LOVE

THE WORD LOVE IS USED OVER AND OVER IN OUR SOCIETY TO EXPLAIN , DESCRIBE OR DENOTE OUR " FEELINGS " ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE , AN EXPERIENCE WE HAVE HAD OR THE RELATIONSHIP WE ACQUIRE WITH ALL OF OUR " STUFF " ...................... OUR LORD GOD HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THIS SUBJECT ..................... IN CHAPTER 13 OF 1st CORINTHIANS GOD CLEARLY EXPLAINS , DESCRIBES AND DENOTES WHAT LOVE IS , READ ON TO DISCOVER HIS MAJESTY'S INFINITE WISDOM ON A VERY VERY OLD SUBJECT : "And now I will show you the most excellent way . If I speak in tongues of men and of angels , but have not love , I am like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal . If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all the mysteries and all knowledge , and if I have faith that can move mountains , but have not love , I am nothing . If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames , but have not love , I gain nothing . Love is patient , love is kind . It does not envy , it does not boast , it is not proud . It is not rude , it is not self- seeking , it is not easily angered , it keeps no record of wrongs . Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth . It always protects , always trusts , always hopes , always perseveres . Love never fails . But where there are prophesies , they will cease ; where there are tongues , they will be stilled ; where there is knowledge , it will pass away . For we know in part and we prophesy in part , but when perfection comes , the imperfect disappears . When I was a child , I talked like a child , I thought like a child , I reasoned like a child . When I became a man , I put childish ways behind me . Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror ; then we shall see face to face . Now I know in part ; then I shall know fully , even as I am fully known . And now these three things remain : faith , hope and love . But the greatest of these is love . "..................... OUR HUMAN INTERPRETATION OF LOVE IS MARRED BY OUR SINFUL NATURE AND INABILITY TO EMULATE THESE BEAUTIFUL SCRIPTURES ABOVE .......... WE CAN TRY , BUT SOONER OR LATER WE FAIL TO MEET THESE STANDARDS .......... WITHOUT HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD GOD IT IS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT REAL LOVE IS .............. STILL YET WE CONTINUE TO MISS THE " MARK " .......KNOWING JESUS SETS US FREE FROM THE CONDEMNATION AND GUILT AND PAIN WE EXPERIENCE WHEN WE CANNOT BE PERFECT ........HAVING A DEEP AND ABIDING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SAVIOUR ALSO TEACHES US HOW TO LOVE WITH A PURE HEART ............ IF WE ARE NOT SURE WHETHER WE KNOW WHAT TRUE GODLY IS THEN WE NEED TO START BY ASKING THE LORD FOR FORGIVENESS THAT WE HAVE GONE AGAINST HIS TEACHINGS AND THEN ASK HIM TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THE TRUE MEANING OF WHAT HIS LOVE IS AND HOW WE CAN EMULATE THIS KIND OF LOVE ............................. HAVE A GOOD DAY AND REMEMBER THAT JESUS LOVES US VERY VERY MUCH...........................SUMMER

SOME OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES WITH 2 TIMOTHY 3 : 16-17 IN MIND

" In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth . " GENESIS 1:1

" So GOD created man in HIS own image , in the image of GOD HE created him ;
male and female he created them . " GENESIS 1:27

" The LORD GOD said , " It is not good for man to be alone . I will make a helper
suitable for him. " GENESIS 2:18

" Then the LORD GOD made a woman from the rib HE had taken out of the man ,
and HE brought her to the man . The man said , " This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh ; she shall be called woman , for she was taken out of man .
For this reason a man shall will leave his father and mother and be united to
his wife , and they will become one flesh . " GENESIS 2:22-24

" There the LORD made a decree and a law for them (the Israelites ) , and there
HE tested them . HE said , "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your
GOD and do what is right in HIS eyes , if you pay attention to HIS commands
and keep all HIS decrees , I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought
on the Egyptians , for I AM the LORD who heals you . " EXODUS 16 :26

" Hear , O Israel: The LORD our GOD , the LORD is one. Love the LORD your GOD
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength . These
commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts . Impress
them upon your children . " DEUTERONOMY 6:4-7a

