Building Up or Tearing Down

When we fellowship with one another, we should always ask ourself: are we building them up or are we tearing them down? That's doesn't mean we are ignorant of the challenges we are facing. Everyone has problems. However, we shouldn't always complain. We can offer each other a word of encouragement, rather than a word of discouragement; a message of hope, rather than a message of fear; a confirmation of belief, rather than a question of doubt.

Being spiritual doesn't necessary mean being legalistic. One definitely can be spiritual and practical at the same time.

During the retreat, the brothers from Texas told brothers, you watch how much does that sister loves the Lord, and sisters vice versa. That's the highest quality you are looking for in another person is how much their heart is for the Lord. When the reality hits, when we are not rooted in Christ and not loving Christ, there is gonna be conflicts. When the money problems come in, there is gonna be conflicts. When the sickness comes in, there is gonna be conflicts. There are many heavy things and pressures that's gonna come up. But what would bring the couple more and more into oneness is that they both love the Lord. Their relationship is based on Christ himself. It doesn't matter how compatible you feel you are, you watch when the pressures come up you will see how uncampatible you are. The thing that really brings us into a sweet oneness is loving the Lord Himself.

I remembered a few months ago during our usual "bros" conversation, Paul Daubenmire told me that "the sister is attractive when she is in her spirit." I didn't feel the same way as him back then. Now I couldn't agree with him more. =)

From the spirit we can get life, peace, strength, hope, joy, deliverance, forebearance, forgiveness and so much more! We can never graduate from loving the Lord. We can tell when we touch a heart of a person, what their heart is for and what's number one in their heart. The number one should be God and His purpose on the earth.