http://letspleasegod.com Mon, 14 May 2012 01:11:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 2006-2007 nealreal@letspleasegod.com (Lets Please God) nealreal@letspleasegod.com (Lets Please God) http://letspleasegod.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://letspleasegod.com 144 144 Lets Please God Lets Please God nealreal@letspleasegod.com no no http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-part-3-helping-others-in-need/ http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-part-3-helping-others-in-need/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 00:47:22 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2551 http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-part-3-helping-others-in-need/feed/ 0 0:08:02 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him (Luke 10:33). Audio Version: Like the good Samaritan, Jesus seen people who were hungry both physically and spiritually, and so he fed them ([...] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him (Luke 10:33). Audio Version: Like the good Samaritan, Jesus seen people who were hungry both physically and spiritually, and so he fed them (Matthew 15:32, 9:36). Jesus seen that the people were bound by evil spirits and so he removed those spirits. Jesus seen people’s sicknesses and he healed them (Matthew 14:14; 20:34, Mark 1:41, Luke 7:13). As Jesus was compassionate towards others needs, so should we. When we see a need we should help. We shouldn’t just pray, but be an answer to prayer. If our brothers and sisters need shelter, clothing, food, gas money etc, we should be the first to contribute. Likewise with the world, we often see the homeless and those who’ve fallen on hard times. Our response should be sympathy and support. This is love. The bible says: My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18) nealreal@letspleasegod.com no no http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-part-2/ http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-part-2/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 22:34:50 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2541 http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-part-2/feed/ 0 0:06:32 Audio Version: Kindness understands and respects the differences of other people. How do you feel about people who are different than you, perhaps in race, personality, culture, appearance, or profession? Do you try to understand their differences [...] Audio Version: Kindness understands and respects the differences of other people. How do you feel about people who are different than you, perhaps in race, personality, culture, appearance, or profession? Do you try to understand their differences before making judgments? Kindness respects and understands the differences of other people. There are many differences among us humans and we won’t initially understand them. To understand, you will have to become selfless, humble and active towards people who you feel are foreign. The more we learn about different people, the more we grow. When we don’t try to understand, but rather reject, fear, and disrespect them, we offend those who are different from us and this shows our lack of love. Here are a few examples of common displays of unkindness, where the individual didn’t take the time to try and understand: A church group doesn’t take the time to understand why their new visitor has spiky, pink hair and black fingernails. Because of her appearance, they reject her with contemptuous stares and comments, causing a stumbling block in her journey toward accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The prejudice white person makes a conclusion about blacks from watching the news – that they’re loud, uneducated, criminal barbarians. So the white person treats blacks with fear, contempt and disrespect. The person who assumes that homeless people are in their condition because of drug abuse. Therefore they shuns them when they ask for help. The extroverted person who treats the introverted personality-type as if something is wrong with them – because of their quiet nature. The extrovert may reject or patronize the introvert because they prejudge and don’t understand this personality difference. While homosexuality is a sin, there are many Christians who instantly reject and despise those who engage in it. If gays weren’t so hated by church people – maybe they’d come to Christ. Often, Christians are the first Jesus they’ll ever see. We are to hate the sin, not the person. Simply asking the question of why and how can go a long way into learning and understanding the differences in people. Don’t always assume you understand – this is pride (which isn’t love either). And even if you don’t “get” a person – respect them anyway. We ought to do to others as we want done to us (Matthew 7:12). Would you like to be rejected, treated with disdain or disrespected, or even feared, because of your differences? No one does. Try to understand people’s differences, and if not, show respect – this is how we show love. nealreal@letspleasegod.com no no http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-pt1-love-is-sympathetic/ http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-pt1-love-is-sympathetic/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 19:39:36 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2525 http://letspleasegod.com/kindness-pt1-love-is-sympathetic/feed/ 0 0:08:13 Audio Version: God says, “Love is kind” (1 Cor 13). Kindness is: Showing sympathy concern and understanding. Unselfish concern for others welfare, compassion and generosity. When someone tells you about some awful or unfortunate event that happened[...] Audio Version: God says, “Love is kind” (1 Cor 13). Kindness is: Showing sympathy concern and understanding. Unselfish concern for others welfare, compassion and generosity. When someone tells you about some awful or unfortunate event that happened to them, how do you respond? I’ve