Love Under Investigation

How many times a day do we say "I love.." something.
I see it all over FB. People use "love" for a strong liking situation.
I think we need to re-evaluate the over usage of the word.
I believe we're abusing and distorting what it's real meaning means.
Example: I love bananas. vs I love my children.
Do we really love them the same? I know I can go w/out the bananas for the rest of my life but to go w/out my children would be torture. I'd be so lost that I'd probably slip into that abyss of pure crazy -- I've been fighting for years.
To say I love bananas would be incorrect. I like bananas.
To say I love my children = very correct. I do love them. NO MATTER WHAT. Nothing in the world could every change that. EVER.

There's this epidemic of theory going around about 'degrees of love' and how not being "in love" with someone justifies the reason for divorce and getting out of relationships, etc.
I'm sorry but it's total GARBAGE.  That total theory is completely INVALID.

If you really L O V E -- there is NOTHING that changes that = EVER.
There is a way to love w/out it turning ugly. SERIOUSLY!
How can I say that? Being divorced 3 times - making outrageous claims of that very kind?!
Well, what better testimony is there but experience?! Does God not allow us to make mistakes and learn so that we may be able to reach out and spread His Truth?!
I trust it. I believe it. I feel it. I live it.

Love is so strong and powerful. It does the greatest of things in the most unlikely places & people.
God as Jesus is the perfect example. His love for us was so strong that He sacrificed Himself for us and our sins.  Now that.. is LOVE. Imagine what this world would be like if we loved others as strongly as He loved us?! Jesus tells us many many times to follow His example. We can't be exactly like Him b/c we're not God, but at least He's giving us a challenge to be better, do better, and glorify Him by following His teachings.

Romans 13:8-10

Love Your Neighbor

⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,”^[a] “You shall not covet,”^[b] and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[c] 10} Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Jesus tells us the greatest gift is LOVE. The GREATEST gift! (*noun*)
He was the greatest gift. He actively executed God's plan - out of the purest love - for us. We should follow His example. We should know what it is to LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The Greatest Gift

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 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.
¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
"We abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."We abide = live in
faith = obedience and trust, doing our best to understand & live it
hope = believe the promises, believing the best is yet to come
love = Jesus, unconditional love, following through
"Love never fails."  It never fails! NEVER.

So simple. Yet, so hard. It's not easy living as a follower of Jesus in a corrupt world.
It's not easy showing love for mankind and people who've wronged you. It's even harder to love yourself. Sometimes I think it's easier to love others than it is to love myself.
Love is not easy. There is a lot of work involved. If you truly love someone or something you should be praised! It's an accomplishment that requires a lifetime of work. A LIFETIME.

Romans 12:9-21

Behave Like a Christian

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”^[a] says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”^[b]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Seriously -- this is EVERYDAY! There is no one day where this 'battle' isn't happening. God promises those battles will be 'as nothing at all' (Isiah)- however - we allow ourselves to get too tightly wrapped up in things, forget to let go & let God do the work for us, allow our anger & hurt blind us to the REALITY that is love, and take action into our own hands where God already had a plan in motion.

God has truly been working on me. I think differently. (*Aside from Tuesday & Wednesday; I think I've been doing pretty good following through, praying, studying, and following His directions.*)
God has been speaking to me & revealing where I am lacking.
First it was those "what ifs" - the worries, the doubts, the fears -- BLOWN TO BITS by fully trusting and believing. Studying His word & learning more of those promises REALLY helped. I'm no longer allowing (*or at least attempting*) those things to cloud my focus. There's a great amount of confidence, peace and joy that comes from knowing this. I've never been more at ease. God is in full control and if I didn't believe He knows what He's got planned for me then.. oh boy. Left to my own devices::I'd be lost.(*Trust me, it's ugly. I've been there before and I don't want anything to do w/ it anymore.*)
Next, it was fishing. Learning to follow through with what I'm being shown, taught, and given as an example. Having faith & allowing myself to act on faith. Knowing who I am, who I'm growing to be through Him as hand picked by Him, and that I'm to accept that and look for His opportunities to use what I've been shown to spread His teachings.
So.. what's next..
LOVE.
Here's where I have a problem. . the abuse and overuse of the word "love" has been plaguing all things media since .. forever. Teenagers: fall in / out of love constantly. FB always has a post here/there about someone's relationship & how much in love they are. (*this week*) Next week, they hate each other & it's worse than a dang soap opera. God's provided a restraint: like duct tape over my mouth & fingers to keep silent about the sheer absurdity of it all. Spring is in full swing, despite the cold, damp weather and everyone's got "love" on the brain. ew.  I even had a couple kissing at the register the other day. *gross* I pray they really love each other.

