I AM NOT OFFENDED IN JESUS / Let Me Be a Disciple

This is the 5^th of 7 devotions with the theme

From 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Is Not Touchy"

And

“Love Is Not Easily Offended”

I AM NOT OFFENDED IN JESUS

(Adapted from Luke 6:15 - 71; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

The Messiah had walked on the water. He walked right through the wind and waves, right up to the boat, got in and immediately transported the disciples to the other side of the sea. Later that night around the camp fire, Peter may have gotten up and walked to the beach by himself. He may have stood at the edge of the water looking into the darkness. His thoughts could have been . . .

“The Lord left. We didn’t know where He was or if He was coming back. All we knew to do was get in the boat and cross the sea. It was getting so late! And then He comes walking on the water! What a sight that was! He walked on the water! And as if my friends had not seen enough to convince them that this is truly the Messiah!”

His mind retraced the events of the day. He thought about the crowd of people that were fed from such a little lunch. He thought about the followers that had been offended at His words of late. It was a critical time and there was indecision in the hearts of so many. He thought about the many words and the teaching of the Master.

“I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry. He who believes in and trusts in Me will never thirst. Anyone who eats this bread from heaven will never die. I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven. And this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

“So many people are angry with Him. He actually claims to be the Son of God! He broke the bread and fed it to thousands and now He is saying that He is the bread from heaven. And if we eat this Living Bread from heaven, we will have eternal life. I can understand how so many are offended at these words. It is a strange message. It is hard and difficult for people to understand. So many are drawing back.”

Perhaps the rest of the evening went something like this . . .

Peter turned from the darkness and walked back toward the fire where Jesus and the other eleven disciples were sitting. As he approached the campfire, Jesus was saying, “Will you also go away? Do you all desire to leave also?” Perhaps Peter walked right over to the Messiah and said,

“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe and we know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Lord, there are many things that I may not understand but may I never be offended in you. For where else can I go. Only you have the words of eternal life. I desire to be your disciple. I choose to put You first, the whole world second and my life third. Though I may not understand, I chose to believe in you as I walk it out in love.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion authored by RebeccaAnnCooley

Click here to view today's video on youtube

LET ME BE A DISCIPLE

(Adapted from Luke 6:15 – 71; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Verse 1: Lord I desire to love as You love,

To walk all the way to Calvary,

To count the cost and bear the cross

Forsaking all to be a branch that bears much fruit 
so glorifying Thee,

Putting God first, the whole world second and my life third

Chorus:

Let me be a disciple

Let me as one of the twelve, 
walking with You and denying myself

Let me be a disciple, for where else can I go?

Though this world may entice,

Only You have the words of life

Verse 2:

The common people heard you gladly Lord

Fishermen walked beside you to hear your words

You challenged them to lose their life, 
reaching out to humanity

They learned to follow Thee

You gave them power to set them free

Putting God first, the whole world second and their lives third

© LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCooley And MikeShreve

Devotion by RebeccaAnnCooley

Click here to view today's video on youtube

THE DOOR OF OFFENSE / I’m Not Offended In Jesus

This is the 4^th of 7 devotions with the theme

From 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Is Not Touchy" / “Love Is Not Easily Offended”

THE DOOR OF OFFENSE
by
Rebecca Cooley

(Adapted from Job 2; John 6; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Have you ever seen anyone take offense with God because of a misfortune or hardship? I have heard statements like this, “How could God allow this to happen?” or “Where was God when all of this happened?!” Job’s wife said to her suffering husband, “Why don’t you curse God and die?” Job told his wife that she was foolish to speak offensive words against God. It is foolish for anyone to take offense at the Almighty and blame Him for anything that is the act of the evil one. Job was blameless before God because he refused to be offended with the trouble that he was experiencing. He refused offense and God turned things around for him.

