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Let's talk about Godly love

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Sorry oligos . But I want to know how to love in the face of adversity. When my enemy is focussing on my weaknesses. How do I love someone who repeatedly insults me? Should ignore them and leave?

What I tend to do us listen to them, even if it hurts. Then I search my heart to see if what they are saying is true.if it is true I have yet another fault to work on. If I don't think it's true I just forget about it. We have enough stress in life.
 
When it comes to bullies and other enemies I have to love them from a distance. I don't have to like them or interact with them. I can still stand up for myself. The love can be watered down and done in the name of Christ. That will take the sting out. In worst case scenarios, like Trump, I do not love but I acknowledge that God loves him. If this is a shortcoming or sin so be it. Evil people are not really loveable. Sometimes I do feel sorry for them. I am not sure if this is enough but I don't care.
 
There is such a contentment in my life right now. So much peace and joy
has replaced the stress I was feeling not to long ago. We all get that way once in a while.

I was laying on my couch thinking about that, and for some reason a poem came back to me from over 50 years ago that I had written, as an up and coming locally known poet and artist in SoCal.
I'll share it with you as a fun little private piece of me, as Susannah did, before I came to know Christ. Life was very good when I wrote this, as it is now. I had a new beautiful baby girl, and my world was PERFECT !!!
Nice to have such beautiful memories.

CONTENTMENT

Contentment wears the face of grace, and cradles the heart with peace.
It covets our minds, and endows our soul with wisdom patience, and truth.

I haven't thought about that for almost 50 years, but it has a soothing, warm,
and calming peaceful tone to it.

My little girl was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life, and not much has compared to her since.
What a total joy.

My name is OLIGOS
 
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Stunning . . . a baby being loved and cherished by a father is the most beautiful thing in the world to me. It has not always been so. At least in my life. In the old days all the love came from mom. But now God has fixed all that. Hallelujah.

I wrote this for my daughter in 1969. . .

Sunday's Child

When you were born
You clung to me.
The bond was there
It's plain to see.

The early months
Were never dull.
No rest, no quiet;
Not even a lull.

But after a time
You quieted down;
Moments of ease
I finally found.

Then came the years
That were pleasant & mild;
After all, sweetheart,
You were Sunday's child.

You had a gift
Right from the start;
The sweetness and charm
Of a child pure in heart.

And now that you're grown
You're still special I see;
Still kind and loving,
And God's gift to me.

Susan Peabody
I lost Kathy in 2010.


The scent of flowers is in the air.
And I think of my precious daughter.
Who shall live in my memory forever,
Like a warm summer's breeze.
And I know not whence she came,
Or whither she goes.
But I suppose,
She goes where love abides.

 
My daughter was born on January 12th 1969. What is your daughter's birthday? Cherish every moment with your daughter!
 
Hi every one :wave
To me, Godly love is a huge topic all throughout the entire bible.
Today, we don't often hear much about it even in church, and
how to apply it to those around us, and to loving God Himself.

In these troubling times all over the world, maybe the timing is
right to give people an opportunity to have a place where Godly
love is the focus and main topic to discuss and share opinions, beliefs,
and experiences, and even give kindly advise and answer questions
about a topic that could be foreign, even uncomfortable to admit not
understanding it, which I didn't the first 20 years of my Christian walk.

I was totally clueless and felt like it was beyond me.

All of 1st Corinthians 13 made me feel like I may be a lost cause, as I
saw no way to ever be like it says that we should be.

But after 20 years of not getting "it", my desire for "Godly love, and the
ability to understand it" began to grow, and then after another "20 years"
of the Holy Spirit stepping in to my life to help me,
I can see, at least to me, that it's a topic that has a 'major place" of discussion in all forums, if people are
willing to see the importance and relevance in today's violent society.

If you would, give me some feedback folks, and lets start some discussions to
help each other learn and grow together, about this vastly misunderstood character
trait of Gods called Godly love, and how is that Godly love supposed to work in our lives.

God bless you all for looking in, and I hope your attracted to the topic and want to
give some feedback, and maybe add a thread that fits into our discussion here.

