portrait of love ...

Hello Friends–

I pray all is well and that your week is off to a great start

We are almost to the end of February –

                Amazing!

I have to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed our talks on LOVE

And as we near the end of what I like term ‘the month of love’,

What better verse to look at than I Corinthian 13:4-8

‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.’

‘Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.  It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].  Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]’ I Corinthians 13:48 AMP

‘Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.  Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.’ I Corinthian 13:4-8 TPT

I love this verse [in all its translations] because it not only defines love in practical terms,

It paints a perfect picture of LOVE

It is so beautiful and can serve as both road map and guardrail –

for how we should love one another

However, this past Sunday at church, I got another picture of love –

                A living portrait of love!

To me, there is nothing more amazing than seeing someone,

operating with their God-given ability & fulfilling their God-given purpose

And, there are those unique times when the anointing of the LORD is so strong –

that you just sit in awe…

I had one of those moments at church Sunday.

My senior pastors, in a rare occurrence, delivered a message together.

The topic? Meant to Be: Questions – Developing Boundaries

It was the final sermon in a series that started the Sunday before Valentine’s Day.

It was a powerful talk on establishing healthy boundaries in your life.

And at the end of that sermon - recognizing that many have failed in the area of boundary establishment (and are now living with consequences and/or regrets – my pastor’s wife sang a song.

It had such an anointing on it and she sings like an absolute angel.

The song? It was simply titled, ‘Clean’ [a song by Natalie Grant]

But it was the look on my pastor’s face that caught my attention.

I had seen that look on her face –

when she would sit on the front row, listening to him teach and preach.

But I think this is the first time I observed that look on his face –

while she spoke and when she sang

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!

They are each other’s greatest cheerleaders - I love it!

It was like a portrait of love ... in living color, live action

Simply Amazing!

If I have said it once, I have probably said it a dozen times,

‘I am a hopeless romantic!’ 

And it doesn’t have to be my story - 

My heart leaps with excitement and joy for any couple,

any couple that has been able to find and hold onto that amazing thing we call love.

My pastors will be celebrating 25 years of marriage this year.

They have been my pastors for 20 years.... 

Yet, I never exhaust the levels of gratitude I have for each of them individually and collectively as a couple. Their life has been such an example and a blessing to me. They are people of integrity. They love with the love of Jesus and they are genuine. And their love is evident to anyone who has been blessed with the privilege of being in their company for any length of time.

In fact – 

I was about to type, ‘if you can find a love like that, hold onto it with all you’ve got.’ 

However, a love like that is not found … it is built

It is firmly established through years of commitment, through good times and bad, with hours of listening, a keen ability to knowing when to keep silent, an unwavering resolve that if anything is going to come against us - it’s going to have to come prepared to fight two because you’ve got each other’s back. It is simply amazing … warms my heart and makes me smile!

That is some kind of special love.

And while we know there is no perfect thing – save our LORD,

I pray your love would be [as much as humanly possible] picture perfect,

a stunning reflection and portrayal of love

I’ve included a link to that sermon in the comments section below,

                Along with a link to Natalie Grant’s song ‘Clean’

Have a Blessed Evening!

LOVE: IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

Hi There Friends!

I pray you have had a fantastic week!

It is hard to believe we have reached the end of February already

And with that end comes the close of our focus on LOVE

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series!

With all we have discussed about LOVE,

I know no better place to end than with this powerful reminder:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” I Cor. 13:4-7

I also love the way the Message Version defines LOVE:

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “Me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies

When you meditate on the definition of love and apply it to every relationship;

You will be absolutely amazed at the result!

Love for God, Love for Self, Love for Others –

There is nothing like the power of TRUE LOVE

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening

Wishing You Much Love …

LOVE: LOVE & INTIMACY PT III

Good Morning Friends!

Yes, it is pretty early in the morning – it is almost 2 AM.

I’ve been incognito for a few days. And while I was busy – I was not that busy.

Truth is, as much as I would love to adhere to a routine in writing –

I find I can only write when I feel inspired to do so.

