Love...Your thoughts please
Okay, so I have got something on my mind...big time. I'm so fired up right now that I can't do anything else. I need to work, but I've had ADD all day. I'm not ADD, but today I've just had a huge focus problem, and I'm just giving up. I'll be fresh tomorrow anyways.
So my topic is love. I know what the Bible says about love. I've been in love. I've seen old couples so much in love after many years. I love lots of people. And someday I hope to be in love again. Love is so powerful, and used correctly it is so wonderful! With all that said, I think there is only one perfect love. Christ's love for us is the only perfect love there is. I think that's what God wants us to understand. Nothing in this world is perfect, except for the love that Christ has for us.
I have a lot of friends and a lot of married friends. Do they love their spouses? Yes, absolutely! Are there days when sometimes they are there, because they've made a commitment and they're keeping their word? Absolutely! Do they love their spouse everyday? Sometimes even that is hard, but because of the love and therefore commitment they have, they stay. I just don't see it any other way.
Does the honeymoon end? Yes, this is real life. We all have the day to day operations of living. Is it possible to still look at your spouse like you did on the day you married them. Yes, I think so. I think true love, and I say true because I think it's the kind of love that has been developed over time, helps us to see that.
Love grows if you water it. Love's roots go deep if you plant them in something good. But if you are putting poison on it, it dies. If you don't trim away the weeds, the weeds will eventually take over. And no matter how much one tries if something is working against him in that "love" it won't work. I think it's plain and simple.
If you're looking for the perfect love on Earth and don't see Christ, then you've missed the mark. It's only in Him that we find completeness and wholeness. That book that I'm reading by John Elderedge talks about this specific thing. Christ should be our desire. And I think I've missed the mark all these years when I've looked for love on earth first. That's not where it should start. It starts with Christ and flows down from there. Marriages should mirror the love that Christ wants to have with us. He is our bride-groom.
I would really love to hear what you think. I know a lot of you don't comment. I have a stat counter, I know how many people actually read this. And there are way more people who read this than comment. And I'm dying to know what you think. Well not dying, but pretty close. Even if you just want to remain anonymous, I would like to hear your thoughts.
A lot of times I still question how rational I am. I'm getting to where I trust my decisions pretty well now, but this is just one question that I would really like to hear some thoughts on. I get fired up about it, because I'm passionate about it, because I think it's a desire I've had in my heart for a long time that was killed. The difference this time is that my heart doesn't belong to a person, it belongs to Christ. And that is where is should have been all along, and more importantly that is where it will stay. You don't take your heart back from God and give it to someone else. That completely defeats the purpose.
I mean, I don't think I'm wrong though. I'm not looking to be right, I just want to understand. Love is the most powerful thing in this universe. Love helps us to forgive. It helps us to be compassionate. It heals. Faith, Hope, and Love...and the greatest of these is love. God didn't say it, because He thought is just sounded good. Love is huge.
Okay, I'm going to stop now. I think you get the point. But seriously...pretty please tell me what you think. :) I may go on strike if you don't...just kidding.
Now I'm going to go watch The Bachelor and see all these crazy women fight over this guy who their in LOVE with. He is pretty hot, but seriously, what a horrible way to date. You couldn't pay me enough money to even be a part of anything like that. It's just plain torture!
So my topic is love. I know what the Bible says about love. I've been in love. I've seen old couples so much in love after many years. I love lots of people. And someday I hope to be in love again. Love is so powerful, and used correctly it is so wonderful! With all that said, I think there is only one perfect love. Christ's love for us is the only perfect love there is. I think that's what God wants us to understand. Nothing in this world is perfect, except for the love that Christ has for us.
I have a lot of friends and a lot of married friends. Do they love their spouses? Yes, absolutely! Are there days when sometimes they are there, because they've made a commitment and they're keeping their word? Absolutely! Do they love their spouse everyday? Sometimes even that is hard, but because of the love and therefore commitment they have, they stay. I just don't see it any other way.
