Be Love Carriers

How can you be carriers of love today instead of carriers of disease, colds, animosity, anxiety, fear, guilt, etc.?

We all carry around what is in us. We carry forward what we have in our past and our hopes for the future. We carry around so many burdens. Why not carry so much love, so much joy, so much hope? Pick it up in your arms today and carry it. There were be plenty of people along the way that will need it and be grateful you had some for them.

Think of the 'mail carriers.' They bring you packages everyday. Some are good (notes from friends, or perhaps checks) and some are bad (bills, bad news, etc). Everyday you anticipate this, but you don't know what you'll discover. Today deliver good news to others wrapped in love.

Love = Bears

I Corinthians 13:7 says Love "bears all things." This is cross referenced to Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Which leads us to Romans 15:1, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves."

It makes me think of a "bearing load." During construction we heard a lot about "load bearing walls." So, after looking this up, I found that it is where the strength is found to support other weight. Sometimes, we are those load bearing walls for other people around us. Sometimes, they are for us.

Bear your load - with love.

Ongoing Love

It's somebody's anniversary out there, and I'm celebrating the ongoingness of love. As First Corinthians 13 described love, "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (verses 7 and 8) An Anniversary seems to be the appropriate place to take note of this. It doesn't say they haven't failed. It doesn't say they their load would be easy. It even tells us they need hope amidst their love. It also discloses they will need to endure many things. It doesn't say they're perfect, or that their love is...but that in the end (even if in the middle it does) their love will not fail, because their love is true and the God they trust is. A non failing love says inspite of all this, I still love you, I'm still here. That's what we celebrate today with this special couple. Standing firm through the trials, hand in hand, with hope and love - enduring.

Thank you for your witness. Thank you for your love. We are all better because of it.

Love Goes On

First Corinthians chapter 13, the great love lecture, says "love goes on forever" (verse 8 in The Living Bible).

A love that goes on.

A love that goes on - forever.

Not just a love that last a long time.

But a love that has no end.

A love that is eternal.

Since only God is eternal, we touch God in our love.

We extend love into eternity through God.

Oh, go on...have an ongoing love affair - and enjoy it - and be blessed.

Love Doesn't Require Perfection

After someone's infidelities were revealed, they simply said, "they weren't perfect, they were human." I've been reflecting on this. Fidelity does not require perfection, it involves character. Fidelity to another is not some super human effort, it takes self control. Fidelity to another human being may take some self discipline, but please, don't tell us you're not perfect. We know that. We also, regardless of your thoughts, comprehend that you are human. We may have expected more from you. We may have taken you at your word, that you would be faithful. Isn't that what you professed before that crowd at the wedding? When did infidelity become an expression of humanity instead of a sign of sin? Transgression means a violation of a law or a sin. So, please let's still call infidelity what it is a transgression - a falling away - not from perfection, but from our word/oath and another person (also a human being), and God.

Love is Loyal

The Living Bible's I Corinthians 13:7 says, "If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost."

How much has your loyalty cost you?

How much has your love cost you?

Loyalty entails faithfulness. Loyalty contains respectfulness. Loyalty implies admiration.

How does your love reflect loyalty? Have you ever considered that you are in a royal relationship that should involve loyalty? Loyalty says yes before it knows the question. Loyalty goes where the loyalty is. Where are you going today with yours?

Do It Well, Do It With Love

Vincent Van Gogh said: "Whatever is done in love is done well."

Which sounds a lot like some other verses:

Ecclesiastes 9:10- Whatever you do - do it mightily

I Corinthians 10:31 - Whatever you do - do all to the glory of God

Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do - do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men

III John 5 - do faithfully whatever you do

There are lots of things to consider when doing anything: mightily, for God's glory, as to the Lord and not men, faithfully and lovingly, and so much more.