I now understand why we had to be COMMANDED TO LOVE

I started this blog to remind myself (and others) of the responsibility to love.
I now realize with the current events (George Floyd's death) why God COMMANDED US TO LOVE.  We must love.  Our natural bend is to hate, judge, compare.  If it were not for His command, we would have no imperative to love.  We would just naturally hate.  We need love.  The alternative is to bleak.
So God commanded us to love.  This command is for our good and for our neighbor.

Matthew 22:39  - LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Which trait of yours shows most?

Tim Keller said and then asked, "God's love is His most amazing trait, and likewise love should be His followers' most evident mark (John 13:35).  Is it yours?"

[page 345, The Songs of Jesus]

Love is not a Loan

Humble the Poet says, "Love is a special currency.  It's endless, and you can choose to spend it on whomever you please.  There's no limit to how much love you can spend on a person, or the number of people you spend it on. "

He goes on to say, "Love is a gift, not a loan; you don't give it out expecting it to be returned." He said  he didn't know "too many mothers who are getting back what they're putting in with their babies."  That's a great reminder!

He concluded by saying, "The love in our lives comes from multiple sources, in varying degrees, and in so many different forms."

(p. 278, 279 Unlearn)

Let Love Happen

Richard Rohr in his book, The Divine Dance, says:

"Let love happen...

Love is just like prayer; it is not so much an action that we do but a reality that we already are.
We don't decide to 'be loving'...

Love is not something you do; love is someone you are.

Love is where you came from and love is where you're going."

(ebook no page notation)

Love Directs

Thomas Aquinas put it this way, "love directs the acts of all other virtues."  He was conveying courage that is enabled by love.  Sharon Hodde Miller said it this way in her book Nice ~Why We Love to be Liked and How God Calls Us to More" - "Christian courage is not merely about facing your fears but doing so for the express purpose of love."  (page 64)

We could all use some courage - motivated by love, not fear or any other thing!

Overcome by a courageous Love!

~Prayer to love~

Tim & Kathy Keller post this prayer in their book, The Songs of Jesus, a devotional about the Psalms:

"Give me enough love to live my life every day as I should.  Amen."

(page 48)

Lord, hear our prayer...

What do you see first?

...the first ingredient of love is to really see the other...
The second ingredient is equally important to see yourself...


Anthony DeMello in his last meditations