" But the LORD said to Samuel , " Do not consider his appearance or his height
for I have rejected him . The LORD does not look at the things man looks at .
Man looks at the outward appearance , but the LORD looks at the heart .
1 SAMUEL 16:7

" If MY people , who are called by MY name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek MY face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land . "
2 CHRONICLES 7:14

" Can a mortal be more righteous than GOD ? Can a man be more pure than his
MAKER ? " JOB 4:17

" And HE said to man , ' The fear of the LORD -that is wisdom , and to shun evil
is understanding . " JOB 28:28

" The LORD is my Shepherd , I shall not be in want . " PSALM 23 :1

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of all wisdom. PSALM 111:10a

"How can young man keep his way pure? By living according to YOUR WORD.
PSALM 119:9

" Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
in all your ways acknowledge HIM , and HE will make straight your path ."
PROVERBS 3:5-6

"There is a way that seems right to a man , but in the end it leads to death ."
PROVERBS 14:12

" A friend loves at all times , and a brother is born for adversity."
PROVERBS 17:17

" Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler ; whoever is led astray by them is not
wise." PROVERBS 20:1

" There is no wisdom , no insight , no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
PROVERBS 21:30

" Train a child in the way he should , and when he is old he will not depart from
it. " PROVERBS 22:6

" If you lack the means to pay , your very bed will be snatched under from you ."
PROVERBS 22:27

" Do not answer a fool according to his folly , or you will be like him yourself."
PROVERBS 26:4

" As a dog returns to its vomit , so a fool repeats his folly." PROVERBS 26:11

" A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day."
PROVERBS27:15

"A wife of noble character who can find ? She is worth far more than rubies."
PROVERBS 31:10

" Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting ; but a woman who fears the LORD
is to be praised . " PROVERBS 31:30

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."
ECCLESIASTES 3:1

"For to us a Child is born , to us a Son is given, and the government will be on HIS
shoulders. And HE will be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD,
EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE of PEACE. Of the increase of HIS government
and peace there will be no end . HE will reign on David's throne and over HIS
KINGDOM, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from
that time on and forever." ISAIAH 9:6-7

" For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the SOVEREIGN LORD.
Repent and live !" EZEKIEL 18:32

" Even now," declares the LORD ," return to me with all your heart, with fasting
and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return
to the LORD your GOD , for HE is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger
and abounding in love, and HE relents from sending calamity." JOEL 2:12-13

May CHRIST be with you.................................................Summer

WHO IS YOUR GOD

ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO AS A FOLLOWER OF THE LORD JESUS IS TO COME AWAY FROM FALSE WORSHIP .................... WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT DRAWS OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD ,WHICH IS SPOKEN IN THE BIBLE................IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WE READ , " But the LORD is the true GOD ; HE is the living GOD , the eternal KING . When HE is angry , the earth trembles ; the nations cannot endure HIS wrath . Tell them this : ' These gods , who did not make the heavens and earth , will perish from the earth and from under the heavens . " JEREMIAH 10 : 10-11....................SUCH RIVETING WORDS FOR ANY ONE WHO HAS A CONSCIENCE YET IT IS SO DIFFICULT FOR US TO FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS AND COME TO GRIPS WITH WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US ...............OH YES WE READ IT AND WE LEARN IT AND WE MAY EVEN TAKE IT IN LIKE A COLD DRINK ON A WARM DAY ..................... STILL YET WE FOLLOW IT , THE WORD THAT IS , UNTIL SOMETHING BETTER OR MORE INTERESTING OR TRENDY COMES ALONG AND THEN WE ARE LURED , JUST AS A FISH SWIMS TO THE BAIT .....................THAT'S HOW SATAN IS, HE BAITS US UNTIL WE'RE HOOKED .....................SOME OF US WILL FEEL THE DEEP WOUND FROM THE HOOK AND DIE ..............................SOME WILL PULL AWAY FROM THE HOOK ITSELF LEAVING A DEEP SCAR ..................... FEW WILL ACTUALLY SWIM THE OTHER WAY TO FIND THE REAL BREAD OF LIFE .................... IN MATTHEW 6:19-24 WE READ , "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth , where moth and rust destroy , and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy , and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is , there your heart will also . The eye is lamp of the body . If your eyes are good , your whole body will be full of light . But if your eyes are bad , your whole body will be full of darkness, how great is that darkness . No one can serve two masters . Either he will hate the one and love the other , or he will be devoted to one and despise the other . You cannot serve both GOD and MONEY . " LIFE IS VERY HARD ........... WE WILL ALWAYS MISS THE MARK ..................... IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT JESUS IS ALL LOVING , ALL FORGIVING AND ALWAYS THERE FOR US TO TURN TO .......................... IT IS NEVER TOO LATE FOR US TO ASK HIM TO SOFTEN OUR HEARTS SO WE MAY ENJOY THE ABUNDANCE OF A FULL LIFE ........................ NOT A PERFECT LIFE BUT A FULL LIFE .....................SO I ASK , " WHO IS YOUR GOD ..................................................SUMMER

