Journey of Love - Not Proud

Journey of Love – Not Proud

He danced and spun for joy as the music played.  He took off his suit so he could dance more wildly.  All the while, his wife watched in disgust, thinking he was making a fool of himself.  That was the scene when King David was having the ark of the covenant of the Lord brought into Jerusalem.  David was so in love with the Lord that he celebrated with abandon when that which represented the Lord’s presence was brought close to him.  His wife, Michael, did not share that love of the Lord and could not understand how he could embarrass himself and her by showing such zeal.

When the Bible says that love is not proud, I picture the way people who are truly in love show it without restraint.  They are not afraid of embarrassment when it comes to showing their love.  I love seeing those videos of weddings where the groom dances and sings for his bride.  It shows that he is not afraid to put pride aside to express his love.

I also love seeing when people love the Lord so much that they are not afraid to talk about it.  There is a point at which pride can come into the act of speaking out for the Lord, though.  We were in San Francisco one day a couple years ago, waiting in line for a cable car, when a man with a megaphone started preaching.  He was not afraid to speak out for the Lord, but, he kept ranting that the people were all going to hell for their sins.  Instead of bringing the love of God to the people, he came across as saying that he was right and everyone else was wrong and going to suffer for it.  That, I believe, was pride rather than love speaking.

I want to express my love for my wife to be and for the Lord without being restricted by pride.  Let it be known right here and now that I am crazy about Janet and I am even crazier about the Lord (and nuts for our kiddos too).  Let no mask of pride get in the way of that love!  May you experience that love without pride as well. 

Journey of Love - Not Boastful

Journey of Love – Not Boastful

In high school, I remember science being fun.  I enjoyed preparing a science fair project, but I was far from confident that mine was anywhere near the best.  Somehow, I ran into the science fair judges when they were on their way in.  I joked that they need look no farther than my project.  I was quite pleasantly surprised that my project came in second place.  Later my science teacher admonished me, telling me that it would have made first place if I had not bragged about it.

Most of my life, I have been outwardly confident and inwardly insecure.  When I have bragged, it has been out of insecurity, trying to bolster myself up.  Today’s characteristic of love (still in 1 Corinthians 13:4), Love is not boastful, leaves no room for bragging.  Bragging puts ourselves above others when we should be putting others before ourselves.

So, for those of us who brag out of insecurity, what can we do to stop that?  I have tried to make it a goal of mine to build others confidence.  When I am feeling insecure, I try to channel those feelings into empathy for those around me who may lack confidence and try to give them encouraging words.  I admit that I do not always do this well and sometimes my encouraging words come out more like a boast for myself (like the first paragraph above).  But, I try.

Do you find yourself bragging from time to time?  Take that pride or that insecurity that causes you to brag and direct it towards helping others gain confidence.  Have you encouraged anyone today?  I hope to encourage you to encourage others today.  Be deliberate in your words that they may help someone who is struggling!  Do it today!  

No Envy

Journey of Love – No Envy

When I was a kid, there were often offers for special prizes that you could get by saving and sending in box tops.  We kids would make sure that mom would cut off the part of the box needed and when we had collected enough, we would send them off with great anticipation.  We would then wait anxiously for weeks for our prize to come in the mail.  Finally, the day would come and there would be a package for Kelloggs or General Mills and we would tear into it!  After all that waiting and anticipation, we would usually find the toy boring and be done playing with it in fifteen minutes.

Our earnest desire for that toy illustrates the word “envy” in today’s verse (1 Corinthians 13:4).  In the above illustration, the desire we had for that toy is almost humorous.  In adult life, unchecked envy can be very serious.  Check out the story of “the Window” here.  (It was too long to copy into this blog but it is a story that everyone should read at some point.)

Unchecked envy can easily lead to bitterness.  It can so cloud our minds that we would choose to do spiteful and even evil things to try to satisfy the desire it creates in us.  We can envy those in relationships to the point of entering inappropriate ones ourselves.  We can envy those who have more stuff than us to the point of getting into crushing debt.  We can envy those whose lives seem better than ours to the point of being bitter and hateful towards them.

So what is the antidote to envy?  I believe it is to simply be thankful for what you have.  It may be cliché but count your blessings!  Focus on the good things in your life.  Seek to share those good things with those around you.  In that was you can live out a true love that does not envy.

Kindness

Journey of Love – Kindness

When I first moved to Colorado, I had almost nothing.  I moved here at the beginning of November and when the Christmas season rolled around, I figured that I would make do with a few dollar store decorations.  One evening, I walked into the small group that I was just starting to attend to find that the other members each brought in a portion of their Christmas decorations to give to me.  I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.  They added quite a bit of brightness to my Christmas season that year.

Many people encourage others to “practice random acts of kindness.”  I have always had a problem with that concept.  I want my acts of kindness to be deliberate and consistent.  I want to bring joy to others every day.  That is how I choose to live out today’s characteristic of love - “Love is Kind.”  

