God is the Source of love for who we are; it is out of who we are that we live and love well.
We all have hard seasons in our lives. In these desert places, sometimes there is some thing we are waiting for and want, like a career change or people to connect with. Or, there is some thing we are living with that we don’t want, like illness or a difficult relationship. We hope and pray things change quickly. But when it doesn’t, how can we live and love well in that season?
Out of the corner of my eye, I became aware of a flock of black birds flitting outside our back windows. A large number of birds flew together searching for food. It’s winter. Cold. Rather barren. And in the midst of these realities, God provides food for the birds in the form of small fruit on our tree. This makes me think of Jesus’ words:
The last few weeks, we’ve been considering the paths and and choices we make. Wisdom guards our path and keeps us walking in the right direction (Wisdom for Your Path from Proverbs). Honoring God in the “small” daily decisions prepares our hearts for making bigger decisions in life (Which way to go?). And when we are in the maze of life, we can ask some smart questions to guide our bigger decisions (Navigating Life’s Maze).
Merry Christmas, friends! When I think of Christmas, my heart is drawn again and again to the verse in John 1 that says “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This begins Jesus’ life of love lived in the flesh with us. It is amazing that our God would connect with us this way! It is life changing when we allow His love to define who we are. Let’s listen for the voice of Love this Christmas.
{Home is the starting place for lived-out-love, a place where the needs of the whole person are cared for. This post explores spiritual care.}
Jesus is our Shepherd, and we are his sheep. Thinking of our relationships this way sets the tone for spiritual care and relationships within our home. Seeing ourselves as “fellow sheep” would be helpful for any people living together under the same roof! Knowing Jesus as the Shepherd puts our relationships into perspective. When we have a growing relationship with Jesus and trust him to work in others’ lives, it is humbling, hope-giving, and freeing for our relationships with one another.
Live a Life of Love 