Nov.28th - 2013

LOVEDefinition-Merriam Webster: feeling of strong or constant affection for a person, assurance of affection, unselfish, loyal, and benevolent concern for the good of another, to hold dear- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: patient, kind, rejoices with truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, never fails---what love is/does not: envious, easily angered, tracking wrongs, delight in evil-Love is the absence of fear ---anxiety, worry, etc. -Very biblical concept -Imagine what would happen if we chose (or could choose) to live our lives without fear or anxiety?-Love is a state of being and a lifestyle -Love is not condoning poor choices-To love is to allow people to make their own choices and their own mistakes and not to say "I told you so" if things don't work out  -"Love is an expression of the willingness to create space in which something is allowed to change." Palmer, 1997EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE-Love bridges spaces of separation and distance-Love creates community-Love naturally develops support structures that actually supportSELF-LOVE-"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind...and your neighbor as yourself" Luke 10:27-How well you love others is partly dependent on how well you love yourself-Before going into the helping field, ask yourself: "Am I able to see myself as God sees me?"-People have difficulty moving forward in life if they cannot see themselves as God (or loved ones) see them-"Self love is the quiet inner sense people carry that tells others that they are competent, valuable, and worthy of giving and receiving love" p.313LOVE IS A CHOICE-May not be a choice we want to make, but always a choice-"Not simply or always a rational choice, but rather the willingness to be present to others fully without pretense." (p.313)-What roadblocks prevent us from loving: God?, Others?, Ourselves?-Start by PRACTICING acts of love as a CHOICE---pay it forward with buying a cup of coffee for the person in line after you---begin a love journal where you choose to acknowledge positive things about others---ask God to help you see others and yourself as He does---practice positive self talk - even if you don't believe it---practice positive perspectives of others - even if you don't believe it FORGIVENESS-Forgiveness is an act of love-Refusing to forgive is not healthy for us - it causes: health problems, relationship problems, isolation-Forgiveness is not condoning the offensive act-Forgiveness is to let go of bitterness and resentment and open ourselves up to receive a healing of the heart-Forgiveness is actually more for our sake than that of the offender

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