Optimistic Journey » love

God Abides With Us

Jarrod Clark — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:24:01 +0000

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” – 1 John 4:12

God has sown seeds of greatness in you. He has given you everything you need to show Himself strong in and through you.

He’s not off in a far distant place looking down from the heavens. He’s not in a church house where you have to attend just to experience His presence. No, He lives among us.

We can’t see Him, He’s intangible, we can’t feel him. But if we love and display good fruit, He abides with us and through us.

I’ve heard it said that for someone, you’re the only Jesus they’ll ever see. In other words, when you display the Fruit of the Spirit, you are displaying the essence of who He is.

I love how today’s scripture says, “no one has ever seen God at anytime. But if we love each other, God abides in us…”

Here’s another way to put it. When you’re joyful and patient, God abides. When you’re forgiving, loving, and kind, God abides. When you exercise temperance and self-control, God abides. When you’re a light in a dark world, God abides. When you exercise these character traits, you are showing others the full expression of who God is.

If you’re going to see the hand of God at work through you, you’re going to have to bear good fruit. Serve one another, tap into God’s ingredients. Kindly let another go ahead of you in traffic. Hold the door open for a stranger. Smile at your next door neighbor in passing. Be friendly to the clerk waiting on you in the checkout line at the supermarket.

It’s easy to think, I’m nothing special, God can’t use me. No, that’s far from the truth. You are extraordinary. You are a significant piece of the puzzle. You’re a vessel of power chosen, equipped and appointed to be a Christ ambassador.

God shows Himself strong in us when we bear good fruit. When we show love, mercy, forgiveness and kindness, He’s ever present. When we’re joyful, of good cheer, and we display a positive attitude, despite the present circumstances, that is when God lives among us.

The good news is not only does our gracious Father get the glory out of it, but you benefit as well. How, you may ask? One of the greatest things you can do to bring joy to your day is to give, serve and love one another.

Make a decision to be salt and light in your day to day interactions. When you do so you’ll experience God’s presence more than ever before as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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Maybe You Could be One of the Ones… (Compassion for a Good Cause)

Jarrod Clark — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:00:48 +0000

You have the ability to bring about a positive change in every area of your life. You can be the catalyst that brings about total change in your environment.

From time to time, we find ourselves putting off certain responsibilities for the next person. But God is looking for us to step outside of the mold. As ambassadors for Christ, He wants us to take initiative. He wants us to step up to the call of duty.

Maybe there was an opportunity to go against the grain. When everyone else is too busy to help someone in need, maybe you could be one of the ones to take time out of your busy schedule and lend a helping hand.

Maybe you could be one of the ones to do what everyone else is not doing. Maybe you have a service to offer. The world might say, “It’s crazy to offer your service for free.” But, I dare you to be bold and courageous. Remember, it’s not about what someone else can do for you, it’s about what you can do for someone else.

.Who knows, someone out may be in desperate need of the service you have to offer, but they may not have the resources to acquire it. My friend, what better opportunity is there to show compassion than this? I believe that God is moved with compassion for us, when we’re moved with compassion for others.

I’m reminded of the story about the Good Samaritan. It tells of a Jewish man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and left him lying half dead along the roadside. By chance a priest came along, saw the man lying there and crossed the road to the other side and passed him by. Then a levite came along, saw him lying there, and he too crossed the road to the other side and passed him by.

But a Samaritan came along. And when he saw the man lying there, he was moved with compassion. He bandaged his wounds, put the man on his donkey and carried him to the nearby inn. He told the inn-keeper to take care of him. And on top of that, the Samaritan paid for his bill.

How many times do we find ourselves “crossing over to the other side of the road”? How many times are we too busy to show a little compassion? Maybe you could be one of the ones to offer a helping hand to someone in need. Don’t fall in the category of the priest and the levite in this instance. No, God is looking for some Good Samaritans.

Just like the priest and the levite, I’m sure this Samaritan had somewhere to go. I’m sure he was busy. But he had compassion for a good cause. You too can take on this same posture.

