quote of the week: 2/13/14

I missed last week (my apologies) but I couldn't miss this Thursday. In this month of February, our topic is....you guessed it "love".

However, I detest cheesiness, i.e. that watered down thing marketing and the media has called love. So my quotes may not make you feel all warm and cuddly inside (that's what Hallmark is for) but it will challenge and remind you of what true love is!

Happy Valentine's Day cyber-friends!

Agape

The word love is definitely overused. Part of the problem is because the English language is so limited, that we decided we only needed one word, love, to explain at least four different types of love.

I came to thinking of this love as I embraced the excitement, attention, and love that my fur-baby poured on me when I came home from church one evening. Now I should say- the dog is "crazy". I can be away for an hour and upon my return, you'd think I was gone for 24 hrs. The same is with guests and strangers alike. He just goes beserk. He's just that high-strung (according to the vet) and absolutely loveable (according to me).

Well as I talk to him, yes, I'm talking to the dog...I realize that its almost 10 pm and he had not yet eaten. No the dog didn't tell me that, but hubby confirmed it for me. It dawned on me, that although Ari had not been fed, although he was locked out of the room and technically being "ignored"...although he may not have gotten sufficient exercise for that day, nor sufficient attention- that his "love" for his masters was unyielding. Although we've never mistreated him, I'm sure if we were too, that he would still be faithful to us. And at this point in my thinking I realized...wow.

Isn't that God's love. I don't always spend time with Him. I don't always spend time in His word. I sometimes ignore his nudgings. I definitely don't always get it right..as it relates to his guidelines for living...yet still He loves. And the crazy thing is, He loves when I'm in the state of rebellion and ignoring Him, as much as He loves when I'm "checking" for him. His love never fails. He (His love) is faithful. I can't go anywhere to escape His love.

That alone makes me squeal inside like a little kid. Oh, what manner of love is this that the Father has given to me!!!!!!!

Go forth today embracing, relishing, abounding in the love of the Father.

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Inner Beauty

I've had another opportunity to speak, this time it was less formal but the topic was important nonetheless...."Inner beauty".

I was amazed at what came up when I searched the topic, as it seems this topic has been dubbed "the thing you say if you are ugly or to ugly people". (insert blank stare here). I was wow'ed.

In any event, I felt as Christians our definition of inner beauty is wrapped up in the characteristics that make the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). It was really cool to take it from this perspective because truly, the average person would consider another as "beautiful" if they are loving, kind, patient, good, etc etc etc.

The ah-ha moment for me as I prepared was that LOVE (greek: agape) was listed first and when we look at what it means to agape...well, we see the other characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG)

"So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up. (faithfulness)

Love cares more for others than for self. (kindness)

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. (peace)

Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, (gentleness)

Isn't always "me first," (self-control/kindness)

Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, (long-suffering)

Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, (goodness/kindness)

Puts up with anything, (peace)

Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, (joy)

But keeps going to the end. "

I should note that Biblical joy (greek-chara) differs from happiness and has to do with gladness, contentment, and trust. It is stable unlike happiness which is dependent on circumstances. Joy is deeply rooted in a belief and understanding that God is ___________(you fill in the blank with whatever attribute is applicable for your situation). 

So essentially, my summary was that to be beautiful (inside) means that we agape our  family members, friends, coworkers....i.e. our neighbours!

If one was to ask about you- would you be described as beautiful inside and out?

Grace peace and love,
Gia

If this isn't love...

Yesterday morning, my husband and I had a conversation based on a post on Jeremy Statton's blog. I sent the post to him as an object lesson for him but it turned out to be a humbling moment for me. The discussion that ensued was "animated". Not quite an argument but definitely with enough passion and volume to be confused for one. During the discussion, my husband and I went back and forth about who was the actual "jerk" in the story. Was it Jeremy for expecting someone to move out of their comfortable space for another or was it the guy for not having compassion on a stranger and his very freaked out child.