God is love and there is no offense in Him. To be offended with the One who created you for His pleasure is to accuse Him of doing it all wrong. The Holy One only walks through the door of love. He searched Job’s heart and found a door to enter and He will search our hearts for a door that welcomes him.

Father, when I do not understand a trial or a test, I still choose to not take offense but to keep the door of love open in my heart. I realize that those are the very times I need You the most. I cast my unanswered questions and all of my cares on You and I know that You care for me. Help me to recognize the door of offense and wisdom to keep it closed.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion authored by RebeccaAnnCooley

Click here to view today's video on youtube

I’M NOT OFFENDED IN JESUS

(Adapted from Job 2; John 6; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Verse 1:

Unless you eat my flesh, unless you drink my blood

You have no life in you

Many were offended and there only remained a few

Jesus questioned the twelve, Will you go also

Peter was the first one to speak up, 
“Lord where else can we go”

Chorus:

I’m not offended in Jesus, 
though many times I don’t understand

Still I’m not offended in Jesus

But I’ll keep trusting and holding to His hand

Though many may be offended, 
I will echo the words Peter said,

“Lord, where else can we go

For only You have the words of eternal life.”

Verse 2:

Job’s wife came to him after he was tested and tried

Job, why don’t you curse God

Why don’t you curse God and die

Job replied you talk like one of the foolish women

Though God yet will I trust him

I will never be offended in Him

© LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

TAKE THOUGHT / I WON'T TAKE THAT THOUGHT

This is the 3^rd of 7 devotions with the theme

from 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Is Not Touchy" / "Love Is Not Easily Offended"

  

TAKE THOUGHT
by
Rebecca Cooley

(Adapted from Matthew 5; Matthew 6:34;

Romans 12:17; Phillipians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

When someone expresses anger or rudeness, we have a natural tendency to react with the same action that has been expressed toward us. However, that is the very moment when we should do what Jesus said to do:

“Don’t return evil for evil. Overcome evil with good.”

Paul wrote to the Romans:

“Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all “

When someone says something rude and a reactionary thought comes to me, that is when I say to myself, “No, I am not going to take that thought”. Then I instruct my mind to take the thoughts of forgiveness and grace.

Recently someone slighted us financially. At first we felt violated but then we began to process it in love. We thought of the kindness and generosity that person has shown us in the past and began to thank God for those blessings. We sowed the balance of what we should have been paid as our seed back into their lives.

For a few days thoughts and feelings of being violated came back to us, but we instructed our minds to not take those thoughts.” We speak this for however long it takes to realign our hearts with love toward this person.

My child, when life happens to you today, commit your mind to be on guard concerning thoughts. Do not take the thoughts that may come natural to you. Take the thoughts that are honest, proper and noble. If there is any virtue, think on those things. When someone takes advantage of you, give advantage to them and turn it around to be a blessing to them. By doing this you will give no place to the enemy. As you dwell and continue in love, you dwell and continue in me and I dwell and continue in you.

© LoveWalkPublishing Devotion authored by RebeccaAnnCooley

Click here to view today's video on youtube

I WON’T TAKE THAT THOUGHT

(Adapted from Matthew 5; Mathew 6:34;

Romans 12:17; Phillipians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Verse:

When someone is rude,

At first I want to react with the same action

That they expressed toward me

Chorus:

But I won’t take that thought

I cast it down

But I won’t take that thought

I cast it down

But I won’t take that thought

I stay inside of love and thing about good things

I stay inside of love

And bless those who curse me

© LoveWalkMusic WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley 

ESCAPING THE BAIT OF OFFENSE / Beware Of Offense

This is the 2^nd of 7 devotions with the theme

From 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Is Not Touchy" / “Love Is Not Easily Offended”

ESCAPING THE BAIT OF OFFENSE

(Adapted from Matthew 24:10; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

The enemy’s full time job is to undo and disengage the works of God in our lives. He is constantly at work trying to reverse love in us. One of his major tactics is the use of offense. Offense is used as a bait to disengage love in us and set up hate.

