What's this kind of Love?

Lately God has been speaking some amazing words into my life. I feel satisfied and renewed knowing I'm in his presence. The book I've been reading and Bible study last night have laid some big convictions on my heart. God is love. We all know this, we've all heard this, but there's only about 1% of people who truly understand what that means. In my interpretation, this means that by loving people we are showing them God. But, as was said in Bible study last night, 1 Corinthians 13 not only talks about the love between a man and his wife, but the love we all must have for one another. We can never hope to expand the kingdom of God if first we don't outwardly the ones that God does. This means no judgement, no hate, no bitterness towards the people who have wronged you or that you feel are "unworthy" of God's love. Sin is sin no matter what, so what's holding you back? We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. ALL of us. So why are we constantly hating on not only those who we judge, but those closest to us? I feel that we are letting ourselves get in the way too much. We're thinking that WE cannot get past what that person did to us, or their sinful actions...but...what we have to remember is that: it's not our job to take care of their sin, Jesus died for all of our sins upon the cross. That lie you told, that money you stole, that heart you broke, that lust you have.....he already took care of those so that we can be freed to work entirely on loving on his people. and that means everyone.

My biggest thing is that I've been struggling with this idea for some time. I thought I'd forgiven people, but really I was holding a bitterness inside that was keeping me from fully embracing that relationship. I wasn't loving them, I was looking at their sin and judging. And who am I to judge??? I certainly don't want to be the one under the magnifying glass, because I know I've sinned. But I guess my point is...that I've gotten past that and I'm trying to in all my relationships. I'm no mind reader so I don't know how each of you receives love, but I'm gonna try none the less. I want to love you like Jesus does. I become less and HE becomes more.

He is big enough to satisfy all my needs, I just have to let him. I haven't been giving him access to all area's of my life. Relationships is the biggest one that I need to let him take over, and I'm trying to. I guess I always knew I loved my friends and especially family (which some overlap both) but...I kept trying to fill that void with a relationship. I don't want that anymore. I want all my relationships to be God breathed but more importantly, for him to be the focus. I don't want to babble on about this but I do want to ask one thing, please pray for my future husband. I have no idea who he is, or where he is, or what he's doing, but you that are closest to me will probably know it before I do. This has been the challenge God has given me, to pray for my future husband, but also to seek God first, not the man I'll eventually marry. To be patient and allow Him to fill me. Which is exactly what I'm working on doing.

Anyways....yall mean the world to me. You've been my friends through good times and bad. You may be a new friend or an old one. But know....I love you through the good times and the bad, I'm always here for you.

July 19, 2010