HOP BOPPER

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, 1 Corinthians 13:4a (NCV)

     Some days Randy Smith is a preacher, some days he's a janitor, some days he's a taxi service, some days he's a kitchen aide and unfortunately, some days he's a referee. Not a referee of a sporting event but a fight like the one that took place Wednesday night before youth group between Harold Peterson and his sister Stella.

     Everything seemed to be going just fine when all of a sudden Harold started screaming “It's Not Fair!” at the top of his lungs. And trying to pull something away from Stella. “Whoa.” Randy called out as he step in between the two, “Harold, I'm not going to tolerate this behavior here. You are suppose to be loving your sister, and that is no way to show love. Haven't you been listening in church on Sunday?”

     “Love?” Harold called out, “Valentines day is over. Besides, I can think of a lot better things to do to my sister other then loving her.” “What could be better then loving her.” Randy asked. “Torture,” Harold quickly answered, “And then after that beating her up.” “I don't thinks so.” Randy interrupted, “There is no goo reason for treating Stella like that.”

     “Yes there is!” Harold shouted back and tried to take a lunge at Stella. “She got a brand new Hop Bopper and I didn't and that's not fair and she deserves to be tortured until she gives it to me.” “Hop Bopper? What's a Hop bopper?” Randy asked. “I don't know!” Harold snapped back, “All I know is Stella got one and she doesn’t deserve it and I’ll do what ever it takes to get her to give it to me.”

     “Sounds to me as if you’re a bit jealous.” Randy said thinking this might make a great illustration for his next sermon. “Jealous?” Harold snorted, “All I know is she’s got it, I don’t and that’s not fair.” “What if it’s a girls thing?” Randy asked. When she heard Randy ask that, Stella gave a sort of a chuckle.

     “A girl thing?” Harold shouted “She's trying to make me jealous over some kind of girl thing!? She can't do that! I'll booby trap her bedroom door, hide her school work, cut off her doll’s head....” “Woe, woe, woe.” Randy interrupted, but Harold kept on “And after that I'll take her Hop Bopper and hide it where she'll never find it.”

     “I think it's time for you to leave, Harold.” Randy said and then escorted Harold to the door. When Randy got back he went to talk to Stella about her Hop Bopper to which Stella replied, “There's no such thing as a Hop Bopper. I just made it up to make Harold jealous. Oh, how I love to torture that miserable little creature people call my brother.” And then Randy escorted Stella to the door as well.

     Love is not jealous. When you remove love for one another, you make room for jealousy, you make room for jealous no goods like these:

• Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD." And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:1-8 (ESV)

• Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, "Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf." His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?" And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. … And the man said, "They have gone away, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.' " So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. - Genesis 37:3-11,17-18 (ESV)

• As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands." And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?" And Saul eyed David from that day on. The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice. - 1 Samuel 18:6-11 (ESV)

• "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.' " - Luke 15:25-32 (ESV)

     Did you spot the jealous no good in each of these stories? Did you see the problems that the jealousy caused? Can you see how love and jealousy are incompatible?

     Solomon, in his great wisdom, warns us of jealousy's dangers

• Proverbs 6:34 - For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. (ESV)
• Proverbs 27:4 - Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? (ESV)
• Ecclesiastes 4:4 - I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. (HCSB)
• Song of Songs 8:6 - Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. (ESV)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• How often do you let jealousy take control of self?
• Do others suffer from your jealousy?

PARKING LOT ELEPHANT

What is desirable in a man is his kindness, Proverbs 19:22a (NASB)

      It was Thursday afternoon as Randy sat in his office working on his sermon for the coming Sunday. The topic of his message was love and this time it was suppose to focus on kindness, the second part of Paul's description of love form 1 Corinthians 13. As he poured over illustrations on kindness he started to dose off only to be scared half to death by a loud blast from an elephant.

      When he jumped form hearing the blast, he tipped over his desk sending papers everywhere. “that sounded like an elephant.” Randy said out loud, “I must have been dreaming. There isn't an elephant within in a hundred miles of here.” After picking up his desk, Randy got on the floor to pick up a mess of papers and as he crawled under his desk, he heard another loud blast from an elephant, jumped up and banged his head on his desk tipping it over again.

