Saturday, February 9, 2013

Living with Purpose – Opportunity to Love



Welcome to the February edition of the Christian Writers Blog Chain. Our topic is "Opportunity" I hope you will check out the other members on the right side bar for for insights on the topic. Peace and Blessings!!

With each new day, we have the opportunity to give love. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not available to us, so right now, today, is the all that we have. All those fleeting moments of opportunity to share this most basic, God given and inspired emotion, Love.

Our English word Love does not fully express the phases of love. We use the word to express a variety of emotional reactions, such as we love our home, pet or car (materialistic love); We love chocolate, pizza or coffee (appetizing love); We love our family, friends (friendly love); We love our spouse and children (passionate love) but the expression of love that I want to share is the opportunity to love the (self sacrificing love) that reveals God in us.

Parents know of this self sacrificing love. It begins the moment they hear the sound of their child's first cry or take their first breath. Through the long sleepless nights of tending to their child's illness or teething, caring for ouwiees, chasing the boogie man out of the closet, and making their little world the safe haven for adventure. It's a sense of deep satisfaction to watch them grow and mature. God experiences the same type of satisfaction as our Heavenly Father.

God's love is with us all the time, it never fades or changes. He was there when we took our first breath, He gave our parents wisdom to care for our illnesses and He gave us courage to call out for help. With the assistance of our earthly parents, he made our worlds a safe haven for adventure so that we would come seeking and find him.

As Christians, we have the opportunity to share our adventure in seeking God with those around us. We are his vessel and he has chosen us to shine his love in the world. Jesus said that we are salt and light, (Matthew 5:13-16). We have a testimony (salt) and truth (light). Don't water down your salt and don't hide your light, let God flow through you.

Sharing Godly love is not an accident and it doesn't come naturally. It's the evidence of a changed life! Once we were only seeking our own desires and did things for the 'approval of people' but now through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can truly give love from a self sacrificing position.

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of God is given to them” (Matthew 5:3)


8 comments:

Cecilia Marie Pulliam said...

So many good points to meditate on. Unlike what the world teaches, true happiness is derived not from selfish pursuits, but from selfless acts done out of love for another. Yes, great opportunities to trust God. Just like David and the lion, they often come described as threats.

Deborah K. Anderson said...

This is not the first time in the past two years that the "light" verse has come to mind. Methinks the Big Guy is trying to tell me something. :-)

Great post!

Unknown said...

Thank you Cecilia for stopping by. Yes, by seeking the good of others is the kind of love that fills both the giver and the receiver - pretty cool the way God established that rule.

Unknown said...

Dear Deborah Thank you for stopping by as well. I think your are right - I don't believe in coincidences, I do believe that if you follow through you will be blessed. Listen and act.

From Carols Quill said...

Wonderful post, Terrie! I've been hit upside the head by a ton of readings, scripture and blog posts lately that remind me about being sacrificial. Yours was more gentle than some but very much welcomed as one more confirmation that God's up to something in or through me.

BTW, I love the new look of your site! Great photo of you, too. It's as if God is shining directly on you! Beautiful!

Unknown said...

Carol I am always blessed by you...Thank you so much for everything. I know God is up to something GOOD for all of us. My husband thought it was time for a "face lift" on my blog site - so I praise God for the creativity he has given to my wonderful man.
More to come.....

chris said...

Terrie, I really enjoyed this post!

lol.. I never know the correct spelling for "ouwiees" - hee hee ;-)

Unknown said...

Thanks Chris - yep that is a tough one. Glad you enjoyed! Peace and Blessings