A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN

" No eye has seen , no ear has heard , and no mind has imagined what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM . But it was to us that GOD revealed these things by HIS SPIRIT . For HIS SPIRIT searches out everything and shows us GOD'S deep secrets. " 1CORINTHIANS 2:9-10 ........ THIS SCRIPTURE IS WONDERFUL AND HAS A PROMISE WITHIN IT FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND LOVE THE LORD . AND ALTHOUGH ITS CONTEXT ISN'T SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT HEAVEN , IT DOES REVEAL TO BELIEVERS THAT GOD DOES SPEAK OF THINGS IN HIS WORD THAT HE WANTS US TO KNOW ABOUT ........... WHEN HE SPEAKS OF HEAVEN HE WANTS US TO ANTICIPATE WHAT LIES AHEAD ........ ONE WOULD ASK IF HEAVEN IS BEYOND OUR IMAGINATION ? 2 TIMOTHY 2:7 TELLS US "Consider what I say, and may the LORD give you understanding in all things . " WE CANNOT ANTICIPATE WHAT WE CAN'T IMAGINE ................GOD GIVES US A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN ; A GARDEN , A CITY , AND A KINGDOM ARE ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF GODS PLACE WHERE HE CALLS HOME ..........SOME WOULD SAY THAT THESE DESCRIPTIONS ARE ANALOGIES BUT THE SCRIPTURES MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT OUR LORD JESUS IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM WHEN HE SPEAKS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 14: 1-12 " Let not your heart be troubled ; you believe in GOD , believe also in ME. In MY FATHERS house are many mansions ; if it were not so , I would have told you . I go to prepare a place for you . And if I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again and receive you to MYSELF ; that where I am , there you may be also . And where I go you know , and the way you know . Thomas said to HIM, '' LORD we do not know where YOU are going , and how can we know the way ? '' JESUS said to him , ''I am the the way , the truth , and the life . No one comes to the FATHER except through ME . If you had known ME , you would have known MY FATHER also ; and from now on you know HIM and have seen HIM . " Phillip said to HIM , '' LORD show us the FATHER , and it is sufficient for us . '' JESUS said to him ,'' Have I been with you so long , and yet you have not known ME Phillip ? He who has seen ME , has seen the FATHER ; so how can you say , ' Show us the FATHER ?' Do you not believe that I am in the FATHER , and the FATHER in ME ? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on MY own authority ; but the FATHER who dwells in ME does the works . Believe ME that I am in the FATHER and the FATHER in ME , or else believe ME for the sake of the works themselves . " WE NEED TO ASK FOR GOD'S HELP TO REMOVE THE WAX PAPER FROM OVER OUR EYES SO THAT ANY FALSE INTERPRETATIONS ABOUT HEAVEN ARE REPLACED WITH SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS ..........IT IS TRUE THAT OUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS TRYING TO DISTORT GODS WORD AND DEVOUR US 1PETER 5 :8 '' Be sober , be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion , seeking whom he may devour . " NOW IF THAT ISN'T A LINE OF SCRIPTURE TO KEEP US SOBER !! ...........SOME OF SATAN'S FAVORITE LIES ARE THAT HE NOR GOD NOR HEAVEN NOR HELL EVEN EXIST ........ A VERY CLEVER WAY TO ROB US OF OUR JOY ............ROMANS 8 :38-39 IS VERY CLEAR TO SAY , " For I am persuaded that neither death nor life , nor angels nor principalities nor powers , nor things present nor things to come , nor height nor depth , nor any other created thing , shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD . '' TODAY MAY BE A GOOD DAY TO PONDER ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN ......... JOHN 3 : 16 SAYS, " GOD so loved the world that he gave HIS one and only SON , so that everyone who believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life . " JUST AS ROMANS 10 :9 STATES , " If you confess with your mouth that JESUS is LORD and believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead , you will be saved . " WHETHER WE AGREE WITH GOD OR NOT IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER BECAUSE HE HAS THE FINAL SAY BUT WHAT DOES MATTER TO HIM IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL ACCEPT HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION HENCE REMOVING FROM US OUR FEAR OF DYING JUST AS IN HEBREWS 2:14-15 SAYS, " Because GOD'S children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - the SON also became flesh and blood . For only as a human being could HE die , and only by dying could HE break the power of death . Only in this way could HE set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. " IS TODAY THE DAY ?? .........................................SUMMER