     “I couldn't have been dreaming that time.” Randy said out loud and ten he heard someone outside his office window saying “Sit George! Sit!.....That a boy George, Nice elephant.” Going over to the window, Randy opened it all the way and stuck his head out and there in the middle of the parking lot was Louie sitting on top of an elephant.

     “Louie!” Randy shouted out the window, “Can't you keep that thing quiet? I'm trying to nap, I mean work on my sermon.” Pulling his head back in the window, Randy started to head back to his desk when he suddenly realized that there really wan an elephant in the parking lot. Turning back to the parking lot, he hollered to Louie to come to the window.

     “What are you doing with an elephant?” Randy blurted out as soon as Louie made it to the window. “Just taking him home for the weekend.” Louie replied rather nonchalant and the elephant let out another blast causing Randy to jump again and this time he banged his head on the window. “I said I would take care of him over the weekend.” Louie explained, “He needs to be walked everyday.”

     “And just where did you find an elephant?” Randy asked as the elephant got down on one knee and looked him in the eye. “At the animal shelter.” Louie replied, “You should know by now that I always go down there on Thursdays to help take care of the animals.” “Yeah,” Randy nodded, “I should remember but I forget because I'm often here working.”

     “Do you remember when my parents were killed on the mission field?” Louie asked. “Yeah.” Randy nodded again, “That was a tough time for all of us.” It was my dog that helped me through that tough time.” Louie said, “Ever since then, I've tried to help animals whenever I can.” “You do love animals.” Randy said “But an elephant? Where are we going to keep him?”

     “I could keep him in my bedroom? But right now I need to give George some more exercise.”Louie said with a smile but Randy never heard him for he had just come up with a great illustration on kindness for his sermon – that is, if he could find it.

     Louie was kind to animals. We read in scripture that kindness is a desirable trait. We also read that it is part of the definition of Love. Kindness is what a young woman does in our story when her father was doing just the opposite.

     Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land." Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel .... Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live." Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children." Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the girl went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, "Because," she said, "I drew him out of the water."

Exodus 1:8-2:10 (ESV)

     Second in Paul's list of what love is is kindness for it says in 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (NASB) Kindness is a part of love and the Bible reminds to be kind to others from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

• Zechariah 7:9 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, (ESV)
• Galatians 6:10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters. (NLT)

     John tells us in his first epistle that when we love we are to show that love by our actions. 1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. (NLT) Being kind is a way of acting out our love. Here are some ideas on how we can show kindness.

• Matthew 5:42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. (NASB)
• Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (NASB)
• Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)
• Galatians 6:2 Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. (NLT)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• How are you showing your love through kindness?
• Are you showing kindness to EVERYONE?

IMPOSSIBLE

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant - 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)

     Love and poetry often go together and Randy Smith knew just the place to find some poems for his new sermon series on Love. Ever since she was a little girl, his wife Daisy has loved writing poems and has hundreds of them relating to the subject of love. “Maybe I can get her to write me some new ones.” he thought

     “Daisy, Darling” Randy said as he walked up behind his wife and started rubbing her back, “Would you be willing to write me some of your wonderful poems on love so I could use them in my new sermon series?” He asked, “This may not be the best time for me to help you.” Daisy replied. “If I write you a poem now, it might get you fired.”

     “But,” Randy protested, “You always put together such nice poems. Why would one of your poems get me fired?” “Harold isn't with you is he?” Daisy asked, looking around. “No.” Randy said, wondering what Harold had to do with anything. “Then, how's this?” Daisy said and then rattled off “Roses are red, violets are blue. Harold’s impossible, I quit.”

     “That doesn’t sound like a poem you would write, dear.” Randy said in response. “Well,” Daisy said, “How about this one. Skunks will stink and monkeys will climb. Harold’s impossible, I’d rather be a nun.” “Something isn’t quite right here.” Randy said shaking his head and sitting down next to his wife.

