What a joy it is today. We have been working on ourselves inside out. We have found that we must first love ourselves before we can love others. We can care, be concerned, but truly until we experience self-love, the triggers, barriers that we have will be lifted and we then, will be able to provide that AGAPE love for our sisters and brothers.
As we love ourselves, we begin to see people with different eyes – without judgments just as Christ sees us. We are peaceful in time of trouble, we take action to help preserve life, and we empower and make disciples. We do that now, but we are selective – not all is because of us not loving ourselves; it is cultural, social economic, gender based and community.
With the availability of social technology, we are allowed to peek into the lives of others in real time and use our value system to determine what their values should be.
My heart has been broken. I have seen as well as you, so many tragedies in just this decade than I have seen in my entire lifetime and I was born in the 50’s. Look at the world -Family on family crime, atrocities against children, anguish amongst races, anger and dissension within our Christian community, and God help us with other faith traditions.
Today, I ask you to designate this day as a day of Prayer for all people. Start within your circle, using no judgments; if there is someone you want to come to Jesus, please pray for them for just that; not that they have sinned and fallen short as we all have, not because they have hurt you, but because you earnestly want them to experience the gifts and blessings that God has for them as reported and promised in Jeremiah 29 (MSG):
“This is GOD’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. “
After those prayers move out of your circle and pray. Pray when you see trash on the street that we learn to love and care for our planet; pray as you are in traffic and you see people around you; Pray today like you have never prayed before and watch God – watch God!
Rev. Jacki