GLORY TO FOLLOW

"If you are insulted because of the name of CHRIST , you are blessed , for the SPIRIT of glory and of GOD rests on you. " 1 PETER 4: 14 .......... HAVE YOU EVER BEEN MOCKED , INSULTED , CHALLENGED , HARASSED, PERSECUTED, IGNORED , CAST ASIDE , RIDICULED OR MAYBE EVEN HATED BECAUSE YOU LOVE CHRIST ?......... IF SO WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY TAKE COMFORT IN THE SCRIPTURE ABOVE ........... IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT BECAUSE WE FEEL MORE ALONE THAN EVER, HOWEVER JESUS WANTS US KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE SUFFER FOR HIS NAME SAKE NOW , THERE WILL BE GLORY TO FOLLOW ............. WHEN WE STAND FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FIND OURSELVES THE TARGET OF SUFFERING, WE SHARE IN LORD'S SUFFERINGS AS WELL ....... JESUS CHRIST WAS THE LAST BLOOD SACRIFICE ......... HE DID NOT DIE IN VAIN .......... AFTER HIS DEATH , THERE WAS GLORY IN HIS RESURRECTION AND THE ETERNITY OF LIFE IN HEAVEN FOR ALL WHO CALL UPON THE HIS NAME AND REPENT OF THEIR SINFUL WAYS .......... ONE DAY OUR PAIN AND SUFFERINGS WILL BE NO MORE AS IT GIVES WAY TO THE GLORY THAT CAN ONLY BE HAD FROM A LOVING AND RIGHTEOUS GOD .......... THE GOD WHO SENT HIS SON JESUS TO DIE FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN , YET IRONICALLY ,NOT ALL MEN AND WOMEN WILL COME TO BELIEVE THIS.......... SO HENCE, THERE WILL BE SUFFERING FOR THOSE WHO DO BELIEVE ...........PETER CALLS US TO A LIFE OF HOLINESS THAT IS A REFLECTION OF OUR JEHOVAH GOD ......... PETER ALSO ASKS US TO BE HUMBLE , JUST AS OUR LORD JESUS WAS HUMBLE , WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH ALL PEOPLE .........LISTEN TO WHAT CHRIST HAS TO SAY ABOUT RETALIATION : " You have heard that it was said , ' Eye for eye , and tooth for tooth . But I tell you , Do not resist an evil person . If someone strikes you on the right cheek , turn to him the other also . And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic , let him have your cloak as well . If someone forces you to go one mile , go with him two miles . Give to the one who asks you , and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you . You have heard that it was said , ' Love your neighbor and hate your enemy .' But I tell you : Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you , that you may be sons of your FATHER in heaven . He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good , and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous . If you love those who love you , what reward will you get ? Are not even the tax collectors doing that ? And if you greet only your brothers , what are you doing more than others ? Do not even pagans do that ? Be perfect , therefore , as your heavenly FATHER is perfect . " MATTHEW 5 : 38-48....WE NEED TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS AND LESS LIKE OURSELVES ........PETER TELLS US OF THE PROPHETS WHO WROTE ABOUT CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS , " Concerning this salvation , the prophets,who spoke of the grace that was to come to you , searched intently and with the greatest care , trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the SPIRIT of CHRIST in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of CHRIST and the glories that would follow . " 1 PETER 1: 10 - 11 .......... TO BE AS CHRIST WOULD HAVE US TO BE REQUIRES US TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM ............ BY STUDYING HIS WORD WE COME TO UNDERSTAND WHO OUR SAVIOUR IS .........HIS WORD ALSO TEACHES US WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US SO THAT IN RETURN WE ARE ABLE LOOK FORWARD TO THE GLORY THAT WILL FOLLOW ......................................................................SUMMER

THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE

IT'S HARD TO BE OBEDIENT TO OUR LORD WHEN WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON , OR WHEN WE ARE TOO ANXIOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE OUTCOME ISN'T IT ?.................... BUT THE TRUE TEST OF OUR FAITH COMES AROUND JUST AT THESE PRECISE MOMENTS ............ FOLLOWING THE LORDS COMMANDS REVEALS TO US THAT WE TRUST IN HIS DECISIONS FOR OUR LIVES NOT ONLY IN THE BIG AREAS OF CONCERN BUT IN THE LITTLE AREAS AS WELL ..............HIS WORD REMINDS US THAT OBEDIENCE DOES NOT COME EASY BUT WILL CREATE EASE IN OUR SOUL ............ WHEN WE EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES GOD REVEALS THAT OUR SAVIOUR WAS 100 % MAN AND 100 % GOD ......... JESUS WAS NOT HALF MAN AND HALF GOD HE WAS 100% OF BOTH ...... CONFUSING AS IT MAY BE IT ALSO UNRAVELS ANOTHER MYSTERY ABOUT US AS HUMANS : WE CANNOT BE OBEDIENT WITHOUT DEPENDENCY ON CHRIST ...... THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES TELL US , "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ; in all your ways acknowledge HIM , and HE will make straight your paths . " PROVERBS 3:5-6 .........WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES , THE TOPIC OF BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD IS REVEALED TO US AS WE LOOK AT HOW JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN , "If you obey MY commands , you will remain in MY love ,just as I have obeyed MY FATHER'S commands and remain in HIS love . I have told you this so that MY joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete . " JOHN 15 :10-11........... WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR EVEN BE AWARE THAT WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD IT WILL CREATE A JOY THAT IS COMPLETE !! ...............IT'S REVELING TO SEE THAT JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF HIS OWN DEATH , BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP HE HAD WITH HIS FATHER ........... JESUS NOT ONLY DID HIS FATHERS WILL WHEN IT WAS EASY TO DO , BUT ALSO WHEN IT WAS VERY UNPOPULAR , DIFFICULT AND EVEN UNBEARABLE ......THIS WILLING SUBMISSION BECAME A GIFT OF LOVE GIVEN TO GOD THE FATHER............JESUS KNEW THAT THE TIME WOULD COME WHEN HIS OBEDIENCE WOULD AFFORD HIM THE TIME HE WOULD SPEND WITH HIS FATHER ONCE HE COMPLETED HIS WORK ON EARTH ,"Later , knowing that all was now completed , and so the SCRIPTURE would be fulfilled , JESUS said , ''I am thirsty . '' A jar of wine vinegar was there , so they soaked a sponge in it , put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant , and lifted it to JESUS' lips. When HE had received the drink , JESUS said , "It is finished . " With that , HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS spirit . " JOHN 19: 28-30.............. GOD WANTS US KNOW THAT WE TOO CAN AND SHOULD BE OBEDIENT TO HIM EVEN WHEN DOING WHAT HE SAYS IS DIFFICULT OR STRANGE , " This is love for GOD : to obey HIS commands . And HIS commands are not burdensome , for everyone born of GOD overcomes the world . This is victory that has overcome the world , even our faith . Who is it that overcomes the world ? Only he who believes that JESUS is the SON of GOD . " 1JOHN 5:3- 5.........THE TRUE TEST OF OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS : WILL WE LISTEN ?.......................................................................SUMMER

ARE YOU ALIEN ENOUGH ?

HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN THE FEELING OF BEING ALL ALONE ? SOMETIMES WE CAN BE IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND FEEL THIS WAY ........................... AT TIMES THIS FEELING COMES OVER US WHEN WE REALLY THINK OF HOW TRUTHFUL JESUS' WORDS ARE . "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves , you are slaves to the one whom you obey -whether you are slaves to sin , which leads to death , or to obedience , which leads to righteousness ? " ROMANS 6:16......................STILL YET AT OTHER TIMES WE CAN FEEL QUITE LONELY IF THE ONE WE LOVE DOESN'T LOVE US BACK OR IF WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A NON BELIEVING SPOUSE ................... TO THE CONTRARY , HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS FEELING AT DIFFERENT TIMES DURING OUR LIVES, STILL DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL BE EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE AROUND US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS...............THE FEELING OF BEING ALONE HAS TWO CONTRASTS .........................THE FIRST BEING THAT INNER SPIRITUAL & EMOTIONAL EMPTINESS THAT CAN ACCOMPANY US WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD JESUS .......... THIS TYPE OF LONELINESS OCCURS WHEN THE DRAW OF THE SECULAR WORLD PULLS US DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE ABYSS OF MATERIALISM ............IT'S AN ALL CONSUMING OBSESSION THAT CONTINUES TO EAT AWAY AT US , WHILE WE TRY TO SATISFY OUR SPIRIT WITH BOUTS OF TEMPORARY HAPPINESS , YET NOTHING IS EVER ENOUGH. " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth , where moth and rust destroy , and where thieves break in and steal . But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy , and where thieves do not break in and steal . For where your treasure is , there your heart will be also. " MATTHEW 6:19-20 " No one can serve two masters . Either he will hate the one and love the other , or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both GOD and Money ." MATTHEW 6: 24 ............. PREOCCUPATION WITH SUCCESS WILL ALSO CAUSE US TO FEEL QUITE CONFIDANT AND SURE AT FIRST ONLY TO LEAVE US DROWNING IN OUR SORROWS AS WE LOSE TOUCH WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND OUR LOVED ONES . " But many who are first will be last , and the last first . " MARK 10:31...................THE SECOND CONTRAST OF BEING ALONE COMES ALONG ONCE WE HAVE REPENTED OF OUR SIN AND ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEARTS............. BELIEVING IN CHRIST AND BEING OBEDIENT TO HIM MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT MOTIVES AND GOALS THAN THE PEOPLE AROUND US .............. WE WILL LOOK AND ACT DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD WHICH CAN OFTEN LEAD TO LONELINESS ( which may in turn lead us to sinful behaviors ) ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO NOT PARTAKE IN GENUINE FELLOWSHIP WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD ...........WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE IN NEED OF A " LIFTING UP '' IT IS OUR DUTY TO ENCOURAGE THEM . "See to it brothers , that none of you has a sinful , unbelieving heart that turns away from the living GOD. But encourage one another daily , as long as it is called Today , so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in CHRIST if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first . "HEBREWS 3:12-14...........BEING CHRISTIANS PUTS US AT ODDS WITH THE WORLD , WE ARE ALIENS ." Dear friends , I urge you , as aliens and strangers in the world , to abstain from sinful desires , which wage war against your soul . Live such good lives among the pagans that , though they may accuse you of doing wrong , they may see your good deeds and glorify GOD on the day HE visits us . " 1PETER 2:11-12 ...................AS A CHRISTIAN WE ARE CALLED TO A HIGHER STANDARD ...................THE QUESTION IS ARE WE ALIEN ENOUGH TO GLORIFY THE GOD WHO HAS CALLED US ?.............................................................SUMMER