When you wake up in the morning your prayer should be, “Lord, put someone in my path today that I can help.” God takes pleasure when we pray bold prayers like this. It may not come in the form of a man lying on the roadside. It may be as simple as loving on someone who is down in despair or sharing a word of encouragement to someone in need.

Take initiative- Be the first to make a change. Don’t just go with the flow. Don’t fall prey to the bandwagon effect. No, make it a point to step above and beyond the call of duty and watch as God promotes you to a higher dimension as you charge forth on your journey of life!

Photo credit: by sbhland

August 4, 2011 -- A Light in a Dark World (0)
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Be a Light in The World (Even in the Last Days)

Jarrod Clark — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:29:26 +0000

We’re living in the days when it seems most people are in it for themselves. We’ve got our own agendas. We’re too busy to give the time of day. Hardly no one lends a helping hand.

In doing this, we’re doing the total opposite of what God has called us to do. Above all else, we should first love God, then love people. But instead, many are lovers of themselves.

In this day in time, many are boastful, proud, arrogant and uncaring. But that’s not the will of God. Instead of boasting about self accomplishments, God wants us to seek ways to build up another person. Rather than putting your own selfish needs first, look for ways to fulfill another person’s needs.

The bible fore-warns us of the perilous times. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 gives us a small summary of what it will be like in the end times. It says men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful and unholy. They’ll be without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, and brutal. They won’t be lovers of the good, they’ll be treacherous, rash, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

My friends, the only good thing about this passage of scripture is that it reminds us of what not to be. It’s almost like a slap in the face. We should strive to be the total opposite of what this scripture describes.

Romans 12:2 reminds us to be in the world but not be of the world. That means we’re set apart. As children of the most high God, we are to set an example and be a light for all men to see.

Just like the parable of the good Samaritan, we shouldn’t be too busy to offer a helping hand. Rather than fulfilling in our own motives, we should seek the will of the almighty God, and look for ways to help others. Instead of being ungrateful, choose to appreciate even the little things in life.

Make a decision to be in this world, but not of the world. When you do so, I believe God will continue to show His divine favor on you, even in these last and evil days, as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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Your Light is Contagious!

Jarrod Clark — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:04:06 +0000

In the world today, it seems it’s more and more difficult to find “salt and light.” It’s not very often that we encounter people who go around looking for ways to bless others.

But know today that you can be the positive change that you want to see. You can be that contagious light that changes the world.

The sad thing is that there are some people who smile only when there’s a reason to smile. But the good news is that you can make a choice to smile and be a shining example even when there’s no reason to smile. In fact, when there’s nothing but doom and gloom all around you, that’s the time when you should be a positive light in the world.

The interesting thing is when, you’re a light in the face of adversity, others aren’t going to understand. Even when a wrongdoer offends you, and you choose not to payback evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good, people aren’t going to understand. In fact, the dark forces in this world will expect you to payback evil for evil.

But I want to encourage you to be a light in every area of your life. When you let your light shine in the dark, the darkness can’t comprehend it. The scripture confirms this in John 1:5 where it says, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

That means when you do good in the face of adversity, the world is not going to understand. When you choose to overcome evil with good, your enemies won’t comprehend. When you smile when there’s no reason to smile, this confuses the masses.

But choose to be a positive light anyway. There is no dark force in this world that can extinguish your light. And when you’re a positive example, others will follow in line too. You’ll notice that your light is contagious.

Make a choice to be a shining example for all men to see. In doing so, you’ll find more favor in God’s eyes as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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Show Random Acts of Kindness

Jarrod Clark — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:42:58 +0000

Do you find yourself looking for ways to help others? Know today that there is something very liberating about showing random acts of kindness.

Throughout our day to day journey, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in ourselves. It’s easy to do the things that make us happy and make our day go smoother.

But I dare you to look for ways to show love to others. You can make a choice to be a light in a dark world. You can choose to be the Jesus that many have never seen.

In fact, 1 John 4:12 says, “No one has seen God at anytime. But if we love one another, God abides.” So as you can see, God is among us when we show love to each other. 1 John 3:18 urges us to not just say that we love one another but to show it through our actions.

When you seek ways to show love to others, it pleases the Father. And He abides in us when we have a heart of compassion for one another.

