Monday Musings ~ BIG love

I have had a very full and fun week.  My Mom arrived in Chicago on Tuesday night and we have been having a blast together ever since!  We left on Thursday for a road trip to Pennsylvania to see a friend's son get married.  Of course, there were a few antique stops along the way!  Pennsylvania is so beautiful with rolling hills, and every color of green imaginable in the landscape.  There were beautiful farms with giant silos and dairy cattle. 

It was a privilege to be at the wedding of Adam Baltz and Hannah Gilmore.  Their ceremony was a true testament to the Lord's goodness in their lives.  They are both passionate about their faith and the Lord was truly lifted up in every aspect of their ceremony.  It was a sweet celebration for both families.

I have been to a lot of weddings!  I have enjoyed them all.  This one was no exception.  In fact, the youth pastor who did their ceremony had such good things to say that I found myself taking notes!  He talked about 1st Corinthians 13 which is an often used passage of scripture at a wedding - but he did it a bit different and I loved it!

He talked about worldly love as opposed to the love that Scripture talks about.  Worldly love focuses on our own feelings -- in other words -- the other person makes us feel good or makes us happy.  The focus of 1st Corinthians 13 is on the other person. 

It says - love is - not loves feels.

It takes the focus off of us and puts it on the other person by reminding us that love is about being, not about feeling. 

It is a commitment to be patient, even when we feel as if we have arrived 

at the end of our rope. 

It is about being kind even when we don't feel like it.  

It is about being happy for your loved one instead of jealous of their success, attention or accomplishment. 

It is about looking to the others needs rather than demanding our own.

It seeks the good of the loved one before the good of itself.  

It is not easily offended even if it feels offended because it assumes the best of one another.  It assumes the best of motivations, the best intent of 

the words spoken and the actions that took place.  

Only a love that is rooted in Christ could bear all things, hope all things and endure all things.  It stands its ground, no matter what.  

It looks ahead and refuses to bring up things in the past.

It is a tall order, but it is possible when you have a giant of a God living in you.  

I think there is so much emphasis right now on our feelings and our rights.  As far as I can tell, this is completely contrary to Scripture. 

Each day, we have to choose to be "love is" rather than "love feels."  This is much bigger than marriage.  It should overflow into every relationship and encounter we have each day.  Just imagine what a difference we could make if we allowed the Lord to love others through us in such a way! 

Let's renew our vows . . . not our marriage vows . . . but our vow to commit ourselves to the Lord -- to be His hands and feet --  
              
                to love BIG and  
                            SELFLESSLY.

Thank you Adam and Hannah, for reminding me of the great love Jesus has for me and by displaying that so beautifully in your wedding.

Let's restore marriage to a picture of Jesus and His Church.  Let's seek to love others as love is -- not loves feels.

Won't you join me?