Does the honeymoon end? Yes, this is real life. We all have the day to day operations of living. Is it possible to still look at your spouse like you did on the day you married them. Yes, I think so. I think true love, and I say true because I think it's the kind of love that has been developed over time, helps us to see that.
Love grows if you water it. Love's roots go deep if you plant them in something good. But if you are putting poison on it, it dies. If you don't trim away the weeds, the weeds will eventually take over. And no matter how much one tries if something is working against him in that "love" it won't work. I think it's plain and simple.
If you're looking for the perfect love on Earth and don't see Christ, then you've missed the mark. It's only in Him that we find completeness and wholeness. That book that I'm reading by John Elderedge talks about this specific thing. Christ should be our desire. And I think I've missed the mark all these years when I've looked for love on earth first. That's not where it should start. It starts with Christ and flows down from there. Marriages should mirror the love that Christ wants to have with us. He is our bride-groom.
I would really love to hear what you think. I know a lot of you don't comment. I have a stat counter, I know how many people actually read this. And there are way more people who read this than comment. And I'm dying to know what you think. Well not dying, but pretty close. Even if you just want to remain anonymous, I would like to hear your thoughts.
A lot of times I still question how rational I am. I'm getting to where I trust my decisions pretty well now, but this is just one question that I would really like to hear some thoughts on. I get fired up about it, because I'm passionate about it, because I think it's a desire I've had in my heart for a long time that was killed. The difference this time is that my heart doesn't belong to a person, it belongs to Christ. And that is where is should have been all along, and more importantly that is where it will stay. You don't take your heart back from God and give it to someone else. That completely defeats the purpose.
I mean, I don't think I'm wrong though. I'm not looking to be right, I just want to understand. Love is the most powerful thing in this universe. Love helps us to forgive. It helps us to be compassionate. It heals. Faith, Hope, and Love...and the greatest of these is love. God didn't say it, because He thought is just sounded good. Love is huge.
Okay, I'm going to stop now. I think you get the point. But seriously...pretty please tell me what you think. :) I may go on strike if you don't...just kidding.
Now I'm going to go watch The Bachelor and see all these crazy women fight over this guy who their in LOVE with. He is pretty hot, but seriously, what a horrible way to date. You couldn't pay me enough money to even be a part of anything like that. It's just plain torture!
posted by Larissa at
7:57 PM
10 Comments:
OK- I think you have hit the nail on the head- I also think you better watch out because you get it- and God sees that and He will be rewarding you with love that you cannot fathom. I hope he does and I hope that you are blessed beyond measure! Thank you for your constant seeking of God's will even in the face of trial- you are an inspiration!
I am one of the very fortunate ones who is still "very much in love" with my wonderful husband after 49 years!!!
The biggest problem I see in marriages is a struggle for power. Always wanting to be right. Most things don't matter one bit. Know how to pick your fights and let them be few and far between.
Most importantly of all......we must be able to forgive.....because no one is perfect, and we will be disappointed at times, and even heart broken at times, but we have to be able to forgive. Once you forgive....shut-up about it!!!!
My more than 2 cents worth!!
I agree with anonymous comment!!!
Susan
I think you've got it. I don't believe that anyone can truly experience being 'in love' with another person until they fall in love with God. Until He is your all, you can never know what that looks like - and it's EASY to destroy what could be the love of a lifetime. It's all about priorities. When God is first, everything else falls into place. I'm in love now in a way I never thought I'd experience. But trust me, God became and remains the first love of my heart. My man is second to that - and it's because I see God's love for me and I've learned to love Him (cuz u DO have to learn,) that I am able to love a man - any man - but especially MY man. :)
You're right where you need to be on this one. Just wait til you read Song of Solomon. You'll be blown away. Seriously.
Larissa -
One of the greatest descriptions of love is found (to no surprise) in the Bible - and I think Solomon's words speak for themselves:
"Love is as strong as Death."
