Love

 Love is the greatest commandment. God is love. Love is greater than faith and hope. Love never fails. These are all things the Bible says about love. It's important to know that love doesn't always do what is popular or favored but love always does what's best. Love doesn't tickle ears and pluck heartstrings, love fights tough battles and isn't always welcomed. Telling people what they want to hear isn't love because you don't really care about them, you only care about their opinion of you. I think it's important to understand this before we dive into what it means to love God, others and yourself.
 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34 NIV)
 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." That's the greatest commandment. The number one reason we should be living life is to bring glory to God. In everything, in our workplace, in our schools, in our homes, we should be showcasing our love for God.
 Loving God is important. How can we love other imperfect people if we can't love a perfect God. I think that's why this is the greatest commandment. We have to have a deep, personal, loving relationship with God before we can really understand what love is.
 The second greatest commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself". Loving others is important but it's not easy either. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul give a perfect description of what love is. The hardest part of living out that list is the fact that all those characteristics are unconditional. Love is ALWAYS kind, love is ALWAYS patient, love ALWAYS perseveres etc.
 I'll be the first to admit that I love people conditionally. There are coworkers, customers, and other people that I 'love' because they are nice to me. There are other people who I'm not so quick to love because it doesn't help me out in the end.
 Jesus loved the people everyone else hated. Jesus loved them unconditionally and he loved them without asking anything in return. Jesus loved tax collectors but never asked for money, he loved prostitutes but never asked for sex, he loved servants only to serve them in return. I think that shows us a perfect picture of loving others in action.
 God so loved the world that He gave, and didn't condemn. That's how our love for others should be. We need to love without condemnation. Condemning others as Christians makes God's love seem exclusive, and it isn't. It is freely given.
 Next, we need to learn to love ourselves unconditionally. The world tells us to love ourselves when we are successful. We think that because we didn't get that job or because we didn't get approved for that loan, or that a marriage didn't work out that we are failures and that we are unworthy of being loved. I failed the same English composition class in college three times and one of my hobbies is writing. I understand it's easier to fall into the lie that we have no value because we have no net worth, we have no value because we are unsuccessful, we are worthless because we are failures.
 The truth is that Jesus saw enough value in each and every one of us that he was WILLING to die a brutal death so that we could have eternal fellowship with him. He conquered sin and death, not for his own sake, but for ours. He took all of the responsibility and put it on himself because, apparently, we have value. Jesus bought us with a price, not a bargain-basement-clearance-special-offer price, but a full price that cost him his own life.

You guys are awesome,

- Jdwayt

Series: Fruit of the spirit.

 Apples are delicious but not all apple trees are created equal. One time I was walking with my cousin and we came across a crabapple tree. I thought crabapples were just smaller apples so I bit into it and it was bitter and gross. I know now to stay away from crab apples but the only way I can tell the difference between a crabapple tree and a regular apple tree is by the fruit.
 It's the same way in Christianity. Religious people are just like Christians right? Until you find out that they are bitter and gross just like crabapples. The only way to tell the difference is by their fruit.
 Now I don't mean to be judgmental, nor do I intend to condemn anyone because they are imperfect. (I would just be condemning myself.) My intentions are to study what it really means to have a Godly character. I want to bear the best fruit possible. So what what fruit should I bear.
 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self‑control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:22-26 NIV84)
 Alright, so let's get right into it. Every week we're going to look at a different fruit and see how it applies to our relationship with God, others and ourselves.
  It's easier to spot an apple tree in a desert than it is in a forest. What I mean by that is that it's easier to spot love where love doesn't normally grow. It's important to demonstrate these Godly characteristics when it's not 'normal' to do so. So, when times are difficult I have to ask myself this:
Do I love when it's easier to hate
Do I bring joy when it's easier to bring sorrow
Do I bring peace when it's easier to star a conflict
Am I patient when it's easier to jump the gun.
Am I kind when I "have the right to be angry"
Am I good when being bad has better rewards
Am I faithful when it's easier to give up and give in
Am I gentle when I want to be harsh
Do I show self-control when it's easier lose control?
 What sacrifices am I willing to make for the name of Jesus?
I'm really excited to start this series. I want to dig and dive in to what it means to have a Godly character.

- Jdwayt

My blogging advice.

There is very little I can offer you. I've been blogging since I was about 15 years old. Here I am 7 years later and I don't have much to show for it. But blogging has been a hobby of mine and believe it or not, I've learned a thing or two about blogging.

1. What is your theme?
Mine is my life as a Christ follower. I share with my readers the work that Christ is doing in me so that they can also learn from it.
Stick to your theme. It's what gets people to keep coming back. People want to know what they're expecting when they read your blogs.

2. Post. Edit. Write.
This is what my time consists of on Wednesdays.
First I post a blog. The next thing I do is edit another blog so it's ready for the next week. The last thing I do is write a blog. I might not have the time or the creative energy to write on Wednesday but it's ok because I'm already a week ahead. I work ahead to avoid pressure.

4. Make time.
If you read my blog from a couple weeks ago you already know what this is about. It's important that you set aside a time specifically for the purpose of blogging. Use that time to do the less creative and more laborious parts of blogging. Like editing and posting and promoting for example.

5. Do what you do no matter what.
This is probably the most important point. Keep in mind it's YOUR blog. Even if you are the only one that reads it (and I have a ton of posts that nobody has read) its fine because it's still a part of who you are.


Anyways that's it. I hope it helps. Next week I'm starting a 'series' and it's going to be a lot of fun! (For me anyway).
- Jdwayt