Love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Karl started a topic on love this morning on our H20 Yahoo Group.... thought I'd re-post something I posted on love, and kind of sum up what Karl and others have said on the Yahoo Group.

"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."

In this verse, the original Greek definition of word love, meant a selfless consideration of the well being of. This therefore means that if we love someone, we desire for them to grow as a person, that we care for them for reasons that are not selfish and that the love is real and from the
heart, not just an outward display.

The Bible gives a lot of references to how Christian should love one another. For example, in Mark 12:31 Jesus says in his talk of the greatest commandments:
"love your neighbour as yourself"
He also says to "love the lord your God with all your heart"

Also, Jesus Himself said that God is love. There's no definition needed outside of that; everything that love is was and is reflected in God and ultimately in the love shown in the cross. "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends..."

The world's definition of love: To be made much of. To know you are
"loved" by how many friends you have, how much people put you up.

Real love: Real love is not making much of someone, love is doing
whatever you have to do in order to enthrall someone with what will
make them happy forever!

That's what God does. He makes us happy forever by letting us see His
glory and we are most satisfied in Him when He is most glorified in us.

I know this has been kind of all over the place with random thoughts about love, but just remember that Valentine's Day isn't just about mushy cards, chocolate, and roses. It's more than that.
And the way Valentine's Day started was more than that, too. February 14th was a pagan holiday for Juno, goddess of marriage to the Romans and was a pretty big deal...then the emperor (Claudius II) ordered that all marriages and engagements of men in the army be broken off because the men were unwilling to go fight otherwise. Christianity was also still outlawed at the time. Valentine was a Christian who secretly married the couples and provided shelter, as well as telling them about Christ. Valentine was caught and tried, and refused to worship the emperor. He supposedly fell in love with the jailer's blind daughter, to whom he sent a letter and who regained her sight on the day of his execution (true by several accounts but still a legendary part of the story, there's no way to really know but it's not
completely relevant). He was martyred on the feast day (Lupercalia), which is February 14th. Thus, Valentine's Day. It all links together. So it isn't so silly after all - it's about sacrifice, marriage, martyrdom, and God's love.

And finally, my application of 1 Corinthians 13:
Love.
Learning how to love can be so tough sometimes... love is patient... love is not envious.... it does not insist on its own way.
Today started out beautifully.
Then I messed up big time in Chemistry.
Forgot to do my proofs in Geometry.
Didn't get my chores done.
Then I was impatient with Nate.
I had a disagreement with mommy.
I wanted to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it.
And then there was a bit of jealousy for something I won't specify.

Love.
What is it?
Not this.

May God go with you today and every day and let you know His love more deeply so you can love others more deeply and glorify Him even more!
- Ky

Loving a person just the way they are, it's no small thing
It takes some times to see things through
Sometimes things change sometimes we're waiting
We need grace either way.

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole.

There is a love that never fails
There is a healing that always prevails
There is a hope that whispers a vow
A promise to stay while we're working it out
So come with your love and wash over us
- Loving A Person/When It Was over - Sara Groves

(BTW, there's another post down there in case you haven't read it yet... on Excellence. And 2 down is the campout).