Real Love

Real Love

He loves us. At our best. The days we wake up and read our bibles, spend time in prayer, witness to someone, take notes during bible study, give someone an encouraging word, sing Hallelujah in the car. But what about the days when that doesn't happen? The days when you have 10 minutes to get ready for work and manage to yell at everyone in your house before you rush out the door? Someone at the office irritates you and you think about how funny it would be if they tripped going back to their office? The day when you glare with your hand in the air at the person who cut you off on the road? When you snap at your husband or kids because they forgot to do something you asked? And you manage to check your email 5 times on your phone during bible study instead of highlighting that verse in your bible? Hmmm?? Yep. Guess what? He loves you those days JUST as much.
 
We need to remember how much grace we are given, when someone else fails us. We fail him daily. We die daily and are given a new fresh start with every breath we take. That kind of love is what I need. That kind of love is not about who did the dishes, who cut us off on the freeway, who remembered our birthday or who greeted us with a smile at church. That kind of love is stained red on a cross, salted in tears wept for my shortcomings, for my mistakes, for my mean spirit and compassion-less attitude, broken with a rusty nail through bone on a hill so many years ago.

We need to strive for understanding of what people carry on their shoulders of things we know nothing about, and show grace, encouragement , compassion, and friendship. That is what real love is. That is what he asks, as the lover of our soul, and we should strive daily to give, show, and be the Love that is Christ in us.


                                 - Written By Robin Nash

Trust

Trust

Trust ... a small, 5-letter word with a much bigger meaning. It can be something we too easily give away, or perhaps something we hold back for fear of being hurt. We may even shy away from the word because of events in our past. But, do we ever stop to think about what it really means? We've all heard of the "trust test" where a person is asked to fall backwards blindly and hope that the individual behind them catches them before they hit the floor. But is that all there is to it? Just believing or hoping for the best? One definition of trust says that it is a "firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of". To understand trust, we must first have a firm belief in something. That is to say, "no clever argument, no persuasive fact or theory could make a dent in conviction". Then, we must apply that belief to four key areas. First, reliability. To be reliable is to be trustworthy and proven. I Kings 8:56 says, "Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." Not ONE word of His promises fail. Next, conviction must be rooted in truth. Psalm 119:160 says, "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever". God's Word is truth and can never fail. Next, trust is a firm belief in ability. Jeremiah 10:12 says, "He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion". God has the possession, means, and ability over all. Finally, to trust, we must have a belief in strength. Jeremiah 32:17 says, "Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee". There is absolutely nothing that is outside of the strength and power of God. 

Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when the doctors say there isn't a cure. It is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when there isn't enough money to cover the bills. It is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when the answer is "no" or "wait". It is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when people fail or hurt us. Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of God when the world around us is crumbling into pieces. 

So, when the trials come, I choose to look at trust a little differently next time. God, I trust You ... I have a firm belief in which my convictions cannot be persuaded against Your reliability, truth, ability, and strength.

-Written By Laura Barnette