John Cliver

Judy Harder · February 10, 2013, 01:36:56 PM

7:40am Feb 10
"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

This says it all. It doesn't matter how pious or holy you act, or how much money you give, or how loudly you sing or intently listen to the sermon: if the love of God for both him and each other is not in your hearts, it will not matter. Without love, all your church stuff is useless. After all, God is love and if you do not have love in your life, you cannot have God.

Judy Harder · February 11, 2013, 08:57:40 AM

8:14am Feb 11
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged." 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love is open-ended. With real love, there is no "I will love you if you..." Real love accepts you and is not afraid of you being better than me. It is unselfish and forgiving. Real love is beautiful, not demanding.

Judy Harder · February 12, 2013, 08:25:05 AM

7:32am Feb 12
"It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13: 6-7.

You can always tell when someone loves you. They are not happy when bad things happen to you. They constantly encourage you, keep believing in you, and they look for all the good that you do and can do. They are not fair weather friends, but will stick with you through all adversity. There are not many people like this in your life. When you find one, hold that person close and guard them and treat them the same way.

Judy Harder · February 13, 2013, 08:45:11 AM

8:10am Feb 13
Today marks the beginning of Lent, the six week period followed by Easter Sunday. Traditionally people give up something they love. But the giving up is six days a week. On Sunday, the Bridegroom and, as he himself, we do not fast when there is celebration (Luke 5:34: "And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?").

But this is different from Advent. Advent is celebration. This is mourning that Jesus had to come and die for us. We usually give up meat. We decided that this year with all the other stuff going on, we are not going to do so.

Judy Harder · February 14, 2013, 10:40:04 AM

9:25am Feb 14
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35.

Anybody can say I love you. It is simple. Just say the words. However, that doesn't mean anything. What does mean something is the display of that love in your life. When people hear it, okay, maybe so. But when people see it in your life, it becomes real. And it is the proof that you are in Jesus Christ and in the presence of God Almighty. After all, he is the one who IS Love.

Judy Harder · February 15, 2013, 09:29:15 AM

9:22am Feb 15
"This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10.

Real love is sacrificial love. Real love doesn't mind giving up something if it is for the well-being of someone else. Real love gives up that nice guitar because the kids need new shoes. Real love stretches a paycheck over four people when you could leave and get all you want. Real love causes you to not do something if by doing it you will hurt someone else. Real love gives up you life so that somebody else's life might be saved. That is the love Jesus gave when he gave up his life so we could have our lives back in God. That is real love.

Judy Harder · February 16, 2013, 08:43:59 AM

8:12am Feb 16
"This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another." 1 John 3:11.

message of love is not a new one. It is as old as God, because God himself is love. It is nothing more than the way love is portrayed that is new. The new way is self-sacrificial love. Jesus came to show a new spin on an ancient emotion. Give up yourself and give up all you have to show your love. Love is not new, but when it shines in the heart of each person for the first time it becomes new. When it was shown by love in Jesus it became new. And when you feel it for the first time, it is new.

Judy Harder · February 17, 2013, 01:30:34 PM

7:12am Feb 17
"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." Romans 8:35,37.

It does not matter what you do; God will always love you. That doesn't mean he will save you, because he cannot take you where you do not want to go, and he cannot make you do what you do not want to do. But no matter what happens, no matter how far you range from God – he will still love you and will always take you back. You are always welcome back at his table,

Judy Harder · February 19, 2013, 08:25:27 AM

9:49am Feb 18
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39.

The power of God is greater than any other power. His power will protect and keep us no matter what forces evil will marshal against us. He is God and he will keep you in his love.

7:57am Feb 19
"Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." 1 John 4:11-12.

God tells us his command is to love. But you really cannot love someone, not really, if done because of command. You love by example. You love the way you see others love in your life. We see his love and emulate it, we copy it, we model it in our lives. And not only that, we love because it is our nature to love. If God is in us – and he being Love Eternal – and if Jesus is in us – he being Love Incarnate – how can we not love? If we don't, it is because he is not there. Saved by the blood of Jesus, we bleed love. And when we love, we fulfill our purpose in life: modeling God.

Judy Harder · February 22, 2013, 09:24:15 AM

8:23am Feb 22
"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." 1 John 4:18.

When you love God and you know God loves you, there is no need to be afraid. Even though you face death, there is no need to be afraid. Life is not all there is when you are in Jesus and when you have hold of his marvelous grace. Even though you face death, you can still thank God and praise him. And when you are in him, and you die, it is not punishment you go toward, but reward, standing in the presence of you God, the Lord Almighty. What a shame to live life so full of fear of death, full of fear of punishment, just full of fear. He is your God and he is greater than any fear you might have.