The first thing the enemy tries to do is to get us to distrust others. Then he attempts to seal our fate by getting us to distrust or accuse God. For example, Job’s wife had seen enough of what her husband was going through and she took the bait of the enemy and took offense at his trials. She became offended at God!

Have you ever heard someone insult God because of something the enemy has done? Have you heard someone say, “God could have prevented that!” or “Why did God let this happen?” These are offense baits that the enemy uses to drain our love and replace it with hate.

Jesus warned us about this,

“Many will be offended and repelled

and will begin to distrust and desert Him

whom they ought to trust and obey.

They will stumble and fall away and betray one another

and pursue one another with hatred.”

Father, I am not in the number who will become offended and desert You. I trust and I obey You. I do not and will not take the bait of the enemy. I allow You to set up love in my heart and life. I give You permission to correct me when I am wrong. I align my heart up with truth and love. Thank you for Your promises and Your faithfulness to make good Your promises as I follow You on the straight and narrow path of love.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion authored by RebeccaAnnCooley

Click here to view today's video on youtube

BEWARE OF OFFENSE

Devotion: The Bait of the Enemy

(Adapted from Matthew 24:10; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Chorus:

Beware of offense,

It is a trap to undo your faith

Beware of offense,

It is a trap to undo the love of God within you

working through you

Verse 1:

Many will be offended

And repelled and distrust and desert Him

Whom they ought to trust and obey

And will stumble and fall away

And betray one another

And pursue one another with hatred

Verse 2:

Job’s wife came to him with forbidden fruit just like Eve did

Why don’t you just curse God and die

Job replied; “This is not like you

You talking like a foolish woman

Though God slay me yet I will trust him

Bridge:

I won’t be offended at anything

I will keep my faith strong

I will put my faith in You

I will put my trust in you

© LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

Click here to view today's video on youtube

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME / No Offense

This is the 1^st of 7 devotions with the theme

From 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Is Not Touchy”

Or

“Love Is Not Easily Offended”

NO OFFENSE 

(Adapted from 1 Cor. 13:5; Proverbs 17:9, 19:11)

“Do not be offended at anything. It’s not about you.” God spoke these words to me as soon as I arrived at a church to take the position of minister of music several years ago. Later, I found out that two ministers of music before me left offended. Because of this instruction from the Lord, I constantly reminded my worship team, “It’s not about me.” I encouraged them to not allow offense. I was put to the test in this many times during my service there. But because I had made a quality decision to not be offended, I feel that I guided the music department to not be touchy and when I left there it was on good terms. Later, someone said the Lord used me to be a stabilizing force in that church and He tore down strongholds of offense there.

When attitudes are not right, I cannot change someone’s way of thinking. I have no control over what someone will say or think. But I can speak to myself and instruct myself to say, “It’s not about me. I will allow offense” When I make a quality decision to not be offended, this realigns me with love and gets me back on the love walk. This is a daily decision!

Lord, I know it’s not about me. But I still tend to center on myself at times. I need the Holy Spirit’s help to keep me from stumbling with offense on the love walk. Thank you for your power that works in me daily to realign me with love.

Child, I am not touchy and I live inside of you. I ignore evil that is hurled at me and I pay no attention to suffered wrongs. I will help you to cover and forgive offenses with love. Listen for my prompting to let go and forget. It will be to your glory to overlook a transgression or an offense. Gentleness and calmness prevent and put a stop to great offenses. As you walk past offense on the road of love, you will achieve enjoyment and prosperity. You will also walk in my favor.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion authored by KentCliffordCooley

Click here to view today's video

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME

Devotion: It’s Not about Me

(Adapted from 1 Cor. 13:5; Proverbs 17:9, 19:11)

Verse:

When I tend to offend

When I tend to be offended, I’ll instruct my mind

I will realign myself with love (repeat 4 times)

Chorus:

It’s not about me (repeat)

I won’t be offended at anything

Bridge: Love is not touchy (repeat)

© LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

LOVE LEADS US 2 INTEGRITY / Crossroads

This is a devotion with the theme

from 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Is Not Self Seeking”

LOVE LEADS US 2 INTEGRITY
by
Rebecca Cooley

Adapted from John 14:15; 15:10; Psalm 119:127; Mark 12:31; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Lord, I want to love You more. How can I love You more?

