Monthly Archives: August 2015

How Do We Love Our Divided States of America?

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How Do We Love Our Divided States of America?
Naima Lett, Hollywood Christian BLOG

nation_divided
© NaimaLett.com/blog

How do we love our Divided States of America?

That’s the question I’ve been asking for several weeks as we’ve approached this Love National week of #LoveActs in our Love Revolution.

Two years ago, in anticipation of the case going to the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage, I wrote the blog, “A Nation Divided: Gay Marriage.” But we can pick any number of issues – presidential election, gun rights, abortion, healthcare, immigration, foreign policy, police brutality – and we are a nation who does not agree.

I said in the previous blog that agreement is not a prerequisite for relationship. Agreement is not a prerequisite for love. We the people, We God’s people, are called to love our neighbors, even if we don’t agree with them. But HOW DO WE DO THAT?

I believe the answer is living out the Love Chapter we’ve been studying through our daily devotions on Bible.com / Bible App (hopeinthehills). If we apply I Corinthians 13 and approach each person, even in our disagreements, with patience, kindness, contentment, humility, honor, selflessness, gentleness and forgiveness, would love not make a huge difference?

Love Makes A Difference

Kevin and I have been married for 14 years and we do not agree on a whole slew of things, but we choose to love each other. In dealing with recent police brutality, what if we choose to love on cops in our precinct? I’m not oversimplifying and ignoring the huge underlying issues, but we’re trying to find a place to start. This week, one of our #LoveActs is to “Buy a Cop Coffee” day where we’ll get coffee gift cards and show appreciation to officers that we encounter. Can’t this make an impact towards creating a different narrative in the minds of officers who aren’t able to see all people as human? I’m praying God’s love begins to break down barriers.

On Thursday, our Hope in the Hills family is expressing love by volunteering at Covenant House California in Hollywood. We’re helping with set up, serving and break down for their annual summer BBQ helping at-risk homeless youth living on the streets. Homelessness is a big issue in Los Angeles and every major city in America. Some cities have given their homeless one-way bus tickets to other cities. Our states do not agree on how to fix the problem. But we’re going to show love to those who are living it out. If you’re in the LaLa, join us. If you’re around the globe, pray for us, and find ways to reach out in your community.

Let’s stop just arguing with folks and start finding win-win solutions that help the ones who need it the most. You can still get in on the #LoveActs for this month. The entire list is here: Love Acts in the LaLa & Beyond. If you’ve been tracking with us, let us know how it’s going. And if you have more ideas on how to love our divided states of America, holler at your girl!

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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How Do You Know You’re Loved?

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How Do You Know You’re Loved?
Naima Lett, Hollywood Christian BLOG

loveacts
© NaimaLett.com/blog

How do you know you’re loved, Fam?

Have you thought about that? There are different kinds of love for sure: romantic love, brotherly love, Godly love. But inherently, we all know whether or not we feel loved.

Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the New York Times bestseller, The 5 Love Languages, which has sold over 10 million copies, says that most of us know that we’re loved through 5 languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch.

Do you know your language?
DISCOVER YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE (Free Profile)

We’re in the middle of our Love Revolution and 30 Days of expressing LOVE ACTS locally, nationally and globally. We are tangibly and practically pouring out love to others with no fear of our own love tanks being empty because God has been filling us up to overflowing.

This past Sunday at Hope in the Hills in Beverly Hills, while we sang in worship, the sweet presence of the Lord was so near that many of us wound up on our knees or prostrate or weeping. I felt waves and waves of God’s love in the depths of my soul as I was reminded of how much He loves us and gave His Son for us. God is love, and He’s the One Who invited us to love like He loves. As He leads, we follow.

My prayer for you this week, this month, is that you too, being rooted and grounded in love, will know how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and that you too will be filled to overflowing, according to Ephesians 3:14-21, so that you too are motivated to love others in the same manner.

If you want to get involved and demonstrate love in your area, check out LOVE ACTS IN THE LALA & BEYOND.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

RESPOND ON BLOG
Comment below, or
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Twitter – @naimalett

Love Acts in the LaLa and Beyond

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Love Acts in the LaLa and Beyond
Naima Lett, Hollywood Christian BLOG

LOVEACTS
PHOTO: Our 1st four #LoveActs, © NaimaLett.com/blog

QUESTION, FAM:

When you think of the LaLa, do you think of LOVE? When you think of your home city, our nation, our world, does LOVE come to mind? Not really, right?! With all the bad news we hear each day locally, nationally and globally, LOVE lags behind on our top-of-mind list. Yet, LOVE is one of our most basic and important needs. We all need to love and be loved to live fully.

LOVE REVOLUTION

Part of our vision at Hope in the Hills in Beverly Hills is to “love like God loves” so we’ve looked forward all year to inviting you to join us in living out a Love Revolution in your own communities all over the world. We believe that LOVE is the secret weapon that changes our world. LOVE is what led Emanuel AME in Charleston to forgive the 21-year old who shot their pastor and members during a bible study in order to start a race war. LOVE is what will topple this #100Days100Nights gang war in South Los Angeles that has released terror and fear upon the community. God is LOVE and God’s perfect LOVE casts out fear. Love wins.

LOVE ACTS

As God’s kids, we are known by our love. Love is active. LOVE ACTS! Therefore, we’re expressing love through tangible acts all throughout the month of August. Please join in wherever you are. Just jump in! Above is a photo of our 1st four love acts. You can find the entire original list that we created here OR at the end of BLOG:
LOVE ACTS 2015: THE LIST

#LoveActs

Also, each day, you can see the daily actions posted throughout social media. Some of you are connected through my pages at:
Facebook | Twitter

Others are connected through HOPE’s pages:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Enjoy! Share! Re-post! Please use #LoveActs

Each morning by 5 AM PT, I still write a Daily Devotion in the Bible App. If you’re connected to HopeintheHills through a Bible.com account, you’ll receive an email each day.

Throughout the month, we’re also highlighting friends and ministries who are showing love in amazing ways. And if you’re in the LaLa, mark your calendar for THURS, 8/20 evening. We will serve and volunteer as a group at the Covenant House, “a non-profit agency whose mission is to reach at-risk homeless youth living on the streets and offer them hope and opportunities to turn their lives around.”

PLEASE LET US KNOW

And please let us know what #LoveActs you decide to do in your homes, jobs, cities, and nations. Post your photos and messages. We look forward to hearing what GOOD NEWS comes from our steps of faith, showing love and shining light in our world.

Lots of love from the LaLa (literally!),
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

RESPOND ON BLOG
Comment below, or
Facebook or
Twitter – @naimalett

LIST:
LoveActs_2015