Is Your God Really Love?

"God is Love." I grew up memorizing 1 John 4:8.  First Corinthians 13 is one of the most famous passages in the Bible.  It is quoted at weddings, lightly and tritely as if repeating a mantra is going to somehow change the fact that the bride and groom will probably be divorced in a year or two.  It is printed on wall hangings and décor. I've seen it everywhere. But only lately have I been pondering in depth it's true meaning, as I've been dealing with family issues and listening to theology debates on Youtube. Let's see what the Holy Book really says about Love.

 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."  These are God's words, not mine.  If someone speaks the most beautiful truths and uses the most intelligent and honeyed phrases, but doesn't love, the words are just so much noise. "Words are wind, even words like Love and Peace. I put more trust in deeds." George R R Martin. 

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  Okay, get this.  God is literally saying you can have enough faith to move a freaking mountain, have prophetic powers, and understand everything--have all knowledge, which you know no one does--but if you don't love, it means.....NOTHING!  Stop and think about that for a minute.  Think of all the PhD's and seminary educations that go into dissecting exactly what men think God is saying.  But without love, all of that is completely meaningless!  My four year old who walks up to an old lady in Walmart and says to her "You are so beautiful today, I love you!" is better in the eyes of God than the richest and wisest pastor and theologian (if they aren't careful to love others more than their wise theology).

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Oh my goodness. Seriously!  Give away all you have--sell your house, give away the clothes off your back--even be martyred and burned to death for what you believe.  God is looking at you like Grumpy Cat in the meme: "where's the love? I can't even see what y'all did there, it doesn't count!"  This has got to be one of the most profound verses in the Bible.  It levels the playing field.  The riches of Bill Gates and the poorest little human with nothing.  It is all alike to God, what is he looking for?  Love!

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  A very good description of Love, indeed.  Defines it in every way and helps you figure out if you even know how to love yet.  Look at babies and children--they are the best examples of love and forgiveness there is.  Dogs are good at loving, but we are talking about humans here!  

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.  See what the future holds? The world can end, prophecies fulfilled, language can cease.  But love endures.  Whether understood or not, your every act of selfless love counts for all eternity.  You never know the effect it could have, generations from now!

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.  Children have the innocence they are born with, but with innocence comes naiveté. Love like a child, be wise like an adult!

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Sermons ought to be preached on this verse.  I've heard a million sermons on having faith in Jesus for salvation from sins.  I haven't heard very many on how the Love card trumps all.  I've been studying the Bible version controversy lately.  It doesn't really ultimately matter what Bible version you use though.  Love is what matters.  Doesn't matter what your political viewpoint is.  Are you loving with your politics?  

   I have a dear, dear friend who does not believe in god.  She has been hurt and disrespected by religion and theology her whole life, and she believes in science.  However I have spent enough time with her and watched her and her husband raising their babies, and I am 100% sure she indeed does have a god.  Her God is Love.  And isn't that what really counts in the end?

For Purple Mountain Majesty

 I checked one more time before locking the door behind me.  Kids in the car, engine running, we were heading out to run errands.  Flowers bloomed among the wood chips in front of the house, beautiful wooden shutters framed the windows.  A "For Sale" sign hung crookedly at the end of the walkway.  One short month ago, I had no idea that by October 1st I would have my earthly goods packed, our house would be sold, and we would be bound for Colorado in two weeks! I sighed, releasing the tension in my head and shoulders of a whole month of cleaning, sorting, packing, painting, and dealing with difficult people.  Whew, it felt so good to be done!  The swirling in my head subsided, and I allowed myself to savor the work of our hands.  Pure joy and excitement bubbled up in my soul, making me want to explode with giddy glee.  We are moving to COLORADO!!!!  The #1 best state to live, and Colorado Springs, the 6th best city to live in the whole country.  The place that inspired the hymn "America The Beautiful".  By far, the most beautiful part of the country I've ever seen, and I grew up in California!

It all began August 9th this summer, when our little family of five took the first vacation we had been able to plan in 3 years.  We decided on Colorado not only because everyone said it was THE vacation destination, but my sister Katie lives there and was very excited to show us around.  Our week there was epic.  We visited the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and fed giraffes and ate the world's best pineapple fro-yo; we hiked in the middle of the city of Colorado Springs in their amazing public parks, as well as the Garden of the Gods; we visited the aquarium and saw the sights of Denver, and enjoyed a wonderful relaxing time at Katie's beautiful home up in the mountains, taking the girls camping overnight for the first time (for them).  We greatly enjoyed the Coloradans' delicious cuisine and welcoming attitudes, and felt right at home.  Crossing the border back into Texas at the end of our stay, my throat swelled with sadness and I felt so heavy.  I said, half jokingly, "Honey could we move to Colorado?"

The idea of moving would not go away.  We didn't think it was possible but started looking up numbers anyway and figuring out what it would actually take to move.  The hardest part would be leaving family and friends behind in Canyon, but even then the Springs is only some three hundred odd miles away, an easy weekend visit.  TJ and I started talking to friends in the Springs and of course my sister Katie, who was ecstatic at the idea of having her nieces and nephew close by! She even came down for a weekend and was such a tremendous help packing and dragging furniture about, cooking for us and spending time with the kids.  I suggested a career change to TJ, who I knew was thoroughly unhappy at his job, and the small seed of the idea of moving grew overnight and blossomed into a full blown decision.  TJ spent hours researching statistics and every aspect of living in Colorado that he could, and I began giving away and selling items I knew we wouldn't need in case of a move.  Once we actually made the decision, getting our house ready to sell was the next step!  My sweet husband worked every evening and weekend till midnight every night, in spite of a toothache, fixing the last details of the house and painting.  I walked my feet off (over 10,000 steps per day!) finishing up a great year with my cinnamon roll business and packing to move.  I've decided to become a minimalist--how can any human need so much STUFF?!!!!!

Our home sold, cash for asking price, two days after hitting the market.  Every puzzle piece fell into place as if by magic, or maybe God wants us to leave Texas?  Even small details worked themselves out as if they had a mind of their own.  I am in awe, and even with the thrill of adventure upon me I have not once second guessed our decision to move.  I've noticed this with huge, life changing decisions.  If I never second guess it or have doubtful feelings, it's always been a good decision.  It's when I get anxious and start counting red flags is when I know I should stop and go no further!

The girls have been wildly excited for Colorado.  They loved our trip there and keep asking when we can move, and why it's taking so long.  I think they're mountain girls at heart!  I feel like little Heidi in the story Heidi by Johanna Spyri, homesick and longing for the pure air and clean living of mountain life.  Little Oliver is just taking it all in.  He hit the five month mark and brings pure delight to our family every single day.  He really liked Colorado too, as much as a baby can.  The altitude didn't bother him a bit!

We feel like for the first time ever in our lives we are choosing where to live and raise our family rather than simply following where opportunity led us.  Adios, Texas--it's been real! We are coming home at last.