us. . . He holds me in His arms and gives me Himself. I don’t think the deep longings of our heart is to have everything fixed, I think the deep longing of our hearts are by a man who has given everything for us. It is a person, not an understanding, that meets our needs.

God cares for us. He says that He knows our needs. And we can trust Him. We are more valuable than lilies and sparrows.

“. . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

A godly husband, who can find?

mybelovedismine — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:43:00 +0000

To my sister,

What are you looking for in a husband? My beloved sister, stop and hear this counsel from a godly mother. These words were written to her son, but this advice is also for the heart of a woman as she contemplates on what to look for in a husband. She teaches her son, “Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy Kings.” (Proverbs 31) In seeking a husband, there are many things that via for our attraction in the opposite sex, whether it is physical, emotional, social, or financial, but the counsel of the scriptures is to not give your heart to these superficial things. My sister, it is my desire that you protect your heart and your way from being led astray by these things that can so easily destroy and ravage your heart. “Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.”

Come close and listen, to the wisdom and counsel of a godly mother, as she speaks to her son in love. She advises her son to find a godly woman in whom he can trust. “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.” Beloved sister, find a man you can trust, who will lead you and your family in the Lord. Find a man you know your heart is safe with. This is surpasses all and will strengthen your heart as a woman. Find a man who will cherish you, a man who seeks your good, in the Lord, even when it hurts. He is not afraid to make a stand on what is good.

I just watched a movie I received during Christmas. And there was a scene where the daughter was talking with her mother about romance. and her godly mother told her, “Do not despise meager beginnings.” My sister, many of us men are still learning what it means to lead. We definitely are not perfect. But if you find a man who is devoted to the Lord and devoted to honoring you and loving you and leading his family, the Lord will give him the strength to be good husband. If his foundation is firmly planted in the Lord and scripture, then the house will stand. I have found that that the Lord enables what He commands and will be there close, walking beside a man like this. And that is why you can give your heart to him, because God is near. Find a man attractive because God is near him.

My sister, you should not have to question the integrity of man’s heart. A godly man will labor to be a man you can trust in his actions and words. His character will be one that does not shy away from accountability, but instead welcomes it. He is a man who is proven. And he does not seek his own gain but seeks to lead under the headship of Christ. This is a man, who understands that he does not uphold himself or has anything to boast in but boasts in and depends only in Christ. His heart is the Lord’s, first and only.

Here is another quote from the movie I just saw; the mother says, “Just remember, that God has written His own story for you. And it is not the feelings of your heart that it should be based upon, but rather the thoughts of your heart that you need to hear, . . . that tells you that this man will care for you no matter what, that he is someone who will kiss you when you are old and gray, tend to you when you are sick, honor you. . .. a man like that is as rare as a diamond in the rough.”

Beloved sister don’t go for the guy with a lot flair or for the vain things that pull at your heart and attractions, go for the man who has a strong foundation, a man whom you can trust.

In love,
Your brother

Christianity is not exclusive

mybelovedismine — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:37:00 +0000

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’”

“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.’ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Some have said that Christianity is exclusive. I don’t believe this. . .

Christ asked for another way. Jesus asked God, “if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me”. Christ was in agony as he prayed, so much so that He sweated blood. If there was another way, he wanted it. And if it were possible, it would have been done, for Christ’s prayer would have been answered, by a Father who loved his Son. Christ went to the cross and experienced God’s wrath because it was the only way to bring about our salvation. There was no other option. Our salvation was bought at a great price. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God loved us and did what it took to save us by paying a high price, the only price, He gave His Son, so that whoever believes in Christ should not perish but have eternal life.

Yes, Christianity does say that only those who are in Christ will be saved and those outside of Christ will experience everlasting torment. But this is not exclusive. The calling is not exclusive, it is for everyone who comes. What should be said is that it is the only way and the greatest way for the salvation of mankind. and instead of being exclusive, it is God making a way for anyone and everyone who believes in Christ. His arms are open wide and He calls out, “Come”. And anyone who hears His voice and does come is accepted.

Husband love your wife

mybelovedismine — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:09:00 +0000

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30because we are members of His body.” – Ephesians 5:25-30

The scriptures paint a beautiful picture of the passion and the enduring and enveloping love of a husband for his wife. It is interesting that the scriptures never command the wife to love her husband. The husband, however, is commanded to love his wife in the most intense and serving way. He is to lay down his life for her. Husbands, when the scripture commands us to love our wives it uses the word “agape”, the very sacrificial love that represents Christ’s love for His church. The scripture describes our wives as “cherished”, “delight of your eyes”, “beloved”, “praised”, “more precious than jewels”, and “favor of the LORD”. Our love for our wives is to be a picture of Christ’s love for the church. Husbands, this is a love that has at its primary goal the good and protection of your wife. It is a love that sacrificially guards her under the word of God. Not in harshness but in the gentle and romantic strength of washing her with the word. A Husband must seek to serve his wife, nourishing and cherishing her, loving his wife as his own body. This is not a typical love, it is more. It is romantic, yet strong; passionate, yet deep and healthy. So husbands let us romance our wives in the amazing love Christ. Husbands, cultivate this love for your wife. And men, we must not wait till we are married for us to cultivate this kind of love, whether you are single or married, we must cultivate a heart of love. We must cultivate a love that not only lays our life down for our wife, but also for others, as we represent Christ’s love as men.