Kindness can come in the form of encouraging words, gifts, or even time.  When my sister’s husband passed away, I chose to live that kindness by going to visit her.  I say that not to toot my own horn but to let you know of the outpouring of kindness I witnessed when I was there.  She had visitor after visitor.  Nearly every one of them brought some sort of food or gift to help her through that tough time.  That little town of Galax, Virginia truly knows the meaning of kindness.

Here in the big city of Denver, Colorado, it is easy to forget kindness.  Our culture seems to value independence and self-reliance.  I urge you to break out of that mold and share kindness, not just with those you love, but with your neighbors and acquaintances.  Share a smile, an encouraging word, or a gift.  Let people know that they matter!  Encourage them to pass the kindness along.

Journey of Love - Patience Part 2

Journey of Love – Patience Part 2

Another way that love is patient is in dealing with one another.  While I will be talking about multiple aspects of the English word “love,” the word in 1 Corinthians 13 can also be translated caring.  It is the word that we get our word “charity” from.  It is a giving and caring type of love.  In that way, we are asked to be patient with one another, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2).  What does that look like?

In my experience, I can tell you what it doesn’t look like.  It does not look like yelling when there are disagreements.  It does not look like manipulation.  It does not look like finding another lover when walls of miscommunication have gone up.  It does not look like writing off a friendship when we are offended.  It does not look like hiding problems in codependency.  (I should make it clear that these are not necessarily examples from my past marriage and should not be taken as casting blame on anyone).

I believe what patience does look like is giving people room to grow at the pace that is right for them.  It means dealing with disagreements in a fair and loving manner.  It means seeking counsel when necessary to save or grow a relationship.  It means being faithful to your partner.  It also means dealing with issues instead of letting them pile up to the breaking point.

Take a patience inventory today.  Are you being fair to your spouse or in your other relationships?  Are you dealing with issues in love?  Are you committed to faithfulness?  Let’s show our love through patience starting today.

A Journey of Love - Patience - part 1

A Journey of Love – Patience part 1

For February, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I will be touching on the topic of love.  I will not claim to be an expert in this topic but I have a guide to perfect love in the Bible.  I will first be taking a journey through the description of love in the “love chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13.

I will start out the month with the concept that love is patient.  Three times in the great love poem that is the Song of Solomon it is written to not awaken love too early.  As my daughter grows up, I have been amazed at how early some of her classmates have gone boy crazy.  As early as first grade, there were kids saying they were in love.  Now that she is in eighth grade… ugh!  At least I can say that she has kept a level head herself! 

Most of us realize that we should not seek romantic love at too young of an age.  Do we realize that there are times when it is not good to “awaken love” as adults?  Most of us go through times when we are not ready for romantic love.  There are times when we need time to get our lives in order.  We may be in need of getting closer to the Lord before we get close to another person.  There may also be issues in our lives that need to be dealt with first. 

Eight years ago, I went through a separation and divorce.  I won’t go through any details here.  What I will say is that, after I came out of it, I believe that I was biblically released to seek a new wife.  That took a while.  I saw other people get remarried after two years and I wondered why I could not find someone that quickly.  I now look back and see that the time alone was very helpful for me.  I am also very blessed that I waited for the right person in Janet.  I did not compromise, nor are we compromising our morals as an engaged couple now.  I believe we will see the positive results of that for the rest of our lives together.

My challenge to you singles is to not be in a rush to find love.  Seek the Lord and His best for you.  Take advantage of the time alone to get closer to the Lord and to deal with anything that would get in the way of a good relationship.  I do not claim that I will be a perfect husband because I waited, but I am certain that I will be a better one.  While you wait patiently, seek to be a better spouse.

Married folks, stayed tuned for tomorrow’s blog.

Worship Leader

A New Start – Day 31

A few days ago, I wrote about the colossal failure of Aaron as a leader.  You would have thought that it would be the end of his role in the leadership of Israel.  I am not sure how Moses could trust him again.  But Moses did.

Exodus 39 speaks of the special garments for the priests of Israel.  One article stuck out to me.  It was a pure gold medallion to be worn only on Aaron’s turban.  On it were the words “Holy to the Lord.”  Only months before, Aaron, through his failure as a leader, led the people into idol worship.  He  would now wear this medallion that was made this way by the instructions of the Lord.  I do not understand it, but I like it. 

I like it because it shows a beautiful picture of redemption.  It shows how God can still use abject failures.  We are not given the specifics of Aaron’s repentance and restoration, but it is clear that both God and Moses believe him capable of leading the people in worship.

Are there ways in which you have failed?  I know the answer to that question.  We have all failed at times.  Know from this example that you can still be used by God.  Not only that but God can still put you in a leadership position despite your past.  I know of a few different friends who have backgrounds of violence and addiction who are now leading others to wholeness and healing.  Do not let your past or even the failures of your present hold you back.  Move forward.  Step into the path of holiness.  Be amazed at how God’s redemption and purpose for you will lead others to follow in that path.