found that Christians can be the most callous of them all when it comes to someone else’s hurts and pains — they simply don’t care to sympathize. I’m talking about this subject because a lack of kindness will result in a lack of unity, but unity is what God has called us to have in his kingdom. Why should we care how others feel? Because Jesus cares and this is the way the kingdom works. No one is detached and everyone is connected. When one part of the body is hurt, the whole body tends to that part. We as sons and daughters of the true God will do the same. We must care enough to understand what others feel. Sympathy brings comfort to those who experience hurt. When someone takes the time to listen, it makes that situation all the more bearable. The reason why people tell others their hurts is because they feel alone in them. Showing sympathy joins that person and brings emotional support. Males are taught to be unkind Even though the lack of kindness shows itself in both sexes, men are actually taught not to be kind. Kindness is looked at as weakness; and so they learn to cut off kindness becoming careless and callous. In fact, the more callous and ruthless, the better (at least, when in the presence of other males). This teaching could have possibly come from soldiers in battle – you can’t show compassion for the enemy or you’d risk being killed. This may apply to war, but not the rest of life. It’s not uncommon for a male to have difficulty showing kindness for his family in sensitive situations. Little boys, when hurt, are told to “bulk-up”, “deal with it”. This develops a callous response to sensitive situations. We as children of God are to show kindness regardless of the world’s view of it. As we understand this important attribute of love and fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we’ll be able to love our brothers and sisters properly. nealreal@letspleasegod.com no no http://letspleasegod.com/patience-good-things-take-time/ http://letspleasegod.com/patience-good-things-take-time/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 12:00:26 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2495 http://letspleasegod.com/patience-good-things-take-time/feed/ 0 0:16:53 View/Hide the written version… Continuing my studies on love… The first attribute of love is patience (1 Cor 13:4 NIV). Have you ever had someone rush you? It didn’t feel good, did it? It’s offensive and it can make you feel like[...] View/Hide the written version… Continuing my studies on love… The first attribute of love is patience (1 Cor 13:4 NIV). Have you ever had someone rush you? It didn’t feel good, did it? It’s offensive and it can make you feel like a “slow” person. In this fast paced, I-can’t-wait-I-want-it-now world, impatience is a normal thing, but we as sons and daughters of God must be different. When patience is displayed in us it’s an indication of the Holy Spirit at work in us. When we’re patient with other people we show God’s love. But when we huff and puff at someone or something that isn’t going as fast as we would like, we’re operating in the flesh and this is sin, but we may not call it sin. We may say, “Oh well…  it’s not that bad. It’s not like I’m not fornicating, practicing witchcraft, or telling lies …”, but it is that bad to God. God is patient and we as his children must have the same character. Be patient with your God If anyone knows anything about our Father, it’s that he can take his time to answer prayer. We need God’s guidance, solutions and understanding and this often comes at a time when he sees fit. If we’re not willing to wait, we miss what he has for us. Oh how precious God is and we miss him because of impatience? It’s like being a child again and skipping morning breakfast because it takes too long to cook it. When my momma used to make those buttermilk pancakes, sausage patties and eggs, I patiently waited for the moment I could feast. Likewise with our Father, he wants to give us his daily bread — his word for the day, but we seem to not have the time to wait and receive it. We rush out on an empty stomach and we wonder why we’re spiritually weak. Next time, get up earlier, make plenty of time for the Father and be nourished by his word for the day, then you’ll be better off spiritually and able to handle the rest of the day ahead. Wait for his answers, solutions and understanding, and while you do, thank him for the privilege and honor to commune with him. Everyone doesn’t have access to the one and only almighty God in heaven. And just know, he’s the author of time, it’s not like he’s going to let you miss something important while you’re waiting on him. As a witness to the world How many times have to you been in a long line at the grocery store? Have you ever went to the pizza joint for a “Hot-n-Ready” but it was neither hot or ready? And let’s not even talk about a visit to the Secretary of State! These situations try our patience, but these are times when we can show the love of Christ and stand out from the crowd. While everyone is huffing and puffing and rushing the service providers, we can show our virtue. I’ve often found a blessing in deciding to be patient in advance. When knowing there will be a wait, patience has often got me through the process a lot quicker than I’d anticipated. On the flip side, if I come in the flesh — in impatience — I often end up waiting even longer. Expressing impatience does nothing for that situation but make it worse. Patience is defined as: To endure affliction with calmness. To be tolerant, understanding, suffering long. Since patience is love: love doesn’t make a fuse. Love stays calm. Love tries to understand the situation. Even though the situation can be afflicting, we tolerate it and we stay calm. We don’t make faces and noises with our mouths. We don’t make comments that offend the workers who are just trying to do their job with the resources they’ve been given. If you have a problem with being patient in