I may not be a Philosopher but I do know WHO LOVE is . . .

 

When you fall in love… love them NOT just because they love YOU well… but because of how well they love OTHERS…. We are called by GOD to LOVE our neighbor as ourselves (LUKE 10:27) … And when you can love someone who truly loves others well- you are in good hands. . .

Some want “love” for their heart so badly- they are willing to crush another’s heart just to get it. . . THAT is NOT love…. And I've seen it over and over again in other peoples' lives- in my extended family- and in my past have even experienced these things.

God’s word says that real LOVE is. . . (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Patient, (that has to do with waiting... which is VERY hard for me haha) Kind, it rejoices in TRUTH 

LOVE NEVER…. EVER… envies, is possessive, boastful, haughty, inconsiderate, unbecoming, selfish, grudging against others, does NOT rejoice in injustice. . .

That means when there is jealousy, envy, manipulation, pride, or arrogance, and ESPECIALLY self-seeking behavior (boy is that one hard!) … there is something off… God did not intend for REAL love to be this way. :)

If you find yourself experiencing things that love doesn’t do… remember that it is our human condition – it is natural- it happens every day.  (Romans 3:10) & Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? --- so to follow your heart can be extremely deceptive.

But the good news is we can follow after God's heart and find real love :)

Real love comes from God and when we love others the way God loves us… is when true love can bloom.

But here is the even better news. GOD LOVES YOU… Not only that but GOD IS LOVE~ (1 John 4:8) And He equips us to experience LOVE … REAL LOVE… how He intended… :) And we have access to that! (that's exciting- since in it of myself I have not the true power to love how I ought to)

I pray that God would help me love RIGHTLY every day! And that I would love not only my husband rightly- but the world around me as well. This is something I cannot do without God. J

I must add that these truths above stem from my study of Love in the Bible. It's something I try to do often- because it's easy to lose site of how love should operate when you are married (and the day to day's can really get to ya!) 

 :) It's SOOOO hard to be selfless.... but that is God's example to us... (even if you aren't married- relationships are tough!) But I have seen people in my immediate and extended family experience hurt in love- as well as friends' and their families- and it has been on my heart to bring encouragement to them- that love can be restored!

As many of these situations have impacted me or my friends personally- I think it's important for us to know how love should really look- and strive each and every day to try and model that as best we can :) With God's help!

"Romance Me" . . .

UNIQUELY YOU. . .

There is one thing I know for sure- and it is that no matter where you are in your walk with The Lord- weather you are just starting to think about church- have walked away from Him completely or know Him intimately... HE WANTS YOU!

He desires to develop a relationship with you.

He loves you- He perfectly knit you together in your mother's womb and created you to be a spectacular unique individual to do incredible things that you've never even dreamed possible!

I'd like to share with you one way in which I draw close to God... In the book of James it says "Draw close to me and I will draw close to you"... or basically- try and get to know me and I will reveal more of myself to you. God is a man of His word.

SAY WHAT?. . .

Yes, there are times when I feel distant, or I get "lazy" in my "walk with God" (Christian-ese for my relationship with Him)-- and this is something I do that really jumpstarts my heart!

Either in my spirit (or my mind) or out loud I will say...

"Lord! ... Romance Me!"

To some of you this might seem odd, or you may feel uncomfortable by that. And that's ok. But I will tell you why I love this, so.

I started "dating" Jesus in my college years.

Someone had told me they read a book "I kissed dating goodbye" I never read it, there were some other books that were on this topic of being a woman (or man) of God and instead of (in my words) 'wrecking' your heart with torn relationship after torn relationship-- focusing on building your relationship with Jesus and waiting for Him to bring someone special in your life that is willing to court you.

THE NIGHT I FELL IN LOVE. . .

Well- what I found interesting was this "dating" Jesus idea that I heard of... I had thought it seemed a little weird, but I did love Him and I was so grateful for all He was doing in my life that I thought I'd give it a try.

So I went to a coffee shop and I brought a devotional book a journal and I began to just have a "conversation" with Jesus.

That night, I truly fell in love.

I felt God's peace all over me. It was like a warm blanket of comfort and joy like I had never felt just enveloped my entire being- body, soul and spirit.

That was only the beginning.

