Called to love.

Hi SVP family, Jamie here,
Called to love.
This the foundation of the Christian church and I would say most especially
resonates with St. Pete Vineyard.
The two great commissions – Love the Lord God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second - Love thy neighbor as thyself
Wow, first commission – Love my Lord - ok I get that one, check myself
daily… heart… Soul… mind… some days hard, some days not,  it's a good thing His love is not qualified by my love for Him!
But that second one – love my neighbor as myself!    Now let’s be clear, who
is my neighbor? The guy two blocks away that speeds down my street dangerously?
The girl behind the counter at Walgreens
6 blocks away that is always rude? Or, literally the house sitting right next to me?
We ALL know the “Jesus” answer! But literally, if we ALL love “our”
neighbor, we would ALL be loved, right??
But here is where the calling comes in folks! We  have got to make up for those that don’t love their neighbor! I could give you scriptures with example after example after
example where we are guided how to love and when to love. Everyone we
encounter is the “neighbor”. Regardless of their sin, regardless of their
gender, skin color, religion, political beliefs, personality, or their mood.
We are called to Love!!!
I encourage you today to choose love. Choose it for your enemy, someone
who hurt you, choose it for those “easy” to love and especially those “hard”
to love! I promise you, it actually blesses you. Let’s remember one of His
promises from Matthew 5:43   “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.’  
44  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  45  that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  46  If you love those who love you, what
reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  47  And if you
greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not
even pagans do that?  48  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is
perfect”.
This is the perfect example of what Pastor Chris refers to as “the upside
down Kingdom”.  It is not our nature, it is not what we think is the “way to
do things”, it is however what we have been called to do!
Those that have yet to develop their relationship with Jesus keep the law that
taught  “love your neighbor, hate your enemy”. Here is one you hear
often… “love the sinner, hate the sin” (can just hear the old southern
grandma in my ear), how bout JUST LOVE THE “sinner”!  And just a little
reminder we are ALL the “sinner”, washed by His blood, made perfect in
His image!  That includes the “one” you struggle with – they are also
washed in the blood!
I love you my dear Saints – I speak extreme blessing over you, your day,
your week! I am asking you personally to return to our building if you are
able and have not done so yet. We need you!
I leave you with two things: a verse, and a song – always a song LOL.
Music is sewn into the fibers of my heart and I must leave you with a
song!!!! My dear friend reminded me of this one,  just today, not knowing
what I was writing about. But my Lord is always cool like that!
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud.  5  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  6  Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth.  7  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres.
Blessings and love, 
Jamie
 KING & COUNTRY - The Proof Of Your Love  ​