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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Love Means...

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16
As we enter this season of reflection and renewal, let’s rediscover God calling to His children, revealing His goodness, and transforming each one with Perfect Love. "This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10) ~ Donna Oswalt


Our preciousness, uniqueness, and individuality are not given to us by those who meet us in clock-time - our brief chronological existence - but by the One who has chosen us with an everlasting love, a love that existed from all eternity and will last through all eternity.  Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved (p.51)



Tennyson's words I am a part of all that I have met still echo. We are the same, with our experiences mingling and mirroring and monitoring the experiences of those we meet. This is what Nouwen refers to as our brief chronological existence. Yet, more importantly, how do we live?

I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth... Love means following His commandments, and His unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love... 2 John 1:4,6 The Message

The love John writes about is a holy love that God gives to us just because He chooses to love us. Mostly, our infinite minds cannot comprehend any person who would love us just as we are. God's generous love stands ready to shape us into more while we waiver casually in search of self. Truth calls us to conduct your lives in love!


consider this!

- Think about how consistently do I conduct my life in love?

- God's commandment is "to love". Was John teaching something new?

- Am I becoming "more"? Do I credit "clock-time" or Jesus time?

Lord, in our every day, the world influences me, tells me partial truths, places unworthy desires in my heart. The world calls and is unrelenting. But YOU - You whisper songs of mercy, show me Eternal Truth, embrace me with extravagant love. Why do I choose the world over You? Help me see the One who chooses me! Teach me to be diligent. Amen. -dho 

All rights reserved; copyright 2017 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author;  Breathing Room For My Soul (blog)~ Follow on Twitter @soulchat

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