The Sunday after I posted 'Not a Keeper', I planned on writing another as a continuation. However, I struggled with my love meter so it is only two weeks after that I am posting it.

Why?

Because I was reminded...sort of... by my daily verses today:

1 Peter 3:15 cont. "...yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Because I know better, God is telling me "Keeper, I saw you." Right after that, these two verses showed up. 

Forgive me Father, if I lacked gentleness and respect, I will do better next time. For I, too, as Proverbs 20:9 has stated, am not blameless. 

I am a Born Again Christian, but that is just a label so that it would easier for other denominations to know that I believe and serve One God and that my Bible, has both the Old and New Testaments - the one that has Exodus 20:4 stating that: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (The ten commandments are in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:5-21) Somehow, this particular passage didn't make it to one certain version. (If you are curious, you may ask).

There was a time in the past when people have mocked us for our faith. No, I wasn't stoned or mobbed. Nothing extreme and life threatening. People just called us crazy for clapping and dancing during Praise, raising our hands during Worship and laughing then crying at the duration of the service. 

We were also discriminated. Little Keeper was not allowed inside the Catholic Church. We stayed in a small town in the province where everyone knows anyone who isn't Catholic. Not that I wanted to enter. But my relatives who go there wishes that the family be complete in christenings and other events which they regard as important. So I wait outside the building with my sister ^^

That is not the case nowadays. I am no longer banned from entering. Although, I am still not allowed to be a godmother to my nieces and nephews. Hehe. I understand. So, I am an 'illegal' godmother to the Catholic church, for my cousins insist that even though I failed to enter their Church, they want me as godmother. I agreed and continue to dote on my godchildren.Haha.

The fact that I can talk about this means that it is no longer an issue with me. I apologize if I offended the Catholics with what I have written but it did happen to me ^^ (I wasn't referring to all of you, just one place ^^) Forgiveness is something I could not begrudge for our Father in heaven is a forgiving God. And for every sin, I have not forgiven I will not be forgiven as well.

But more than that, it takes love. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

I also love Muslims. Hey, we have the same father in Abraham (Isaac and Ishmael's daddy). And father Abraham is known for his radical faith. (Fist pump!) That is our inheritance. I believe we are just stuck inside this big family feud with what is happening around us nowadays. (/hugs/ I have Muslim friends here in AFF I believe.)

Yay! We finally made it to the main topic of this blog. 

Galatians 5 speaks about freedom and one of the manifestations of this freedom is love. Jesus died in the cross to free us from our sins and the moment we accepted Him as Lord Savior, we are granted salvation and everlasting life. Not only that but the Holy Spirit is now able to dwell in us. If we have the Holy Spirit, we also have its fruit and in Galatians 5:22 it says, "...the fruit of the spirit is love,  joy, peace, kindness, goodness, tenderness, faithfulness and self control." This is where the whole idea of love as a manifestation of freedom comes in.

Now, here is my dilemma.

Our Pastor asked about our love meter.

OTL.

Remember, this particular message was delivered days after posting, 'Not a Keeper.'

So my love meter is obviously low. 

No, it is not a coincidence. God intended for me to realize this even more. Thanks, Dad. 

"How can you manifest love when you avoid relationships with people because you fear you will get hurt?" 

Gah. Our Pastor is killing me with questions like this. They always hit the right spot. (That is why I love them, haha).

I never thought I would be rebuked on Love twice. Remember last October? I was avoiding this certain person then the gospel of John happened.

Seriously.

Love one another.

How can one do that when the other person makes it difficult for other people to love them?

How?

Look at them with the eyes of God. Look beyond the ugly things they did to you. Look past the harsh words. Look past their sins. Then ask God to increase your capacity to love and forgive. There would be a lot of crying, a distinct pain in your chest but once you release love and free them with your forgiveness, you'll experience peace.

And what is amazing about love is that it is universal. Even if you don't speak the same language and you know that the other person would never understand your prayer, just love on them. Because love is something all of us understand. 

One of the students in Church today said, "We can only grow in a place of pure acceptance and love without agenda." (Kyaa, they are so mature! Even more mature in the spirit than me. Lol.)

I like that.

I hope AFF can be a place of pure acceptance and love without agenda.

-Keeper