Learning to Love

So, I feel like I have been learning a lot about love in the past few months. Don't worry, I'm not going to get all mushy while talking about my boyfriend or anything like that, although I've learned a lot in that area, too. I'm talking about people in general and about the call on my life a follower of Christ to truly love others. This is no easy task because as humans, we are selfish and often love in a way that expects reciprocity. Jesus taught us to love sacrificially and selflessly, as He did. Let's be honest, most of us see this as in impossible task and in fact, it is without His divine intervention. The Father has been hammering this fact into my brain and truthfully, it leaves me feeling humbled and relieved that He wants control in order to love through me.

One EXTREMELY humbling realization came as the Father showed me that I cannot even love Him without His help!! How sad is that? In my flawed state, even though I am a sinner saved by grace, I am incapable of loving the Father...or anyone else for that matter, without His help. The bible says, "We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19. So the key to loving HIM and others starts with His love for us! This is HUGE! This pushes me to spend more time with Him so I can truly learn what it means to be loved by a heavenly Father so great and so perfect that He gave of Himself to win me! And resting in His love also provides a genuine love for others because He fills me with His perfect love. I hate being insincere and fake. Pretending to love or forcing myself to do it is not appealing at all. But thankfully, because of the Father's love, I don't have to fake it!!! He gives me a new heart, one that beats in time with His and loves as He loves. Of course, I am a work in progress but He IS changing me.

Well, I could sit and write a million words on this subject but I don't want to bore you all with so many of my random thoughts. Let me share a some of what's going on here so you'll be a little more caught up on my crazy life. I have started a conversational English Club called 'Chit Chat' in my apartment and we just had our third meeting last night. Things are going well in the group and it has enabled me to meet a lot of people in my building and also provided a way to network different groups of friends, ie-church plant members with apartment friends. The Lord really gave me this idea and English is a service I have to offer people so, why not?! Last night, we talked about everything from pets to health care and politics!! It's really a lot of fun!

The weather is turning a bit warmer (not much) and the sun has been shining more!! I am extremely happy about this! When the weather is gray, cloudy and rainy for days and weeks at a time, my mood takes a significant hit. But thankfully, the Lord has provided several sunny days in a row. People really come out into the streets when the weather is nice. I'm praying for a nice, warm, sunny Spring. We shall see...

Okay enough about me. I'm really terrible at keeping up this blog! Sorry about that!! I keep telling myself I'll do better this month but it never seems to happen. Thanks for checking up on me and praying when the Lord leads you. God IS moving here and raising up a people for Himself. I love you all!!