Are you kidding me?! There are some mornings when I read God’s Word and a few verses may stick in my mind. Sometimes, I’m begging God to help me understand what He wrote. But not today… No way! Today’s readings were slam full of great, useable, teachable, and understandable verses.  Here’s a few for you to read, know, and love:
Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:18 “Do what is good and right in the Lord’s sight”
(These are two verses that I say and pray daily to, for, and/or with my kids.)
Deuteronomy 6:7-21…The Ten Commandments! (Hello!!)
Luke 6:27-28, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (It’s hard, but so worth it in the end. It will probably keep your heart rate and blood pressure down too. Haha)
Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (The “Golden Rule”!)
Luke 6:32-36, “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!  And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. ³You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” (I’m coming back to this one as a devotion in a minute.)
Psalms 40:6-10, “Lord, you made me understand this: You don’t really want sacrifices and grain offerings. You don’t want burnt offerings and sin offerings. So I said, “Here I am, ready to do what was written about me in the book. My God, I am happy to do whatever you want. I never stop thinking about your teachings.” I told the good news of victory to the people in the great assembly. And, LORD, you know that I will never stop telling that good news.  I told about the good things you did. I did not hide these things in my heart. I spoke of how you can be trusted to save us. I did not hide your love and loyalty from those in the great assembly.” (God doesn’t want anything but YOU! Step up. Share about Him. He loves you!)
Proverbs 10:9-11, “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold criticism promotes peace.The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.” (Be a person of integrity! Call people, or yourself, out when they are doing wrong.
I told you these verses were good. No… they are awesome!
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Now, for Luke 6:32-36. Just yesterday (God is so cool about doing that. He either gives me situations in my life then shows me scriptures that go with it, or vise versa. I’m impressed.  Anyhow…) I was having a conversation with someone. This conversation seems to be a repeated theme for the past few months.  My friend seems to be almost harsh and critical towards others who are not like her. Maybe not in front of the friends, but when this person confides in me her feelings are revealed. The faults in others are pointed out. I try to encourage my friend to find the good in others. She just says with a sigh, “I sure don’t see much good in them.” Oooo, can you hear the bitter tone in her voice? It makes me want to go grab a jug of really sweet southern tea and pour it down her throat.
In the book of Luke, he pens Jesus’ words about don’t do as the sinners do and only love, do good, and give only to those who you like.
I love the way The Message translation says it:  Luke 6:32-36, “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.”
I am going to send these words straight to my friend. I know she is a Christian, a child of God, and it is about time she hears a reminder on how to act from God.  Didn’t He just tell me in Proverbs 10:9-11 to not “wink” at the problem, but to have bold criticism? Okay, God, here I go.
“Lord, I thank You for Your wonderful teachings. I may see examples in others, but I know that I need to not look that far, but within myself too.  Forgive me of those times when I fail you. Help my friend to love others and to find the good in them. Help me to do the same. I love you, Lord. Amen.”

April 4