     “I know.” Daisy said, “I was having a little bit of trouble rhyming.” “That’s not what I meant.” Randy responded. “I told you this wouldn’t be the best time for me to help you.” Daisy told Randy again. “Do you want to hear some more?” “Maybe, you should tell me what's going on instead.” Randy suggested.

     “I just put in my resignation from teaching Sunday School.” Daisy said, “I can't take it any longer.” “I thought you loved teaching the kids?” Randy asked a bit stunned at the news. “A person can only try and teach HAROLD for so long.” Daisy told he husband, “He is absolutely impossible. I’ll never get through to him.”

     “No one ever said teaching Harold would be easy.” Randy said as he took his wifes hand in his, “It just takes a lot of time and patients.” “Well after yesterday,” Daisy said shaking her head, “I don’t think I have any more patience left for him. It wasn't the worse thing he has ever done, but its more than I can take. Why in the world did God ever let him be born.?”

     “Now is that the way for a Christian to talk?” Randy asked his wife, “You know God wants us to love everybody including Harold.” “Well, I’m not God.” Daisy replied. “I know that darling,” Randy continued, “But if you ask God, wont he give you the patience you need?” After a moment of silence, Daisy said “I still don’t think I want too.”

     “Well darling,” Randy said one last time, “If you're going to quit, you're going to quit but before you do, I want you to imagine what Harold would be like without our positive influence.” Thinking about what her husband said, Daisy got up and headed out the door. “Where are you going?” Randy asked. “To cancel my resignation.” Daisy said “And look for some patience.”

     Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

James 5:7-11 (NASB)

     When talking of patience James asks us to consider three things:

• The farmer
• The prophets
• Job

     We shall consider Job.

     Depending on the version you read, Job is considered to have perseverance, patience, endurance, etc. To learn his story we could try and read the entire book of Job but I don't want to take up that much room here. You can always read it on your own so I'll some up the first couple chapters and then I'll tell you how it all tuns out.

     One of the first things we learn about Job is how rich he is. Not only did he have 10 kids ( I only have 7) he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants. He was considered the greatest of all people of the east. Even God said of him, “There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.”

     Twice Satan is allowed at Job to try and get him to curse God. As a result Satan went after all of Jobs wealth, took it all away including his children. When that didn't work he went after Job's health and still Job refused to curse God – he worshiped God instead. While the bible doesn't say Satan was responsible for what happened next, I wonder if he was behind the miserable comforters that came next.

     Eventually God steps in and sets things straight. After everything Job had to patiently endure, God poured out a blessing on Job making him wealthier than he was before.

     The first thing love is, is patient. We know that God loves and we know that God is patient. 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (NASB) Therefore we have a great example to follow for we are to be patient to - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 - We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (NASB)

     If you want to love, if you want to be patient remember how much patience others need with you. Really stop and think before you start talking – bite your tongue literally if you have to. And one more thing, forgive...

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you show the same patience towards others as other show towards you?
• Would you like others to show the same patience towards you as you show them?

LOVE IS

     How about a series on what love is based on Paul's description in 1 Corinthians 13.  Stay Tuned.....

RED, PINK, WHITE AND I'M BLUE

Love must be without hypocrisy. - Romans 12:9a (HCSB)

      SLAM! Went the bedroom door. Wham! Went Cindy's back pack against the wall. Plop! went Cindy Miller on her bed. And then to Mindy's surprise, Cindy started bawling her head off. Mindy couldn't remember the last time she had seen her sister act like that for normally it was herself that slammed doors and threw things around.

     “What happened to the bright cheerful girl that crawled out of bed this morning?” Mindy asked, a bit puzzled by her sisters actions. “SHUT UP and leave me a lone.” Cindy replied, “I don't want to talk about it.” and then she pulled a blanket over her head. “No problem.” Mindy said shrugging her shoulders, “I don't have time to talk now any ways.”