The world may not know Him, but they get a pure glimpse of Him through the love that we show. I want to encourage you to look for ways to show random acts of kindness.

You know, I can think back to a time when I was getting a soda out of the vending machine at work. This particular machine malfunctioned and instead of dispensing one drink, it dispensed two. I immediately thought, “wow, God has favored me! I get two for the price of one.” And so, being sensitive to the Spirit, I felt a strong urge to give the other drink to a friend. After I gave away the drink, I felt so much joy in knowing that I helped brighten a friend’s day.

Here’s the key- when you show love and kindness to others, it’s a win- win act. For them, it’s more than just the gift. I’m sure my friend could’ve went and bought a sixty cent drink on their own. But instead, it’s about the thought. For them, it’s the benefit in knowing that someone cares enough to brighten their day.

For you, you’ll experience the joy that comes with giving and showing love. Make a decision today and seek ways to show acts of kindness. In doing so, I believe you’ll experience great joy as you charge forth on your journey of life!

Photo credit: by Shira Golding

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A Light in a Dark World

Jarrod Clark — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 04:52:44 +0000

We live in a day when it seems everybody is busy. It seems everyone is in a hurry to meet deadlines and get things done.

As Christians, we must remember that we can’t be in too much of a hurry to be salt and light. Jesus says that we are the light of the world. In other words, you are to be a positive example.

When the world is too busy to care, that’s your chance to extend a helping hand. Remember, for someone out there, you’re the only Jesus they’re going to see.

I’m reminded of the story of the good Samaritan parable that Jesus told in Luke 10:25-37. It was about a man who fell among thieves who stripped him of his clothes, wounded him and left him half dead.

And a priest and a Levite came, saw the man laying there, and passed on the other side of the road. But a certain Samaritan passed by and saw the man laying there and had compassion. He bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine on him and carried him to the inn. The Samaritan left money with the innkeeper and told him to treat the man.

This story is a prime example of being salt and light. We can use this parable as an example of what we should do. Don’t be like the priest and the Levite who passed on the other side of the road. No, go around looking for ways to help people.

It was prophesied long ago in II Timothy 3:2 that in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful and unholy.

And to confirm this, I was out and about one day and I was just taking notice of the countenance of many people around me. Hardly no one smiled. If you said hey to a random stranger it was rare that anyone would say hello back. It seemed that hardly no one was kind enough to hold doors open for the next person in public. And I can go on and on.

I’m not one to complain, but this showed me that the Christians have step the game up. We have to be the a light in a dark world. We have to be the smiling face that people need to see. We can’t be too proud to offer acts of kindness to others. Just like the good Samaritan, we may have to take time out of our busy schedule to serve someone in need.

Remember, every act that you do is a seed that you sow. And you will reap the harvest off that seed. Look for ways to be a light in a dark world as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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What Kind of Fruit Are You Producing?

Jarrod Clark — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:02:11 +0000

In this day in time, it’s not hard to distinguish the righteous people from the unrighteous. It’s becoming more and more rare to find those who are salt and light.

People should be able to determine if you are a child of the most high God by the fruit that you produce. All around us day in and day out we see fruit that is not of the Lord. People are power hungry. They’re in it for themselves. Everyone is in such a hurry that no one takes out time to lend a helping hand.

The scripture reminds us that you can identify people by the fruit they bear. Matthew 7:17,18 says, “A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.”

Notice here that there’s no middle ground. In other words, you can’t wake up one day and say I’m going to bring glory to the Father by doing good deeds, then wake up the next day and do the exact opposite. No as God’s disciples, we must consistently bear good fruit.

From day to day, look for ways to be the positive change that you want to see in the world. Jesus says that you are the light of the world. You are to be an example for men to see their way. Remember, for someone out there, you’re the only Jesus they will ever see.

In John 15 Jesus says, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” It goes on to say that if the branches don’t bear fruit then they are cut off from the vine.

Throughout the scriptures we’re reminded of what fruit we should bear. It says in Galatians 5:22, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Today, don’t miss the chance to extend a helping hand to a neighbor. Look for opportunities to bear good fruit. When you practice this way of living, God will reward you and bring unending favor upon you as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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Love Is Action!

