love Love

So I recently read this book, Speaking of Love by Fred & Anna Kendall and Mary Hollingsworth. Very good book...talks about the seven behavioral life languages. (Similar to Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages.) I really enjoy these type  of books. I was just discussing it with my sister...It's just really interesting to learn about why you are the way you are and how you operate in comparison to others. I've been thinking about it often since I learned which behavioral languages I speak most naturally. I'm just beginning to understand why I am the way I am.

Well anyways... in thinking about all that, I was realizing how many different types of love are flyin' around this world. I mean, its great, God made us diverse for a reason. We should embrace our differences but also I was thinking about how many people find themselves wrongly communicated so often. Even how much love is just misunderstood or misinterpreted in all types of relationships. It's confusing. Sometimes frustrating when love isn't being given and received smoothly.

1John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 

 THEN, it dawned on me. How awesome that one day we will dwell with Love himself. We will be in the eternal presence of Perfect Love. Can you even imagine what that feels like? Flaw-less in every aspect. Never misunderstood. Completely pure. How sweet it will be to dwell with Love for eternity...

In Hebrews 11, that faith chapter, God's been revealing to me how so many of these people known for their faith were constantly "looking ahead." It's important to look towards the future in life, but even greater to look forward to our greater future when we reach our heavenly home with him. :) There is just something about keeping your eye on the prize.

Wow. It'll be...lovely.

How are you moving?...Are you moving?

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. 

MSG: We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. 

Just thinking... We can plan all we want about what we're going to do next, but unless we submit our selves to God, our plans probably won't evolve much past the planning stage. With God, we move. We progress. 

Being a visionary-type person, it's really easy for me to slip into daydreaming of where I could be in ten, fifteen years of life. I am easily wrapped up in the small doses, hints, glimpses of the future God lays on my heart and mind with His awesome promises or ideas. But its so important for me not to get so caught in the future that I miss the here and now. Where do I see myself in ten minutes?...one hour? ...what about just-tomorrow? 

Moving forward in life is an ongoing process. You don't just take a huge leap, sit down (in it) for a long while, then catch up with another leap again when your ready. I see it more as a steady process. It's like...a marathon. This past March I ran in the Sarasota half marathon and something I learned is the best way to do your very best is to never stop moving. You keep a steady pace. You give your best on race day. Funny thing is when you least expect it you get a boost of energy, a second wind. You may speed up quite a bit. It's like a gift, a season. In life, if we can just keep straining forward... we will continuously grow in God. Just keep moving, keep submitting yourself, moment by moment. I think with a steady upwards momentum, God will choose when its time to stick you on that fast track you didn't expect or give you a special boost, for all you Nintendo 64 Mario Carters, you can picture with me exactly what that looks like. ;) (Wow, that's old)

It's fun when we get those extra boosts, but its fun with out them too. It's just fun moving forward. It's fun being in the race when your not lagging behind all the time. I just don't know anyone who enjoys the stop-go jult-ing ride in a race car or while running for that matter...that just can't be good for your knees. ;)

Something to think about,

Grace