Gifted: To Love

John 3: 16-21    "For God so loved the world that He Gave His Son........"

              God Loved so God Gave                    I Believe so I Receive

Are you claiming that truth? Have you personally accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
That is first and foremost for anyone who claims to be a Christian. This step is a personal one, not on the faith basis of
a spouse, a parent, a preacher, a friend. It's yours to claim personally. Do so today if you haven't already. If you need help in this seek it out, talk to Pastor George, talk to an Elder Team Member, talk to a Christian friend, neighbor, co-worker. Ask God to help you to do this, it is the best decision that you will ever make, it's the most important decision that you will ever make. Don't delay!

Sunday Dec. 22nd, include in our Sunday Bulletin we were given a pamphlet title "The Cast of Christmas". It talks about the Angels, Shepherds, Kings from afar, plus others that are part of this story. Behind all of these characters is the truth of Christmas-God Gave His Son-the Kings of Kings, the Lord of Lords, to be our Savior in our brokenness. In it we read that "All the world is a stage. We aren't watching from the crowd, we are right in the thick of it!"  Jesus came into "the thick of it" with us.

Accepting Jesus, "I believe so I receive", also means that we want to be like Him. That we are to meld our hearts with the heart of Jesus-"He has come to change the script of our brokenness-to become our Savior-He joined our story to redeem it and make it beautiful again." And through that relationship with Him, he can shine through us into the brokenness of the lives of others on this world's stage.

We are Gifted: To Love            To have the heart of Jesus, because Jesus is Love.
The suggested Right Now Video to view in response to this week's message is Love Boldly
Are you bold in the way you love others? Unconditionally? Like Christ calls us to?
We are called to love boldly to have A Ministry in the Marketplace-right where we work, play, live. Most ministries happen outside the church walls, in the Marketplace. Our relationship with God is vertical. He calls us to share his love with others-that's horizontal, stretching out our arms in love just as He stretched out His arms in love for us.

In this Love Boldly video we watch 21 examples of what it means to Love Boldly. In viewing these 'Love" clips we learn how others have done just that. Being a witness at work; through a small group who Rescue a Family for a year; being a church that is not just event based, but daily serving, partnering with others in our community; finding ways to share your faith in a classroom; in a world of fashion; through the generosity of giving, even one of your kidneys. Being a missionary in your own community; a support group, a life group that meets tangible needs; giving people a little bit of God's love-because life is hard. The Lord does have a HOPE for everyone-we are to step our with good manners to share our faith boldly-be a friend.'

Another video suggested is "Love Works" by Joel Manby. He uses the 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 passage.
Patience-Kindness-Trusting-Unselfish-Truthful-Forgiving-Dedication.

• Patience-react to problems with calm and understanding
  
• Kindness-encourages and motivates, being intentional in your interactions
  
• Trusting-trust instills confidence
• Unselfish-to think about yourself less
• Truthful-kindness and patience when mixed with honesty
  
• Forgiving-we can never control what others do to us, releasing the grip of the grudge (pride)
• Dedication-a caring approach, stick to your values in all circumstances
  

These are timeless principles that work everywhere. It's the AGAPE love, unconditional, regardless how you feel about people. Love is a verb, an action.

Gifted: To Love - How are you doing your part in the Marketplace? How can we partner with another to love?

There is a story of a boy walking on the beach, throwing starfish back into the ocean. A passerby asked him why he was doing that, that there were so many starfish that he could not possibly throw them all back into the ocean. The boy picked one up and threw it back and said "well, it made a difference for that one".
We may not be able to help everyone, but how can we make a difference for just one? For a time, a purpose, making a difference in this world's Marketplace where God has placed us.

Larry & Darlene
Philippians 4:13