....so we can love

(from pinterest)

 I was pondering the part of the Bible, made famous because it’s often read at weddings. Commonly called the Love Chapter: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, tells us that:

“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….” (NIV)

Maybe it was read at your wedding, suggesting of course, that this is how you and your spouse will love each other.

There is so much there it would take a lengthy book to explore, and even then, we could miss some of the most important points.

This kind of love is Agape Love; the kind of love that comes only from our heavenly Father. Once we allow His love into our hearts, we get to love with it too.

I want to ponder one short portion today. “Love keeps no record of wrongs.”

Think about that; chew on it.

(from pinterest)

God keeps no record of wrongs! God’s love isn’t something He has or does, God IS love. He is perfect love. And of the many attributes there are to His love and Who He is – one declares that He keeps no record of wrongs.

Remember, this is how the world knows we’re His children, by our love. This crazy, limitless, outrageous love that God has for us, that now lives inside of us – this phenomenal, powerful, forgiving love is the love we’re supposed to be sharing with everyone around us. (Yes, even those we perceive to be our enemies. In Matthew 25:43-44 Jesus tells us, “You have heard it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you….” Okay, go ahead, swallow hard, but keep reading.)

So, if the love we’re sharing with each other is the same love God loves us with, that means we keep no record of wrongs.

I’ll admit that caught in my throat for a few minutes as I realized there were people I had ledgers for in my heart, and yes, that’s where I kept their record of wrongs. As I pictured those studious hardback notebooks, I didn’t even open them. They felt heavy in my mind’s eye, as I momentarily held them. Knowing that God’s love doesn’t keep or approve of books like this, I quickly handed them over to Him to do with as He would.

If we are keeping a record of wrongs, we haven’t forgiven. And we’re certainly not loving these people with the love of God.

(from pinterest)

Let me say that again.

If we are keeping a record of wrongs, we haven’t forgiven. And we’re certainly not loving these people with the love of God.

The only reason to keep a record of how we’ve been wronged is so that we can justify our hatred and unforgiveness. Neither is acceptable to God our Father. Jesus didn’t die and rise from the dead to empower us to hate and resent or avenge ourselves. Everything He does is so that we can love.

“Forgive me, Father. Here are those records of wrong. You’re the only just judge. I trust You. Amen.”

(from pinterest)

Soaked in Safety

(photo from mercurynews.com)

The other night I was praying for our children and grandchildren. As I lay there in bed, picturing their beautiful faces, they all appeared to be standing on an airport tarmac. Hmmmmm, where are they going? As I prayed over each of them, the white fire suppression foam that’s sometimes sprayed on a tarmac before an emergency landing seemed to flood in around them, protecting them from harm. The foam arose around them like whipped cream, fluffy and expanding. What great peace filled my soul as I watched them play in it. What a great word picture. Peace, protection and play, all wrapped in that foamy prayer.

(photo from citynews.com)

The next night, I saw several prayer requests on Facebook I committed to include with mine. One friend’s brother is going through a rough time, another asked for prayer for their family, because they’d lost a one-year old child/grandchild. As I lay there, praying for peace and understanding in situations most of us find hard to understand, again, I felt God surround them. This time, the word picture was a dry bowl of Frosted Flakes awaiting milk. As I continued to pray, milk began to pour into the bowl. Again, the subjects of my prayers were surrounded, this time, even saturated to the point of sogginess.

(photo from mirror.co.uk)

If the foam and the milk represent the Spirit of God, as I contend, those were some incredibly powerful images, drawing me closer to the heart of God.

I trust that God hears our prayers and answers them. He meets our needs with designs our hearts can’t even fathom until we watch them unfold.

I can look into your beautiful eyes and fall deeper in love with you each time. I can daydream about spending time with you and experiencing your love for me.

But, when God looks into your eyes, He sees your soul; He sees your spirit within you. He cannot stop loving you, because He IS love. He woos you and longs to hold you closer to His heart. He doesn’t have to daydream about spending time with you, He’s always with you, surrounding you with His grace, His mercy, His peace and His joy; His permanent and constant love.

Lift up your voice to our Maker. Allow yourself to feel the tarmac foam of His protection. Allow Him to saturate your dry flakes, soaking into every fiber of your being, becoming one with you. Reach out for Him, He’s right there waiting for you, anticipating your touch. He’s well within your reach, longing for a closer and deeper relationship with you. He’s already built the foundation for that relationship; He created you and provided for your every need, He’s eagerly watching and waiting for your responses to His infinite display of love for you.

 

Psalm91 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:

my God; in him will I trust.

³ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

⁵ Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

⁶ Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

⁸ Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold

and see the reward of the wicked.

⁹ Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

¹⁰ There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague

come nigh thy dwelling.

¹¹ For he shall give his angels charge over thee,

to keep thee in all thy ways.

¹² They shall bear thee up in their hands,

lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

¹³ Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

¹⁴ Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

¹⁵ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Just Like My Dad....

Some would rather not be compared to their fathers - having grown up in a home where no father was present or their father was a tyrant. Some boys vow never to become a father for fear they'll be like their own. Young women swear they'll never have children if they have to raise them in the same house with the man who fathered them, believing that all fathers are alike. Others may promise themselves that 'things will be different in my house - my children will be loved and valued....'

Many fathers have treated their own children disgracefully and abused them horribly - or simply abandoned them. What a shameful legacy to pass on. Sadly, many of us grow up to repeat the mistakes of our parents.

This is not what our heavenly Father had in mind for us.

Satan plans to destroy the very beings God loves best, those created in His own image. He's infiltrated our everyday lives, distorting the truth. He seeks to divide and conquer; to discredit the structure of the family unit as God designed it and tear it apart. Satan wants us believing we are alone and vulnerable.

As humans, our fathers (and mothers) make mistakes, we make mistakes; we sin - we've all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But if we search the Scriptures and discover the attributes of God in His goodness, we see that we're to live our lives reflecting His glory. This is the holy legacy we are to hand down to our children, bearing our heavenly Father's image.

It's not too late to teach our children the truth. We can be the parents our children want to grow up to be - we can humble ourselves and seek God's face. We have to, for God's sake....