Love

It seems only fitting on this day before Valentine's day to reflect on love. In the last few years I have felt overwhelmed with the need to share God's love with everyone around me.

In a "God winks" kind of week I have found myself in different dialogues with several fellow bloggers and friends on love. One who became convicted because his preconceived notions kept him from reaching out to someone. Thankfully he saw the opportunity to change his perceptions and now has a new outlook. Another was someone who was offended by an ad a church had sent out asking people to let God be their valentine. It seemed he could not see anything except a degradation of the salvation message. Because of this he could not even give them the benefit of the doubt that their attempt might have just been a way to express God's love in an easily understandable way.

This week I signed up for this year's Project 180 at church. For the past four years I have enjoyed being part of sharing God's love with our neighbors. It looks to be a long day as I will also be volunteering to help with the Avon walk for breast cancer on that same day. (the 4 am shift no less!) An acquaintance remarked at least part of my day would be spent in Godly activities. Taking a moment to choose my words carefully I told her I believed the entire day would be spent that way. Sadly, she does not realize that everything I do is done for the Lord. You cannot separate your spiritual life from your life. They are one in the same.

I have spent much of this week asking myself just how far could or should I go to make God's love felt. What am I willing to give of myself? I have also spent a good deal of time unable to do anything outside of the apartment. Funny how God can make good use of my "down" time. I kept finding the lyrics to Bob Dylan's song "To Make You Feel My Love" running through my brain. N.B. if you have not yet heard Adele's cover of this you should give it a listen.

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rollin' sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love

I know this was written to show how far a lover would go to reassure his love. But it had me thinking of just how far would I go to share God's love. Before you begin questioning my sanity or theological thought processes, I know there is more to God beyond His love for me. But you have to start somewhere and I think the I John 4:19 is as good a place as any; "We love because He first loved us."

Loving responsively,

jené