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Love is a Choice
    There have many opinions offered as well as followed concerning the subject of love, some are confusing while others are just ridiculous. I'm not trying to be critical but there are so many hurting people because of being mislead in this area. First of all the bible clearly states that walking in love has never been a suggestion but rather a commandment. 
 
     If we are commanded to love then we can understand it begins with a decision, we choose whether we will obey or not. Even though we are commanded to love He's not going to make us do it against our will. He gave us the right to choose, if He were going to make people do what He wanted according to His will then everyone would be saved. 2Peter 3:9 says He's not willing that anyone would perish but all would repent. Clearly salvation has been at His expense but the choice to receive lies within our realm of choice. Walking in love towards God and others begins by making a heart felt decision regardless of how we feel. 
   
     The expression of Love is not a feeling but an action and love is not built on a feeling but a commitment. Feelings always follow our commitments, what we are committed too we will stand, fight and even die for. Maybe you know or heard of someone who's marriage failed because one of the spouses said they didn't feel like they loved them any more. This is a sad but classic case of a lack of understanding, basing their most important human relationship on mere feelings. We should make a decision to cultivate our hearts towards love and not be lead around by our feelings. God Bless You;  
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Posted by James Miller at 9/30/2008 8:45 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Influence by Love
   Ever consider what methods we use to influence the world around us. Paul said in Romans 2:4 Do you despise the riches of his goodness and forebearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance?

  All to often we overlook the reason why God sent Jesus to the earth, which John 3:16 clearly states it was because of love. Not to condemn but save through the expression of love to mankind. Jesus said there's no greater love than laying down ones life for his friends John 15:13. Our efforts of influence should always be prompted by love as God's was for us. Without it we are missing the redemptive power of God as Paul said "goodness leads to repentance." We can major on the immorality of our day and use that to witness, but leave out love and become religious. As the body of Christ we are the dispensers of the love of God on the earth. 
        Let's not underestimate the power of love........   
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Posted by James Miller at 9/24/2008 9:30 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Commandments
    I was teaching on the subject of loving God and loving others, asking the question of how do we express our love towards God and man? Quoting what Jesus said in John 14:15 which says; If you love me keep my commandments.  I then proceeded by saying keep my commandments ; is to follow God by submitting to His word and ordering our lives accordingly. 

   After the class someone ask the question of which commandments are we supposed to keep because there are 613 laws in the Torah,meaning the first five books of the bible. To answer that question properly we must look to the New Testament. Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment?
His reply was simple; love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. He then went on to say hang all the law and the prophets on the commandment of love, James wrote saying that love was the Royal Law. 
Paul said in Romans 13:10 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. The law of love is the commandment we are to keep as new testament believers.

   Our lives should be expressing the love of God in all that we do and say. I realize we are not perfect and we will make mistakes but we should be striving to obey the command of love.

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Posted by James Miller at 9/23/2008 10:45 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Learn To Forget

 

   5-6-08
I think everyone’s had bad experiences they would like to forget. It’s not an uncommon thing for people to be haunted by an event of their past and struggle moving forward without the feelings of shame or regret. Paul the Apostle said; “this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind me.” The power to forget is within our realm of ability but it will take some work on our part. Forget by definition means; To treat with thoughtless inattention; To banish from one's thoughts: To disregard on purpose.

1. Make a heartfelt conscience decision to forget.

2. Start thinking about what you are thinking about.

3. Stop thinking about what you are trying to forget.

4. Faith is more powerful than feelings.

5. Refuse to allow the feelings of shame or embarrassment to control

you, by waging a verbal war against those feelings.

6. Say; I refuse to allow my past experiences and feelings to control the

way I feel, think and perform, my future is bright, filled with God’s

goodness and blessing for me.

I hope this will assist you on your road to recovery and healing of

your heart towards your past.
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Posted by James Miller at 5/6/2008 9:21 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Faith
2-26-08
Faith; what an important part of the life of the believer! The bible says numerous times that the just shall live by faith. Simply meaning those who are born again are expected to live a life that reflects their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul in writing to the church at Rome stated that “faith comes by hearing the word of God”. One important element that must not be overlooked or never forgotten is our relationship with God. Meaning this “ we cannot replace relationship with information”. If we look at faith as being trust or confidence in God, we can say our faith will never rise above our depth of relationship. I think it is possible for Christians to have the information about God but do not know him. If that’s the case then it becomes extremely difficult to trust someone you don’t know. Our deepest level of trust comes from a personal relationship with God Almighty. We are able to cultivate a relationship with God through His word which reveals His character. We must remember not to neglect His word or our relationship with Him.