SO HERE WE ARE – We are continuing our discussion on LOVE

We are nearing the end of the month and almost to the end of our love journey;

Which we should know by now – it is not really the end

Love does not end – this is just the beginning

TODAY’S TOPIC: LOVE & INTIMACY PT III - FREEDOM

AT THE ONSET OF OR INTIMACY TALK – We discussed spiritual intimacy with God

A FEW DAYS AGO – I talked about natural intimacy [physical, sexual and relational]

TODAY – I would like to round out this topic and will likely touch on a bit of both

In our chat on relational intimacy, you will recall how I shared that:

INTIMACY IS KNOWLEDGE – PURE AND SIMPLE

It is pure and simple while at the same time powerful and significant. In discussing some of the potential pitfalls, I expressed some of the dangers of becoming relationally intimate with the wrong person. I shared this under the header of ‘Intimacy in Marriage’ but the truth is that it applies to all. As noted in that post, 'You can share information with anyone. However … you must ask yourself whether it is the wise thing to do.

‘Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.’ I Corinthians 6:12

Relational intimacy is a powerful thing. It is a relationship stabilizer, a solid foundation – a bridge which connects two hearts and creates deep and lasting emotional & spiritual bonds.

Relational intimacy can also be a dangerous thing. I shared during our last talk that, ‘If you have to beg someone to share information about themselves, they are not interested in a meaningful relationship with you.’ I went on to state, ‘Relational intimacy involves a desire and intention to know someone and to be known by them.’ However, it is often the unfortunate instance – in their quest to create a bond – individuals will share too much intimate knowledge, too soon, and with someone who should not have the privilege of knowing those details about you.

YOU SEE –

Done incorrectly [with the wrong person] – the sharing of information can be undervalued, used as a manipulative device and abused. It does not always happen. But, there is the potential for it. You are probably familiar with the phase ‘knowledge is power’. Well, it is. And, this is why it is vital to be extremely careful in who you disclose information to and who you receive information from.

HOWEVER –

When done correctly, relational intimacy [and the love which it fosters] has an ability to produce FREEDOM.

FREEDOM TO BE HONEST

§  ‘You will know the truth and the truth will set you free’ Jn. 8:32

§  ‘…speaking the truth in love, we grow up’ Eph. 4:15

§  ‘Wounds from a friend can be trusted’ Prov. 27:6

§  ‘An honest answer is like a warm hug’ Prov. 24:26 MSG

§  Some versions of Proverbs 24:26 state that an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips

FREEDOM TO BE VULNERABLE

§  ‘They were naked and unashamed’ Gen. 2:25

§  Understand that nakedness could be physical, emotional or spiritual

FREEDOM TO BE COURAGEOUS

§  ‘Be strong and courageous … for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you’ Deut. 31:6

§  The love of God gives courage. Likewise, when we love one another [the way God loves us], we encourage, empower and uplift one another – to be the very best versions of ourselves.

FREEDOM TO LOVE

§  ‘We love because He first loved us’ I Jn. 4:19

§  We have the freedom to love Him and be loved by Him

§  We have the freedom to love others and to allow ourselves to be loved

There is a song I have been listening to lately called ‘Sails’ by Pat Barrett.

Something in this song has been resonating with me on multiple levels:

‘Falling is easy, but staying in love is hard

Hard to be honest and keep our heart open

To be who we truly are

Without the excuses, without the façade

There’s no pretending

Here in your love’

The chorus of that song goes on to state, 

'I let out the sails of my heart; here I am here you are’

Every time I listen to this song, this wave of peace and wonder and anticipation washes over me.

The Word of God states that ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ I John 4:18

This is so true.

Love and intimacy casts out the fear of rejection;

It casts out the need for pretense – affording the freedom to be yourself

It takes you from a place of being closed and guarded and protected;

It creates in you a willingness to be honest and vulnerable - to trust

It unfurls the sails of your heart – 

It enables you to catch a fresh breeze; to take a deep breath

It gently – and sometimes powerfully – propels you forward;

It enables you to go places you never dreamed – 

It allows you to discover and experience love you have only ever hoped for.