My name is OLIGOS

I just recently posted a thread about the same subject. And also is wondering why there's such little preaching, teaching about it. (Rhema!)
So like I said before there is two kinds of love. Agape love and logos love.
God kind of love and man kind of love.

This is humbly said the single most important subject ever to be learnt by man. It's Agape!
 
What I tend to do us listen to them, even if it hurts. Then I search my heart to see if what they are saying is true.if it is true I have yet another fault to work on. If I don't think it's true I just forget about it. We have enough stress in life.

And we as Christians are to "set the captives free"
Many want to be free, nevermind those who don't... :sad
 
Love is patient
Humble Soul is not
How does love handle bullies?
Surely not by being kind?

"Always remember that the enemy is never the enemy in their own eyes. This may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, then you can kill him without anger or hatred, and quickly."
Lazarus Long
 
I just recently posted a thread about the same subject. And also is wondering why there's such little preaching, teaching about it. (Rhema!)

Link1983
I'll start out by qualifying my response, because your question is INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

For about 10 years now, I have believed for myself that I needed very strong foundational convictions as the basis of my faith to grow from - I NEEDED MY FOUNDATION !! MY ABSOLUTES !! MY STANDARDS !!
A few examples:
The way I was saved. NO WAVERING!!
That the Holy Spirit lives inside me. NO WAVERING !!
That I can choose by sinning to lose my salvation, by not turning away and seeking God for forgiveness. NO WAVERING !!
The "TRINITY" is real. NO WAVERING !!
FEW who claim to be believers will go to heaven. NO WAVERING !!

I'll like to give you my opinion about your question by starting out with a few verses from scripture, that as a group of verses, clearly state that "FEW" calling themselves believers will enter into heaven !!

Matthew 7: 14 Jesus says, "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and "Few" are those who find it.
Luke 13: 23-24, (23)Someone said to Jesus, Lord, are there just a few who are being saved (So, we're talking about believers here not the lost),
and Jesus said to "them" (Standing there listening to this conversation),
(24) "Strive to enter by the narrow door, for MANY, I tell you, will seek to enter, and will not be able.
Notice the similarities between the first and second verse.

To me this last verse I'm quoting is the "capper" for me about who goes to heaven, and is a "Major" part of my Christian foundations !!

Matthew 7:21 Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven"...!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok. The reason I make such a big deal about the "FEW", is because what God says about it, and how it fits in with the rest of what is said in my following commentary.

Alright now, think about this - ("Sorry this is so long" !!!!)

God warns us over and over that there will be false teachers and false believers (Verses coming later - I PROMISE).

If you keep up on what is happening in the church culture today, all over the world (Internet search), you'll find there is a "mass exodus" taking place in all doctrines of faith - ALL!!!

Tens of thousands are leaving the churches, all over the world, many wanting something more "AUTHENTIC AND TRUTHFULL".
They are tired of the lies of the false teachings, tired of the hypocrisy, tired of seeing their tithes used to build more grandiose facilities to worship in. TIRED OF IT ALL.
While some leave the church and God completely, many (Of the "FEW") stay with the Lord and find alternative ways to continue in their faith.

I have been blessed to have several of these who have left the church, but stayed with God, including pastors who were fired for preaching the truth, to come into my life and tell their story, some still in my life today and friends and brothers in Christ that I fellowship with.
We have a common bond in our convictions and CHRIST.

As we get closer to the return of Christ, the topic of love has been nearly completely excluded from the Christian faith, because it's the "foundation of our faith", and if "satan" can do his 'Evil best", through evil men, by selectively choosing topics to preach on that are "Popular" with the congregations, and keep more coming to hear what they "WANT" to hear, not what they "NEED" to hear, satans desire to destroy will be, and is going to be, accomplished !!

VALIDATING VERSES I PROMISED YOU ABOVE.

1st John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit (Teacher), but test the spirits (Teachers) to see whether they are from God.

1st Timothy 4:1, "But the Spirit (Holy Spirit) "Expressly states" that in later times (Are we there yet?), some will abandon the faith (Truth), to follow deceitful spirits (Two kinds of spirits here), and the teachings of "Demons" (False teachers - SAID STRONGLY), influenced by the hypocracy of liars, who's consciences are seared with a hot iron. (PRETTY STRONG LANGUAGE)

Finally,
Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but it's end is the way of death.