     After a few minutes Cindy's bawling turned into a quiet sobbing and Mindy heard her call out from under her blanket “I hate Valentines.” “What?” Mindy asked, “The other day you told me you couldn't get enough of Valentines day and red, pink and white valentine cards from , who was it, someone named Dave.” When Cindy heard her sister mention the name Dave, she started bawling out loud again, this time even louder than before.

     “Um...” Mindy said, “Did I say something wrong?” “That Dave is nothing but a two timing, cheating, rotten scoundrel.” Cindy answered back, “He’s worse than Harold.” After thinking about it for a few minutes, Mindy asked, “Isn't Dave that cute blond haired boy in science class?” “Don't mention his name.” Cindy snapped back in response

     “Why?” Mindy asked, “He's a great kid. I think I even got a red, pink and white valentine card from him. It was cute, It said 'I Love You' on it and asked 'Would you be mine forever?' “You got one too?” Cindy snapped, “What he do, give one to every girl in school?” “Huh,” Mindy said a little confused, “Who else got one?”

     “Molly and Penny for certain.” Cindy whined, “I thought Dave really meant what he said on that card, I thought he really loved me.” “Is that what this tantrum is all about?” Mindy laughed, “You know that no-one really means what they put on those cards.” “But” Cindy protested, to which Mindy added, “You didn't mean what you put on your cards, did you?”

     “No.” Cindy sheepishly replied. “Can I see the card?” Mindy asked next. Crawling out from under her blanket, Cindy found the card and threw it at her sister. After looking the card over, Mindy broke out in uncontrollable laughter. “This card isn't from Dave, it's from Dale, that smelly kid in history class.”

     “What?” Cindy shouted, jumping up and snatching the card out of her sister's hand. After looking it over carefully, she ripped it into shreds crawled back under her blanket. “How embarrassing.” she mumbled and started quietly sobbing.

     What would you rather have, a real $100 bill or a monopoly $100 bill? I think most people would prefer the real bill over the play one. For the most part, I think we want things to be real. Unfortunately, things are not always real, like the love behind Cindy's Valentine Card.

     Throughout out the early part of the Old Testament, God sets down many rules.

• In Exodus 23:14 He says Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. (ESV)
• In Exodus 30:1-7 He says You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. … And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it,(ESV)
• In Leviticus 1:14-17 He says If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons. And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. He shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes. He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (ESV)
• In Leviticus 22:29-31He says And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD. "So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD. (ESV)

     God wants all these things from Israel yet Isaiah says Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. "When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Isaiah 1:10-15 (ESV)

     Did you see that? There was no delight in their sacrifices, their offering were vain, their incense was an abomination, and their feasts were hated Why Because they were no longer real, their hearts were far from God, they were just going through the motions. (Isaiah 29:13)

     In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul tells us that without love we're meaningless. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (ESV) but the love that we are to have is to be real

• 1 Peter 1:22 - Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)
• Romans 12:9 - Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. (HCSB)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• Are you loving others as you should?
• Is your love for real or pretend?

VALENTINE BUGS

But I say to you, Love your enemies - Matthew 5:44a (ESV)

      It was a few days before Valentines day and Mindy Miller was having a horrible day. “Maybe Stella can help me find a way out of doing it.” she thought to herself as she pounded on the Peterson's back door. After what seemed like ages, the door opened and she was greeted by a friendly “Hi Indy.” by Stella's Grandpa.

     “Indy who?” Mindy snapped. “Indy five hundred, that's who.” Robert Grey answered and than started laughing. “You're weird” Mindy told him, “And, why do you keep calling me Indy?” “I guess I just have trouble telling you and your sister apart.” Robert told Mindy. “Well, it's not that hard,” Mindy said in disgust, “I'm the one that is blue.”

     “Now that you mention it.” Robert said, “You do seem a bit sad.” “I meant I was wearing blue.” Mindy snapped back, “Is Stella here?” “Well, why don't you wear red?” Robert asked as if he never heard Mindy's question, “I think red would look great on you, besides, it is almost Valentines day. Yes, I think you should wear red.”