LOVE & INTIMACY – IT IS A POWERFUL THING

SPIRITUALLY – I feel like GOD and I are back at place in our relationship where I had not been in a while. Notice, I stated ‘where I had not been in a while’. He never moved. But you will recall how, in our discussion on spiritual intimacy, I shared, ‘we run the risk [and actually face the high probability] of losing intimacy with God, when we lose focus, get distracted, stop listening and stop communicating’. This happened to me last year – and probably started before then.

But now, He and I are back –

We are back to that place of deep intimacy, but at the same time some place entirely new and different. But I also feel as though He is preparing me for something in the natural. I can’t explain it fully. However, it feels like He is aligning things – pushing together the pieces of a puzzle to bring together a complete a picture of what He’s been working on all this time. Hard to explain …

In any event, I’ve included a link to that song ‘Sails’ in the comments section below. I hope you enjoy!

Praying You Have a Blessed Day

Wishing You Much Love …

LOVE: VALENTINE'S 365

Good Afternoon Friends!

I hope you all had a fabulous Valentine’s Day … FULL OF LOVE!

My intention was to write yesterday. But it turned out to be quite a day. Up at 3AM [unable to sleep]; traveled five hours for a meeting which was supposed to take all of a half hour – but ended up taking five hours; then a 6-hour drive back. Let me say that exhaustion [physical, emotional & mental], coupled with heavy traffic and crazy drivers [compounded by the fact that I am not even supposed to drive at night] – well it did not make for a great combination. I did not get home until midnight. However, on a brighter note, I finally managed to sleep in on a Saturday!

Shifting the focus off of me and back to us –

I have truly enjoyed our series on love

And, as promised, our discussion on love will continue

BECAUSE LOVE DOES NOT END WITH VALENTINE’S DAY

We need to understand –

The love that is demonstrated on Valentine’s Day…

It should be an all year thing and not a one day thing

NOW – 

I am not saying that there should be all the fanfare which accompanies Valentine’s Day

HOWEVER – 

There certainly should be the creativity and intentionality which accompanies Valentine’s Day

GENTLEMEN – if flowers are an expression of your love for that special lady, it should not only be on Valentine’s Day. It should be spontaneous and done randomly throughout the year. HINT: it would be less expensive at any other time of the year

LADIES – if you love how your guy smells, buy that special gift of cologne any time of the year to surprise him. Men appreciate unexpected thoughtful gestures as much as we ladies do. HINT: Buy the scented shower gel too and get creative planning an entire evening of romance [this hint is, of course, for my married friends]

ALL – if a special meal was the choice for a love-filled evening on Valentine’s Day, keep in mind that restaurants are open all year round. HINT: So is your kitchen…

PARENTS – if sweet surprises were the order of your love-demonstration for your family; candies, chocolates, cakes and brownies are available at any time during the year. My family loves when I make a dessert for no other reason than I thought they might enjoy it. HINT: It also gives you a plausible excuse for relaxing any dietary disciplines you might have in place J

FRIENDS – if you took time to let people know how much they are loved and thought of on Valentine’s Day; those expressions of care and concerns go a long way at all times of the year.

The main point is that we have 365 days a year to demonstrate: LOVE

We have daily opportunities to be intentional about our demonstrations of LOVE

YOU SEE – the primary reasons there such displays on Valentine’s Day is … EXPECTATION

It is understood and expected that there will be demonstrations of love

We can argue the correctness of it some other time while still recognizing the reality of it today

BUT – WHAT IS GOD’S EXPECTATION?

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” John 13:34

AND HE HAS LOVED US LAVISHLY AND LOVES US DAILY

“I have loved you  … with an everlasting [continual, never-ending, eternal, ceaseless, perpetual, undying & unending] love.” Jeremiah 31:3

HINT: That is some kind of love … we should follow suit!

I am going to go back to relaxing now … and recovering from yesterday

Praying You Have a Blessed Day

     & Wishing You Much Love …