I'm going to continue to submerge myself in God's love and see what lessons He provides.
I won't be afraid, He won't fail me. I will trust Him.
Ever read Psalm 136 ?
Yeah.. it's all there.
Look out world.. this gal's learning to LOVE.

Fishing Jesus - The Ultimate Angler

For a while now, God has been trying to tell me something.
I'm really not 100% confident He wants me to write about it, but here goes..
After my last blog, I've been "at peace". It felt so good to know God was able to flow through me to get His message out. It's been so much easier knowing that my trust in Him has gotten stronger & I'm actively practicing to give Him 100% of it.
I have had so much of an easier time-dealing with whatever life (and Satan) has tried to throw at me.
I haven't had much else to talk about since.. except fishing. (haha)

I'm a 100% believer that God speaks to us --individually-- in ways only we'll understand when we have a growing personal relationship with Him. Yes, the Word is the same. Scripture is the word in which we all believe and can find TRUTH, but when it comes to the whispers of the heart -- I believe He orchestrates it so that -we, as individuals- can truly understand and listen and KNOW it's Him.

Inside of me, for almost two weeks, I've been singing a Sunday School song called "fishers of men".. why? So.. I went to Scripture...

Matthew 4:18-21

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

¹⁸ And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
²¹ Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. 

Now.. as a fishing enthusiast- of sorts -this scripture speaks volumes to me. This is after Jesus was in the desert to be tested by Satan for 40 days. So, after a "battle", Jesus did what???
HE WENT FISHING!
Now, in this case He was fishing for men: fishing for men worthy of carrying on His work after He fulfilled prophecy--to be crucified & ascend into Heaven. Fishing for men that He knew would be able to approach people & speak the Word for Him in ways that the masses would understand and accept.

Ok.. so now - I'll give you a glimpse into where I've found a bit of peace, comfort, and dare I say.. understanding.


I know that Jesus knew these men would have the ability to follow through. (Scripture proves this.) I believe these men were just your average, everyday laboring men that had what it takes. **(Just like all of us)**Jesus called them & they followed. He knew they'd understand the mission. Why? because it's fishing. Why else would He have said "I will make you fishers of men."? ?  They didn't even hesitate to leave their boats. They just left & followed Him. They knew.

They knew fishing takes practice, patience, and knowledge.
You have to be willing to seek out the places where you can find harvest, use the right bait, and wait for the right time to cast out your net (or line) for the fish to come. You have to have faith that any amount of effort you put out is GOOD EFFORT. The fish will come. You have to trust in that. It's complete dedication. It's no wonder (at all) to me why Jesus called these men for His mission.

I truly believe that Jesus is the water, the line, the hook, and the bait.
In my last blog, I wrote about discrediting the "what ifs" in life. God is already there - that opposition will be "as nothing at all" - why should we worry? **I've been practicing this**
Alas, we are human. It's in our nature to fall prey to things we can't understand.
Sometimes we're in the boat, floating along in faith, letting God control where the current takes us- happy to be safe in the boat.
Satan likes to throw "rocks" (such as doubt, worry, fear & the like) into the calm flow of life- trying to ripple the waters- rock the boat or throw us into the water to make us feel as though we could drown.
This is a set up for failure......for Satan.

Jesus IS THE water. He's not going to let us drown. If we start to struggle, we have a choices to make. We can be like a fish. We can swim away from Satan, deeper into the pool of the Living Water OR we can latch onto the hook(which is Jesus) and He can reel us into God's everlasting protection.
It's a WIN WIN.  We do NOT have to worry. He's already there.

My mind and heart just exploded. Did yours?

**sidebar**
Yesterday was a "no day" for me. I was still, I was almost numb, going through the motions, and just.. "no". I didn't feel like I had tolerance for much of anything. Part of me just wanted to stay in bed. Part of me was just.. almost irritated by the thought of getting up and having to endure another day - even though I was thankful for the opportunity.

haha! I know that may not make any sense but that's just how it was. I know God was there the whole time. I was speaking to Him and reflecting on things. I wasn't really down or sad or happy or anything.. I was just "no".  (*insert Beatles tune: he's a real nowhere man, sitting in his nowhere land, making all his nowhere plans for nobody*) All the while, I've been feeling this 'fishing blog' and trying to make heads/tails of it. Fishing has grown into a larger part of where I am these days and I can't help my passion for it.
For me: fishing = example of faith.


Jesus is the ultimate angler.
I will always need more practice, but with His perfect example to study & follow--I can't fail.
Just a closer walk of faith that's all.. Be it fish or fisher of man.

<3