Be Quick to Listen

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. — James 1:19 

God is asking us to pay close attention to Him.

Everyone. should be quick to listen.

Actively listening to our friends, family members, and neighbors.

Then biting our tongues.

And taking our time to respond.

Asking God to direct our words.

Slow to speak.

Slow to become angry.

All in the Lord.

Anyone Who Loves God Must Also Love Their Brother

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. —1 John 4:20-21 

If we don't love our families, who we've seend, how can we love God, who is unseen?

God commands us to love others.

And he calls us liars if we claim to love God but hate our brothers.

He calls us liars if we claim to lvoe God but hate our sisters.

God has a better plan.

Whoever loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Between the Two of You

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. — Hebrews 15:18

Sometimes it's hard to keep things just between two of us.

We want to spread the word.

And show that we're in the know.

But when we point out someone's fault privately, they can work on it themselves.

When we gossip, it's just like this alligator at the zoo.

Way too much to handle.

If they listen, you have won them over!

Praise the Lord.

Love Your Brother and Sister

For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. — 1 John 4:20-21 

It's not always easy to love our family. members.

I think that's why God puts us in families - so we can learn to do hard things.

Including loving our brothers and sisters, even when they upset us.

Even when we're not kind to them.

Especially when we let frustrations get in the way.

God commands us to love them anyway.

If we love God, we must also love our brothers and sisters.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us of this Scripture.

With God's help, we can do it well!

Understand This!

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. — James 1:19

It's sometimes hard to listen to the people around us.

Even when we care about them.

They can sound like so much noise and it can be easy to tune them out.

I may want to speak over them or interrupt them.

But God calls me to listen first.

He commands me to bite my tongue and stifle my anger rather than letting emotions get the best of me.

My mom used to say, "I just bite my tongue until it's bloody" so I don't speak too quickly or at all.

Very good advice.

Anyone Who Loves God Must Love Their Brother

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. — 1 John 4:21 

God has commanded us to love others.

Sometimes it's hardest to love those who are members of our earthly families.

But God reminds us that anyone who loves God must also love their brother.

Not just their brothers in Christ.

And anyone who loves God must also love their sister.

Even if we don't get along.

Even when we don't agree.

We show our love for God by. how we show our love to others.

Even when it's not convenient.

Even when it's not part of my plan or I have other things to do.

Or other places to be.

Help me, Lord, to love you with all of my heart and mind.

Love Your Brother and Sister

For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. — 1 John 4:20

Today we start a new Bible study on Exodus.

We'll read through 18 chapters in just ten weeks.

And discover what God instructed Moses to communicate to us in His Word.

And how God delivers us to live for Him.

Kirk's current adult Sunday school class is on the Ten Commandments.

He's teaching us how God's rules free us to live in God's will and word in the world.

Very complementary studies!

Looking forward to it.

Loving Our Brothers and Sisters

He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. —
1 John 4:21

It is not always easy to love our brothers and sisters.

But God commands us to do just that, if we love Him.

Because God first loved us, we are called to love others.

Even when it's hard; even when we aren't sure how to be pleasant and nice.

But with God's help, we can love others, even when they are not very lovable.

God has commanded us: if we love God, we must also love our brothers and sisters.

Happy Birthday, Steve!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

Today is my brother Steve's birthday. 

When he was born, he was premature so he had to stay in the hospital for a few weeks.

My mom and dad had adopted him, so when he came home to our house, he was my little brother.

He was scowling much of the time so my sister and I were instructed to smile like crazy every time we passed his crib.

From his smile today, it apparently worked!

You would also never guess he was a premi!

He now towers over me.

What a treat to get to sing next to him at church today.

In God's House

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” — Psalm 122:1
 

First Presbyterian Church San Diego

As a young child, my mom used to sing this verse to me, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." The song was a simple melody written for preschoolers and kindergarten children, and I can still hum the tune.

It does make me glad to worship God at church each week, to stand and sing His praises and to listen to His Word. The Scriptures are alive and active and speak to me in a different way each time I hear them.

The words don't seem to change, but the Holy Spirit works in me and the message is usually just what I need to hear.

Yesterday my brother Steve joined us at church. What a huge surprise and and a blessing to worship next to him once again! Over the past year he has been working overtime six days a week, and it was great to have him back with us, singing together in the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced!