What The World Needs- Love Challenge Week 3

 

 

 

This past week's challenge I found myself LOOKING, THINKING, and ASKING GOD, How can I show love? Not just in a way that was satisfying to me, but that actually was satisfying to the person who I was trying to show love to?

 

 

I am reminded of the Five Love Languages, coined by author Gary Chapman. The way my love needs are fulfilled are not the way the next person's need to be fulfilled. In examining how I was attempting to show love this week, I actually made some headway. The first thing I had to recognize was that love expressed may take some time. The longer you know a person, the more important it is to study out the ways you can appreciate them. Love should be tangible. It should be, like the image above, something you can get your hands around and "grasp", and it should be visible.

 

 

One of my best opportunities came with a co-worker. She had been having some serious medical problems and I had been agreeing with her in prayer. We were invited to a thank-you lunch, but because of her condition, she could not walk down to where the lunch was held. I went on to the lunch. As I was standing in line, I felt the presence of God, and the internal voice that resonated with this thought: take her lunch. It was simple, but it was perfect.

 

 

I asked the sponsors of the lunch if I could do just that, and I took the plate of food to her (up three flights of stairs). The look on her face was priceless. She said, No one had ever done that for her. I was so glad in that moment, that I had chosen to postpone my personal need to demonstrate kindness.

 

 

And I'm learning daily, that is what love does. It's puts others ahead, not necessarily to the detriment of one's self, but considering someone else in their time of need. Love doesn't have to be complicated, but it will take us out of our convenient places to serve someone else!

 

 

I've got two more days in this month to show love! I'd love to hear how God is challenging you!

 



Finding People To Love- Love Challenge Week 2

Week two was a challenge in the strangest way. It was challenging for me to find people to love ON. Why? I had to really think outside the box, and I had to do some things remotely due to the snowmaggedon. People were not 'out and about' so that made my week a bit more challenging. This week, I focused on writing, and calling, and praying for people. 

As much as I wanted to season the whole world with my enthusiasm, I  learned this past week, that I had to meet people where they are. With it being Valentine's week, so much emphasis was placed on eros and not enough on agape or even brotherly love. 

I reflected on my own love relationship with my siblings, one I have grown closer to in the last five years, and the others...that are just not as close as I'd like them to be. I recognize that even in our desire to love people with all that is within us, it can be down right exhausting, if that kind of love is not reciprocal. I can imagine how Jesus felt, wanting the cities to receive what he had to give, yet they would not. 

Perception, apathy, skepticism, religiosity, all seemed to stand in the way of what Jesus was offering: redeeming love. I would venture to say, that many feel more comfortable with romantic love than redeeming love. You see that kind of love seems to peer into the soul, to see your flaws, your mishaps, your missteps, and love you anyway.

The truth of the matter, is that redeeming, unconditional love scares people. Some fear they just can't offer that kind of love in return so rather than receiving it, they sabotage a great relationship and convince themselves that what was offered was not real. I know, I've been there. 

So the challenge this week is to accept the love that is given in a gracious fashion. To appreciate those who appreciate you right back. To not allow the question why me? to settle in the mind. So, be open to agape. Be open to brotherly love. Take off your lenses of suspicion and look with a fresh pair of eyes.

I can't wait to hear from you!