A hard time with goodbyes.

I have a very hard time with goodbyes. I never know what to say or how to act, and I'd rather just kind of nod my head and walk away. In fact, you might say that I'm not really in touch with my emotions, period, but goodbyes make me sad. I was doing some reading, and I saw an awesome goodbye that the apostle Paul wrote:

"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Cor 13:11)

If you love someone, it's a great final greeting. If you are having troubles but have to say goodbye, it's a good reminder to end on a note of restoration. Perhaps my favorite thing, though, is the note on comfort, because giving people solace in trying times can be the most meaningful and vivid memory that they ever have.
 

Precision obedience?

 I have seen people comment on "precision obedience." One preacher said, "God does not expect us to be able to conquer sin or be perfect, so he gave us the perfect acts of worship, and how to perform them perfectly. Thus those who use instruments in music are of their father the devil."

Consider what God said. "[God] also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor 3:6)

Jesus, when declaring how His disciples would be known, did not say, "By this will all men know you're My disciples: if you have the correct doctrine about worship services, in the correct way, being set aside by a lack of pianos." Rather He said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:25). Thus, "you were called to freedom, brothers...For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal 5:13-14)

A denomination known by...what?

If you're looking at churches or denominations, you can visit them or go on wikipedia and see what it says. Often wikipedia or church websites will say stuff like, "numbering 72 million, these individuals subscribe to the doctrine that..."

Imagine, though, if you looked and the entry said, "these individuals are known by their love for one another." (John 13:35)

Imagine going to a congregation and having the takeaway that, "These people love one another! They love God!" Imagine if it came across as a caring family, and not just some religious organization or awesome band playing. That's Christ's vision, so let's make it ours!

What's most notable about Solomon?

What is most notable about Solomon isn't that he was so wise, but that he failed. 
"For it came about when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been." (1 Kings 11:4)

I once knew someone who knew the Bible inside and out, but was having a hard time leaving sin behind. He told me, "I have all the Biblical resources, leaders, and friends I need to manage my life, so I don't need or want help." In many ways, we can become like Solomon: all the wisdom and spiritual resources in the world, but they amount to nothing if we aren't using them to actively grow.

Solomon's romantic partners caused him to fall away, but ultimately he could have heeded this advice, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8) Let's make sure we're not living two lives, and let's remember that there is no provision to "remain at the same distance from God." There is drawing near or falling away. Pick the right one. 

I refuse to have my last emotion be anger.

Ever had bad blood between a brother or sister? My end goal when I have an issue with a brother or sister is not to see them get their just desserts, but rather to work with them as effective teammates, truly able to rejoice and love one another, embracing over successes in Christ, for Christ.

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." (Rom 13:8)

When I die, even if someone detests me, I want to die having a love for them. I can never control how someone feels about me, but I can control one thing: leaving only a debt of love. No bitterness or malice will exist in heaven, and I don't want to try and bring any of that along with me. 

What will I give up to help one person I love make it to heaven?

I have no greater regret than hurting people in the past. People who were growing spiritually, but fell away after I put my emotions over their eternity, leading to a remembrance of despair instead of integrity.  The Kingdom of God is likened to a great pearl, so great that a merchant sold everything  to have it. In retrospect I wonder, "What would I have not given to see them in heaven?"

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) If you could ensure someone's eternity, what would you be willing to give to do that? What would I be willing to give up to give someone a good chance? What would I be willing to sacrifice?  How far would I be willing to love someone? 

Love is a verb. Love is a doing word.

"Teardrop," a rather pretty song, starts off saying, "Love, love is a verb, Love is a doing word." It seems that we can all understand that in relationships, loving words with no actions backing them up amount to...nothing. They are useless. Somehow, though, in our relationships with God, we often think of it as a one-way street, where God works in our lives, but we MUST NEVER MENTION working in our returned love.

James 2 explains [in part] that our faith, and thus our love for God, is a "doing word," saying, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?....But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

Working to serve God shouldn't be under compulsion, but out of impulsion. Our love and our faith must be doing words. I'm working to be a doer, because I want the most important relationship in my life—that of me and my Creator—to be the healthiest, most life-filled, most useful one I have.