To Know GOD Is to Love Him

Many years ago than I care to remember there was a popular song that went like this: "To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him; and I do." It had a catchy tune and sounded romantic. After all, when you're in love with someone, you want to know all there is to know about that person. The more you get to know that person, the more you're likely to love him/her.

That's the way it is with God's Love. You cannot give unconditional love unless you have it, and you don't know you have it until you give it away. You see, God's kind of love is very patient and kind. It is not envious, proud, or hypocritical, and does not seek self-satisfaction, exasperation or evil thoughts. It hates wrong-doing, but always rejoices in the truth. Love will endure much, being ever faithful, hopeful, and dependable.

Is that a tall order, or what! If you are to measure up to that definition of love, than you may be tempted to give up before you start, right? It's no wonder that so many marriages, partnerships, friendships and families are broken up every day!
The big question is, how can you ever be so much in love forever, even when the other person's love grows cold? Could you love someone who does not know you and you know is far from perfect? Your answer to that might be: "Only God could do that!"

Make it your MASTERPIECE

Developing an authentic lifestyle--one that truly reflects what is important to you in all areas of life--is a work of art. It is your personal statement to the world. Are you creating your masterpiece with both the intention and attention a great artist gives her creation?

Reflecting on the ideas and manipulating the materials over time, the artist begins to clarify the vision and, as the piece emerges, watches, refining her ideas, adding this, discarding that, reworking, until the materials begin to match the vision. Once the realization of the dream is glimpsed, work accelerates, and joy and passion carry the piece to completion. Isn’t that much like our lives?

Few artists receive their inspiration from attempting to fulfill someone else’s idea of what the clay, paint, rock, notes, words, fabric or wood might become. Imitation in art is only the tool of the student as the techniques are learned. The truly authentic work of art must come from within the artist, through the techniques and media, into reality.

Similarly, you cannot live the dreams of your parents, the desires of your friends or the visions of another with passion and integrity.

Great artists understand that their art is their personal expression, and is, therefore, unique. The artist values the medium for its potential to express the idea. The artist works diligently with it-- keeping the vision in view, making small adjustments, learning new techniques, experimenting--until the vision emerges in concrete form and becomes an extension of the artist. It is visible then to all who care to look. The piece bears the artist’s name and influences all who view it.

Sometimes, pieces do not please the artist and they are reworked, painted over, melted down, unraveled. These pieces have great inherent value. The artist’s vision is clarified, the materials better understood. This contributes much to the next project, the next work of art.

Sometimes, pieces become a legacy and influence many by their existence. These are the authentic works, the true expressions of the artist. These are the quality pieces, as Willa A. Foster, says, “Quality is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

You want your life to be of quality, filled with wise choices. Therefore, approach it with high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution.

When creating a work of art, you must be present with it, fully engaged each moment, totally absorbed by the possibility you are actualizing and the potential you are exploring. This intense focus is required if you are not to be distracted by the myriad of seductive, and easy to justify diversions. It is a powerful process uplifting, inspiring, sometimes frustrating, satisfying, and, most of all, creative. When you are making a success of something, it s not work. It‘s a way of life.

Now, if by chance, you are thinking that viewing your life as a work of art, or a lofty contribution to the world, is impractical compared to a factual time-management, goal-oriented, bottom-line approach, please consider this. Every successful business, organization and corporation has two types of leaders, visionaries and administrators. Both are required. You need to be both visionary and administrator in your own life, to live a life of integrity, of wholeness.

IS LOVE AN EMOTION?

Very often people confuse love and emotion. They are not the same, although there is a connection, because love is the highest expression of which we are capable, and it would be strange, therefore, if our emotions were not affected in some way. They may well be, although the effect on them can be felt as either positive or negative, and we have all had both kinds of these experiences.

Yet love essentially transcends the emotions and, in its essence, is fundamentally an act of will. (It should be noted in passing that, while in the world in which we live, "love" is frequently used as a synonym for "sex", love has no necessary connection in with sexual act). That act of will is quite independent of what we feel at the time we express love. Indeed, it could be argued that the expression of love is purer the lower is the involvement of our emotions. On the other hand, one could even more strongly argue that our expression of love is greater the greater the negative emotion we are feeling at the time we make the act of love (in the sense that what we are feeling is nothing like what we might imagine love for the other person to be).

