They Will Know We are Christians By?

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

They will Know We are Christians By?

I get the impression that some single Christians are hard on themselves like I was hard on myself about not being able to prevent my husband’s death.  We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  I only want the perfect will of God in my life.  I’m not a beggar.  If you are a beggar than you settle for what you can get.  I’m not a beggar for a relationship.  I do miss affection and I found a church where we shake everyone’s hand – 200 people every Sunday and Wednesday night and I carry anti-bacteria soap in my purse, but I love the friendliness.  Then there are two single Bible studies where I go and I get lots of hugs so I’m going back for those hugs (no hugs I’m outta there) now I’m just waiting for that holy kiss.  LOL 

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Roman 12:10
Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.

God knows if I need a BMW, SUV or a Volkswagen Beetle fully loaded guy.  The new slogan for the Volkswagen is “Blast From the Past or Ahead of Its Time.”  I’ve consider in taking computer animation 2D and 3D classes I was born in the wrong generation.  I should have been born later.  I’m ahead of my time.

If you plan to say single the rest of your life than it should be a victorious singlehood. I know it’s not my gift to be single, but in the meantime, I’m struggling for the victory.  Everyone struggles with different battles in life.  I’ve not had to overcome loneliness since I had a loving partner for 15 years so that is a new battle I face.  

I was at a single Bible study and a physician made a comment on how will the unsaved want to become a Christian if a Christian is going through a lot of difficulties.  They will want to stay away from Christianity.  Difficulties happen to everyone in life.  Obviously, there have been several mishaps to people in my office.  One woman I work with happened to pick up her daughter at work at the last minute, take a different route on I67 and than a wheel fell off a car from the south bound lane came bouncing in front of her car and wrecked the front of her car Friday.  It was strange how she just happened to be at that place at that time which normally she would not have been.   She knows it could have been a lot worse.

I believe it is how we as Christians handle the trials in our life.   We can go through difficulties with God or without God.  If we go through them with God than we have his strength and his comfort.

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Romans 12:12
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, James 1:2
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Romans 5:3
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:2

God words says we are blessed when we persevere under trials.  I was praising the Lord with my guitar and that song, “I Found a New Way of Living” came in my mind.  It seems right now in my life as far as “feelings” go I’m very far from that song.    

I Found a New Way Of Living

I found a new way of living
I found a new life divine
I have the fruit of the Spirit
I’m abiding, abiding in the vine
Abiding in the vine
Abiding in the vine
Love, Joy, Health, Peace
He has made them mine
I have prosperity, power and victory
Abiding, abiding in the vine

I plan to sing this song for the next 30 days.  I also plan to read Psalm 91 to help with insecurity and fear the next 30 days.  There are different seeds I plant in my life to reap a harvest.  I asked the Lord why when I study more on healing, I get attacked with sickness and I was reminded of that scripture:

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:11-15

Sowing the word of God over and over again for it to become the “living word” where we are living the word and not just hearing it in our minds.  It takes awhile to actually get God’s word of healing in our hearts.  To get the victory over fear and insecurities.  That is what “meditating” on God’s word until it becomes a part of our lives.  I’ve met people that say they believe in Jesus and they are far from a Christian life.  Even the demons believe and tremble.  They have a head knowledge, not a heart knowledge.

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. James 2:19

The word needs to become flesh in our lives and it does as we practice it.  It's like practicing the piano.  The more you practice a song on the piano or the guitar, the more that song becomes committed to your memory.  It is the same with the word of God becoming more a part of you.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

Thomas was “doubting” Thomas so he required physical touch to believe in Jesus.   Jesus gave him the physical proof.

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." V. 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27

Part of the ministry of reconciliation is to let people know that God is not their problem but the solution when it comes to life’s hurts and life being unfair.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:18-19
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:11

I’ve known other Christians who spent much time reading God’s word, but they are not able to relax and enjoy their salvation.  They can not let down their hair and enjoy life without feeling guilty.  I finally found a person I enjoyed being with and it grieves me that it was cut short.  For awhile I did not even want to come home at night because I missed him for dinner and I missed seeing him at night.  I started sinking myself into staying late at work like many men do when they go through a divorce.  The problem is the Bible warns against that.

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." John 6:27

I can’t wait now to get home to spend time with my man – my heavenly Father as far as seeking Him. Like I looked forward to coming home to my husband, I look forward to coming home from work during the week and spending time every evening with God. 

I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. Isaiah 5:1
I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My lover is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." Song of Solomon 5:2
I am my lover's and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies. Song of Solomon 6:3  & My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Song of Solomon 2:16
I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me. Song of Solomon 7:10

Just listening to a chapter of God’s word a night has changed my whole life and increased my excitement for God’s word.   I consider that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in God’s word and David said, “thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you.” The other thing I really look forward to going to church on Sunday morning and Wednesday night. 