Jarrod Clark — Fri, 06 May 2011 03:50:57 +0000

It’s not enough to just say I love you when walking the love walk. Many times we have to express our love to another by our actions.

Jesus taught us all throughout the Gospels of the New Testament that we are to love one another. In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “A new commandment I give you. Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Often times we make the mistake of simply saying the words ‘I love you’ and thinking that’s enough. But 1 John 3:8 says, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

Years ago, I read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. It’s a book that teaches us that people all around us have a love language in which to fulfill their needs.

The five love languages are:

1. Words of affirmation.

2. Giving gifts.

3. Quality time

4. Acts of service

5. Physical touch

We can find a person’s love language by how they relate to us.

Signs to look for.

If they’re always complaining about how you never come around then their love language may be quality time. If they’re always giving random gifts or asking for something from you, their love language just might be giving gifts.

If they’re always complimenting people or searching for compliments then they may require words of affirmation.

If they’re asking time after time for you to do random things for them, or maybe they seeking to help you in many ways then they may require acts of service. If they’re “touchy feely” or always requiring a hug then their love language very well may be physical touch.

What this requires us to do is to pay attention to those around us. Look for these signs in your friends and loved ones.

When you spot these hints, don’t hesitate to meet them at the point of their need. When you show unending love in these ways, I believe you will find more favor in God’s sight and with man as you charge forth on your journey of life.

Photo credit: by NoneOther… {Captured In Lights}…

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Love Covers A Multitude

Jarrod Clark — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:10:45 +0000

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8

One of the hardest things to do is to continue to show love to someone who has wronged you. But remember to extend that same agape love that Jesus has shown for you toward someone else.

Continue to look for ways to extend warmth, love and kindness to others as you go along your journey of life. Think upon that grace and those tender mercies that God has shown toward you. When you stop to think about it, regardless of past mistakes, failures, and pure disobedience toward God, He loves us enough to show grace and mercy.

If you find that it’s rather difficult to show love toward a wrongdoer or naysayer , take some time to think about the love that God has shown you. Remember, those times when you’ve expected to be cursed with a curse. Or maybe you’ve even thought that God would revoke His favor from you. Regardless of that fact you’re still here, you’re standing and rising to a new dimension in life!

Whether you’re looking to forgive or be forgiven, remember that the type of seed that you put out is what will spring forth. In other words, if you put out a seed full of hate, un-forgiveness, neglect and disinterest then you’ll find forgiveness will be harder to come by. However, if we all put out seeds of love, forgiveness, kindness and grace it will cover a multitude of sins such as the scripture says. Look for ways to show more love, kindness and favor today as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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Kill Them With Kindness

Jarrod Clark — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:27:12 +0000

One of the best ways to maintain peace in your life is to exercise kindness to others. Our natural reaction, when offended by others, is to close up and put up barriers. We may decide, well they’ve done me wrong I won’t speak to them. Or they’ve hurt me so I won’t give them the time of day.

But remember, Jesus was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. He could have easily decided to neglect those who hurt Him. He could’ve come down off the cross but if He did, where would we be? We would all be lost.

I believe that God is moved when we exercise love in those times when it’s most difficult. In other words, when someone wrongs you, don’t react in anger or bitterness. Don’t close up and put up walls. Respond in love and forgiveness. Kill them with kindness.

Forgiveness frees you and helps you to let go of those burdens that others put on you. I challenge you to go out of your way and show random acts of kindness to those who have put you down.

That person who overlooks and ignores you, keep speaking to them. One day they’ll come around. Their life will be changed by your kindness. That person who talked about you, forgive them. Be a Godly example of love and purity to them.

God has given you the tools to be a positive example. And you may discover that operating in forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do. But I encourage you to dig a little deeper. Find that inner strength that God has given you and exercise the agape love that Jesus exemplified here on earth.

Don’t let others steal your joy. Instead spread that joy, it’s contagious! Kill them with kindness and notice a great change as you rise to higher heights today!

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Optimistic Journey » love

God Abides With Us

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Maybe You Could be One of the Ones… (Compassion for a Good Cause)

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