The back and forth from this situation led us to the general idea of whether it is "Christian" to give up something for someone else (especially if this brings discomfort to the person who is giving up)? I couldn't provide a yes or no..in the sense that I would not judge a person as not being a Christian because they did not give up something for someone else. I went even further to talk about my own convictions: that I would be willing to sacrifice for someone else once I wasn't putting myself in jeopardy. You know, I'd switch seats cause that's not a big deal, what would sitting uncomfortably for a couple of hours do to me? I continued my monologue to indicate that maybe I would be less willing to give up something if my own well-being was threatned: psychologically or physically. I'm not a masochist, but I am compassionate (is what I was thinking). If I will admit, I was quite proud in my convictions.

His response (and I wish I could quote because it was so eloquently stated but in a nutshell):

if we (as Christians) were not suppose to live sacrificially through and through? Aren't we supposed to imitate God? and didn't He sacrifice? Wouldn't he give up something/anything even if it jeapordized his own health for us?

Me: blank stare

I honestly don't even know what I was thinking as I just sat there for the split second staring at him. I think I stuttered some lame response but eventually, I (less emphatically) agreed that yea, I guess we should be living sacrificially.

Shortly thereafter the conversation ended as I needed to get ready for work. However, the conversation with myself was not over. I felt so convicted.

What was I doing?

Was what I offered really loving my neighbor?

When had my "love" developed conditions? Was it always like this?

I repented of having conditions on my "love" and opened my heart again to LOVE. The real stuff as defined by Christ's ultimate act (John 3:16-17). As I continued to process the events of the morning, I knew I had to share this. Not because it's such a victory that I want to share but because it pointed out how easy it is for us (ME) to get prideful. It's interesting how I read that post, thoughtfully considered it and still walked away without truly getting the message for me. It took a situation where I had set out to prove a point, where the bigger point was proven to me.

Thoughts or comments? Leave them below!

Grace peace and love,
Gia

WOW

Have you ever heard a story and was like "WOW"! That was me when I read this!

I like hearing stories like this because it calls to something deep DEEP within me. Something that makes my heart race and makes me feel alive. And it is those moments when I remember that I am called to make a difference. I am not called to the dull or the boring...to "things" and superficiality. I want to live a meaningful life that is filled with passion and purpose. I want to make a difference. I want the world to know that I was here...not for attention purposes, not to comment on how beautiful or rich I am/was..but for how my life impacted and facilitated a positive change in others.

The cool thing is, that I can have this impact. I don't need to be super rich to make a change, I can start with the people that God allows in my life. Simple daily obedience. Looking for the divine encounters. Loving my neighbors as myself. Recognizing that it is very likely that some of the annoying, smelly and not-so-lovely people that I pass [and often ignore] are angels (Hebrews 13:2).


I will be praying and re-surrendering my heart and mind to be used by God and creating "WOW" moments in my compassion and obedience.

...humbled by His love and compelled to give that love to others.

Grace peace and love,
Gia

"Mushiness"

I'm having a "I love being in love" evening. I guess overall I'm in a good mood because as I was walking home, I was singing and bopping to random songs in my head. I walked in the house realizing that its less than a month that I'll be seeing my hunny again and I guess that set the mood... I started singing this song

This song wasn't used at all for our wedding..and looking back, I wonder why...hmm anyway i love love love it nonetheless and just am so happy and grateful for being a wife to my wonderful husband. yes tooo cheesy. I know.

On a less cheesy but still 'lovey' note, this Monday I received the jewels for that DIY project I mentioned here and just keep looking at them.

They are realllllly small and it just seems overwhleming. Furthermore, it took almost 3 weeks to get delivered here and I just realized that I need to order more 'stuff' in order to make the actual topper. I definitely have to make a decision within the next three days what I'm going to do because my time is running out quickly! The wedding is in 29 days and I can't disappoint