Love Thy Neighbor

Jesus said "Love thy neighbor as thyself".

He didn't say "Love thy neighbor who is white." Nor did He say, "Love thy neighbor who is Black."

Jesus did say that we should treat others as we wish to be treated. Somehow, I don't think being murdered because you are white and having your business destroyed because you make money with it and being attacked and targeted and killed because of your job is how anyone wants to be treated.

I don't think being burned alive is either.

So, I find it offensive to protect black people who are doing these things. I also find it offensive to protect white people who do these things. I find it offensive to protect ANY people who do these things.

ALL LIVES MATTER. ALL LIVES DESERVE TO BE LOVED AND TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

Jesus didn't play favorites. He helped the Samaritan as well as the Jew. He gave His life for the sinner, not the skin color. He said to go into ALL THE WORLD not just places where certain colors reside.

When Jesus leaves the 99 sheep to go after the 1, He doesn't leave the 99 to go after a black sheep. He leaves the 99 to go after a LOST sheep. Doesn't matter what color it is.

A man who murders someone, whether they are white or black skinned, is called a murderer. Not a "black murderer" or a "white murderer" -- simply "murderer."

ALL MURDERS DESERVE JUSTICE NOT JUST GEORGE FLOYD'S.

To say otherwise is just an excuse to be divisive and terroristic.

Love is an Action

Love is an action, not an emotion.

Love is a verb, not an adjective.

Jesus said we should love one another as He first loved us. How did He love us? He loved us by giving us everything we have, from the first breath we ever took to the daily necessities we can't live without, to the peace we feel when we draw our final breath.

We can only feel His arms around us when we become blessed with an answer to our prayers, or we come to the realization that what we have we could not have obtained on our own.

We pray for things that make us feel good and wonder why our prayers are not answered. We pray to have that soulmate who would fulfill us, when we already have the author of our soul to give us all we need to be whole.

And, all He has asked is that we "pay it forward."

When we see that person who is ill, we should care for them. Not just with our prayers, but with our PROVISION. Because God has provided us with our health.

When we see that homeless person on the street, we should help him. Not by just smiling and telling them, "I love you" (only words), but by PROVISION, leading him to shelter -- because God has provided us with shelter.

When we see the unemployed single mom or dad, we should do more than high five them for being so strong. We should help them with our PROVISION, helping them find and keep gainful employment so they are not dependent, as God has provided for us.

Jesus said we do not have our prayers answered because we ask amiss. Maybe what He meant was that we are always asking God to give us more, rather than asking God to help us give more.

Love, TRUE love, is giving back what has so graciously been given to you by graciously showing someone else what God has shown you, even when it hurts.

Jesus gave His life. He suffered great pain. He hungered. He thirsted. And, He never asked us to do anything but pay it forward.

Don't tell someone you love them.

SHOW them.

Everything to me

When I was young, there were several times that I thought I had found "the one". Each time left me hurt, angry, feeling betrayed, unwanted, unneeded, or even objectified. I gave all I had in each only to be disappointed.

It wasn't until this last relationship ended that I realized that I had been giving all I was and all I had to the wrong person. I decided it was time to correct that.

Now, I am able to give all I have and all I am to the One who created me for His own glory. In return, He has sustained, strengthened, upheld, protected and provided for me in ways I never imagined were possible.

Yes, I have stumbled in my desire to please Him, but I have immediately stood up each time and dusted myself off and "straightened my crown," determined that weakness was temporary, and love was eternal.

As a single Christian, I find myself able to do things that I know that should I have a mate, would be missed. Like, acting on impulse to bless someone else, or openly showing my gratitude to others for what my husband should be providing.

Then, I felt so alone and hopeless. Now I find that I am never lonely, even when I am alone. I have discovered new ways to fill the void that being single often leaves on others -- ways that I would not be as free to practice if I had a mate.

I am FREE to be TOTALLY ME; the person God created me to be.

I find myself in total agreement with Paul as I live out these words of wisdom from the Holy Book:

1 Corinthians 7:
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

I have also found that I have no problem being single and being able to celebrate the marriage and happiness of my friends who have reached milestones with each other in their own lives. To each his own. What is given for me to be and do is not so for others.

Having said that, I am extremely Happy for my friend Rosa Edwards today as she and her husband celebrate 24 years of marriage.

I wrote a poem when I was 12 years old one day, doodling on my book cover in class, that goes something like this:

I look my eyes up to the sky
And ask the Lord above so high
"Why me?" Then comes from the blue,
"Because, my child, you are YOU!"

I praise God for who I am today. And like Paul, I wish to remain single, and I would that others could have the experience I have had being so.

Colossians 3
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

I have endeavored to be the best single person I can be for the Lord.

The song below says everything I have said above. It fits perfect.

A Picture of Redemption

Today, me and my friend Dallas got a sweet surprise when Betty and Buren Jones and Rosa came to visit us at 1st Bikers Church. They came to honor their son, Johnny, who died, ironically, on the anniversary of Brother Danny's accident that took his life.

Today, we used the service to Remember Brother Danny, and reflect upon his life, before and after Christ in it. We rejoiced with his family that we will see him again one day.

It was a perfect day for the Joneses to visit us and gain confidence that they, too, will see their son again, and to rejoice with us. Danny's absence hasn't deterred him from continuing to bless others.

I love my church family, and I love showing them off to my friends who haven't experienced our worship environment. I was so proud that they were welcomed in the way that my church is famous for doing. I am proud to be a member of such a loving church family.

I am looking forward to prayer and church services tonight. I hope your day is as blessed as mine has been today already.

Dallas, Rosa and Me at 1st Bikers Church this morning. I love my friends!

As I look at this picture and think of what my friend Rosa said about it, "A picture of Redemption", I can't help but think about this fully.

We were all raised in a little Hick Town of Hooks, Texas. Rosa's family was one of the first families there that reached out to me. They taught me the importance of inviting people to church. More importantly, they taught me the importance of what Christ is supposed to mean in your life ... that He is so much more than a Church Icon, a figure of speech, or a story you tell your children on Christmas.

We grew up. We went our separate ways. We left home, backslid, fell down, got dirty and grasped at straws.

Then, we got up, turned around, dusted ourselves off and figured out that the home we left, the Jesus that had let us go, was still the same Jesus that watched us leave, and was still there to welcome us back.

Today, we Praised Him together for the first time in nearly 30 years. I can't help but think that with today being so joyful as we realized the people that He had made us into when we, as "prodigal daughters" returned "home", how much MORE joyful we are going to feel when we meet in heaven to Praise Him together THERE!

The feeling we felt today will be so amplified...and it doesn't seem possible, yet we KNOW it to be true!

A picture of Redemption below. So much truth in that.

This song is dedicated to our loved ones we celebrated today as they have gone home to the Maker: