Today at 12:45 PM  
Let us love one another

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” 1 John‬ ‭4:7-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Origin of Valentine's Day
     •Claudius II had outlawed marriage to try to recruit men for war
     •St. Valentine continued to marry the people to preserve love
     •St. Valentine was martyred for this act on 2/14

What is authentic love?
     •when asked about what is important in life, many people stated money
       which is a misguided desire
     •St. Paul reminded us that those who know God know that God is Love, and
       that we are here to love
     •God showed us authentic love by the ultimate sacrifice per John 3:16
     •““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
     •we have been adopted and are given the ability to call God our Father
     •to be able to encourage each other
     •when something is not granted, it is because God knows what is best for
       us… He grants us everything we ask for what He knows is best for us
     •the great love of God has become the basis of spiritual life
     •Implementation of love
     •“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
       John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How can we implement the love that God showed us?
     •“One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”” Luke‬ ‭10:25-37‬ ‭NLT‬‬
     •are we demonstrating love with others or just passing by?
     •who is our neighbor? The other? ◦who does Samaritan represent and
       demonstrate love with? - those who you cannot relate with, who are
       different from yourself
          ◦God tells us to restore the temple of God

     •Jesus clearly demonstrated who our neighbor and others are…
          ◦As an example, there are so many homeless people in LA - are we
           demonstrating love with these neighbors?
          ◦as an example, it is someone who is not agreeable with your values…
           Are we demonstrating love and casting out darkness with love and light?

     •Who is a Samaritan? ◦those who value life
          ◦those who are compassionate
          ◦those who are willing to sacrifice himself and his resources

We must train ourselves to love and respect the differences
     •men are from Mars and women are from Venus… Appreciating and
      respecting the differences and loving in spite of the differences
          ◦Men want acknowledgement, trust, and thanks
          ◦women want interest, understanding and respect
          ◦men want to find solutions
          ◦women want to be heard and shown that one cares
          ◦men relieve stress by going away into their cave and silence to resolve
         ◦women want to be heard and want to vent
         ◦men are moved when they feel needed
         ◦women are moved when they are loved
         ◦men act as if they are always right
         ◦women are unknowingly criticizing men's actions

     •know and respect the differences and dissatisfaction of men and women    
          ◦Women feel as though they are not heard
          ◦men feel as though women are always trying to fix/ change them
          ◦women might feel as though they are nurturing but men feel
           manipulated and just wants to be recognized for who they are

     •A conversation that make you feel good ◦Don't use “why” but use “how”
       and “what” to assure an empathetic open conversation
          ◦speak once
          ◦hear/listen twice
          ◦reinforce and compliment three times

Love one another. Love one another. Love one another. Jesus said!

Love the Lord your God with all of your efforts, your emotions, your thoughts, your actions, your heart… And love your neighbors as yourself! God is LOVE!

Christ and Love is OUR priority and our center!

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TCCK, San Gabriel, CA, United States