Life That Brings Love - Revisited

In the beginning was the Creator.

     In the beginning was the Father.

In the beginning was Life.

     In the beginning was Love.

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The Creator loved His creation.

     Deeply.

     Powerfully.

          Love without limits.

          Love without conditions.

But His creation could not understand 
          that Love.

     They could not comprehend 
          the vastness of it.

     They could not understand 
          the depth of it.

So the Creator stepped out of His infinite world

     To enter... (read more)

Counterfeit Love

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In this series, we are looking at each of the fruit of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

(Galatians 5:22-23)

As I look at this list, it strikes me that each one of the “real deal” fruit that the Holy Spirit grows in the life of believers has a corresponding counterfeit.

The first spiritual fruit in Paul’s list is love. The Holy Spirit grows love in the life of a believer.

Things I've Learned From My Daughter

Over the seven years I have had so far with my daughter, I have learned so much from her. As I see the world through her eyes, I rediscover a sense of childlike wonder about life. As I find my heart filled with love for her, I understand a bit more about my Heavenly Father's love for me. I have often been challenged to grow in some area of my life.

Life That Brings Love

In the beginning was the Creator.

     In the beginning was the Father.

In the beginning was Life.

     In the beginning was Love.

clip

The Creator loved His creation.

     Deeply.

     Powerfully.

          Love without limits.

          Love without conditions.

But His creation could not understand 
          that Love.

     They could not comprehend 
          the vastness of it.

     They could not understand 
          the depth of it.

So the Creator stepped out of His infinite world

     To enter His hurting, beloved creation.

Only by entering their world Himself

     Could He help the created ones understand

          the extent of His love for them.

 He came humbly…

     although He was the King.

He came quietly…

     although angels heralded his coming

          to some who were quiet enough to listen.

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The Life  came near

     So the Creator’s love 

          could reach everyone.

The Life came near

     So we could touch it

     So we could touch Him.

          

The Love that began 

          In the heart of the Creator,

          In the heart of the Father

     Was poured out through His Son

          Into the brokenness of our world.

In the coming of that Life 

     We know His Love.

For God so loved the World that He gave His one and only Son.  John 3:16a

 

You Said WHAT?!?

In the small hours of the morning I was jolted out of what must have been a really weird dream. My first college roommate Nancy was standing at the sink in our dorm room washing her face. Perhaps she had dropped something in the sink, startling me awake. I sat bolt upright in bed. 

“You said WHAT?!?” I asked in a voice that betrayed shock and confusion, leaving poor Nancy mystified.

“Julie … what’s wrong?”

“You said WHAT?!?”

“Julie …”

“You said WHAT?!?”

“Julie!  Wake up! What’s wrong?”

Finally, my conscious caught up with my subconscious. “Oh … Never mind.”  I lay back down, hoping to go back to sleep.  No such luck. By that time, I was thoroughly awake. I began to chuckle.

Nancy looked at me curiously. “What?”

“You’ll never believe what I thought you said.” I had to laugh again. I thought you said, “It’s time to feed the gorillas!” We both got a chuckle out of that.

I have absolutely no idea now what could have possibly prompted a dream about feeding gorillas. After all, it happened 32 years ago. I did not get any profound spiritual lesson out of that incident at the time. However, looking back, I can see a parallel between my reaction there in my dorm room, and my reaction now when something unexpected happens in life.