Love one another

by Jessica Finney

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

It says multiple times in scripture that we should love one another as Christ loves us.  When we truly love someone, we do not want any harm to come to them.  Not to say that we don't hurt other unintentionally sometimes, but it should not be our motive.

I believe that anyone can say the right words to tell someone they love them, but if we don't show them with our actions, then what are we trying to prove? It is like the husbands/boyfriends that supposedly love their wives/girlfriends but they beat them.  How can you love someone and physically harm them? That isn't how God is.  He brings good out of our bad.  Not to say that He won't allow things to happen for consequences to our actions, but He loves us enough to forgive us and to not beat us up for our actions.

This week let's try to show God's love through us by trying to encourage someone with word and action.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the love that you show for me.  I pray that you help me love others as you do, that I might bring more people to You.  Show me the ones that need an encouraging word or an action. Show me what you want me to do so I can show others Your love.  I love you Lord, In Jesus' name, Amen.

Happy Anniversary!

"My prayer for this ministry is that women become united by opening up and sharing their hearts with others. I pray for God to fill these women with the Spirit as they write these devotions." ~Denise Reed

"I look forward to reading the devotional every week because we really get to know the heart of the woman doing the writing. Women are a lot busier now than they used to be. If we make enough time for our own families, our church activities and still hold down a full time job, that leaves little time for "friend time". We are all friends in one way or another. It's nice know how many of our gals at FCC love the Lord with all of their hearts and souls. Keep writing girls - We love you and are praying for you all." ~Debby Craig

"It has been so exciting to see the Olive Branch grow! I love how more and more women have stepped up to answer God's call to share through their writing. I'm honored to have been a part of it's launching four years ago, and I'm blessed to see it has flourished under new management. God's hand is on the Olive Branch." ~Kathy Lay

"The Olive Branch serves as a God-inspired ministry, directed at women from women whose hearts are focused on the Lord. Everything written is evidence to this." ~Charity Pence

"The Olive Branch provides encouragement, guidance, and a lot of wake-up calls to me once a week, and it always seems to be just what I needed. Thanks to everyone who has been so willing to serve." ~Brenda Pickering

"Olive Branch is a place where I can both give encouragement to and receive encouragement from my sisters in Christ. When I go to the Olive Branch blog I know I will find others that are facing the same struggles that I am. I will also find sisters that are encountering victories over the enemy and sharing with me how to do the same." ~Mollie Thompson

"Watching this blog grow has been exciting! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for the next year!" ~Bethany Lashbrook

Psalm 30:4, "Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name." (NIV)

Encourage, Be Encouraged!

By Charity Pence

This Week’s Verse: 1 Peter 4:10, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (NKJV)

Devotion: I have been told I am a good listener. What a compliment! It is nice to know my friends are comfortable enough, and trust me enough, to share their troubles with me. Though sometimes they come to me seeking advice, most of the time they just need me to listen. I believe we are meant to encourage each other, and uplift each other. James 4:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (KJV) I really enjoy being an encourager to my friends. However, I often struggle with being on the other side.

I cannot explain why I hold back when something is troubling me. Lately, I have felt like I am dealing with more than I can handle. And though I put my trust in God and pray, I tend to keep my mouth shut around other people. People ask me how I am and I tell them I am fine. It seems I have been using that word a lot recently. Sometimes when I say it, I want to cringe because it isn’t always true. So why is that my answer? It has always been difficult for me to open up to others. However, God has put some awesome people in my life. The last few years have shown me how great my church family is. I think it is about time I trust in them more often.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for providing for me in all my needs. And thank you, thank you, thank you for the people you have put in my life.

Applications: The next time you feel overwhelmed, do not be afraid to call on a brother or sister in Christ. God puts special people in our lives for a reason. Believe that!

Power Verses:

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” (NKJV)

Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (KNJV)

Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” (NJKV)

The Race

by Kathy Lay

This Week’s Verse: Hebrews 12:1, “Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.”(CEV)

Devotion:
On a hot, sunny morning last week, I headed off to “Track Day” to watch my kids participate in the annual end-of-school-year tradition. I never expected to be moved to tears by catching a glimpse of heaven while I was there.

You see, there was one little girl who couldn’t quite run. She could walk briskly though, and her enthusiasm was clear from the moment she took her place on the starting line. The other four girls in her heat also lined up wearing remarkable smiles that I noticed, but didn’t attach any particular meaning to—yet.

Even before “On your mark…Get set…” a chant began to swell up around me by the student spectators. “Au-tumn…Au-tumn…AU-TUMN” was repeated with growing volume as the race began.

“Go!” And they were off. Autumn and her competitors left the gate as a single unit, barreling down the track as a power-walking unified force. Autumn led the pack and the others shared happy sideways glances as they allowed her to set the pace. The crowd continued in its relentless encouragement for the duration of the event and as Autumn crossed the finish line just a neck ahead of the other girls, it exploded with cheers of Woo hoo and Way to go! Victory was written on every face because of the triumph of one girl finishing the race marked out for her.

And there I sat stunned, tears streaming down my face, at what I’d just witnessed. (Thank goodness for sunglasses.) What a wonderful reminder of how we are to cheer one another towards the mark we all aspire to reach—a tangible, present-day example of the promise in this week’s verse! We have a heavenly crowd of spectators—all the saints who have gone before—cheering us on in our race from heaven's bleachers.

And because of that promise, we can pass on encouragement and walk with others here on this side of the ultimate finish line.

Father, what a blessing to see the powerful example of grace and encouragement through the kids at that race! Help us adults to copy it. Open our eyes to see those you’ve placed around us to influence and support by the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name.

Application:
Can you think of people that might need you to walk along beside them to help them stay in the race? Who would be encouraged by your cheering and encouragement to finish it well?

Power Verses:
Romans 15:5, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.”(NIV)
1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”(NIV)
Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.(NIV)