I believe God uses different personalities in the Body of Christ or different callings.  I know my primary calling is evangelism and it is a gift that God has given me.  It’s been developed over a period of years and so is leading social activities from having that responsibility at jobs.  My mother pushed me as a young child to be in social activities although I was very shy as a young child, she had me in swimming and diving lessons, ballet and tap dancing, baton lessons, girl scouts, church activities, piano lessons and let me have slumber parties and go to slumber parties.  There were two Catholic families in my neighborhood growing up and that made a huge difference I believe later in life in being more social.  Both my husband and I were altar kids at our church where we lit candles and I always looked forward to going to church every Sunday at ten years old to light the candles at the altars. 

I know a young man that was raised that church was a punishment to attend by his dad.  He is an unbeliever today.  I have a friend whose mother never allowed her to learn piano or go to slumber parties or spend the night at a friend’s house.  She was socially behind with girl friends and just married at age 50 years old and took lessons on how to play the piano.  I know people have had to overcome the insecurities and hurts of their pasts.  She does not hold any resentment towards her mother anymore.  I believe much of this healing comes from the word of God in our lives or understanding other people are in bondage.  Her mother was a single mother and she had many insecurities and was harsh on her.  Psychology will point out the faults/needs and helps us in understanding our weaknesses, but God’s word does the inner healing of our spirit from what others have done to us in life.


Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Psalm 107:20
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.' Jeremiah 30:17

If everyone was social and wanted to have fun all the time than there would be other things such as leadership and organization that would be lacking.  Usually a positive person will repel negativity.  At other times people are attracted to the opposite in life because they want to lighten up and enjoy life.  Opposites attract at times in life because they can complement each other’s strengths/weaknesses so there is more chemistry.  One extremely negative person in the Bible is Thomas.  I have to laugh when I think what Thomas said and how Jesus long suffered Thomas negativity. 

So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." John 11:14-16

Over and over again, Jesus wanted us to put the past behind us.  He told the rich man to sell his goods and follow him, he told the man who wanted to bury his relative to let the dead bury the dead.  When Peter asked how John was going to follow him, he said not to be concerned with John but only be concerned with how he was to follow Him.  Not to be concerned with our past, our goods, our relatives, other Christians, we are to "come follow the Lord" in what he has called us to do.  

Part of my struggles is I have boat load of stuff to take care of and like my friend said the boat load of stuff did not accumulate over night.   I know widows who have waited 5, 10 or 25 years down the road to dispose of their husband’s things or just move and someone packed them up for them and I don’t consider that it’s a “rush” job.  Many people live their lives in the fast lane and it’s a rush job for everything.  I have many people who walk around work like that with rush jobs because of their lack of planning.   Ecclesiastes says:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: Eccl 3:1
For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him. Eccl. 8:6
I thought in my heart, "God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed." Eccl. 3:17

As we make time to get more organized in life and to complete certain goals for work, college, ministry and a relationship, I believe God has a timing for each.  I was driven by four little ones to survive in life when they were younger.  I would be concerned if twenty years goes by and I’ve not made myself the “one” as far as changing what needs to be changed in my life to be adaptable to another person.  I very seriously doubt I have 20 years left in my life!  It only took l-l/2 years to meet my husband from my second divorce.  I believe the reason that it did not take long is because I believed that God’s love would find a way like the song below.   I sang this song over and over and I believed it --- that God did not spare his only son for me and believing in my heavenly Father’s faithfulness and goodness to me.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living Psalm 27:13
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23

I like the song because if you are in a marriage and you want to add zest in the marriage I believe through God you can find a way for healing and zest in a relationship.  The fire in my marriage did not die or go out after 14+ years of marriage it was getting better.   Of course I would not compare it to a honeymoon because we never would have gotten anything done around the house or work jobs.  Same way with the Lord.  If I just spend all my time loving on my heavenly Father and enjoying church and I don’t go out and help others or spread his word.  We have got to get down to business as far as the work of the ministry and what God has called us to do!   We have to be “about our Father’s business.”

And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke 2:49

Love Will Find Away
Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith

You tell me your friends are distant
You tell me your man's untrue
You tell me that you've been walked on
And how you feel abused
So you stand here an angry young woman
Taking all the pain to heart
I hear you saying you want to see changes
But you don't know how to start
Love will find a way (How do you know)
Love will find a way (How can you see)
I know it's hard to see the past and still believe
Love is gonna find a way
I know that
Love will find a way (A way to go)
Love can make a way (Only love can know)
Leave behind the doubt
Love's the only out
Love will surely find a way
I know this life is a strange thing
I can't answer all the why's
Tragedy always finds me
And I'm taken again by surprise
I could stand here an angry young woman
Taking all the pain to heart
But I know that love can bring changes
And so we've got to move on
If our God His Son not sparing
Came to rescue you
Is there any circumstance
That He can't see you through