Love. A Personal Reflection.

In preparation for a new week I was listening to Pieces by Bethel and decided I needed to be more intentional about love this week and forever. So I opened up to 1 Corinthians 13 and to our last blog post and said, "Well what did I tell them to do? I should probably do that." Then I made some notes and decided to be super vulnerable and share them with whoever reads this. Maybe they will help, maybe they won't, but here they are word for word:

" What would it be like if Love was an action intended for every single person I see?
-Being intentional with my words to everyone including my parents
-Being intentional with my thoughts even to those who are annoying me

How can I grow in my love for God this week?

-Wake up early to read

-Before anything ask Him to let me love Him more, and then sing to Him

-Read every night/pray

-Pray the ragamuffin prayer every night*

-Talk to Him out loud about the details of my day as I lie down to go to bed

-Intentionally note how He redefined love that day

"We are to love and respect everyone. No questions asked. No rolling our eyes." - Can I do this? Work on it.

Childlike faith/love: loving no matter how it's received or if it's reciprocated, no matter the social situation, being honest, being joyful, being unashamed (free), with a touch of folly, humility

Love/Intimacy = no hiding from Him

-Read Philippians 2:1-18, 1 Corinthians 13, Mark 12:28-34 at the end of every study time

-Reflect on how you can better show love to and serve all people

Love: patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not self-seeking, not proud, not dishonoring to others (?), not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always perseveres, always hopes, never fails

woah- God, I can't be all of these things all at once all of the time (ever?). Thank you that you expect me to fail more than I expect me to fail, and you still love me a lot. I love you. Please help me to love you more. And be these things. I would say, 'Wish me luck!' but you're these things in me and you're always with me and when you're with me I'm able. Amen. I love you, Jesus. "

* The Ragamuffin Prayer:

-Mary

Love.

Love is being redefined to me by Jesus. The overused word became ill-defined before it became numb. But Jesus touched it and made it alive in me again. We are called to love one another. Most of us have heard that, but no longer take it at face value. No ands, ifs, or buts. Just love one another. This command is spoken all throughout the gospel and everywhere else in scripture. We are to love and respect everyone. No questions asked. No rolling our eyes.  With complete childlike faith and full recognition that we are not better than anyone else. Love takes humility. And it is only created in us by Jesus. It has to begin with a love for Him, and He sparks that, we can't. A love and closeness with Him will bring forth confidence and self acceptance because there is trust that we are accepted and loved without condition by our Father. That confidence and trust and total reliance on God brings forth unconfined love for each other. 

I think so much of injustice can truly be fought with love, the way God intended it. God has told us that love puts others before itself. Love serves everyone and anyone. Love stands up for truth and love shows grace. Love says that everyone matters. Jesus is our example of perfect love. Go read Philippians 2:1-18, 1 Corinthians 13 (yes), and Mark 12:28-34. Reflect on how you can better show love to all people. Ask Jesus to make these characteristics of love a part of you. Begin to choose to show them. Ask Jesus to let you love Him more. Begin to make the conscious decision, especially in moments of weakness, to love others and serve them before yourself. It is not always a feeling and it is not always easy but do it because God said to. 

Yay! We love you a lot! 

The Scripture: 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13&version=NIV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12

Song Suggestions: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0FW--zidYA

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkDqQtfs0w