situations like I mentioned, I encourage you to do something supernatural. Next time, when everyone else is tripping in the line about the one teller at the bank, you can stay calm, put a smile on your face and once you reach the teller, give them some words of encouragement. The love of Christ in action will benefit that person who may be under stress from a hard workday with rude and impatient p[...] nealreal@letspleasegod.com no no http://letspleasegod.com/what-is-love/ http://letspleasegod.com/what-is-love/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 05:18:50 +0000 Nealreal http://localhost/wp/?p=340 http://letspleasegod.com/what-is-love/feed/ 0 0:16:07 View/Hide the written version… As the elected called out ones, we should love like Jesus Christ loved. Many Christians think they know what love is, but I’ve found just the opposite. This is why a proper understanding of love is in ord[...] View/Hide the written version… As the elected called out ones, we should love like Jesus Christ loved. Many Christians think they know what love is, but I’ve found just the opposite. This is why a proper understanding of love is in order. Knowing what love is is essential for three reasons: In order for the body of Christ to be unified. Failure to love will always result in division and broken relationships seen in the world and the false church. Unity through authentic love must be modeled by the church in order for us to have an effective witness to the world. Christian misconceptions about love Misconception 1: We can’t love like Christ. His love is just something to aspire to, not something you can actually reach. False. The bible says, “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Phil 4:13), for God called us to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29) and to love one another like he loved us (John 15:12). So these comments usually come from people who don’t want to obey God, who listen to the lies of the devil, or have failed to love because they tried in their own strength. Loving like Jesus is possible because Jesus commanded us to do so. Misconception 2: You have to first love yourself before you can love others. I hear this often, but when you look at scripture it’s not there. The truth is: most people love themselves already. By nature we’re self centered beings. On the other hand, if someone doesn’t love themselves (they don’t look at themselves as valuable or worthy) then there is a disconnection from God. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus said: love God first. If you love God first, you’ll be filled with his love in return, so you won’t have a problem loving your neighbor as it goes on to command. To love yourself first is contrary to the word of God and is self centered which is not an attribute of love (1 Cor 13:5). If a person doesn’t love themselves it’s because they don’t love God first. Loving God rids a person of all esteem issues. [hr] Love defined The world’s definition A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward another person. An intense emotional attachment or feeling for a person, place, or thing. A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair. Romance, sexual passion, sexual intercourse. God’s definition (1 Cor 13:4-7) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely. Love does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. After comparing the world’s view against the bible’s: Love is not feeling. Love is not emotion. Love is not attraction. Love is not having sex. Love is not liking someone. Love is moral character. Love is Jesus Christ. Notice how the world’s definition is based on how they feel about someone. This has nothing to do with love at all. Biblical love is moral character: how we act and treat other beings. And we as children of God know that this moral character comes from Jesus Christ (1 John 4:7). I much prefer someone treating me with kindness, respect, humility and patience rather than relating to me solely on our similarities, mutual benefit or attraction. This means that times will come when we don’t feel like showing respect, patience, trust and honesty; but we must push pass those feelings and show it anyway. Love is what we do according to the standard of God, not what we feel. [hr] The 5 Love Languages is not love. Gary Chapman wrote a popular and excellent book called The 5 Love Languages. In it he describes the five different things people in relationships can do to make the other feel loved. The book helps you learn your mate’s love langu[...] nealreal@letspleasegod.com no no http://letspleasegod.com/revival-starts-with-you-and-me/ http://letspleasegod.com/revival-starts-with-you-and-me/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:34:19 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2412 http://letspleasegod.com/revival-starts-with-you-and-me/feed/ 0 http://letspleasegod.com/they-wanted-to-be-like-jesus/ http://letspleasegod.com/they-wanted-to-be-like-jesus/#comments Sun, 15 Apr 2012 01:10:03 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2328 http://letspleasegod.com/they-wanted-to-be-like-jesus/feed/ 0 http://letspleasegod.com/king-james-only/ http://letspleasegod.com/king-james-only/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:10:22 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2245 http://letspleasegod.com/king-james-only/feed/ 4 http://letspleasegod.com/talking-about-the-devil/ http://letspleasegod.com/talking-about-the-devil/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:25:12 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2192 http://letspleasegod.com/talking-about-the-devil/feed/ 4 http://letspleasegod.com/how-to-think-about-evil-people-who-mistreat-you/ http://letspleasegod.com/how-to-think-about-evil-people-who-mistreat-you/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:01:35 +0000 Nealreal http://letspleasegod.com/?p=2098 http://letspleasegod.com/how-to-think-about-evil-people-who-mistreat-you/feed/ 1