Since then, I've had incredible experiences with my "Jesus dates".

SHOW ME YOU LOVE ME . . .

My favorite times are sunrises with Him.

I'd get up early before sunrise, and either take a walk (when warm out) or take a drive to my favorite coffee shop- and as I'm driving (and still waking up) I'd just yawn and start our conversation with "Good morning Lord! How are you?" and just smile and feel Him smiling back at me.


Then I'd ask my question, "Lord, will you romance me today?!" And time after time there would be something wonderful shortly after I'd ask.

A beautiful sunrise with vivid colors peeking up just over the hill as I was driving.

A rainbow in the only part of the sky that was sunny with a beautiful eagle flying right under it!

Or some beautiful scenery that I'd see while out and about that was just PERFECT right at the time that I needed it. And I felt like it was orchestrated just for me every time.

Nature is only one way He would romance me. This is why I fell in love. Because I truly felt Him saying. "This is for you"


Maybe just as I'd ask Him a barrage of songs would come on the radio that would directly speak to my heart.

Maybe it would be a person He would send my way to give me the words of encouragement I needed at that very moment.

And many times it was His Word. The Bible. . . I'd bring it with, along with my journal. And After I'd ask Him to romance me, or show me something wonderful He'd like to say to me that day. . . I'd open my Bible up at any page and trust that He'd speak, and He would. It was as if a certain part of that entire page would just illuminate and leap out at me- and guess what? It would romance me! It would speak right to my heart- pertain to something I was just thinking about, asking about or going through... My God is not dead, He is surely alive.

One instance not long ago I remember: there were several songs on in a row about God's beauty. I was singing along with the radio about God's beauty- to Him- and I just remember driving and having the warm sunshine touch my face and I felt like He was telling me, "I am in awe of your beauty too, Crystal"

THE CALL . . .

When the King of the Universe is "enthralled" with my beauty, my heart will melt. I am being romanced by The King of Kings.

I think the importance of my journey of asking God to 'romance me' is that- this is how He has revealed His love to me.

His love is unlike the love we have with other people.

There is so much more to it.

And all of the deepest desires of my heart can be answered when I simply ask Him to romance me.

I want to encourage you as my readers, and challenge you- this week- just ask Him... "Lord, will you romance me?"

I'd love to hear how God romances you!

Carry Me. . .

A part of life is facing the ups and the downs.

Everyone must go through different seasons in their life.

It's how we handle each season that builds   and   proves our character.

It can be difficult to have our faith tested by the fire of trials. And even more difficult when you've been thinking you were stronger than this all along. It's humbling.

During trials our faith is tested, our patience is tried, our endurance is stretched-- we are in the valley...

And the magnificent thing is-- that every single time I have found myself in a valley... Even when I feel so alone. I feel forgotten, rejected, hard pressed on every side...

When I call His name... He is always there...

In fact- even if I've reached a point where I doubt His companionship through my adversity- When I call on Him... His perfect peace consumes my heart-
and I can feel Him telling me-- 'Of course I never left you.' 'I have been with you every step of the way.'

It's at my broken point where I've been crushed on every side sometimes by life- sometimes by my own poor decisions...-- no matter what-- when I call on His name... He is there...And it's not that He had ever left my side... more than anything it is that I'm too preoccupied with the troubles that surround me- I forget He is right there- waiting for me to look to Him...

I'm reminded of the footprints parable.

I am never at a point- no matter how wonderful my life- or how trying my situation- where I don't find that I need God.
It is during the high times that I think- how could I NOT have a life knowing you?! Look at how I am so blessed!! And it is at my lowest points when I think... if I did not know you-- I would not be able to endure this much burden... because He has promised to lift and take it away- and actually carry it for me... And He always does...

Its hard to believe in the midst of trials- but I know that through each valley in my life- that my character sharpens and improves and that my love continues to grow deeper for my Lord.

He .... is.... FAITHFUL-

And maybe today, you need to know that you are not alone.
If you feel abandoned... I encourage you to try and dig deeper and call out His name... He WILL be there... He has never left... sometimes we don't realize that our own ears have been bombarded with the lies and pollutants of the world... and all along He is sweetly whispering- 'I'm here... I'll never leave you...'