That, as you have said, is about as powerful as you can get.
Great thoughts here - love has its origin in God and it was most perfectly embodied by Christ Himself; and it is truly the most beautiful thing.
Celeste
Beautiful words, Larissa. You've been blessed with great insight. Our love will never be complete on it's own. It must be completed by the Creator of Love. It seems to me that combination goes over much easier when we first love God, then let His love flow out of us into others.
1 John4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Thank you for sharing your heart,
Kisti
Ok, so you have provoked me to comment with a subject that I can't keep my mouth shut about. I married the first time when I was 18 years old, with one child and one on the way. Didn't know a thing about God or His word. I am now married a second time to the love of my life, my best friend and soul mate. We have been together for 10 years, the last four have been very difficult, he is a drug addict and has struggled with his addiction, in and out of rehab and jail. My husband was the person who led me to the Lord, who taught me what it meant to take vows in front of God, and who has loved me as we walk through life. I filed for divorce in February and completely struggled with it. I am most happy to announce that in Oct WE filed notice to reconcile papers and stopped the divorce.
I fall in love with my husband all over again every day... even on the bad days. OK, so now I may have to post about this on my blog. Great subject. You are a great mom and faithful servant of Christ. Thank you!
I enjoyed reading your thoughts! Ultimately I think the most perfect love is the love Christ has for us, just as you said. But that doesn't mean we can not pray for our love to be as strong as it can be for our earthly relationships! Thanks for writing this, now you've got me thinking!
I remember being scared once because I thought that I loved someone more than I loved God but over the years, I realized that the only way I could love someone that much was because of God.
You know God's grace shows how much He loves us and that grace has got to be extended in our love for others, especially in a marriage. I've always thought that the marriage itself always took precedence over whatever I felt or whatever Chad felt. That always made it so much easier to say I'm sorry or whatever because I was doing it for the marriage and not to make myself the good guy or definitely not to give in(!) and I think that's just another example of God's grace. We wouldn't be able to do that if we didn't have His example to begin with.
I hope this made sense! I love discussions like this.
I have come to believe that love is ultimately a choice. It can't be all about feelings, because what do you do when you are angry, sad, disappointed or don't "feel" loving towards the other? I am reminded that even when I fail, when I walk the opposite path God has called me to, and even when I turn my back on God, He loves me unconditionally anyway. (There may be consequences, but there is still love.) And, Christ shows us there can be Love even without reciprocation.
There are days I "choose" to love my husband. Oh, I do adore him, and I consider myself blessed to have him, but there are tough, tough days as well. In fact, there are many days I feel unloved, and thus I know I have to either chose to love him anyway or I will lose out on the best God has for me in this relationship. I also have to remember that my husband's relationship with Christ is very, very different than mine, which is probably why he has a hard time loving. I don't know that he believes in unconditional love, so how can he show it? I pray that my love for him points him to Christ's love for him.
Wow...I am really rambling. I do love my husband, but there are days I don't "feel" love. I feel hurt and anger and disappointment. And then there are days I absolutely do "feel" it. I pray for those days...they are so much more fulfilling! And I find that when I make the right choice...to love...I am rewarded for it one way or another. God is sooo GOOD! His love is amazing. Which inspires me all the more to love. How I pray for my husband to experience that...
Okay, done rambling.
Hang on to Christ. Embrace His love. And, He will surround you with love. Your heart is so in the right place. Keep trusting in Him and do not fear. Love will bring you through triumphantly!
Michelle
I am just now getting to read this and respond as my computer has been down since Monday. What a great thought provoking post. I think you are so right on when you said “marriages should mirror the love that Christ wants to have with us.”
I also think love is a choice. Some days the only thing that holds a marriage together is the choice to stay there and honor your commitment.
Some day I pray we both are blessed with men who believe and honor commitment.
Hugs, Lyndy
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