Ways to Show Love to Those You Love

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18 NIV).

The apostle John said it this way:
So, if love is action, what does love in action look like? Below are 14 ways - straight from Scripture - you can actively show love to the people you love.
1. Help them out of a tight spot - When Jesus attended a wedding with His mother, she asked Him to help the hosts when they ran out of wine. We may not be able to miraculously solve a problem, but God has gifted us in other ways to help. (John 2:1-11)
2. Get them help when you can't help them - A paralyzed man received healing from Jesus because his friends dropped him through a roof at Jesus' feet. They were willing to do whatever it took it to get help for their friend! (Mark 2:1-12)
3. Pray for them - The Bible is full of people praying for the ones they love. The church prayed for Peter in jail (Acts 12:5). Jesus prayed for the disciples (John 17:6-19). Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers (Ephesians 1:15-23).
4. Rebuke them when needed - Sometimes the best way we can love someone is by graciously confronting their sinful, destructive behavior (Proverbs 27:6, Matthew 18:15-17).
5. Freely forgive offenses - Jesus eliminated the limit on forgiveness when Peter asked how many times he should forgive (Matthew 18:21-22). Some hurts seem unforgivable, but with God's help it's possible to "promote love" through forgiveness (Proverbs 17:9).
6. Humbly serve them - Jesus set the example (John 13:1-17). He calls us – His followers - to also humbly and graciously serve others (Gal 5:13).
7. Meet their physical needs - Scripture is clear. If we see a brother in need, have the means to help but don't, our love for God should be questioned (1 John 3:17).
8. Rejoice and mourn with them - We show deep care for others when their hurts and joys are also ours. Don't hold back. Let the tears and the cheers flow! (1 Corinthians 12:25-26).
9. Show kindness to someone they love - King David expressed his deep bond of friendship for Jonathan by caring for Jonathan's crippled son Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-13).
10. Intercede with others on their behalf - Could your influence help a loved one? Barnabas smoothed the way for Paul with the Jerusalem church leaders (Acts 9:27-30). Paul wrote to Philemon appealing for Onesimus the runaway slave (Philemon 8-11).
11. Help two loved ones work out their differences - Does strife exist between two people you love? Be a mediator and help them mend their relationship. Paul asked the believers in Philippi to help two women in their church who were at odds (Philippians 4:2-3).
12. Introduce them to Jesus - Does a loved one desperately need to know Jesus? Share the Good News! Andrew introduced his brother Peter to Jesus (John 1:35-42).
13. Encourage and disciple them in their relationship with Christ - The author of Hebrews tells us to "spur one another on to good works" and "encourage one another" daily (Hebrews 10:24-25).
14. "Lay down your life!" - Seems pretty drastic, but that's exactly how Jesus showed His love for us (John 15:12-13). The basic principle has much broader application than actual physical death. Jesus calls us to unselfishly seek put others ahead of ourselves.
Wow! Buying a card and a box of chocolates is a lot easier. But Hallmark and Hershey don't say love like real love in action. Show somebody you love them today!

Just How Important is God’s Word?

This is copied to share the word of GOD
Just How Important is God’s Word?
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do (2 Timothy 3:16, NLT).
Friend to Friend
If we really want to know God, if we really want to understand who and whose we are, the Bible must have the highest place in our lives. We don’t have to be a Bible scholar or have a firm grip on the Hebrew and Greek languages to know and apply God’s promises. As we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will give us understanding and teach us how to apply God’s truth.
A disciple is a follower and a student. If we want to follow God and be His disciple, then we must understand the importance of the Bible, love the Word, and spend time in it. I thought I was doing a fair job of loving God’s Word until I was reading through the Old Testament and rammed right into Psalm 119. Within this passage, I discovered a test for us as believers that will help determine the importance we really place on God’s Word. Take this test with me to see if God’s Word has the place in your life that it should have.
    •    Is God’s Word more important than food?
Psalm 119:103 “Your promises are sweet to me, sweeter than honey in my mouth" (NCV). Here the Bible is described as honey and at other places in Scripture as milk or bread. The Bible is our spiritual food. God's Word sustains and strengthens us just as food sustains and strengthens our physical body.  We always find a way to eat, even if we must resort to eating fast food. Do we have the same depth of commitment to our spiritual growth and health as we do to satisfying the hunger pains of our human body?  
    •    Is God’s Word more important than money?
Psalm 119:72 “Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver” (NCV). Spiritual wealth is more important than human wealth. Do we really live as if that statement is true? I have a friend who is totally committed to God and to serving Him whole-heartedly. My friend is a garbage collector - a happy garbage collector. I once asked him why he was so happy in his work. "Mary, I collect garbage to pay the bills. My real passion in life is to share Jesus Christ and to serve Him with joy." Do we really live to know and share God’s truths?
    •    Is God’s Word more important than sleep?
Psalm 119:147-148 “I wake up early in the morning and cry out. I hope in Your word. I stay awake all night so I can think about your promises” (NCV). I know. Now God is getting personal. When we start talking about giving up sleep to read and study the Word of God, we are talking radical obedience.  Exactly! If we want to experience God's power in our lives, we have to saturate our lives with His Word.
How did you do? I will tell you honestly that I failed this test. I have walked with God for many years and I still do not have the hunger and thirst for God’s Word that I should have. If we listen carefully, I believe we can hear God say, “If you really want to get to know me, you have to know my Book.”
Jeremiah 2:32 “Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number" (NCV).
Jeremiah did not write these words to the unbeliever but to those of us who call ourselves “disciples” of Jesus Christ. I can hear the sorrow in His words, can’t you? They vividly portray the broken heart of a Father whose children have ignored Him and abandoned His words. I know what it does to me as a parent when my children do not listen to me or when they choose a path that is in direct opposition to one I would have chosen for them.  I can only imagine what it does to God’s heart when we go for days and even weeks or months without even picking up the Bible except as an accessory for others to see when attending church. To experience the power of God’s Word, we must make it important in our lives.
Let’s Pray
Father, I pray that You would give me a hunger and thirst for Your Word. I want to please You with my life through obedience to Your truths. I choose to spend time with You each day this week, studying the Bible. Will You please honor my commitment and empower me to keep it? When I fail, Lord, I choose now to forgive myself as You forgive me - and begin again.  
In Jesus’ Name, 
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn 
Set aside some time this week to re-evaluate your plan for reading and studying the Bible. Set new but realistic goals for daily Bible study. Next week, add 15 minutes each day to your study time.
More from the Girlfriends
The truth is - we find a way to do the things in life that are important to us. Our soul can only be nourished and fed by the Word of the Living God. How important is God’s Word in your life?
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