We live in a society when some people say, “We the people” as if those who don’t agree as they do are NOT ‘the people’.

One such ‘American’ characteristic is the love of dogs.

I don’t HATE dogs, but I’m definitely not a dog enthusiast.

My wife loves dogs, and we have a family dog… Sasha.

Dog lovers think that things such as when they destroy shoes or chew things up is cute…it annoys people who aren’t ‘dog lovers’.

Dog lovers love feeding dogs and giving them baths…people who don’t love dogs not so much.

Many dog lovers think it’s cute when their dog wants to sniff and play with you while on an evening walk…people who aren’t dog lovers want to just ‘keep it moving’.

And yes, there is biblical evidence of beloved family pets, as in the Prophet Nathan’s story he used to illustrate King David’s sin to him in 2 Samuel Chapter 4.

So, to those of you who sometimes may be made felt that there’s something wrong or unAmerican about you because you aren’t an avid dog lover…it’s okay.

And for those of you who do love dogs, please don’t project your passion on everyone else. Because there’s always something that someone else is passionate about that you could care less.

Remember, some people don’t like hot dogs and apple pie either ( I dig those though).

By the way, Sasha is a sweet dog and is just like part of the family. I just don’t give her baths:-)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you’ve grown up in church like me, you’ve heard the phrase, “It only takes a LITTLE faith.” Of course this is based on the scriptures about ‘mustard seed faith’, such as…

Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ So Jesus said to them, “Because of your ^[a]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

BUT THINK ABOUT THIS…

Yeshua said, “As a grain of mustard seed.”

It takes GREAT FAITH for something as small as a grain of mustard seed to move mountains, not little faith. We must have faith as a grain of mustard seed would have to possess to grow.

NOW THINK ABOUT THIS…

Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) ALWAYS rebuked His disciples for having SMALL (LITTLE) faith…

Matthew 20:17 a

²⁰ So Jesus said to them, “Because of your ^[e]unbelief; 

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Matthew 8:25-26 (NKJV)

²⁵ Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

²⁶ But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

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Matthew 6:30 (NKJV)

³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

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Matthew 14:31

³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

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Every time the disciples faith was challenged and proven to be small, He REBUKED them for having ‘LITTLE’ FAITH. He never congratulated, confirmed, celebrated, approved of, or gave a ‘thumbs up’ to small faith.

NOW CONSIDER THIS…

The Lord was ALWAYS IMPRESSED by GREAT FAITH…

Matthew 8:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

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Matthew 15:28 (NKJV)

²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

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Yeshua ALWAYS celebrated, congratulated, was impressed by, approved of, and REWARDED GREAT FAITH!

We must immediately STOP teaching that it ONLY TAKES A LITTLE faith to please God.

Carefully listen to this sermon by my Senior Pastor W. Michael Martin…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

Pure love is supposed to be unconditional and priceless.

It is.

The problem is that none of us have achieved pure love. We haven’t perfected our ability to love.

Too many times we’re putting conditions and ‘price tags’ on the love we have for those who are closest to us. We all do it sometimes. Why? Because none of us have perfected love.

When we judge and measure by things that HAVE A PRICE we’re diminishing love. Never base your love on:

How much $ they spend on you.

Base love on…

How much FORGIVENE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.

How much KINDNE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.

How much GOODNE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.

How much FAITHFULNE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.

How much GENTLENE$$ they ‘spend’ on you.

How much $ELF-CONTROL they ‘spend’ on you.

Base it on how much JOY they give you for just being in your life, even if you have NOTHING.

And remember, when we fall short, it’s not because LOVE isn’t there, it just means our love isn’t perfect.

Only God’s is.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Let’s pray that God helps us to love one another like He loves us, through peace.

BE BLESSTIFIED!