Alrighty, so today i started a book. Yup another one, that fingers crossed, i will actually complete. Not that i haven't and won't complete crazy love, but this one's different. I am reading this new book, with my lovely friend and mentor. "A Love Worth Giving" by Max Lucado. I started on the first chapter today, and found myself rather enjoying it. It's not so harsh and convicting as Crazy Love, still a magnificent book, but Max takes a softer approach and his just appeals to me differently. I really liked what i read today and wanted to share a core value of what spoke to me the most, with you people...so here goes...
Most of the chapter is explaining how we can never truly show love, unless we are given it (in the correct form) first, ultimate experiencing God's unconditional love. If you are shown little then you love little, however we are called to love one another, it is one of the greatest commandments and we "believe" that we can do this, but normally fail, because we lose the genuine attitude that follows behind it.
Personally i don't want show someone love unless it's out of the depths of my heart and shown in a way that portrays that of the love of christ or mimics his to a certain degree. I don't want to pity love someone, because it's the right thing to do?! you know?! i wouldn't want that done for me, so how can i expect to give that and have a sufficient meaning for someone else.
As i read on, it continues to explain how we really cannot love someone, or multiple people correctly unless we have experienced true love from him, ourselves. The only love that never fails us, is the love that comes from Jesus Christ.
-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says,
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
Those are powerful and comforting words! It gives us hope to just read and have an understanding of it.
Now that you've been given the scripture, like the book did, i'm going to challenge you to place your name where "love" or "it" is and read it over and over.
"Mary is patient, mary is kind. Mary does not envy, mary does not boast, she is not proud. Mary is not rude, she is not self-seeking.....and lie and lie and lie...."
You really can't continue it, because as you start the first line you ultimately realize that it isn't a true statement once you put your name in...kind of humbles you huh?! Shoot it sure did for me. As i read it all the way through with my name, God was like ha funny isn't it?! No it's convicting in a good way and kinda becomes an eye opener. However, with it coming off as a lie, we are able to realize that this is the ultimate task we are given to drive our lives towards. These verses, with our names placed in, should be what we strive to become and live for...or how i understood it at least, unless the Big Man is wrong...and newsflash, he's that guy that GOD, he's always right!
Looking for a little less guilt, well read the verse again like normal, and then replace it with this.
"Jesus is patient, jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy, jesus does not boast, he is not proud. Jesus is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he is keeps no record of wrong! Jesus does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Jesus always protects, Jesus always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails!"
Tell me please, where you do not find that comforting and try to tell me you don't feel loved after reading it?!?! You can't! It's the plain truth. There is no greater love than the love of our father and jesus christ. He's always going to be there! And with that being said, maybe we need to strive to be more intentional with those around us and a little more flexible in our daily lives, i mean come on, God is always there for us, always waiting, he is patient!!!
I struggle with patience alot! Believe me do i ever, ask any of my friends, i have good moments i really do, but many other times, geeeeez i don't. So today i made another little bracelet and added another simple one, but with the word patience...as a reminder of what i need to seek throughout my walk over the next couple of months, and however long this bracelet lasts, and if it's awhile then hopefully it will become a part of my daily life.
But enough rant for today, take the challenge as you will...
Love never Fails! Jesus never Fails!
-mare
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