Loving with Intentionality. Pt.1
We must treat each other higher than ourselves because of the unique anointing each of us possesses.
(Sometimes we don’t even know what someone has within them until we either encourage them or pressure is applied and I'll get into that later.)
God has given us the unique strength to impact the world from our sphere of influence one person at a time.
Desmond Tutu once said “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time”
The women have so much power, they are told not to say anything and watch the situation change by the strength of their prayers and just the way they live alone
It's all about what is within us
(Instead, your beauty should consist of your true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of the greatest value in God's sight. - 1 Peter 3:4)
Often men can forget that a woman is just as strong as them and sometimes even stronger
They were strong before we got there
Behind every successful man is an even stronger woman
(Mary +Joseph, Abraham+Sarah, Esther+King, Judith, The mother of the Maccabees + her sons)
As a couple we live together, love together, fight together, give together, lead together, and serve together
(In the same way, you husbands must live with your wives with the proper understanding that they are more delicate than you. Treat them with respect, because they also will receive, together with you, God's gift of life. Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers. - 1 Peter 3:7)
There is no longer a spiritual rift between two people when a marriage has been created and blessed in the eyes of God
When I move you move just like that – Ludacris)
Two have become one flesh (That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.- Genesis 2:24-25) (Nakedness can now be viewed as a mature version of vulnerability with one another)
(So our hope in you is never shaken; we know that just as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the help we receive. - 2 Corinthians 1:3)
Respect is armor against any enemy trick
(Treat them with respect, because they also will receive, together with you, God's gift of life. Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers. - 1 Peter 3:7)
If you respect a person, you won’t do anything to harm, taint, or degrade them and the relationship you have regardless of whether it is business, romantic, or platonic
These are all avenues that temptation and underlying tricks can be raised to cause someone to forfeit the garden that they have been blessed to steward over let alone forfeit the relationship they have developed with God
“A blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you”
(Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you. - 1 Peter 3:9)
Just sit on that…
He did not call you to something for it to be a burden nor a hindrance to your growth but the moment we become lax and lazy is when the foundation of what is being built begins to crumble
Everything that comes from God is good
(Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning. - James 1:17)
Some of the great gifts that God blesses us with are people. They are perfect in the way that through their imperfections they shine a beautiful light on our blindspots and help us to be stretched even farther than we could on our own
Not problems, worry, doubt but a BLESSING
If you know you’re trying your best NO ONE can take that away from you
(Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? - 1 Peter 3:13)
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done for the Lord] and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [ not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greates] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. - Colossians 3:23-24