If you really love Me, you will obey My commands. If you keep My commandments and you continue to obey My instructions, you will abide in My love and live on it in.

Lord, every day I surrender my heart and my will to You. I keep Your commandments and live by Your Word. When I mess up, I humble myself and talk to You about it. I seek Your presence every day. I receive grace and mercy from You every day. But Lord, how can I express my love to You even more?

Child of mine, the greatest commandment is walking in love. When you choose to walk your life every day in love, you are not only obeying the Scriptures but You are worshiping Me. There is no commandment greater than this. When you love and respect people, you are expressing love and respect to Me and I see this as faith.

Lord, I love Your commandments more than gold and more than money. Yes, Lord, even more than perfectly refined gold and more than anything this world has to offer. I will choose to do what is best for others rather than myself. I choose selflessness and in this way I am expressing my love for You.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion Authored by RebeccaAnnCooley

AllRightsReserved

Click here to view today's video on youtube

CROSSROADS

(Adapted from John 14:15; 15:10; Psalm 119:127; Mark 12:31; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Verse:

On life’s journey, when life happens to me,

I find myself at a crossroads again

One path is the path of selfishness

The other is the path of selflessness

Chorus:

Lord, I choose selflessness

Lord, I choose righteousness

Lord, I choose integrity

[Lord, I chose what is good and is right in Your sight (3X)]

Lord, I chose to walk in love

Bridge:

Lord, I love You with all my heart,

With all my mind, with all my strength

Lord, I love my neighbor even as myself

Lord, I chose to walk in love

Lord, I chose to walk in love

© LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

AllRightsReserved

LOVE IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY / Walk & Live In Love

This is a devotion
and music video
with the theme from
1 Corinthians 13:4 And Galatians 5:22
"The Fruit of the Spirit is Love"
"Our Love 4 One Another"

LOVE IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY
by
Rebecca Cooley
(Adapted from 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:14-16; Lev 19:18)

“So faith, hope, love abide . . . . but the greatest of these is love –

the true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us.”

“You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

I so want to keep these commandments of God. I want to make these commandments my highest priority because I want to please my Creator whom I am in love with and show Him the highest respect and honor. And as I make these commandments first place in my life, I open doors of blessings that no enemy can stop.

The way that God’s love operates through me to affect those around me, hinges on these truths. When I walk in love toward another person, I am placing value on their life.  When I do this, I create an atmosphere around me of the presence of God. I don’t have to be concerned about what I am going to do to change the world or make a difference in my community. I don’t have to pray for hours for God to change a situation. As I walk in these two commandments, God walks with me and the atmosphere around me becomes full of His presence and He does the work. He walks through the doors of love that I create.

Father, thank you for the revelation of your greatest commandment. I choose to give you a place in my heart and in my life to work and move on the behalf of others. I will create an atmosphere of Your divine presence around me today by walking in love toward others.

© LoveWalkPublishing 

Authored by Rebecca Cooley

All Rights Reserved

Click here to view today's music video on youtube

WALK And LIVE IN LOVE

Devotion: Love Is Our Highest Priority

(1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:14-16; Lev 19:18)

Verse:

The whole Law concerning human relationships is complied in the one precept,

You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself.

Verse 2:

The whole Law concerning human relationships is complied in this one precept,

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.

Chorus:

But I say walk and live responsive and controlled and guided by the Spirit

But I say walk and live , walk and live, walk and live in love

© LoveWalkPublishing 
WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

All Rights Reserved