Oh, Love.

Today I found myself just searching...well, let's be honest that's what I'm doing everyday. But today in particular I was in search of the Lord's wisdom...and what I found was about love. Something we all seemingly seek fervently after... Something we find in various places...some of those places safe and some far too unkind. But in the Song of Songs Chapter 3, The Beloved is urging us and warning us not to seek out love. (What? Yeah, I'm with you if you're confused.)

If love is so wonderful then why should we not seek it out...?

Well, I think for two reasons...one is because our search for any love other than that of Jesus is often a distraction and may ultimately lead to dissatisfaction. Because when comparing the love you are receiving from someone else with the love of Christ...they will ALWAYS pale in comparison. They will fail. No matter how great their gift giving skills or their listening skills...no matter how big their servant's heart. God's love is perfect. That's hard to compete with...

But I think also what she's saying is that God, who is Love, governs over love. In other words, not seeking or forcing love will allow it to develop on its own...under the government of God. Love, like everything else in life has its proper time...God knows that time...and His timing is flawless. So it seems I found a deeper meaning and a new understanding of the words..."the look of love..."

"The Look of Love"...is just being SEEN by someone through the eyes of Christ.

Tim Kisdom

“What you need to drive out an old passion, is a new passion, a greater passion. What you need is an over-mastering positive passion. [...] Just as Rachel was Jacob's over-mastering passion, the passion of his life, Jesus is our "Rachel". To the degree, that you see Jesus on the cross, loosing absolutely everything for you, He will become a beauty to you, He will become so beautiful in your eyes that you'll be able to change these things that control
you now, they'll loose their power.
Do you know how to work on your heart like that? It's only by rejoicing in and resting in what Jesus Christ has done for you. Then you can replace your idols. And if you really want to change and want to pound the Gospel more deeply into your heart - Jesus Christ must become your over-mastering positive passion.”
― Timothy Keller, Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything

Comfort will come...

I said this to someone recently and realized after it fell out of my lips...how sincere the words really were:          Don't feel lost. This world is designed to produce misery but allowing misery to clothe us in self-pity just distracts us from Kingdom work. Yes, He has worked everything out. And truly, maybe it's not even awesome (His plans aren't, you know by our definition of awesome). But the point is it's His divinity. So submit. And comfort will come from submission...

Stolen from someone, somewhere.

Stolen from someone, somewhere. Some thing, some thing that we all know to be true. But sometimes forget.

"God loves you more in a moment, than

anyone could in a lifetime."

You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.

***Lewis B. Smedes***

I've struggled with this concept lately. That art of forgiveness. Hurt is real. It causes outrage, frustration, distrust, confusion, fear...the negative ramifications seem almost endless. But forgiveness, though it's often hard... Forgiveness is a process, a challenge, and also a command... Forgiveness is freedom. Forgiveness allows you to step down off your high horse (or pedestal for the non-horse fans)...the one that tells you that you don't deserve to be hurt. The one that says you don't deserve to be wronged. Or treated unfairly. Or wounded. The one that says you're without flaw...

Forgiveness allows you to remember that you've probably done some hurting yourself. That someone (let's be real, many someones) have had to forgive you. That maybe at times you haven't even deserved a second chance, but you've been granted one...at some point. That someone has looked at you and said "you're worth more than the damage you've done. Or the selfish decisions you've made." Forgiveness means you're still valuable. You're more valuable than your one bad moment... 
It allows two people to understand something incredible. Forgiveness allows those involved to understand grace. Grace. Grace. Did I say, Grace?

Many things in life are beautiful, forgiveness is one of those many things.