December 19, 2006
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Gifts
The heartbeat theme this week is gifts. For me, the most important gift is LOVE.
LOVE – There is no love greater than God’s love, that He sent His Son, Jesus to die for our sins. Agape love is something that is beyond my comprehension and this is the kind of love that Jesus and God has for us. In the Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, you can substitute God or Jesus for the word “love” and it would read true in every instance. If I put my name there, the passage does not always ring true. My love, in fact, all human love is imperfect. Only God gives us perfect, agape love. Love is not just limited to Christians, at one point the love of a group of pagans saved my life and stopped me from killing myself.The love of Pastor Don and those who sought to help me find Christ in my life also blesses me. My husband just came and kissed the top of my head, and my kids’ spontaneous expressions of love warm my heart. But we have to be generous with our love too. When we receive love, it is so important to share love – not just clutch it to ourselves. A sweet pleasure comes from doing loving things for others, and sharing the joy of God’s love with them. I see so many people starving for love, a smile or a kind gesture can make their day. In the Middle School where I get to volunteer during 7th grade sewing, so many of the kids tear at my heartstrings. These kids often do not have a positive word spoken to them and soak up love like a sponge. I remember those days of needing the few kind words of strangers to cherish during the terror. In orphanages where children do not receive loving touches they do not flourish. God loves it when we love Him back. I once apologized to Him because I did not think I was good at loving Him back, and He gave me the image of a baby with wet, sloppy kisses. He told me that you do not expect a baby to be proficient in love, but that those wet kisses are so special for they are given in love. He loves our attempts to Love Him. During the holidays, may your hearts and homes be filled with love, the greatest gift of all.
Heather
Comments (11)
aww, you volunteer with 7th grade sewing? that’s cute. happy holidays and a merry christmas to you and your family heather!
love, joy=)
love is patient and kind. love is not in empathy, but is truly caring when one doesn’t feel like it and feels empty
Bleass you Heather!!
I will never forget reading 1 Chorinthians 13 for the first time…as a nonbeliever
It struck me as so evident that something is really awesome and divine with 1Chorin. 13…
Amen! The smiles, hugs, and kisses meen so much to children. They help make us who we are when we grow up and become parents ourselves….Bless you Heather
thank you for sharing that. Especially the part about the baby with kisses. My love is so inadequate sometimes, but hopefully the Lord is growing me in this area.
Very, very nice. Thanks for all the love you’ve shown me and the encouragement during my absence. I appreciate it greatly!
What a beautiful post, Heather!!!! I pray your holiday be totally blessed and may you walk around feeling His awesome Presence around you at all times!!!!
love u, my friend….
Hi Heather, I’d like to post a link to this post on my site. It’s wonderful post. Do you mind?
awe, I really liked your post …thanks for sharing it
Heather,
You are correct, she had to be so blessed to be able to see her daughters and to be in church again!
Have a blessed Christmas season!
Mike