"Knowing Love"

"She said she usually cried at least once each day, not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short." ~Unknown

I often think of the lives that have appeared in my own. Some of those people have blessed and honored me by remaining, while others, for various reasons have not been able to. You wish that you could keep all those you meet that you connect with, but the truth of the matter is, you won't be able to. Some will stay, and some will move on. You may stay, and sometimes you may move on. Life is full of all kinds of change.

I often shed tears over those I have lost—either some in death, or others on to other avenues of their lives. It's never easy to lose a beautiful relationship of any kind once it's been established. 

Sometimes it hurts to love someone. Sometimes we hurt those we love. We humans are such complex creatures that way—capable of so many different things. So why then do we risk loving one another at all if we are often so disappointing? Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps God's commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us. 1 John 3:16-24

"Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again." ~Alex Tan

This life of ours is full of risks to take. Sometimes we will win, and sometimes we will lose. Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it's not. However we'll usually never know till we try at all; and we'll probably not get very far without risking at least a little. But such is life. 

Loving people is a huge risk. As humans we long to be loved in return and our hearts are often broken and scarred when it isn't. But again sometimes we'll get it, and sometimes we won't. Either way we may never know for sure unless we take that first step, which is often scary and intimidating…

Love can be a beautiful and harsh thing—at times it can be healing, while other times it can be downright dangerous. I can't guarantee human love is always good as I wish I could. But I will say so of God's. In terms of my own life He's been the only hope and comforting need for me to hold onto at all times. He's there even when I don't call for Him. He's there for me for both the good times and the bad. I fall down, and He's the one beside me to help me back on my feet. That's a rare thing to say of anyone. So it makes me genuinely happy knowing there is at least and always will be one kind of love out there that is always true…God's love for simple, broken, and tainted little me… I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Psalm 34:4-7

Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not." ~C.S. Lewis

I think it is safe to say we will all love at least some point in our lives. I believe it is as natural to us as breathing. But the question is how will you love? Or rather, what will love mean to you? 

God is my Hope. It's a feeling I just know. It's a relationship I've discovered, and I firmly believe it's the real deal. As for the love between you and God, well that is something you'll have to examine for yourself. 

I pray you each find genuine love in your relationships with your friends, families and significant others. However, I caution you. We all want to feel loved, valued, and appreciated by others; yet sometimes in our rush to feel so we take the risk in order to search it out, and at the first small sign of it, jump on board. But sometimes what we think we need might not necessarily be beneficial. Sometimes what we want might not necessarily be what we truly need. This can be a tricky area, for the feelings of being loved can often 'hinder' our perceptions of our reality. When we are confronted by such moments, my advice is to attempt to ask ourselves if such love opportunities are the true kinds of love we need (is it genuine love?). Another good idea is to evaluate what genuine love really is. So therefore assess the risk factor beforehand (it also helps to procure others' opinions); try to determine whether the risk is worth taking (for not every risk or opportunity will be)--but you most certainly could explore it. 

If you choose to give out love, and receive it yourself for awhile, realize there is the unfortunate possibility that you might be disappointed at some point. If that does happen to you, (or it already has), I pray you are not embittered because of it. It is an easy thing to do, to build up walls around your heart—but as C.S. Lewis put it, it is not healthy, and it most certainly isn't something God longs for you. "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable."~C.S. Lewis

Whether you find genuine love or not, I hope and pray you do find it with our Father. God loves you unconditionally, and truly values you His creation; He alone knows your full worth and potential. And above all, He knows your heart; He can help fill it and mend it whole again. How many can say that and really mean it? 

Let go of the hurt and the scars. Let Him come into you and let His love set you free and wash you clean. Let Him show you what real Love is.* The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them…The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18

…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 22-25

"If you find the mirror of the heart dull, the rust has not been cleared from its face." ~Rumi

"Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within." ~James Arthur Baldwin

"For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it." ~Ivan Panin

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12

Enveloped in His Love, 

Whitney

"Embracing the Beautiful"

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile". ~Albert Einstein. 

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13

What does it mean to be a true friend?

