Love can be a very difficult path to navigate…

Most people are familiar with 1 Corinthians 13.  It is one of the most quoted and shared passages in all of scripture and you hear it at tons of special events where “love” is celebrated.  When this passage is read at these events, it gives everyone a “feel good” moment.  Over the past month I’ve been living in this passage and it has left me feeling anything but the warm fuzzies :o)

1 Corinthians describes love in a way that is completely self-yielding to everyone around it.  Love is described as ACTION, not just an emotion, and it is the ultimate example of the life of Christ living inside of us.  This is really hard but I love how The Message describes love beginning with verse 4:

q  Love never gives up. q  Love cares more for others than for self. q  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. q  Love doesn't strut, q  Doesn't have a swelled head, q  Doesn't force itself on others, q  Isn't always "me first," q  Doesn't fly off the handle, q  Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, q  Doesn't revel when others grovel, q  Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, q  Puts up with anything, q  Trusts God always, q  Always looks for the best, q  Never looks back, q  But keeps going to the end.

I’m sure you noticed that I wrote the passage as a checklist.  That’s how I’ve been living this passage over the last month as I’ve had to come face to face with asking myself am I truly filled with love as these verses describe.  Honestly speaking, I can check some of them and some of them I’ve had to leave open as I’m praying that I’ll understand how to love as these beautiful verses detail!

Let me describe what I mean…I’m relatively successful in “always looks for the best”.  I’ve tried to look through whatever facade people present and look for the treasure in which they are, because we all are treasures, uniquely crafted by the ULTIMATE Creator.  However, I’m horrible at “never looks back”!  I’m constantly looking back and trying to remember what happened, remember what was said, remember, remember, remember, etc. trying to figure life out.  It makes me lose my mind on some days!  But this passage gives me the idea that Paul was saying real love, God’s love, accepts life for what it is and keeps marching forward, living without regret!  Is he saying to do this with your own dedicated will?  Of course not, because no one possesses enough will to keep moving forward in the face of regret.  It is only with God's love, living in us, can we be successful... 

The Children’s Ministries Leadership Team recently presented me with a gorgeous canvas of all the kids’ hand prints.  I love it for many reasons!  I love it because it symbolizes TEN years of ministry to kids at Forest Park Church but also because they included my favorite scripture on the canvas, Philippians 3:12-14:

"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made.  But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.  Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.  I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back."

My heart is pointed in the right direction, JESUS.  I’ve just got to remember to look forward and not look back!  How many checks do you have on your “love list”?

Until next time,
Lana