EARTHLY LOVE & CHRISTIAN LOVE
EARTHLY LOVE & CHRISTIAN LOVE
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)
The primary goal of every Christian family should be to serve God and follow His plan and instruction.
The life of Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of how to live a Christian life and how to serve God and others. As Christians we should
follow His example – our teacher and our God. One of the lessons Lord Jesus Christ taught us is how He demonstrated His love towards all humanity. He loved us to the point that He gave His life for us so we can enjoy Salvation, Redemption, and Eternal Life.
“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
When we think of love, we feel happy and warm inside for love is the most natural thing people feel. God instilled it in us so we can experience His love for ourselves and love for each other.
There are two different kinds of Love:
EARTHLY LOVE
It is based on the feelings and the desire for either intimacy with another person or possession of an object.
Earthly Love is the love of pleasure, lust, money, food, learning, fame, success, or respect from others, among others.
That is why this type of love is either a temporary or conditional pleasure, where the giving is motivated by the desire to receive in return.
CHRISTIAN LOVE
God is the source and the focus of this kind of Love.
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart, with all your Soul, and with all your Mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Christian Love is not:
• Defined by worldly standards (emotional love that lasts for a while then fades away)
• Conditional Love (expecting in return)
• A worldly Love
Christian Love is a virtue that results in commitment to the truth (we love because we were first loved).
Lord Jesus Christ is our example of True Love:
• Lord Jesus Christ loved His Father and demonstrated humility and obedience that guided all His actions during His life on Earth.
• Lord Jesus Christ loved all His enemies and never held a grudge against anyone, not even the ones who persecuted Him; rather He prayed for them on the Cross.
• This level of love sets the standard for us – what we should be like and how should we react when we are oppressed, persecuted, or not loved by others.
• Lord Jesus Christ did not seek to control people, but He respected their freedom of choice, including the freedom to refuse Him as a Savior.
• Lord Jesus Christ cared for and listened to others without being judgmental. Rather, He understood their circumstances and offered them a way to overcome them.
• Lord Jesus Christ took the form of a servant to teach us and show us how to serve one another in Love and Humility.
• Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the moneychangers and the merchants and asked them to take their business out of the temple because of His Love for God.
• Lord Jesus Christ’s suffering and death on the Cross demonstrated His Love for all mankind in order to free them from Sin.
• Lord Jesus Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it.
Therefore, as Christian families, we ought to do the same and love one another in the family and outside the family as much as Christ loved us.
First Corinthians 13:1-2 teach us that Love is the Foundation for All Virtues:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
Because Love is the Heart and the Soul of Christianity, it must be at the center of every Christian virtue.
Without Love, we cannot have a relationship with God. Without Love the Holy Spirit will be dimmed in our Hearts and, consequently, we will not have and/or enjoy the fruits of the Spirit.
Therefore, when everything in our life is going well and nothing is troubling us, we should question ourselves: Is everything okay with our Spiritual Life? Are we learning anything? Are we working to better ourselves?
This does not mean that life in Christianity is stormy. On the contrary, Christian life is peaceful and full of joy – Christ’s Peace and Joy. Consequently, when unhappiness or life’s storms come knocking on our doors, we will be able to deal with them without losing our joy and peace and without being swallowed by it.
As Christians growing in our relationship with God, our Spiritual Growth is achieved one step at the time until we have the Holy Spirit ignited in our Hearts, He who will help us reach our goal of Eternal Life with God.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
The Epistle to the Galatians lists the fruit of the Spirit, which we enjoy and experience once the Holy Spirit is ignited in our Hearts.
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
LOVE
When God’s Love flows through us, we will be able to love everyone and reach out to others. Love will make the others’ fruit of the Spirit flow in us.
JOY
This feeling comes from the realization that God is in control of our lives, no matter how bad the situation may seem.
PEACE
Peace is the consequence of trusting God and His promises, being aware that we are in God’s hands, and that God will give us what we can handle and what is right for each one of us. It is being sure that God will never forsake us and that He will help and protect us.
LONG-SUFFERING
It is the ability to endure our own circumstances and be patient with others in any situation, because we trust that God is watching over us at all times.
KINDNESS
When the Love of God starts to flow in us and the Holy Spirit is ignited in our Hearts, we will be able to be kind to others regardless of the situation. Only then will we be able to affect other people’s lives and change their attitudes.
GOODNESS
It is to be good in everything we do and to everyone we meet. Goodness is the quality that allows others to see God in us and leads them to Repentance.
FAITH
It is a complete trust in God’s Love – to feel His Divine presence in our life, to witness His power, and to experience His work in us.
GENTLENESS
Gentleness is the willingness to help others with kindness and be willing to forgive their wrong doing or gently bring it to their attention, in order for them to change their way, rather than accusing them of it.
SELF-CONTROL
Self-control is when we believe with all our Heart that we are in the Presence of God at all times. It is His presence that protects us from committing any wrong act. It is also the ability to control some desires of the flesh and submit our life to God’s Plan and Wisdom.
Aquila and Priscilla were an amazing married couple at the time of St. Paul.
Their love for God, devotion towards him and devotion towards other people was demonstrated in their teamwork, obedience, and wish to teach the Word of God.
