Mixing Love

"When love of one's people becomes an absolute, it turns into racism.

When love of equality turns into a supreme thing, it can result in hatred and violence..."

[page 98, Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller]

Let your love be tempered with grace.

Let your love be mixed with compassion.

Let your love be spiked with joy.

Let your love be touched by justice.

Let your love be infused with thanksgiving.

Let your love be inspired with generosity.

Then your love will never be used to hurt another person.

Your Capacity to Love - Your Source for Love

Tim Keller asserts "that our capacity for romantic love stems from our being in the image of God" using Genesis 1:27-29 and Ephesians 5:25-31. [Counterfeit Gods, page 31]

Where did you think your capacity to love came from?

If you think it's from within you, you may be disappointed when your well is dry.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else...

I Thessalonians 3:12

Afraid of Love? Afraid to Love?

"If you are so afraid of love that you cannot have it, you are just as enslaved as if you must have it." [Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods, page 31]

Do you know people who are afraid to love? Perhaps they have been hurt, left, or betrayed.

For whatever the reason, they say they're not going to love again. Some people are so afraid of love they run from love. Others, are just the opposite. They go from one relationship to another. They are always looking for the "right" one, never considering how they are not "right."

Having to "have" love and running from love are two manifestations of not quite fully understanding love. Love is something you give. You don't possess it, it possesses you. Love works through you ~ if you are brave enough!

A Love Story

One of the great love stories in the Bible is David and Jonathan.
It's a pure and true and sacrificial love.
I Samuel 20:17, says "he loved him as he loved himself."
How do you love others?
Do you love them with the same love and forgiveness and generosity you allow yourself?

Not until there is no separation between "them" and "me" will our loves be true and complete.

The Greatest Love

"The greatest love that any of us could have is our relationship with God." Ravi Zacharias (page 9, Just Thinking, Vol 19.1)

How great is your love relationship with God?

It's the greatest love story.

It's your greatest relationship.

Love as a Decision

Gray had an idea: "Let's get your Mom a dog." My sister in law and I rolled our eyes, but my niece pounced on the idea. The next day, we were off after her school to the animal shelter, writing down possibilities. Then, off to a dog store down the street. My niece exclaimed: "We found her dog. It's perfect." I thought, let's get this over fast. I told Mom we had a surprise we wanted her to see- IF she wants. Off to the doggy store down the street. My thought was Mom will squash this so fast. That's all she has to do. After all, it's not reasonable. She'll just explain it's a cute little dog, and then say, "No thanks." The dog came out and it was adorable. But, that wasn't it. When the puppy was put into Mom's arms, it looked up with the cutest little puppy dog eyes you've ever seen, and began licking Mom's chin. It was over. Where do we sign? It was that quick. It was that sure.

It made me think how love is like that. It's not always practical. It may not make sense. But, the decision was made before the decision was made. Does that make sense? The decision was done the moment the dog looked up and licked. The rest was details. I know that was true for me. Somewhere along the way, he looked, my heart turned, and that was it.

Did you make the decision, or was the decision made for you - before you even knew it?

That's more about falling in love than staying in love. After that day, everyday you make the decision to continue to love. From the falling to the staying ... Love is the best decision you can make.

Imagine the Impact of Love

Lysa Terkeurst poses this possibility: "Can you imagine what might happen if we let God show us how to use our insecurities and feelings of inadequacy as His prompts to love others more? I mean, really think about the simplicity of simply loving others and yet the absolute profound impact that it could make." (page 93, Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl)

Imagine. I like that.

Imagine using all your insecurities and fears as prompts to love others?

Imagine having all your gifts and foibles work together to love others?

Now, imagine if you can, the impact loving others could have?

Imagine...