What is love?

This weekend is Valentine’s Day. I’ve always loved all the pink and red hearts, cute valentine cards, heart-shaped chocolates and of course, flowers. But I’ve been thinking a lot about love. Mainly because one of my current favorite songs is Two Wooden Beams, by Josiah Queen. I can’t get the truth of the lyrics and the beautiful melody out of my head.

I highly recommend giving it a listen. Two Wooden Beams, Josiah Queen

These are the lyrics:

What is love?
What is His name?
Who is His son?
Is He okay?
Or was it all
A part of His plans?
The thorns on His brow,
The nails in his hands

I’m not perfect and purchased by blood
I gave Him nothing and He gave it all
All the words in the world aren’t enough
Cause I can’t define, can’t deny Your

Love, it bleeds
It’s whipped and it’s bruised,
it was hung on a tree
All for me
Love is the blood stains on two wooden beams

Where is love?
Where did it go?
Lately it seems like nobody knows
In a world where money’s the game
We traded true love
For pocket change

I’m not perfect and purchased by blood
I gave Him nothing and He gave it all
All the words in the world aren’t enough
Cause I can’t define, can’t deny Your

Love, it bleeds
It’s whipped and it’s bruised,
it was hung on a tree
All for me
Love is the blood stains on two wooden beams

Lord knows I’ve tried
But I can’t describe
No I can’t define, can’t deny oh

We hear a lot about love, don’t we? Ask anyone and they could probably give you a different definition. Some say “love is love” or “love who you love”. But the Bible tells us, in 1 John 4:8 “God is love”. Simply stated yet so powerful. God, the Creator of the universe, is the embodiment of love. He IS love. He designed love and He defines it. We don't get to define love. The question is not what is love, it’s Who is love.

The words in the chorus feel a little graphic and initially caused me to want to turn away. But that’s the point. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, bled and died for us. He was whipped, He was bruised and hung on a torturous cross, for me and for you. Jesus willingly chose to do it, all because He loves us so much. That’s what true love is.

I love the part that says, “I’m not perfect and purchased by blood. I gave Him nothing and He gave it all.” That’s the truth of salvation. He gave it all so that we could be forgiven and rescued from sin and death.

If you don’t already know Jesus as your Savior, I invite you to take that step. You can experience what real love is by having a relationship with the One who created you and knows your heart.

“if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

God loves you! And so do I.

Fruit Of The Spirit Printable Hearts

 

Valentines Day is coming up! Add a little love to any space with Fruit of the Spirit heart garland. Just print, cut, add a string or display as you like. 3-page print-ready PDF below. Enjoy! Jesus loves you!

 

Printable Fruit Of The Spirit Hearts 

 

Love

Free Printable

As February, the month of love, nears to a close, I have been studying the topic of love. Valentines Day has come and gone, but what do I really know and understand about love? More importantly, how well do I actually live out love? The Bible has a lot to say about love, and I have a lot to learn. Something as elementary as love, seems like a no-brainer, at times. We love our family, our spouse, our kids, our friends. I love Jesus, and He is the greatest example of real love, in all of history. There is so much more to it than that.

1 Corinthians 13 is known as "the love chapter". It's probably the most popular passage quoted and read at weddings. But do we really grasp the magnitude of what those 13 verses tell us? It's not just a recipe for a happy marriage. It's a recipe for life. At the end of every day, what it all boils down to, is how well I loved, or didn't love. Whatever I do, no matter how good my intentions are, if it's done without love, I might as well have not done it at all. 

1 Corinthians 13 is a pretty amazing list of what love is and isn't. Immediately I realize how much my heart needs to adhere to this list more closely. 

Love suffers long and is kind. 

Love does not envy.

Love does not parade itself. 

Is not puffed up.

Does not behave rudely. 

Does not seek its own. 

Is not provoked. 

Thinks no evil. 

Does not rejoice in iniquity (sin), but rejoices in the truth. 

Bears all things.

Believes all things.

Hopes all things.

Endures all things. 

Love never fails. 

Never fails. It almost seems like an impossible standard to live up to. In fact, it is an impossible standard to live up to - on our own. Have you ever read 1 Corinthians 13 and thought to yourself, I'm going to do that! That's how I want to be! Or am I the only one? And then, less than an hour later, you find yourself snapping at your husband over something trivial, or selfishly thinking about what YOU want, or just behaving less-than-lovely? Why are we so quick to forget? I don't know about you, but for me, love doesn't always come naturally. I often feel like it shouldn't be so difficult, but my heart is filled with selfishness and thoughts of me, me, me. Self. Pride.

When I started thinking about the topic of God's love and reading more about it, I kept running into the same verses, in random places, in the same week. Coincidence? Not likely. I always know when God is trying to press something on my heart when the same themes keep showing up, over and over. I love when that happens.