“So Apollos began to speak boldly in the synagogue, when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” (Acts 18:26)
• They knew the Word of God and practiced it in their lives
• They provided a home for St. Paul (Act 18:1-2)
• They helped Apollo and explained to him the Word of God more accurately (Act 18:26)
• Their Hearts were open to serve God and those in need
• In Romans 16:3-4, St. Paul says, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.”
That is what Love in the Christian family should be all about: readyness, willingness, and the ability to serve the Lord anywhere, in any way, at any time, and at any cost.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
SOUL ENERGY NOOSPHERE REGULATORS & THE LOVE OF GOD
SOUL ENERGY NOOSPHERE REGULATORS & THE LOVE OF GOD
Soul Energy Noosphere Regulators increase the Divine Love, Faith, Hope and Light within every part of your Human Energy Structure!
By holding Soul Energy Noosphere Regulators in your Energy Field you can:
• PRAY with all your Heart, invite God in and tell Him that your wish is to serve Him, that you hope to change just one life (even if it is your own), and that you long to be part of His body.
• MEDITATE on the Word of God in the Holy Bible, in order to have intimacy with God and know His will for your life.
• ATTEND THE CHURCH and do Holy Bible studies, so that you come closer and closer to God as you get to know Him better and to ignite the Holy Spirit in your Heart, which will guide you throughout life.
Soul Energy Noosphere Regulators will help you to follow God’s plan: with love, understanding, and patience.
IN FAMILY LIFE, Soul Energy Noosphere Regulators will help you better understand your role and will show you the right way to treat others:
• Husbands – should not only provide for their families, but they should also love their wives and children, and be the Spiritual guide and Leader in the family.
• Wives – Although more and more wives are breadwinners these days, that does not change the foundation of the Christian family, where the wife should submit to, help and respect her husband.
• Children – should obey their parents and grow in God’s Love and Knowledge.
• Work as a team – This is one of the blessings of married life. When functioning well as a team, couples can share joy, compassion, strength, friendship, and also guide each other through difficult times.
• Learn to be one – This will happen when you accept the Holy Spirit as your guide and work as a team.
• Accept the other person the way that they are and embrace them – overlook small irritations, blemishes, and foolish acts and respond with love and understanding.
• Look for potential rather than problems.
• Do not let unloving feelings creep into your marriage.
• Put the good of your spouse before your own.
• Understand that it is not your job to change each other, but rather to accept one another and love each other unconditionally. Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you to a better life.
• Serve others as a couple – the true Christian Love motivates us to do God’s Will.
It is God’s Love and Grace that work in us to give us the power and the ability to accomplish our tasks. We must not forget that our priority is to serve each other and our family first before we can commit to anything else on the outside, because we want to have God’s blessing in that service. Serving others does not require any special skill. One only needs to Love, to be motivated and to have a big Heart to serve.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR RESTORATION AND RECONCILIATION IN A BROKEN WORLD
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR RESTORATION AND RECONCILIATION IN A BROKEN WORLD
Each of us is created by God in His Image. However, each of us is unique, blessed with unique gifts and talents. We are each called by God to fulfill a role in the body of society, as well as the body of the Church. We each have a way that we can further the message of the Gospel.
LOVE IS NOT about what we know, or what we can do, or what we have, or who recognizes us for what we have and what we’ve done.
LOVE IS ABOUT being patient and kind, even to those who don’t deserve it. It’s about people being patient and kind to us, even when we don’t deserve it.
Love is not about being arrogant or rude, but about being humble and polite. Love is not about forcing things to happen, or forcing people to be things they don’t want to be. Love is not about manipulation, or shaming, or bullying, or gossiping. Love is not about rejoicing in what is wrong but celebrating what is right.
Love makes a person see a glass, as overflowing with possibilities, rather than half empty.
Love is something we all need. Love is something we all have the ability to give. While there is a diversity of gifts and talents in our society, love is what unifies us. We all need it and we all have the capacity to give it. Not everyone can work out complex math problems, or perform brain surgery.
But everyone can love, everyone can be patient, everyone can be kind.
That is why Love is the Greatest of the Gifts God gives. Because what good is anything if there isn’t love in it?! It is the greatest of gifts because everyone has it.
THE GREATEST GIFT IS LOVE – and no matter what gifts you have or don’t have, everyone has the ability to give and receive love.
In seeking healing of the Soul and the body, we all need some healing when it comes to love. We all need some healing when it comes to patience, to kindness, to humility, to politeness, and to optimism. Because no matter who we are, there isn’t a year (or a month, or maybe even a day) that doesn’t go by when we are impatient, or unkind, or prideful, or rude, or pessimistic.
We are all in need of healing when it comes to learning to love better, both to give love and to receive love. We are all in need of healing from all the things that go along with the love that we don’t do well all the time—being patient, kind, humble, polite, and optimistic.
The greatest of all healings is the wounded Heart that needs healing from when it is not loved, and healing for the times it doesn’t love as it should. We all have wounded hearts. They are all in need of healing. We all have beautiful hearts that are capable of healing the wounded hearts of others through love.
“You, Lord, Who loves mankind, and Who through Your Apostles mercifully gave us a caring command to anoint in holiness Your ailing servants, we pray that through their intercessions, You bestow Your seal of mercy on us all.”(1st Ode)
We work every day to perfect what we do. We try to be better at whatever role we play. Since we are all called to Love, let’s learn to Love better each day!
Sincerely,
Stella Kamenova
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