Love like You

I was listening to one of my favorite praise songs the other day (Hosanna by Hillsong United) and one line really resonated with me.

'Show me how to love like You have loved me'

I think this is something we all struggle with.  At least, I know I do.  I like to think I'm a 'nice' person.  That I treat everyone equally and fairly.  That I give people the benefit of the doubt.

But I am an imperfect person.

Too often I find myself making snap judgements or gossiping.  I like to justify it by saying I'm just venting or making an observation.  But those are just excuses, justifications.  It doesn't really excuse or justify my behavior.  My friend, Kristi, wrote about just that here.

Sometimes people just rub me the wrong way.  They haven't done anything wrong.  I am in no place to judge anyone else, but I do.  I'll say 'I love so-and-so, but can you believe what they did?' or 'she seems like a nice enough person but did you hear what she just said?'

Who am I to judge anyone?  I have a faulty personality.  I've lied.  I've cheated.  I've stolen.  I've  been mean.  I've been petty.  I've been immoral.  I've sinned countless times.

If only I could learn to love like God loves us.  He loves us unconditionally.  There is NOTHING we can do to alter that love.  No matter how many times we fall short (and we will-again and again and again...), God is there to help us back up, embrace us and say, 'it's okay, my child.  I forgive you.  I love you.  I will never leave you.'.

I want to love live that!  I want to be loved like that.  We are only human though.  We hold grudges.  We make judgements.  We are biased.  This is something I am earnestly working on.  Whenever I hear the venom of gossip flowing from my lips, I have to conciously make the decision to ask God to help me love that person better.

It doesn't matter what that person has done.  It really is none of my concern.  Their struggles are for God to deal with, not me.

Controlling my venomous tongue is difficult.  I will probably struggle with this for the rest of my earthly life, but with Gods help, I can do anything.

What do you struggle with?

LIWD :: day 23 :: Waiting for Our Love - Basilea Schlink

Jesus is yearning to have fellowship with us and to hear words of love drop from our lips.  He is waiting for us.  He wants us to be close to Him.  He wants to speak to us in our hearts, cultivate love's intimate relationship with us.  Only in times of quiet when no one else distracts us, and nothing else draws us away, can Jesus visit us with His love.  Let him who wishes to know the presence of Jesus and who desires to enter into bridal love for Jesus keep his times of quiet holy and faithfully for Him.

Jesus is waiting for our love.  As important as our sacrifices and our obedience to the commandments are for God (the rich young ruler sacrificed, and kept the commandments), they are not enough.  Sacrifices and obedience do not necessarily yield the "eternal, divine life."  Love does not necessarily pulsate through them.  Jesus is pulsating life and love and He wants to impart His nature to us.  Therefore, only our love, which stems from the divine, eternal life which He has granted to us, is the proper response to His love for us.  This love leads us to keep His commandments, which are His wishes for us.  It will lead us to bring Him many gifts, and to offer Him sacrifices -- but in a different spirit.

...Bridal love for Jesus is filled with delight.  There is no greater, happier, higher, richer love.

He is waiting for us.  He wants us to be close to Him.  He wants to speak to us in our hearts, to cultivate love's intimate relationship with us.

I never used to think quiet time was of any importance...until I started doing it.  What a difference it makes!  Spending that time, by myself, alone with God, in His word, really fills my spirit.  I love to sit in my backyard on a nice day looking at the lake, bible in hand and just talk to God.  Sometimes I hear Him, sometimes I don't, but I always feel fulfilled. 

But I've been slacking lately.  Chalk it up to being busy, laziness or the weather...they're all inexcusable excuses.  I was much happier and more aligned with God in my walk when I was spending quiet time with Him daily.  I think it's time I step up my game and give God the quality time He desires (and deserves!) from me.  How about you?

LIW video intro

the links I mention in the video are ::

my tokbox

Amy's tokbox

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If you're interested in getting the book, Lady in Waiting by Jackie Kendall, you can find it for under $15 on amazon.com or check out jackiekendall.com

single

Though I've always thought it would be great to have a boyfriend who had a passion for Christ, it was never a deal breaker. It was more of a bonus if they went to church. But, as I grow more in my faith, I find that my priorities have shifted.

I strive to live my life centered around Christ and I need someone who's on the same track as I am. Someone who understands how to get through trials and tribulations by faith. Someone who will encourage me to stay on track and not lead me astray. Someone who will go to church with me, pray with me, do devotions with me. I want a partner in Christ.

I am a Christian because I believe in Jesus. I believe He is the son of God. I believe He died and rose again. I believe He paid for us all. Yes, I know those are lyrics but they state my feeling perfectly. Saying that I am passionate about my faith would be a gross understatement.

When I have kids, I want them to be raised in the church. I want them to be emersed in the faith, taught about Jesus, shown the Christian lifestyle. That's not something that can be accomplished if they only see it on Sundays. It needs to be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It needs to start at home.

In my minds eye, the purpose of dating is to find a boyfriend. The purpose of having boyfriends is to find a husband. I plan on having children with whoever my husband ends up being. So why date a non-believer? To date someone who doesn't have the same integrities would be against my values and a contradiction to my beliefs.

I believe that somewhere out there is my Godsent. I believe that we will meet when the time is right...when we are both ready for eachother in the eyes of God. Until then, I will be patient. I will not waste my time or his or His with someone I know, in my heart of hearts, is not my soulmate.