Merry Christmas

On December 19, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

 

John 15: 9

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love.

I will forego the Luke 2 account of the Christmas story this year though I really do enjoy that old, old story. Instead, I want to tell you a Christmas story of my own which, incidentally, embraces my Christmas prayer for you.

My elementary school principal, Mr. Turner, had a beautiful voice, a deep, rich, resonant bass voice. At Christmastime, we would gather in the cafeteria to sing Christmas carols, as well as lively Christmas songs, for there is a difference, you know. Well do I remember those precious moments. I remember with my heart as clearly as I do with my mind, for even in recollecting this story for you, my heart seems to change its beat and I am transported, heart, soul and mind, to that little cafeteria miles and years away.

It was always a time I enjoyed but the thing that makes it stand out to me is the way it made me feel. I vividly remember how close to Jesus I felt in that moment long ago. He was there with us, moving amongst us and the tenderness of a grade school child was able to sense him and enjoy his presence.

Many of my adult years were spent chasing that feeling, but the adult was no longer tender for strength had to replace vulnerability and openness. None the less, I longed for that tender touch of Jesus’ presence and to give him the truest praise of all, the pure, unadulterated joy of simply being with him. I remember how much I loved him and how close we felt.

Every Christmas, I have chased that closeness and it truly seems that I find it easiest to draw nigh unto him in this season. People have their favorite holidays and for many Christians, it is the Easter season. For me, Christmas is when the Spirit is closest and that is probably because my heart searches and yearns, remembering Christmas’ of old. My heart and spirit are probably more open than at other times. Of course, this makes me more vulnerable which means I could be hurt more easily and that is dangerous, but on the other hand, the open heart can embrace Jesus much more easily and fully.

So, my Christmas wish for you is that your heart is open and receptive. I pray for you to be surrounded with people and music who nurture and protect you and who draw you deeper into the presence of the Holy Trinity. I pray for Jesus to touch your heart with his tender yet strong love that you may feel, within your own heart, the depth and passion of his love for you. And, may your love for him and for the Father, be unbridled. Most of all, I pray that you find this love and remain in it all year long.

Merry Christmas, one and all!

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Trifecta Love

On May 22, 2019   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

John 15: 9

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

We all know that Jesus is our model, but do we ever consciously consider that he modeled love? Yahweh God is love; His composition is love. So, Jesus emulated His father and showed humanity what real love is.

There is a key in this verse to which I alluded in yesterday’s Word of the Day. Notice that Jesus received love from the Father. What he received, he gave, and in the same measure. He says, essentially, “What I received from the Father I gave to you in like manner.” So, where does that leave us? We must receive the Yahweh Father kind of love and then love others as He has loved us. The potency of God’s love is tripled towards us, though, because we have the love of the Father, the Son and the Spirit. They have poured out Agape love into our very being. “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us,” (Romans 5: 5).

Wikipedia defines Agape love as “unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of seeking the best for others.” This love does not depend on any external factor. It isn’t an emotion. It is a choice, a determination of spirit, though not by works or by strength. Giving Agape love comes from receiving it. God has an infinite capacity for loving us and His love is never predicated on what we have done right. As the definition reads, it is beyond circumstances. As He pours out His love on us, if we will receive it with appreciation and mindfulness, our capacity to love will be enlarged. As we revel in God’s amazing gift to us, we overflow with gratitude resulting in a thankful heart which is better able to give love, even where it is not deserved.

Jesus tells us here that even as God loved him, so he loves us. He doesn’t stop there though. He adds the phrase, “abide in my love.” What do you suppose he meant by that? In a practical sense, how does one abide in his love? When I think of the word abide I think “hang out there.” It is stronger than that though. He means to set up your residence. Pitch your tent in Jesus’ love which is easily said but more difficult in practice. It is not as if we can literally make our physical home in his love, so what does this mean. I believe Jesus is telling us that emotionally, spiritually and even mentally we should stay right here in the midst of his love. The world is too much with us, as Wordsworth warned us. We get so swept up in the things of the world that we stop abiding in his love. We mentally, spiritually and emotionally vacate that space. Jesus wants us to allow his love to be pervasive in our lives and throughout our day. Abiding in his love means that it is constantly with us. We are continually reminded of his great love for us, a love deeper than the deepest ocean, higher than the highest mountain more expansive than space. Keep that in the center of your thoughts, and in the center of your heart. Let your life be absorbed in the love of Jesus, the love of the Father and the loving passion of the Spirit. Then, give some away. Sending you some of His love today.

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