Love

Wow, it has been a long time and I sure have missed blogging these past few weeks. I was gone for a while helping my son, Matthew, and his wife, Cari move into their new home and then went to Maryland to visit and help my parents. I am glad God has blessed me in the fact that I can go and help out. It is a beautiful day here in Columbus, GA, in fact it has been very pretty the past few days. New life is springing up all around us and we can see God's handiwork in all of His creation, although I do believe the earth is groaning for His return, which could be any day and I am so looking forward to that day when I see my Lord and Savior, Jesus. But for now I will blog *smile*.

I read this morning in John 13:34 Jesus said "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." That is a large command. Do we really love as Jesus loves us, I know I fall very short of this. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul tells us how we are to love. It says, love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. This is how Jesus loved. Now take those verses and insert your name instead of the word love. Here goes: Pam is patient and kind NOT! Pam is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude NOT! Pam does not demand her own way, she is not irritable, and she does not keep a record of being wronged...again doesn't sound like me all the time. Pam does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out, I hope I do this. Pam never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and will love through all circumstances, I have a LONG way to go, what about you? We cannot do any of this on our own. Jesus gave us this commandment but notice He gives it to his followers. Without a right relationship with Him we CANNOT love as he loves and even with His help we have a sinful nature, unlike Jesus who never sinned, we have to really work on loving others. Jesus loves us so much he gave his life for us and it was not an easy death, being crucified was a terrible way to die, yet he was willing to go to the cross for us. We need to love Him and love others for what He did for us, he deserves our love. But praise the Lord the death was just the end of the beginning. He arose and now lives in Heaven making intercession for us and He delights in every detail of our lives(Psalm 37:23, "The Lord directs the steps of the godly, He delights in every detail of their lives"). And I believe it will not be long and He will be returning for His children. Be ready, if you have not given your life to Jesus don't wait, He gave His life for you and wants you to be His child.

Now lets go and work on loving others as Jesus loves us. Nothing matters in this world more than people, they are the only "thing" we can take to Heaven with us and they matter to Jesus.