One of those examples is 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." This verse has always seemed a little unclear to me. But it makes complete sense. The light bulb went off in my head. My whole why-can't-I-just-be-more-loving way of thinking is for a reason. When we look in a mirror, we only see part of the picture and portions of our reflection. It's a pretty close representation of reality, but it's not a real, living, breathing, thing. The love that we experience here on earth, as wonderful and inspiring as it may be, or as disappointing and flawed as it may be, is only a dim reflection of the magnitude of God's perfect, all-encompassing, overpowering, beautiful, true love. Even our best efforts to "love better" will always fall short. But not God's love. The way he designed real love, never fails. Never. 

1 John 4:8 says, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." I think the first Bible verse I ever learned as a child was, "God is love." So simple, yet so profound. God IS love. Love IS God. We will never be capable of fully loving the way that God intended, until we are in Heaven, with Him, face to face. For now, He's given us just a glimpse of what love is about, and shown us the greatest Gift of love, through Jesus Christ, His Son.

So, what can I do now to be a more loving person? 1 Corinthians 13 is an excellent guide. We should cling to these love attributes and strive to live them out in everything we do. Bearing, believing, hoping and enduring all things. ALL things. Will we fail? Of course. Will we mess up and be unloving at times? Yes. Will envy and selfishness creep in, sooner than we'd like? Unfortunately, so. BUT, we serve the God of the universe who created love and who IS love, and HE never fails. Ever. It's only through HIM can we learn what love is, and try to reflect His love to the world around us. 

Next time you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror, remember that we are reflecting His love. And one day, we will see the whole beautiful picture and feel love like we've never known. 

You're welcome to save and share the free "Love Never Fails" printable above. 

So Much to Say

 
I'm not very good at verbally communicating (just ask my husband). I've always preferred writing my thoughts and feelings. I often get tongue tied, forget what I was going to say or what I really wanted to say, doesn't come out quite right. And speaking in front of large crowds? Forget it. It's taken me years to be able to stand at the front of a room and present coherent material at a meeting.

Becoming a mom has caused me to feel more deeply and experience emotions on a whole new level. I find myself lacking the words to articulate my feelings, even more now. After waiting years to have our son, I wake up every day with the realization that we are so very lucky, blessed, to have him here with us. I get to see his smile every morning. I get to rock him to sleep every night. I get to play with him and watch him discover the world. He is bursting with life. Our God-sent gift of love.

Sadly, so many people aren't able to experience the same.

Very early this morning, a friend of mine gave birth to her second child. A precious baby boy, who lived for just 18 minutes. Minutes. She and her husband knew early on that their baby was not expected to live long after birth, yet they saw no other choice than to carry him to term. They welcomed him into their hearts, long before they met him. And today, they finally met him and also said goodbye to him, this side of heaven. Their daughter welcomed him into heaven and they are both with Jesus. Two babies they held in their arms are now in the arms of Jesus.

My heart is so broken for them. Knowing they were at the hospital yesterday, waiting for his arrival, I couldn't keep back tears. I still can't. I've been praying continually. Praying prayers that I don't even have words for. Praying that God would wrap His arms around them and comfort them like only He can. I think the glaring question in everyone's mind is, "Why, God?" We may never know the answer. But our God is still good. He is still faithful. Still in control. And to Him be the glory.

I look around me and there are children with cancer. Babies who need transplants. Kids who don't make it to their 5th birthday. It's beyond heart wrenching. My mom-heart aches for these families and wishes it would all just go away. Children don't deserve this. There is nothing right or fair about it. 

It makes me hug my baby boy a little tighter. Stare at him while he's sleeping a little longer. Kiss his sweet face a few more times. And one more kiss before I go to bed. It makes me thank God with all my heart that he is here, that he's healthy, that he's happy. It makes me pray harder for his health and well-being, but most of all, that he will love God with all his heart and live for his purpose. It makes me feel so undeserving. So blessed. Clinging tightly to every moment. Desiring to take it all in and not forget a single thing. Even on a frustrating day, there is so much to be thankful for.

Today, Marshall fell asleep on my shoulder. Lately he's been napping and sleeping in his crib the majority of the time. But today, he wanted to sleep in my arms. So I held him for almost and hour, even though my arm muscles started to burn and my back started to ache. I wanted to cradle him forever. Not everyone gets to do that. God has given me an amazing gift and I want to cherish that gift, every single day.

Sometimes no words are needed. You only need to hold tightly to the ones God has placed in your life. Those are the moments that say it all.

So, if things have been, and continue to be a little quiet around here, know that I am doing "mom things", taking care of my family, loving my husband and my son, and trying to be the woman God wants me to be. He has blessed me far abundantly beyond what I could ever hope for.

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a special time of year for us because nine years ago, we got engaged two days before "love day". I'm so thankful that 10 years ago, God brought my forever valentine into my life. My husband, Andrew, is my best friend, my love, my heart. He has shown me what love truly is. He loves me at my best and at my absolute worst. He makes me laugh. Encourages me. Supports me. Puts up with me. Celebrates with me, as well as shares the difficult times. He simply gets me. He's by my side, no matter what. I am so grateful and so undeserving. I love you Andrew! 

In November, my talented brother-in-law, David, showed us his photography studio and took a series of portraits of us. I am a big fan of his work and I'm so blessed by this photo! I love it. Thank you David. We love you! Check out more of David's beautiful work on his blog, here.

