Love, Love, Love

I've been so obsessed with love lately.   I'm not talking about love for your mate, family, or close friends.   That's a given.  Sometimes that love is easy and sometimes it's hard, but it's still a love that comes to us naturally through our own little world.  I'm talking about a love that only comes through the Holy Spirit.  I'm talking about compassion for those we've never met.  I'm talking about praying for a complete stranger and breaking down in tears because you're so overcome with emotions.  I'm talking about having a heart for the poor and lost halfway around the world in a place you'll probably never visit.

I don't want to waste your time talking about what I see in others, besides that would be judging.  Instead, I'll ask you to seek God and ask Him to create in you a pure and loving heart.  Ask Jesus daily to show you how to love and have compassion like He does.  You'll know then what I'm talking about because you'll feel it in your heart.  When I notice myself having negative feelings towards someone for being, looking, thinking, or behaving differently, I say love, love, love.  That's my way of calling on the Holy Spirit to correct me.  I hope you'll find a way as well through having the desire to love.

I'll leave you with the words of my new favorite song.  It's The Proof of Your Love by for King & Country (http://www.forkingandcountry.com/).  You've probably heard it on the radio, but have you really listened to the words?  Every time I hear the song, I stop and ponder on the words.  I think of God's love for us and  ask myself if I really am proof of the love, life, and sacrifice of Jesus.

THE PROOF OF YOUR LOVE

If I sing but don't have love
I waste my breathe with every song
I bring, an empty voice
A hollow noise

If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste
With every word I say

Chorus
So let my life be the proof
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You
And what You're made of
How you lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof
The proof of Your love

If I give to a needy soul
But don't have love then who is poor
It seems all the poverty
Is found in me

Chorus

Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When it's all said and done
Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When we sing our final song

Only love remains
Only love remains

Chorus

(Music & Lyrics: Joel Smallbone / Luke Smallbone / Mia Fieldes / Jonathan Lee / Fred Williams / Ben Glover)

Blessings and much love!  Karen

Are We Using the Right Methods to Defend Our Faith?

I decided to start this blog because I have so much going through my mind and felt strongly that I needed to share it.  What got me to thinking so much today?  It was an article on a news website about Chaplains being told that they could no longer pray in the name of Jesus when saying the prayer at city sponsored events, such as police department promotions.  The article itself didn’t spark this fire in me, but rather the comments from readers.  Of course there was the usual Jesus Freak hater that thinks we should all be committed because of our delusional beliefs (that’s a whole other topic).  What really got me was the number of people that argued with him.  Someone even made a personal attack on the guy.

This got me to thinking about what comes out of arguing with a non-believer.  I fully understand defending our faith and am concerned about where our country is headed on religious freedom.  On the other hand, at what point do we, as Christians, cross that line into bitterness and hatred ourselves.  Does our ranting and attacks on those with opposing beliefs really further the kingdom of God?  Does God really need this level of defending?  I may have missed something, but I don’t recall a story of Jesus arguing with people.  He asked them pointed questions, stated His point, and then moved on.  He even told His disciples to shake off the dust and move on when they were rejected.

So, how should we react?  I’m no biblical scholar, but this is what I feel is a good start.  First, we should strive to walk with Jesus and chase after Him.  I ask Him daily to show me how to love like He does.  It’s only through His love that we can approach anyone with the gospel.  It’s starting with our family, neighbors, and co-workers. Yes, I am telling myself this as well.  I just can’t help but wonder what this young man’s beliefs would be if someone would share the gospel to him in love.  I feel saddened that the responses to him probably only drove him further from Jesus.  Maybe it’s time for us to stop being so passionate about being reactive to attacks on our faith and being proactive in leading those around us to Christ.

Blessings!  Karen