If any of you read this until the end, God bless you.
This question is probably one of the most important question that anyone could ask in these "LAST DAYS."

My name is OLIGOS
 
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I read to the very end. Can I get a star for this. I share your concerns. What kept me connected was some of the tenants of progressive Christians. I was encouraged that Christianity, as a religion, could be saved. It is already perfect when it comes to its idea about loving everyone. That is the foundation I stand on.

Here is one of my radical ideas.

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is like the wind and blows where it will. Therefore, I believe the Holy Spirit, under certain circumstances, comes to non-Christians. The Holy Spirit came to me in 1982, but God wanted me to spend 35 years working with agnostics in recovery, so he did not reveal the whole truth until 2015 when he came to me in a dream and told me everything that was written about him in the Bible was true. What a blessing that was. We must not abandon Christianity, but it does need some changes. No more inquisitions for example.
 
Here is one of my radical ideas.

I believe the Holy Spirit, under certain circumstances, comes to non Christians.

Hey Susannah
What's so radical about that?

He came to us all when He "Drew" us to Christ through others !!!

From looking back at my life, I can see where He was all around me, protecting me and providing for me.

He wasn't in me yet, through salvation, but He certainly was very close to me.

Here's a Pepsi for making it to the end of my last post :pepsican.
My name is OLIGOS
 
Sorry, but sometimes testimonies can be long in order to bring a point across.

I first came to the Lord in 1972 at the age of 17, but walked away from Him so many times. My life became a roller coaster ride whipping me around every bend as I endured so much physical and mental abuse from two failed marriages, but yet going to church off and on. I know at that time I really did not know that much about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but knew God brought me out of some difficult situations that I could have died from.

Physical abuse will heal, but mental abuse stays with you. One church I was attending actually gave me no help with what I was dealing with emotionally. All I got from that Pastor was a pat on the back as he told me I was a strong person and could handle my problems. All that got me was considering suicide because I could no longer live with these demons tormenting me emotionally. I actually told God if He did not help me I was going to kill myself.

God does answer prayer. The next day I saw an add in the paper for a Christian concert in the mountains (I live in PA) and knowing how Christian music always made me feel good (temporarily) I decided to go. When I got there all these people from the church that put on this concert and teachings came up to me and made me feel so welcomed liked I actually fit there. When the music was done and the preaching began I got up to leave as I didn't want to hear any more preaching that had nothing to do with my situation.

Here is where answered prayer took place. As I was walking to my car the first thing this Pastor said was you are the head and not the tail, Deuteronomy 28:13. I thought, OK God you got my attention and I walked back to hear the most amazing preaching/teaching that I have ever heard. That day in 1997 I gave my whole heart to God and laid my entire burden down at His feet. The transformation He made in me that day changed my life forever as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit was so powerful within me that it knocked me to the ground and I laid there most of the day and part of the evening as God did an amazing work in me. While laying there being in the Spirit I saw dark clouds waving over me like the clouds do when a storm is rolling in. Then the most brilliant, beautiful, warmest light broke through those clouds an a voice started speaking to me. I recognized the voice as being Christ Jesus. I kept telling Him I didn't want to live any longer and wanted to be with Him. He held me in His loving arms and told me it was not my time yet and He had much for me to do. I just laid there basking in His glory as He showed me what love truly is. It's a love that says you are the head and not the tail, Deuteronomy 28:13, 14. I will never leave you or forsake you as my love is Agape.

Since that time in 1997 I have been blessed with a Godly husband whom I call my gift from God of 22 years now. I was privileged with being a licensed Evangelist working in the Prison Ministry for a time and season through a Church I use to attend. I was also given opportunity to be involved in establishing a church in India and one here in my neighborhood, but unfortunately had to close it's doors to lack of funding from the congregation.

I praise the Lord for His mercy and grace that rescued me from the demons that surrounded me, tormenting me night and day. Never give up on God for He will never give up on you and waits patiently for us to humble ourselves before Him in order to give us the gift of a greater love that even now I can not fathom.
 
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