A heart of love

I spoke to someone yesterday about the subject of love. Love is a tough thing for the average person to describe because it involves so many things. They would describe an act of love and I would say, “Yes, that is part of it.” We see only the bits and pieces of love. The whole of it is really difficult to comprehend. As difficult as it is to describe there is no denying we all need it. Infants crave it from their mothers and mothers instinctively give it. Husbands and wives need it from each other which forms a basis for a healthy marriage relationship. There is no one thing which describes love, save one. He, however, is not a thing but a Divine Being. He pursues us with the desire we would love Him in return. He seeks one after His own heart.

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
(1 Samuel 13:14)
 
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 
(Acts 13:22)
 
If you read this carefully, you will see God considers doing His will an act of love towards Him. He calls David “a man after his own heart.” Doing God’s will with a sincere heart is an act of worship and an act of love. Love is a living thing which grows if it is nurtured. The works a Christian does are motivated because of love for God. (James 2:26) However, works performed by a Christian have nothing to do with salvation. Salvation is something completely done by the love God has for you. You have no part in that other than the acceptance of it. (Ephesians 2:8)
 
Paul defined love like this:
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. 
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version)
 
After reading this verse I want you to think of the last argument or disagreement you had with someone. If it was over something petty I would like you to read this twice. To be honest, I have to read it twice myself. I hear this verse used to describe a marriage relationship. It works for that but it is how we should treat every living human. It is how we are to treat each other and how we are to treat God if we truly love Him.
To a degree we will all fall short in our ability to love the way God does. I do believe he grants grace and extra measure to those who really seek Him. David was a man after the heart of God but there were times recorded He fell a bit short too. God still loved him and honored His promises to him. There is no reason to believe He would not honor your sincere desire for love as well.

After all this talk, I still cannot describe love any better than I could before. I only know that love is real. I think it comes with time and application. It applies best when we aren’t trying to apply it at all. Love speaks to the hearts of those you care about when you don’t even say a word. It shows in our actions and motives. It dances in our eyes and wells in our tears. It flows like a river from the very throne of God. (Revelation 22:1) It is up to us to decide to jump in the river and get wet.


Father, I thank you for being who you are. I thank you for all you do for me and providing for me. I ask you would help me to walk better according to what you would have me do. Help me to walk in love of you and all I come into contact with. Not only me Lord, but those who read this and desire the same. I ask you would bless them with this. May all this be done according to your will. In the name of Jesus I ask these things. Amen.

Religion? What is that?

Sometimes I am asked questions on religion. I have to admit, I don't know much about religion. I only know about relationship. I know some about relationship with my my wife, my daughter, my friends. I know about my relationship with Jesus. I don't consider it religion. I am also still learning on a daily basis. This blog is listed in a category: religion/Christianity. It was the closest I could get to the truth, but it was not the full truth. A true listing would be: Jesus/relationships/personal.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) KJV

You know, there is enough wisdom and knowledge in the opening verses of John's gospel that I could blog for a long time, and still not tell everything I want to say. I will reflect on being a child of God today. This is an awesome verse! If you are a Christian, this is a wonderful fact! I have prayed with people to receive Christ and they would tell me: "I don't feel any different." That is because it is a fact, not a feeling. Our feelings are deceptive at best. Just ask someone that has been through depression. Facts are facts! They are unchanging from day to day because they are true day after day. If you mean it with all of your heart when you pray to receive Christ, it will be reflected in you soon enough. At this point, you become a child of God and you enter into a family relationship with Him. God takes care of His own. He leads His own. It is a lot like that post I had about my father. My dad said for me to do something and I did it. He took care of me the best he could. I loved my dad. I love my God! It is not religion! It is relationship. God was there when I got saved. He was present for my baptism. He was there when I witnessed to someone for the first time. He was there when I got married, and when my daughter was born. He is family. He wants to be a Father to you just like He has been to me. Won't you give Him the opportunity?

Father, I thank you for the opportunity to share this. I know that I cannot do this subject justice on my own. I know that you can. I ask that you would do so, and give people the desire of a relationship with you. You do this daily. Show yourself to those that read this the way you have shown yourself to me. Bless them I pray, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

A Praying Wife

There was a period in my life in the early 1990's where I did not walk with God. I was in a backslidden condition and very angry at God, the church, and hated life in general. My temper had a short fuse and I always had a chip on my shoulder about something. We are not always promised an easy walk as a Christian. We are tested and tried to make us stronger. As long as the person is walking in the Spirit, all is well. It is when we try to do things in our own strength, without consulting God, that we run into problems. I am so grateful for a praying wife, and a God whose love for me knows no bounds.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) KJV

My wife would remind me from time to time about the fact that I had given myself to the Lord and that I should go back to church with her. This angered me to no end! I was extremely bitter and wanted nothing to do with it. I felt that no church would accept me as I was at that time, and this nagging wasn't helping anything. The Lord told her to leave me alone and just pray for me. The Lord then set into play a set of circumstances that led to my coming back to Him. Thank God for the obedience of a loving wife! She was at that time a much better wife to me than I was a husband to her. He did bring about my restoration over the course of about a year and I have tried to serve Him since. Some days are more successful than others for me, but I love Jesus without limitations. If it had not been for the quiet obedience, love, and prayers of a devoted wife, my life would have probably been over by now. If you find yourself in a similar circumstance, just remember, you are never beyond the reach of a loving God.

Father, thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for the wife that you gave me. Help me to be as much of a blessing to her as she is to me. I praise you for your mercy and longsuffering towards me. Help me to serve you in a way that is pleasing to you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Father

I remember, when I was very young, nothing could harm me as long as my dad was around. I really felt so safe and secure. He gave me confidence to do things that I would not have done on my own. He was there for my first fishing trip, hunting trip, and my first day of school. I was, and still am, a terrible hunter. :) I lost my father when I was 17 and I miss him very much. I still have all of those memories that he left me with though. Thinking of him reminded me of something.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14) KJV

Being with my father brought out the best in me. The faith I had was pure and undefiled. My heavenly Father, through Jesus, brings forth that same pure faith. The faith of a child. When I am walking in communion with Jesus, all is right with the world. I can attempt any task, and He gives me the confidence and assurance that He is right there with me. I personally try not to over think this with a lot of theology. I want to keep my faith in Him like that of a little child. Simple and pure.

Father, I thank you for being my father. I thank you for Jesus and the fact that I can come to you with anything that is on my mind. For the fact that you are there with me through all of the things I face in life, the good and the bad. Help me to keep my heart pure before you like that of a child. In the name of Jesus, Amen.