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Don't Hate



"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
- St. Matthew 5:43-45

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, our Pastor spoke about the need to remain positive in the face of negativity.  What causes us sometimes to become negative is our own poor attitude.  Sometimes we are influenced by folks we love who just can't keep it positive.  There are instances when the attacks of our enemies, or the very thought of them can change the climate of the day.

Jesus Christ gives us instruction, the remedy to raise us up and keep us away from the negatives.  The remedy is love.  It is loving made manifest  by doing good and praying for those who would do us ill.

A rapper wrote a song some years back in which he admonished his listeners to "tell the haters I'm still here."  Well, we as Christians must go further than that.  Through our positive actions, we must show our enemies love through the light of Christ shining in us.  This is challenging.  It cannot be accomplished through our own strength.  The Holy Spirit empowers us through submission to the will of God to act on God's Word.

The mission is possible.  Love, don't hate!

in Christ,

Sis. Stephanie


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