Lately I've come to realize how little we know of the definition of love. Not the kind of love portrayed by the world's standards, but the way God wants us to love. Sure we know to "love our enemies" and "love our neighbor just as our self" but do we really practice TRUE love with the relationships around us? Often I think we fall easily into doing for others as long as our needs are being met. As long as our egos are boosted and we feel loved then we can love back. That is not Christ's definition of love.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
He calls us to a life of self sacrifice, humbly putting the needs of others above ours. When someone hurts you do you choose to forgive and forget instead of growing bitter and holding a grudge? When you face opposition with loved ones do you abandon them or stand by their side? If a friend is in need of a shoulder to cry on do you put your needs aside and be that support they need?
We need to die to ourselves and love like Christ loves, trying to imitate the kind of love that He daily lavishes on us.
ashley jael
I loathe gusty wind. I hate how it tangles my hair, how it blows foreign objects into my eyes, and I really hate what a mess I look like upon arriving indoors, hoping to find the nearest bathroom to tame the mane. It's frustrating and I can easily start to complain and have my whole day ruined in a matter of minutes. But, I have no control over it and I think that is where my true frustration lies.
With any situation that arises in my life, I feel the need to fix it. Unintentionally, I've made myself believe that my worry and stress over a set of circumstances is helping somehow. But in reality, it's only making things worse. Only God is capable of handling the problems that spring up in my life and my worrying about it only shows my lack of trust in Him. x
As humans, we are frail and can only handle the weight of one day at a time. Why let unwanted circumstances, like the weather, ruin what God can have for us today? When we are thankful for what God is doing in our lives, we are free from resentment and He is able to work through our situation and allow His beauty to shine from it.
"This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
ashley jael
Change is good, even downward plunges are needed once in awhile.For most of my life I've viewed change as this monster who I loathed terribly. After all, it was this monster who moved this once 12 year girl from the only place I'd ever known to a state where I knew no one and wouldn't for some time. For me, it has always been tied to pain and heartache. Tears and frustration. Only now, as an adult, do I see the value and beauty it can bring to one's life. Through the years my life has had many twists and turns, which my perfectionist-self has not enjoyed. I like plans and hate to have something thrown on me on a whim. But, I've quickly come to realize that God doesn't work that way. In fact, I think He kind of enjoys the latter. It's then that, someone like myself, really has to rely and trust in Him. These past few years have brought a lot of change my way. I moved back to where God had moved me from some 10 years ago. Then I moved again. And again. And then...again. I gained friends and I lost some along the way. I questioned Him many times. I got hurt. I failed. I loved. I cried. Though it still remains a painful process, I know now that the end result is always worth it. I've seen the evidence portrayed over and over again in my life. If it weren't for change, I would not be the person I am today. I would have never had the opportunity to grow, to stretch, to create, to be transformed. "He has made everything beautiful in its time..." Ecclesiates 3:11Only God can take the change that comes our way, no matter how big of a mess it seems, and bring beauty from it. And it's that beauty I'm so desperately longing for. So, as change knocks on my door once again, I'm ready this time. ashley jael