Our history, culture, religion, actions, feelings, etc., play large roles in who we are as individuals. Without any of that, we may feel lost or lonely—with an identity, we can feel complete, secure, confident, etc. Identities help us to determine our thoughts, fears, choices, motivations, etc. But even well rounded identities that we create for ourselves don't have to define us; even if most of the time we allow them to.

Identities can help us in connecting with others of similar backgrounds--most of us enjoy the company of others--The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2: 18, 23-24--so it makes perfect sense that we long to connect with others. For one thing, it gives value to our lives. "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy ... it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival". ~C.S. Lewis

For a species that longs for one another, sometimes how we can treat each other is alarming. Our actions and emotions often run away with us. Sometimes these actions get so out of hand, that we allow them to tangle with those we love…How could we allow that to happen? How could it be fair to take out such anger on each other, whether we feel the other deserves it or not? It doesn't seem that anyone should deserve such kind of abuse, and yet we all have been on both ends….Bottomline it's mostly due to the fact that we humans are fallible--we will fall and we will fail at things. We aren't perfect. But of course we can always strive to be better....

I have questions that I ask myself from time to time when I question my motives in a particular instance—for example, are we longing for companionship for all that that word means, or do we long for others in order to eventually further our own selfish desires? If we are going to show the world that we are "good Christians", shouldn't we show it through everything that we do and are? 

If we are striving to truly love one another on this earth, should not we do the same in our relationship with God? After all He should be our ultimate best friend. I know He wants to be with us—so are we ready to embrace such an amazing identity? One in God…beautiful…true…Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. Hebrews 12:9-10

Now, don't get me wrong—we will have problems with each other. Sometimes we have reasons, sometimes we don't. Does it have to mean we love those around us any less? No—but sometimes we do hurt them more than we may realize, even if all intentions were pure. If you do have a moment with someone, where you allow your emotions to be taken out on them, and you realize what you have done, don't wait. Talk to the one you may have hurt (even if you don't think they were)—discuss what happened, and share each other's feelings. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:25-27. Allow each other to learn and grow through such situations. 

But you know though, because we are all individuals with our own unique identities, we will all act and react differently. Something I say to a friend could be taken the wrong way, even if my intentions are pure. Sometimes it's really hard to strive to be a better individual and friend—for our pasts, presents, and futures are all and will be different somehow, and so we will all be affected differently.

How we express ourselves is unique as well. Being a true friend for example doesn't mean you have a guide book to refer to for every need your friend may have. Everyone is different. Some may choose to study their friend to see what they may need; still others may be there to cheer their friend, while still others could call their friend or write letters of support or good wishes. There are millions of ways to show you care, and still more millions of different/appropriate situations. None should be considered less than someone else's way. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." Mark 12:42-44

So, how could anyone ever live up to the title of a 'true friend'? It seems almost depressing to think about how much we sometimes are not. Even if you don't mean anything by what you say or do towards someone, does it still make it right that it happened? Does any reason at all justify such hard actions toward others? Regardless, I think it is really important to talk about these things with one another as soon as possible. Don't let things sit or simmer. Don't carry grudges. Just show love whenever you can.

Examine your hearts today—see if you can understand who you are, especially in your relationships with others, and subsequently, they as well. Embrace the beauty of true friendship. Embrace true love. Embrace HIS love.*  

But the man who loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:3

Embracing the beautiful,

Whitney

"True Friends"

"True friends are willing to intrude".

This is what artist TobyMac puts forth in one of his songs. I like this because although being a true friend can be difficult at times, our friends often need us. That one time in their life where everything is going haywire, they need to be able to turn around and know you are there for them. And when you show them your love, they see the light of Jesus and His testimony shining brightly through you. We can affect so many by just being true friends.

Sometimes true friendships are put to the ultimate test.

The Bible also says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends". (John 15:13) This is the ultimate true friendship. Sticking up for a friend, staying by their side when no one else will, listening to them, loving them when all others abandon them. Sacrificing themselves to save their friend. And confronting them in love when they are caught up in sin.

Has your friend ever done something you knew was wrong? What did you do? Confront them? Or did you try to smile, and ignore the situation, hoping that it would go away? After all, if you ratted them out you would probably lose their friendship, right?

