What We Think Effects How We Love

To love right, we need to think right.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." [Philippians 4:8]

Today: Think about loving!

What we love and how we love it

I went to the mecca of baseball today, Yankee Stadium.  America loves baseball.  They all come to celebrate, cheer, and watch it.  They devote their day to it.  They wear gear to show their allegiance to it.  How come it's O.K. to love sports, enthusiastically and not people  or God?  Perhaps, we put our love in places that are unworthy or self-serving.  O Lord, help us love YOU with all our heart and mind and strength and not other things, lesser things - even if they are good.  They are not You.  

Love Shows

In walking around the big city of New York as I passed by the LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana, I wondered how can you 'love en mass.' In this big impersonal city, how do I show love? How do I love these masses of people? I realized it must first be in my heart. If there is love in my heart, it will show in my eyes, and it just might be translated into words or actions. If my only words are "which way" it might show in how I listen or how I look at them or how I thank them. Loving en mass really does work if it's in your single heart. So, don't be discouraged. What's in there - will show.

Love is Bold

My friend says she fears because she loves.  I understand what she is saying.  You do not fear for those you don't know or care about.  You fear for those you love, because you love.  So, I go back to casting out fear.  Because I love, and because I fear, I must cast out those fears that creep into my life and relationship.  I must let love conquer those fears so it is love that is conveyed and not fear.  I must deny fears to become a part of my fabric.  I must let love's purity overcome any fears.  So I can love with boldness and not timidity or clouded with fear.

II Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline

Know Love, No Fear

I John 4:18 says perfect love casts out fear.

I have a friend who loves and who fears. She has a lot to fear: her husband lost his job. He's lost his identity and will to live. She loves God. She trusts God. But, she fears.

I understand. How can perfect love cast out fear?

I started picturing casting out fear. I discovered that casting out was also driving out, like the word they used in war with the enemy. That helped me understand more. It may be work, or even war to drive out fears. It also implies we may have them, we just need to throw (cast) them out.

So, in the name of love: Cast out fears!

Loving from Love

Yesterday was my birthday and I felt such love from those around me. It was like taking a love shower. I was showered with love, and it felt so good, and it hurt so bad! To feel the love of so many and to appreciate all the time we have spent with each other to feel this love, my heart began to break. I know this life does not last forever. I know I will leave these loved ones, or they will leave me. To know it's the truest thing I know, and yet it is fleeting, moves me to tears. The somberness is how hollow I will feel to not have them, or to know how they will feel when I am not here. But, this great expression of love makes my heart overflow, not only with tears, but with great joy - to love some more.

Can you think of anything more important?

How great a love

When Jesus prayed for His disciples (before His death), He asked for the love with which God had loved Him be in them/us (John 17:26). How great a love is that? Jesus asked the Father to bestow upon us the same love He had been given, the same love He had experienced. Can I ask it again, "How great a love is that?" I don't know if we can comprehend it. But, I do know we can see the effect of it lived out in the life and death of Jesus. Do people see a great love lived out in me? If you can just slightly comprehend the great love that is bestowed upon us ("For God so loved the world...John 3:16),we would have to be the most loving creatures. For once you have been loved, you are compelled to love.