The Gospel Truth on
Carmen's Corner
L.O.V.E.
Life's Open Valve to the Eternal
If I were to take a survey and asked one hundred people what their definition of love is, I would probably end up with one hundred different answers. For many years people have acquainted love with intercourse, gifts and surprises, dating, and much more. However, these things have nothing to do with genuine, agape love. The bible says, "No one has greater love (no one has shown stronger affection) than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. John 15:13 (AMP).
Jesus wasn't talking about date night, spending time, buying gifts, or sex, He was talking about sacrifice. Love is a verb, an operative word that requires action. Love is sacrificing your own will, desires, needs and wants for the sake of others. Love is doing the will of the Father by ministering to the brokenhearted, the poor, the battered and discarded. Love is an outward expression of God working in you to do the works that Jesus did and greater works than He did by winning souls for the Kingdom of God.
Love or Agape in Greek simply means wide open. In other words you love by having your heart wide open. Being open to the things of God, what He desires to do in, through, and for you is how you love. When God moves upon your heart to share a word, lend a hand, give to someone, be a listening ear or shoulder to cry on and you obey His commands, you are practicing love. When a person hurts you, curses you, or despitefully uses you and you bless them, you are practicing love.
There are many who believe that they are operating in the God kind of love but they have not even begun to scratch the surface. They are doing what they know to do not being led by the spirit of God to do. The difference in the two are the harvest you reap. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek His face not His hand. Those who have been "doing" and not "being" often wonder why they are not receiving the benefits that the word promises. Everything in life is predicated on your love walk according to I Corinthians 13 and Galatians 1:5. If your love actions are superficial and you will only reap what you sow, then you will not get the same benefits as those who are sincerely sowing love.
It's not always an easy thing to walk in love but it is possible. In order for you to be able to achieve this you must stay in the word, meditate, and speak the word only night and day, there really is no other way. If you stay connected to God through His word and unbroken fellowship with Him in prayer, meditation, and assembling yourself together with the Saints, it will become second nature to you as it should and then you will be able to receive from God all the many blessings that He has for you.
Get connected and stay connected. Stay under the spout where the glory comes out. Love is your open valve to receive all the benefits and promises that God has for you, there is no other way!
THERE IS GREATNESS IN YOU!
Do You Know Your Purpose
Most people think that purpose is a job, a dream, or a title but that is by no means what purpose is. Purpose is what you are here for, not what you do. The things that you do are an outward expression of your purpose. We are all created to have unbroken fellowship with the Father and to love and fellowship with one another. In other words, everyone on the planet has the same purpose: To know and show love!
Love is our purpose! However, the expressions, ways, or methods may be different or vary from one person to the next but they are all for a common goal if we are of one mind, one body, one spirit, one faith, one baptism, one Lord. I'm not referring to religion or denomination, I'm referring to our direct divine appointed purpose on the earth, relationship and discipleship in the love of Christ.
We have an obligation as the body of Christ to love everyone as God has loved us and we have fallen short. But thanks be to God that He didn't leave us with falling shorts. He has given us access to boldly come to the throne of grace and not the throne of condemnation or judgment in order to obtain mercy in our time of need. At His feet, we can get in right standings with Him so we can get to fulfilling our God given purpose while we are on the earth.
My question to you is what have you been assigned to do in order to show God's love? Are you a singer, writer, encourager? Do you have a business idea that will help your community and local church to spread the love of God into your city, state, and country? What do you need to do to fulfill your purpose and be all that God has designed and called you to be? If you are not sure and need clarity, click the link below!
YOU'RE A WINNER - YOU DESERVE THE BEST - NEVER GIVE UP - BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
YOU WILL SURVIVE
