If They Are Enemies, Why Would I Love Them?

You know, of everything Jesus taught, loving your enemies is one of the hardest. It sounds all well and good, but the truth is, we'd rather talk about our enemies behind their backs than actually be kind to them.

Luke 6:27-31 (New Living Translation)

27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you."

It's not easy. Loving people never is. But it's also one of the most important things you can do. When someone who you just can't stand shows up, ask God for the ability to love them, no matter how hard it is. Then you will be experiencing something supernatural.


- g-ram

Just Be There

Do you ever wish you could do something to help someone who's hurting? Well, you can.

Romans 12:14-16 (New Living Translation)

14 Pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

Just be there. Pray


- g-ram

Imitators

Listen to the crazy advice that God gave to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (New Living Translation)

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Okay, "imitate God"? Actually try to be like God? Is Paul crazy? Well, fortunately, he gives us a few pointers. We're not supposed to copy God's power or identity, we're supposed to imitate His love--offering ourselves to anyone who needs us.


- g-ram

Flu Linked To Evil

Some things are better than others. Like, how Christmas season is better than flu season. And, these verses have another example.

Psalm 37:16-17 (New Living Translation)

16 It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich.
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the LORD takes care of the godly.

Wealth is short-lived. But godliness lasts forever. This is better than that.


- g-ram

Worry, Money & Trust

Of all things we have to worry about, money is one of the easiest. Understandable, but, while you're trying to be smart with money, don't forget this.

Hebrews 13:5 (New Living Translation)

5 Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

"I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you."

God wants us trusting Him and nothing else. Because He knows that He alone can satisfy our deepest needs.

You need far more than money. Don't be tricked into believing money will solve all your worries.


- g-ram

Who Needs Some Voodoo Witchcraft?

While innocently meandering through a mall I happened to see the answer to all of my problems hiding away in kids toys/candy dispenser.

Voodoo Dolls. With their tempting little catch phrase "What will you do with yours?"

Well I don't know, but with it being that close and easily affordable how could I not find out? Who could I push this way or that? Who will learn a lesson at the end of my pin? Who will learn of the pain they caused me as I cause them pain? What sort of justice & retribution should I unleash?

I didn't buy one. But I was creeped out that they were there. Just another fun toy on the road to destruction.

- g-ram

Thin Spots & Transitions

Life is not what it once was. That's my story. Is it yours also?

Change has occurred and now I/you are in transition. Does that mean it is bad? Does that mean it is good? The answer here is like so many others...it depends. It depends on what changed, for who, when and why and probably a dozen other factors. What matters far more is what you do with this time of refocus. The ancients would call such a time as this, "the time between times." These times were consider sacred and rife with opportunity. In the time between times this world and the other-world (the supernatural) grow close. Where normally there is great distance between this world and the other-world they are now bleeding together. It is a time of great opportunity, great possibility, a time of power.

Power for good or evil.

That's the problem; if we don't consciously make the effort to channel that power into something good, it seems to default to something evil. Where does your mind go? Where do you let it wander? To take advantage of that power for good you must focus on connecting with that supernatural purity. Asking for it, longing for it, remembering it. These are wise times for prayers, both private and shared. A time to cry out together to God to lead us forward into something new, something beautiful, something powerful and something full of His leading. What does the future hold? Only He knows, so let's ask Him: alone and together.

God we seek you. We need you. What are you calling us into? Where are you leading? Where is the Spirit blowing? How may we ride that? How do we get in line with where you are already moving? How can you use us to make a difference?

As I have been walking into this THIN SPOT I have been challenged, comforted and called forth by a song that I keep hearing in different places and contexts. It just keeps coming up. So I pray this song for me and now for you also.

Everlasting God
Chris Tomlin

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Be encouraged.
Be challenged.
Be listening.
Be praying.
Be reminded.
Be comforted.
Be restored.

Be called.

g-ram

Stats Update

I know you can't tell everything with numbers but here is some encouragement that I have received recently.
Blog/Podcast activity:
Downloads in the last 4 weeks with almost no new content. Amazing. 841 downloads. That brings our totals up to a little over 9600 downloads. Out of control.

For those searching the podcast is available on the blog, and hey you are already here, or on iTunes. Now search Graham Clinton to locate it.

Questions? Just ask. Thanks everybody.


- g-ram