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Posted by James Miller at 2/26/2008 3:15 PM | View Comments (0) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
The Power Of God

2-22-08
The power of God is resident within the believer. However it’s obstructed or released by what we believe to be true concerning it’s availability. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they would have a breakthrough in their understanding in relation to God’s power and the believer. In his epistle to the Romans he stated; that the power of God for salvation was readily available for those who believe. Not just a random believing but what was believed in relation to the gospel of Christ. Our believing must be rooted in this good news message of what Jesus did for man. He has redeemed us from sin and made the power of God available. Without power we are obviously powerless, unable to overcome the issues that we encounter in life. The power of God is available to make man free from the things that bind and imprison. Although this is true, without faith to access and release it in our lives and that of others we will remain victims of our ignorance. We must not forget that faith comes by hearing and understanding the word of God. God Bless You in your endeavors of spiritual growth.

 
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Posted by James Miller at 2/22/2008 4:30 PM | View Comments (0) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Medicine and Doctors

2-11-08
What about medicine, should a Christian take medicine or go to the doctor or just believe God?  Believing God is a must for all Christians. It should not be, do I take medicine or believe God? If I take medicine I should not dismiss faith, but use faith while I take medicine and believe God for quick recovery. We should not replace God with medicine and doctors, but use them to assist us in maintaining our health while we are growing in faith. Everyone must operate where they are in their faith and not where someone else may be. Learning to believe God and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit is a must for all believers. This is impossibility apart from the word of God being a relative part of our lives. Paul said faith comes by hearing the word of God, which conveys the idea of no word no faith. Don’t starve your faith by staying inactive where the word is concerned. Starve your dependency where medicine is concerned by growing in faith. Don’t condemn yourself or others over the need for medical assistance. Let’s all grow together and walk in another level of faith.  Do you have a testimony you would like to share of how believing God has worked for you? It would be a blessing to others who are facing health issues. 
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Posted by James Miller at 2/11/2008 4:12 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Finding our Place
2-01-08
God has set every member in the body as it has pleased Him. God is the one who decides where we fit in the body, it’s our responsibility to find out where and then follow His lead. To accomplish this most important task we must be willing to be lead by the witness of the Holy Spirit. Say to God how important it is to you that His will be fulfilled and not your own, show me where I am to go. This must be a strong desire and major priority to avoid being trapped by well meaning people. Relationships come with influence and because of this it’s possible to over ride the leading of the Lord, blinded by familiarity that comes with relationships. God has an ordained place for everyone, where we can flow, grow and fulfill His plan for our lives.

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Posted by James Miller at 2/1/2008 11:55 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
New Years Resolutions

1-08-08

The new year will stir the hearts of many to make life changing resolutions, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Some stay away from making resolutions because of not keeping the previous commitments, while others think it’s just a waste of time. Regardless of what people think or do there’s a powerful truth connected to making a resolved heart decision.
   Without making a decision to change or deal with a particular issue in our life, more than likely we will continue to live on and do the same things. The book of James says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways and is unable to receive anything from the Lord. This describes someone who is indecisive and unable or unwilling to make a decision. This person is inhibiting God from getting involved with him. He cannot receive anything from the Lord because there’s no decision made. God needs us to make a decision of faith to attack or subdue areas of our life that has been out of control. He will help and assist us with the proper wisdom, grace and people to get us through the time of change. Go ahead and make some new year resolutions and watch God help you improve your life as you continue to walk with Him.

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Posted by James Miller at 1/8/2008 4:25 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Season Of Love

12-11-07
What a wonderful time of the year! The Christmas season brings families together in giving, fellowshipping and the sharing of love. This is an event that reminds us of the greatest expression of love, which we find in John 3:16. God’s love for man goes beyond human limitations and expectation toppling any religious attempt to contact God and gives Himself for us. Jesus said there’s no greater love than that expressed by the laying down of ones life for his friends. Jesus laid down His own life that we may experience the love of God that passes mere knowledge, perceivable by personal experience. A season of love that’s to be valued and cherished by all. Merry Christmas!!!!!!

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Posted by James Miller at 12/11/2007 4:00 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
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