This is the last "Mornings With Jesus" for the season (but more recipes return in fall!). Normally, I share a promise from the New Testament along with a hot chocolate recipe, however, today, it was on my heart to share an important command Jesus gives us. A command to love. Love God. And love one another. So grab your favorite mug, try this recipe (or file it away for later), curl up in your favorite spot, and while sipping your warm morning drink, soak in this precious passage... The Passage When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus said... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV Love God. Love your neighbor. Loving God will be a whole other post. But today, my heart is focused on loving your neighbor. Notice, Jesus doesn't say love those who look like you, talk like you, believe what you do, live like you do, go to your church, have the same social status, have certain backgrounds, or even have similar cultures. He simply says your neighbor. He doesn't refer to a certain race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or social status. He doesn't refer to those with few mistakes or many. No, Jesus just says "your neighbor". The definition of a neighbor is a person living near or next to you. A person that is next to another. Essentially, a person around us, in our midst. Physically, and in today's world, I believe that means virtually as well. I wonder how well we are doing that? This verse has been on my heart greatly as it breaks for all the violence, hate, anger, and unkindness I see on the news and even in my own community. It breaks for all the negative, demeaning, and hurtful comments that abound on social media as well. So not only do I ask, how are "we" doing with loving our neighbors well, but how am "I" doing this? I encourage you to ask yourself the same. Jesus came for everyone of us. EVERY ONE OF US. Even that person you disagree with. Even that person who hurt you. Even that person who is different than you. Even the hard to love. We are called to love. Love in the image of God. Love those who around you. Love one another. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV We can spread love by talking about it, yes. But the best way to spread love is in action. To demonstrate our love for God is to actually put that love into action. The action of loving His people. The action of loving one another. The action of loving our neighbor. Even the unlovable one. So I challenge you today. And tomorrow. And the next day and the next. Smile at a stranger. Do something kind for someone who is different than you. Go out of your way to say "hi" or speak to someone that you have seen before but never spoken to. Introduce yourself to those who are sitting alone. Speak words that are not laced with anger or unkindness. Help someone who may need a meal, or a driveway shoveled. Be a part of a conversation that starts change rather than one that builds more walls. Have coffee with old friends. Listen. Stretch your comfort zone to love your neighbors. Our neighbors are all around us. Let's love them well. By doing so, it is one way of loving God. By doing so, when asked how well we are loving our neighbor, we can say, "better than yesterday". Love God. Then love one another. "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." 1 John 4:16 The Recipe Irish Creme Hot Chocolate Ingredients 1 cup milk Hot chocolate mix (your favorite mix) 1/8 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup Irish Creme creamer (more or less to taste) Whip cream (if desired) Sprinkles (if desired) Directions 1. Mix your favorite chocolate mix with your cup of milk. 2. Warm on the stove top or in the microwave. 3. Add the chocolate chips and Irish Cream creamer. Mix in until chocolate chips are completely melted. Warm a little more if needed. 4. Top with whip cream and sprinkles (if desired) 5. Sip and enjoy! For more hot chocolate recipes.... or You can follow my pinterest board "Hot Chocolate and Jesus".... Blessings, Elizabeth
8 Comments
3/25/2019 10:19:55 am
I love this! Loving those that disagree with me has been my goal since the presidential election. It has truly changed the way I view people. Thank you for sharing!
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3/25/2019 02:18:07 pm
We talked about this in church yesterday. That the world is supposed to be able to identity believers by how well we love one another!
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Jessica Brodie
3/25/2019 06:57:27 pm
I reached out to a "neighbor" today after a Spirit nudge, and immediately I felt warm all over, invigorated by the knowledge I'd done the right thing and shown our Father's love. I wish I'd done this with her a long time ago.
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Jessica Brodie
3/28/2019 04:48:52 am
It's incredibly beautiful and a way of loving God when we do our best to love ALL... even those we disagree with. Amen -- great post!
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3/31/2019 05:52:36 pm
I really love how you point out that online is now our neighbor...it's true, we are to love everyone we come across. :)
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It’s easy to love those who are like us, but to love those w wrong understand. I think you pointed it out best here. Jesus loves them too. We don’t have to understand them. We have to love them even if their plans for us are ill-intentioned. We have to pray that God allows us to see past our own understanding and love anyway.
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Meet ElizabethWife. Mother. Writer. Photographer. Child of God. Encouraging others in faith through a lens of grace and seeing beauty in the ashes. All images and content belong to me (Blue Jean Gypsy), unless otherwise noted. You may use an image ONLY if it is linked back to this blog! Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
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April 2020
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