We opened with the song 'all you need is love' and the opening was a clip from the film 'Love Actually' which shows very clearly the various love relationships we can give and receive, seen at the arrival hall at an airport. Lots of amazing helpers worked hard at showing love in many very practical ways. There were stories of love in drama, in poetry, in song and in some very personal life stories. Four girls who had all had wonderful victory in very tough situations in their lives. They came to see that firstly they are loved unconditionally by Father God Who paid an unbelievable price to show them how much. He allowed His beloved Son Jesus to buy us all back from death, hell, and the grave. Because of that Love they could love others.
Running a 'Joy for Life' group in Rosie's Tea Room every Monday. We are studying 1 John and it is called 'Real Love'. Also watching the celebration of the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor Castle. This has made me stop and think do we really know what 'Love' is?? It seems to be vital for all of us. We hear all the time about the trouble little children get into if they don't feel loved or have a missing parent for whatever reason. The repurcussions move throughout our lives. We all have 'stuff' going on causing us to feel unloved, insecure, sensitive, anxious even if we believe in Almighty God as our Father and have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. We have a battle going on in our heads telling us lies, half truths and truth that we dont believe.
But I am here to tell you that 'Love never fails'. In the ten months since Dave died I have felt all the depths and heights of emotion having opportunities to think the worst about myself, my situation, about Dave and even to doubt God Himself. But He has continued to pour His love into me on a moment by moment basis. There have been phone calls, messages, songs on UCB radio, podcasts, and daily readings so spot on to where I am at that day. There has been so many answers to prayer, provision of finance, lost passwords found, all encouraging my faith in the One true God and that I am loved more than ever.
When I knew Dave was leaving to be with the Lord, I spoke to Father God, that I want to hold Him to His Word in Isaiah 61:3 that part of Jesus' work is to give 'beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. That I might be called a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.' That is what any pain is for, so that people can know that Jesus is alive and very relevant to our everyday trauma. It helps to keep speaking out our trust in Jesus and the living Word that He gives us.
There is so much written about 'love' and so many questions as well in the Word. But our only measuring stick is Jesus. How does our love measure up against His? Especially loving our enemies, those who have done us wrong, who spoke against us or worse.
Do not forget we were His enemies before we bowed the knee to our wonderful Lord Jesus, and look how He treats us. The same Holy Spirit who motivated Him can motivate us as well to love supernaturally. Then the whole world, far more than 29 million people who watched Meghan and Harry, will stop and take notice of the Bride of Christ because of the way we love one another, John 13:34-35.
http://www.joyforlife.org/index.php/real-love/
