Love Day is Approaching ~ Some Thoughts About Love for Valentine’s Day 2011
Posted: Monday, February 07, 2011
by Marijo Phelps
Love could be chocolate and flowers……Love is giving. Love is a commitment. Love should be forever but often times it is not. Love is a choice. Let’s take a look at the “love chapter” from the best-selling book of all times:
1 Corinthians 13:4-15 (New King James Version)
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
WE place conditions on God’s love for us. It isn’t God placing conditions on His love. We become what we think other people think we are. We build barriers because we think we are inferior to them. We listen to the enemy. Most likely the other people weren’t thinking that about us to being with.
Love needs to be two way (returned) We need to give and receive. Sometimes we can’t receive because we feel unworthy.
1 John 3:18 (New King James Version)
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Condemnation separates us from God and it is a LIE. Conviction is from the Holy Spirit and it is the truth gently nudging us to look.
We think “if I measure up then I’ll be lovable”. This is not unconditional love from God.
Some people cannot receive unconditional love and will lash out at you. We all have met them and have them in our lives. They don’t feel “worthy” so dump of those close to them who think they need unconditional love anyway. It is almost like they feel they must punish someone who dares to care.
Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…
We can and must still choose to love. When we love unconditionally we are showing the love God offers to us. What a great give to give to those who are in our lives. Love, based not on who they are or what they produce or give us in return but love offered unconditionally. A mirror of that wonderful love Jesus gifts us with if we will but receive. No strings attached, he died on that cross for you and for me while we were yet sinners. Could there ever be a greater love than this, the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate love gift given to us if we just reach out and accept Him.
This had given me something to look at this Valentine’s Day 2011 from a bit of a different perspective.
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.
Marijo Phelps,saved by Jesus grace in 1974, from 9 years atheism into His loving arms. She is wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media. Her name is pronounced Mary Jo. She was an RN for 23+ years, missionary with YWAM,statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ 9 years. Her first poem published when she was four years old. (her mom had much to do with that!) She has been writing ever since.
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Marijo, thank you for this article. I know a little about unconditional love. I had the great fortune to work for a non-profit organization for 5 years that provided a home, work and learning environment for developmentally handicapped adults. These people love unconditionally. A person has to be totally heartless if they don't automatically love them back. Even though I no longer work there, they will forever be in my heart. They were my babies. :-) Thanks again girlfriend. LindaI hear you - I worked in a pediatrician's office for 10 years and other areas on nursing where I had down syndrome and various developmentally disabled kids and some adults as patients - unconditional love is what I always saw even when some treatments (like in the burn unit) hurt them they always hugged you afterwards and said "I love you!" Appreciate your stopping by!
There's so much wisdom and understanding in your article, Marijo, thanks. I love what you say about unconditional love and how the people who can't receive it will lash out. Also, "condemnation separates us from God and it is a LIE" - I really love that!Appreciate you my friend- spoke with a lady today who sounded South African but she was from Germany and said she didn't have a very German accent.... was thinking about you and Nicky!
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