I added my own design to this photo to celebrate the gift that love is, and to wish all of you a very Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you get to share it with the one(s) you love. Most of all this Valentine's Day, I hope you know that God, the Creator of your heart, is crazy in love with you! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

How We Met

Back to school week always makes me reminisce. It was 10 years ago this week, September 2nd, to be exact, that I met my future husband. TEN years ago. How can that many years have passed? I can still picture the moment we met, so clearly in my mind. 

It was the first day of my senior year, Andrew's junior year, of college. It was lunch time in the school cafeteria, Garlock for those of you who know RWC. Such a romantic setting. Everyone was catching up with friends, heading to class, hanging out. I had a longer break until my next class, so there I sat, alone, at a table, waiting, trying not to look too out of place. Apparently I did look out of place, because Andrew and his friend approached me and introduced themselves, asking if I was a new student. He thought it would be nice to make the "new girl" feel welcome. I smiled, introduced myself, and informed them I was a senior, but that I was a "commuter." I didn't live on campus, so I wasn't around as much and had a small circle of friends.

We made small talk. I learned that Andrew was on the soccer team. I'm not sure what else we talked about, but I do remember him saying something along the lines of, "Next time you're around, be sure to say hello." I agreed, and knew in my mind that I would definitely say hello the next chance I got! 

I was struck by his friendliness, his incredibly handsome face, those piercing blue eyes, and the ability to make me feel, ironically, welcome. Yes, I would be sure to look for you again blonde haired soccer player. You made an impression on me. 

We saw each other very occasionally throughout the school year. It wasn't until spring, near my graduation, that we "bumped into" each other more. If I was just arriving at lunch, Andrew would stay in the cafeteria and have a second meal (unbeknownst to me) just so we could talk. Couldn't get enough of that broccoli cheddar soup. One of my friends would let me know if she saw him coming so I could head in the same direction. I made sure to attend more soccer games. 

We found out we had bowling in common (of all things) and decided that one of these days we should go bowling together. I still have the 3x5 index card he gave me with his name, phone numbers, open bowling days, times and rates on it. Very official.

I took a chance and put an invitation to my senior art show in his mailbox, hoping he would come to it. The night before the show, he drove back from Pennsylvania, just so we could go on what would be our first date - Pizza Hut and bowling. Sounds silly, but it was amazing. I think we talked, and talked, and talked the entire time. I didn't want it to end.

The next day, at the senior show, I was surrounded by family and friends, coming and going. I was secretly hoping he would show. Especially after the great time we had bowling. After nervously debating weather he should or not (and walking by a few times to check things out from afar), he came to the gallery. 

And that's the first photo we ever took together. He still has that hat and t-shit and I still have that dress. This photo always makes me smile. I smile because I remember the feelings of excitement and looking forward to seeing him. I remember the hopefulness along with uncertainty. The butterflies. The nervousness. The beginning of something truly wonderful.  

Love can blossom anywhere. Even in a cafeteria, when you least expect it.
 

Five Years and Counting

Five years ago today, Andrew and I said "I do," promising to spend the rest of our lives together. It still feels like it just yesterday that I was about to walk down the aisle, on the happiest day of my life. I absolutely love being married, to my best friend, and I look forward to every day that we spend together. Five years doesn't seem like a long time, especially when it's gone by so quickly. It's like I blinked, and here we are.

I couldn't have asked for a better life with the man I love. We have a home together (that he lets me decorate), with a big back yard that we both enjoy. Simple things, like a walk at the park, riding our bikes, watching a movie, getting ice cream, laughing at silly jokes - everything is better with him by my side. I know that God brought us together, in a way that only He could. A simple meeting in our college cafeteria, almost 7 years ago, started it all.

I'm still learning what it means to truly love someone, unconditionally. Andrew has been the greatest example of that to me. Never have I felt so loved, so accepted, so complete. Of course we have our "moments" like every couple does, and not every day is a magical. But the glue that keeps us together is knowing that we have God on our side. He is our real life example of true love in action.

I am amazed by the ways we compliment each other. From our personalities to our skill sets. The things that I am not good at, Andrew is. The tasks he doesn't like to do, I don't mind doing. The chores I don't like, he does for me. He encourages me in my creative pursuits. He teaches me about the wonderful world of sports. I like to cook and he likes to eat (ok, we both like to eat!). I think of more projects to do around the house and he helps me. He makes messes and I clean them up (kidding! Ok, not kidding). It works out pretty nicely.

Honestly though, marriage, though it takes commitment and work is such a learning ground. I have learned more about myself, who I am and who I want to be, by loving him and being in a relationship 'till death do us part. I know God is teaching both of us through each other. I'm so glad I get to walk this life with Andrew. Did I mention how handsome my husband is? Yeah, I am one lucky girl! Those baby blues get me every time. I pray that at least one of our future children has his eyes.

It has been an amazing first five years. We have taken trips together, visited family, spent time with great friends, got our first house (and a couple of cats), and too many wonderful memories and moments to recount. I say, bring on the next 5, 10, 50+ years!

Happy Anniversary Love. xoxo