it's a love thing.

for some reason i've just been thinking about people who try to speak into my life.. and i was wondering if i was being close-minded b/c sometime it would just really irritate me when people went all preacher on me... but then i can recall other time when people have tried to encourage me and "preach" into my life and i've loved it, accepted it, and learned from it. so then i wondered if i am just temperamental.. then i got it. those that i would just tried to have general conversation and they would start preaching to me annoyed me b/c i felt more of the "i am holier than thou" vibe from them and it felt belittling and there was no affection.. kinda like rule-ish. pharisees-ish. ya feel me? sooo then i thought about the other times when i accepted and respected when people gave me biblical advice.. and i feel like what made all the difference was LOVE. true genuine love. they showed me that they loved me first THEN wanted to give to me in encouragement and words for God's word to help me b/c they cared.. and they may not have always been right..but i thought on it. i tested it. God used it. and it really helped.. instead of ignoring it and disregarding b/c i was just annoyed. as a follower of Christ i think the love factor is the BIGGEST MOST IMPORTANT part.. without it we become annoying Christians that even Christians don't want to hear from.. its so important that we show that we do what we do and say what we say b/c God has put His heart inside of us to love like He loves.. not to do our 'christian duties'.. not to say something b/c it is what every good christian person should say. Saying God to much to prove your religious status doesn't change lives, encourage, or do anything for the kingdom.. LOVING LIKE GOD.. DOES :).

"i applied my heart to what i observed

and learned a lesson from what i saw"

Proverbs 25:32

"the integrity of the upright guided them,

but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity"

Proverbs 11:3

"reckless words pierce like a sword,

but the wise bring healing"

Proverbs 12:18

- if we've got true wisdom we've got the Holy Spirit, and if we've got the Holy Spirit, we've got Love.

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. For if you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1

"Jesus replied: "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: love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew23:37-39