This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.

If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) anddoes not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy orfretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

It does not rejoice at injusticeand unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anythingand everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled andpass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).

But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish waysand have put them aside.

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fullyand clearly known andunderstood [by God].

And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

Spread the Love, not just today…

…because #EverydayJesus…loves you

So here I am beside this damsel
We’re in distress, this isn’t Disney
And today marks a year
A year since we’ve had to bear
This mauling of our consciences
I’m much stronger than she is,
But her scent curves around her
Telling my nose to tell my eyes
To tell me formication must rise.

But look beside to the east
Where Iyke lounges, a worn beast.
He married young with an old dream
She loved him and paid to redeem
To redeem his mistakes and name
To redeem their seeds from shame
But she forgot to forgive him
And he forgot to teach her him
Fast forward forward to the present
When pain is the distance
Between their pairs of tied hands…

Let’s not forget little Sonia
Looking up at her hot Mama
So Sonia’s father isn’t so near
Why do people still stare
Like we are spilled ice-cream
Like I might be a mistake?
Like Mama’s been naughty, wait!
Why does Mama cry so helplessly?
Who will save her hero, who is he?

So here I am beside this damsel
We have prayed, that’s why I’m smiley
No emoticons can signify my jubilation
My joy, my strength, my obvious salvation
I took these pills and they pealed away
My weakness my sickness my decay
And Iyke laughs as he dances
He’s run out of second chances
Wifey needs these pills he takes
So he’ll read this till he wakes
Sonia… knows the Artist
He drew a grin on Mama’s lips
He doesn’t live in cement clinics
So he painted one pill, one prescript.

For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things…but…looking away to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up[on a cross], In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame,deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice]…

…let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

…seeing as Everyday, Jesus refreshes us…us…that look, us that took his Word, like pills whose bottle…we now are.

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Hallelujah!!!

Yeah So I’ve been so filled with myself, but thank God there’s always food, the Word. So although you might not be really hungry ( after all you have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places);

But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;

Guard andkeep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—[which will bring you] unto life eternal.

And refute [so as to] convict some who dispute with you, and on some have mercy who waver and doubt.

[Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of [the] fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing even the garment spotted by the fleshand polluted by their sensuality.

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling orslipping or.falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—

To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). 

==============
#EVERYDAYJESUS sits unafraid..
Coming up

Don’t look at me
Don’t! Please!
My sins are written,
Like chalk on a board
They stand,
Against the wall of my righteousness,
Contrasting with my peace.
Please don’t look at me.
GOD will never forgive me.

I saw opportunities to run,
To flee,
I could have walked free,
Now my reflection points,
At me, accusations.
Like swords set to sink sewers
Into my self sufficient confidence.
I…didn’t flee from evil.
I joined and frolicked in it.
Pleasure took hold of my eyes
Yet I was not so blind
I magnified
delight above The Light.
And so I lost the fight.
I lied, I stole, I fornicated,
God will never forgive me.

You must be feeling sorry for me.

That’s interesting.

In case you think
Ah! I didn’t lie or cheat or steal.
I didn’t fornicate! For real!
Allow me to reintroduce myself
I am human like you
The truth is there are
A lot of Ways to Sin
It doesn’t matter which you’re in.
There are no white lies
No good criminals or legal bribes.
Yes, already you know,
God will never forgive you.

Maybe you’re a devout person
You’ve never played with treason.
You fast and tithe, in good season;
You washed your mouth with Klin.
But you missed one tithe payment;
Or broke a fast early by a minute.
Or You thought deep in your heart
‘I’ll be kinder when I’m a bit richer.’
Don’t think God is from Asia
He won’t forgive sin just like that
So if you’ve never shed blood
And done the rites for your sins
Then you will die and be damned
GOD will never forgive you.

But as I sit, stained by my idiocy
I hear speaking to me gently.
The lashes,
They bled and pulsed with dread.
The Thorns,
They dug beneath his scalp,
creating the craziest head-ache.
The Nails,
They pinned him to logs of wood,
One stuck out of a ticklish place
Turning pleasant giggles
To searing pain.
His Father watched in silence,
Angel Armies standing and staring.

If GOD was speaking to us when he said:..this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.”

Then: “Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence of God on our behalf.

Nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary to] offer Himself regularly again and again, as the high priest enters the [Holy of] Holies every year with blood not his own.

For then would He often have had to suffer [over and over again] since the foundation of the world. But as it now is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put awayand abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself].

And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment,

Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.” also applies to us.

By ‘us’ I mean ‘whosoever believes in him’ from John 3:15-18. He knew… But if you don’t believe all this balderdash its alright.

No matter how many times
You ask GOD for his forgiveness
Without Jesus…
You might have to get a lamb.
Maybe more than one.
Else GOD will never forgive you.

Don’t look at me
Don’t! Please!
My sins are written,
Like chalk on a board
They stand,
Against the wall of my righteousness,
Contrasting with my peace.
So I choose to face my peace
My name is written,
Like a gem in Gold,
It sits,
In the palm of his righteousness.
Please don’t look at me.
Look at him!

And you others like me
Who look to Jesus,
Who believe that he died and rose,
And is coming back for you.
Listen to the Spirit of Jesus
As he whispers in your heart
He won’t speak English,
Or Hausa or Yoruba or Igbo or Edo,
But you’ll see what he’s saying
Because his own hear his voice.
When sin trips you, get up.
You’re dead to sin, don’t die in it.
When you feel guilty, remember;

GOD WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU…BECAUSE HE ALREADY HAS.

#EVERYDAYJESUS is your justification.

Em… Hope you’re having a day as beautiful as you are…

But, for a moment..

If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [if we are willing to take human authority], the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority), for this is the testimony of God, even the witness which He has borne regarding His Son.

He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son.

And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life.

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

If anyone sees his brother [believer] committing a sin that does not [lead to] death (the extinguishing of life), he will pray and [God] will give him life [yes, He will grant life to all those whose sin is not one leading to death]. There is a sin [that leads] to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin which does not [involve] death [that may be repented of and forgiven].

We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over andprotects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].

We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.

And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.

=======================
Now, there is a sin [that leads] to death; what do you think it is?

Perhaps you would like to pay attention to other aspects, juicier aspects, of this excerpt?

And before you answer, post with #EVERYDAYJESUS …EVERYWHERE!!!

Hey…Have a snack

In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no profit (advantage, avail) to you [for if you distrust Him, you can gain nothing from Him].

I once more protest and testify to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation and bound to practice the whole of the Law and its ordinances.

If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing).

For we, [not relying on the Law but] through the [Holy] Spirit’s [help], by faith anticipate and wait for the blessing and good for which our righteousness and right standing with God [our conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action, causes us] to hope.

⁶ For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor un-circumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.

You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?

This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ].

A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].

[For my part] I have confidence [toward you] in the Lord that you will take no contrary view of the matter but will come to think with me. But he who is unsettling you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty.

But, brethren, if I still preach circumcision [as some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation], why am I still suffering persecution? In that case the cross has ceased to be a stumbling block and is made meaningless (done away).

I wish those who unsettle and confuse you would [go all the way and] cut themselves off!

For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.

For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),

Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challengingand provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

=======================

Curious? Is this for real? Yes! And it can be found in the gallant letter to The Galatians…but I won’t tell you which chapter in which to find these words…

For those of you pairs of eyes that know…walk by it.

But first, find someone, anyone, and whisper #EVERYDAYJESUS in their ear. Smile.