"True friends are willing to intrude".

We need to confront our brothers and sisters in love when they are doing something they shouldn't. Not condemn them, not judge them. But show them in a loving way what they need to do to be brought forth from the problem. How they can be set free. Letting a problem continue to exist in someone's life is like allowing the balloon to keep filling with air. Pretty soon it will pop, and then the situation may be blown way out of proportion. Someone could be hurt. Maybe even your friend. Then you probably would feel guilty you never said anything when you should have.

Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. Matthew 18:15

Our parents confront us when we have done something wrong. They don't do it to condemn us. No, they do it because they love us and they want us to do good, be wise, and not fall into the sins of the world.

Sometimes the truth hurts. But wouldn't you rather know that your friend would be okay? Often times even your friend, after being confronted will confess and be glad you were the one to have confronted him or her rather than someone else.

Look at it this way. 'We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God'. (Romans 3:23) We have all experienced tremendous burdens of some size. Some of us had true friends, people to be there when we needed them most. They were there right beside you to help carry the weight, and the weight of that tremendous burden suddenly lifted from your shoulders. If we need it, then so do others.

Jesus is one of the greatest examples of this. He says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." In other words, we may not always have physical true friends in our lives, but we do always have Jesus. He is our Hope, the everlasting Being who is ALWAYS there, no matter what. And we can come to Him whenever we need to. He died for our sins, deciding to take the shackles of sin from our arms and burden Himself with the burdens of our lives and of the world.

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Jesus paid that ultimate price so that we might live. He is the ultimate true friend. He could have left us to the doom of sin. But He loved us so much, He was willing to sacrifice Himself. And when we sin, and we feel convicted, look at it as it is not just your conscience. Maybe that's how God let's you know what you are doing is wrong.

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

None of us are better than any other. Being Christians doesn't make us higher or perfect. We can stumble into sin just like anyone else. But that's when God, and each other need to step forward to help show the way out. We need to do this not for just Believers, but for everyone too.

9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12

"The most important one [commandment]," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Matthew 12:29-31

Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you".* John 15:12

Whitney

The Inward and Outward Appearance - 3/14/08

In the book of Ruth, let's focus on love, devotion, and trust, as well as the effects of a good role model (or the Inward and Outward Appearance).

Ruth impressed me by her love and faithfulness towards her mother-in-law Naomi in the first Chapter. We see this more in the following Chapters. Naomi loved Ruth as though she were her own daughter; she wanted what was best for Ruth. So she gave her advice, such as how to gain favor from Naomi's kinsman Boaz. And how does Ruth respond to this? "I will do whatever you say". She was willing to submit to Naomi's advice, because her mother-in-law knew best; they were Naomi's people, and they had certain ways of doing things that often differed from her own. To get right down to it, Ruth had a lot of love for Naomi, putting all her trust in her.

One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do." "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. Ruth 3:1-6

Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!" Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working..... Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with his girls, because in someone else's field you might be harmed." So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law. Ruth 2:19-23

It is interesting to me to see the noted line "And she lived with her mother-in-law." Perhaps this little line was added to further establish the relationship between Naomi and Ruth.

Now let's see about the qualities of Ruth.

Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband——how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 2:11

(Also read Ruth 3:10-13)

Boaz, who we meet in the second chapter, is struck right away by the good qualities of Ruth. Everyone spoke very highly of her. This makes her even more of a good role-model; she not only had good qualities, she lived them too.....

This is how people tend to measure other people: by first impressions. What we see from a person, in physical appearance and by the way they act, forms what we think of them. Of course we ought to get to know them more, for one encounter is never enough to fully understand someone.

But you see, if we judge others this way, others will judge you this way. As Christians, we should live a Christ-centered life, both in our appearance and by our actions. People are constantly watching; let us shine Christ's love and compassionate qualities. Ruth did, and became an inspiration for those around her. She was spoken of highly, respected, and loved despite her being a foreigner. Her first impression was a good one, but instead of just ending it there, she made it a point to practice it all the days of her life.*

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b

Will your actions reflect your heart for the Lord?

Whitney