     “Red!” Mindy shouted in disgust, “That's the color Cindy wears. Besides, I don't like red because I don't like Valentines Day.” “What's wrong with Valentines Day?” Robert protested, “It's a wonderful day.” “Not when you have to give ooey gooey cards to boys like Harold which you don't love.” Mindy complained, “Why in the world do we have to give them?”

     “Who's making you give them?” Robert asked “My teacher, for starters.” Mindy replied, “She says it tradition for everybody in class to give one to everybody else.” “I remember doing that.” Robert said with a smile, “And if I remember correctly, I couldn’t stand giving them to the girls. How could anybody love a girl?”

     “What's wrong with girls?” Mindy protested, “Boys are the problem. “So,” Robert said not wanting to argue about boys or girls, “Who else is making you give valentines cards?” “My parents!” Mindy scowled, “They said God wants us to love everybody.”

      “So, you're going to give valentine cards to everyone?” Robert asked. “Are you CRAZY?” Mindy blurted out, “I'm giving them bugs. Disgusting Valentine bugs.” "Well,” Robert smile, “If I know boys, they will probably like bugs better than an ooey gooey card.”

     “What?” Mindy shouted when she heard that, “You mean I would be doing something nice to them? AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH. I'm doomed, doomed, doomed. What am I going to do with all of these.... AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH the bugs got loose and they're crawling all over me.” And with those words, Mindy took off on a run.

     Let's start by talking about donkeys or should I say taking care of donkeys. Exodus 23:4-5 reads If you see your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering away, you must return it to him. If you see that your enemy’s donkey has fallen because its load is too heavy, do not leave it there. You must help your enemy get the donkey back on its feet. (NCV) You see, taking care of donkeys, especially those of your enemy was ordered by God and if you were to stop and think about it,we could substitute the donkey for many other things. Showing kindness, even to ones enemies, is one way to show love and the day we tend to celebrate love on is just around the corner.

     Now it's easy to be kind and loving towards those who are nice to us but what about those who are not, those we might want to consider our enemies. Let's look at how Joseph, Moses and David acted.

• Genesis 45:1-11 - So Joseph said to them, “Come close to me.“ When the brothers came close to him, he said to them, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold as a slave to go to Egypt. Now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me here ahead of you to save people’s lives. … I will care for you during the next five years of hunger so that you and your family and all that you have will not starve.’ (NCV) - Joseph was treated meanly by his brothers. He could have been mean back.
• Numbers 12:1-13 - Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife (he had married a Cushite). … The LORD was very angry with them, and he left. When the cloud lifted from the Tent and Aaron turned toward Miriam, she was as white as snow; she had a skin disease. Aaron said to Moses, “Please, my master, forgive us for our foolish sin. Don’t let her be like a baby who is born dead. So Moses cried out to the LORD, “God, please heal her!” (NCV) – Moses was treated meanly by his brother and sister. He didn't have to pray for his sister's healing.
• 1 Samuel 24:2-10 So he (King Saul) took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and began looking for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats. Saul came to the sheep pens beside the road. A cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were hiding far back in the cave. The men said to David, “Today is the day the LORD spoke of when he said, ’I will give your enemy over to you. Do anything you want with him.’ “ Then David crept up to Saul and quietly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. … When David came out of the cave, he shouted to Saul, “My master and king!“ … The LORD put you in my power in the cave. They said I should kill you, but I was merciful. I said, ’I won’t harm my master, because he is the LORD’S appointed king.’ (NCV) – Saul was looking for David to kill him and had already tried once before. David could have killed Saul to protect his own life.

     What would you have done if you had been in any of these men's spots.

• Jesus said - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. - John 15:12 (ESV)

     That may be easy if they're not against you but.....

• Proverbs 24:17 - Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, (ESV)
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (ESV)
• Matthew 5:44 - But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (ESV)
• Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (ESV)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• Are you a person that is lovable by all?
• Do you love the unlovable as God does?

