Love your neighbor as yourself....

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."  Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV

Listening to two sermons this afternoon in preparation for a lecture to give on Proverbs concerning neighbors and friends came back to basics.....

   —I am a sinner who lives among sinners
       —I am the worst of all sinners
   —I am loved by God, totally, more than any man can love another
       —I am to love others (sinners too)  just as I am loved by God

What is so amazing is that He loved us while we were still ugly, ugly, ugly sinners, still.....
He didn't wait for us to clean up, to become pretty, acceptable, lovable or even "kind of good" first.
He loved us, accepted us, died for us, hugged us while we were ugly, unacceptable, unlovable, depraved.

He valued us
    He honored us
          He started a relationship with us before we were worthy
Because He loves us with an everlasting love.

And then over and over He said,
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
That's what he did.  He loved us as much as he loved himself.

And now we are to go and love likewise—
   no matter who....
    Someone different than me
       Someone who rubs me wrong
           Someone who hurts me
              Someone who doesn't love me, or respect me, or treat me right
     Especially someone who doesn't deserve it.

    Someone who smells funny
         Someone who lives different than me
              Someone who dares to be lazy, rebellous, or a thief
                   Someone who wears very little
                        Someone who makes money immorally
         Each and every person, I am to love.

A child of God, a real child of God, must
      LOVE others
          No matter what
             No matter when
                 At all times

Because He first loved me.

 And now to write that lecture.........

But first to say "Thank YOU, God" for undeserved, unearned graces.........

#301.  Time with friends in a new city to learn and be encouraged....

#302.  Friends to give rides to and from airport....

#303.  Tire World to fix car problems....

#304.  Matt to fix garden pole to hang bird feeders......

#305.  Babies to hold in the nursery on Sunday......

#306.  Truths learned because of lecture to prepare....

#307.  Air to breathe......

#308.  Water, good water, to drink.....

#309.  Snow for beauty and for moisture......

#310.  Gifts to crochet......

#311.  Birthday parties to anticipate.....

#312.  Daughter to drop-by and eat with....

#313.  Father—95 years old—to call and visit with...and still get advice from......

#314.  Sam's rotisserie chicken—5 meals to eat—5 good meals

#315.  Victoria magazine.....to see more of Your world

#316.   Young friend, Amy, to teach the "old" speed dial set-up....much faster

#317.  Prosperity enabling more "others" gifts....

#318.  Prayers of others for my heart needs.....

#319.  Sleep, blessed sleep in a different bed for two nights......

#320.  Basketball player who thanks God—every time, all the time....Jeremy Lin


And now to write......and learn.......and be convicted.  Thank you Lord for your Word.  Help me to be faithful and listen to You.  And prepare each of us for blessings, conviction, and truth from your Word. Amen