LENDING A HAND

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

      Randy Smith leaned back in his chair at put his feet on his desk not sure if he should take a quick nap or continue working on his message for the evening youth group meeting. Seeing how it was a full month into the new year, he thought he would revisit the idea of keeping ones new years resolutions. He knew that many members in the youth group had made them and wanted to encourage them in their efforts.

     As He was about to drift off, Randy heard a loud crash coming from the fellowship hall. Quickly, he jumped to his feet and ran to see what crashed and if anybody was hurt. What he found was a Barney Lee laying under a ladder and what appeared to be decorations scattered all over the floor. “Are you okay?” Randy asked as he stood the ladder back on it feet.

     “I'm fine.” Barney assured him, “I wasn't on the ladder when it tipped over.” “What are you doing any ways?” Randy asked seeing Barney wasn't hurt. “I was working on decorating for the youth group meeting tonight.” Barney told him, “I thought I would put up some of these New Years decorations since you said you would be talking about new years resolutions.”

     “Well,” Randy said, “I'm still planing on doing it. And I'm thinking of using Harold as my example. What do you think?” “No good.” came Barney's short reply. “He quit.” “I thought he was doing a great job of keeping his promise to keep his room squeaky clean.” Randy commented, “Did something go wrong?

     “Plenty” Barney scoffed, “Under neath that squeaky clean image, Harold was still Harold. His being good and looking clean was just like the Pharisees in the New testament.” “Are you referring to the ones Jesus called white washed sepulchers?” Randy asked a little curious, “Are you saying Harold was only trying to look good on the outside?”

     “Well, sort of.” Barney answered, “I think he really was trying to change and be good.” What happened?” Randy wanted to know. “He was trying to change from the outside in.” Barney answered, “But that doesn't work. When I went over to help him clean up the mess that Stella had made he said he didn’t want to clean it up, He said he missed the mess, and could never find anything.”

     “I thought he couldn't find anything before?” Randy thought out loud. “That's true.” Barney agreed, “I once spent three hours in his room looking for something which I never did find but hat's not the real reason he didn't want to clean up his room.” So what was the real reason?” Randy asked, wondering if he would find a way to salvage his message he had based on Harold's hard work.

     “Laziness.” Barney answered, “He said it was just too hard to keep being the good Harold. However he did think it was fun seeing Stella suffer.” “Sounds like you are right.” Randy said as he shook his head, “Harold never changed on the inside.” “He needed to change from the inside out.” Barney added, “We need God's help if we're really serious about change.” “Well,” Randy sighed, “I'm going to need God's help to fix my message now.

     Have you ever given up on something because it was too hard? Sometimes, when we make a New Years resolution, we start out with great intentions but when things become a little difficult, we're done. Sometimes being lazy is the easy way out. The change we set out to accomplish – if your resolution involved change – is set aside and forgotten.

      In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"

Nehemiah 2:1-3 (ESV)

     

     Nehemiah was saddened because of the destruction of the walls of Jerusalem. The king notices and gives Nehemiah permission to rebuild. Building a wall with God and the king on your side should be easy but it wasn't. The story of the rebuilding of the wall can be found in Nehemiah 4:1-23 if you would like to read through the entire story.

     As the story progresses we find that trouble comes in the form of jeering, taunting, mocking but instead of giving in we find that Nehemiah prayed, turning the problem over to the Lord so he could continue building the wall.

     The problems didn't go away and soon the enemies decided to go a step further. Instead of jeering and taunting and mocking, they decided to fight and cause confusion. Once again, Nehemiah prayed, set a guard as protection, and kept building.

     When the enemy threatened to kill them since nothing else was working, Nehemiah changed tactics. He still kept working on the wall but now he had half of the people armed and watching while the other half did the work.

     The wall was built.

     As we live the Christian life we can be assured that difficult times will come - 2 Timothy 3:1 says But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (ESV) In Ephesians 6:12 we are reminded that we struggle against spiritual forces For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV) Since we will have difficulties and struggles, we need to Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) If we do that we may be able to stand with Paul and say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Are you a quitter or do you push on and complete tasks at hand despite difficulties.
• Do you ever become the source of struggles for others keeping them from completing their tasks.