When Jesus died on the cross he was certainly not having warm, gooey feeling. He was in dreadful pain: he had been scourged twice, had the crown of thorns thrust upon his head, made to carry his cross in a very weakened state, nailed through his feet and hands, and was then hanging in a position which constantly threatened to cause his suffocation. (They broke the legs of men crucified to prevent them raising themselves up in order to breath). His death was anact of love, the ultimate act of love, but it was also an act of will. We need only reflect on his inner struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, in seeking only to comply with his Father’s will, to appreciate that.
At one level he was putting into practice his own teachings:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12).

It sums up the Law and the prophets because it is God’s ultimate law. If we are ever in any doubt as to how we should act in order to love another, we need only ask ourselves how we would desire them to act, were we in the same situation. The answer has nothing to do with how we feel. Indeed, if the situation is one in which we consider we have been, or are being, injured, it is likely that our feelings will be telling us to do exactly the opposite!

As Christians, we have taken up an option. Above anything else, it is an option of Love and it is therefore an option to love. We have no choice in the matter — whatever the matter happens to be. If it happens that our emotions are tending to move us in the same direction as our will, that is merely an accidental benefit. We are certainly glad of it because it makes our actions easier.

But we are never called to be people who are controlled by their emotions: that is to be enslaved by a facility which should be at our service in making decisions, decisions which we are led to and which are determined by the Holy Spirit. Indeed, theologians explain to us the nature of the Holy Spirit as being the love which exists between the Father and the Son.

Hence, when we are led by the Spirit we are led by love, and emotions do not enter into it.

LOOKIGN THROUGH A WINDOW

Living in today's metropolitan world of cellular phones, mobile computers and other high-tech gadgets are not just hectic but very impersonal. We make money and then invest our time and effort in making more money. Does it end? Not usually because we are never satisfied. How many times have we convinced ourselves that if only we had some more money, life would be so sweet? But then, after receiving a substantial raise, we realize that it wasn't enough and that we need more?

What Should You Do?
I have read many books on life such as Robin Sharma's Monk says this and the monk says that, and they all seem to say that money is not necessary. But it is. Can you do without cash and a lot of it? I know I can't.

So, I went to the neighborhood Rabbi and asked for advice that will help me find my true way in life. The rabbi nodded and took me to the window. "What do you see?" he asked me.

Promptly, I answered, "I can see people walking to and fro and a blind man is begging for alms at the left corner."

The Rabbi nodded and guided me to a big mirror. "Now look and tell me what you see?"

"I can see myself," I man answered.

The Rabbi smiled. "Now you can't see anyone else. The mirror and the window are both created from the same raw material: glass, but because on one of them they have applied a thin layer of silver, when you look at it all you can see is your own reflection."

The Rabbi placed his arm on my shoulders. "Compare yourself to those two pieces of glass. Without the silver layer, you saw the other people and felt compassion for them. When you are covered with silver, you see only yourself."

I looked at the Rabbi and stared. "I don't understand."

The Rabbi continued. "You will become someone only if have the courage to remove the silver covering over your eyes in order to again see and love others." He patted me on my back and sent me on my way.

I have thought of what he said and come to the conclusion that he had a point. Yes. We need money and we should not aim to lead a moneyless existence; it’s pointless and will only cause our families and us much heartbreak in the future.

Instead, I suggest that we should follow the advice the Rabbi gave me. When we approach life through a silver covering, all we are able to see is ourselves. But discard that covering, and you will be able to see and feel everyone else.

In life, we are allowed to and should be able to look at both kinds of mirrors, but we should remember that a mirror reflects only us; a window is the door to compassion, health and true wealth. In other words, seek wealth by all means, but don't let it dissuade you from life, people, children and the poor and needy.

WHERE ARE YOU LORD???

"Where are you, Lord when I need you most?" That cry has been heard since the fall of Adam and its consequences. Although sometimes it seems as if He is far away, God has always been there. Abel knew Him, Enoch walked with God, as did Abraham. Isaac, Moses, David and many others were all after God's heart and knew how to turn to Him for their needs and hear His Voice.

Then, in the fullness of time Jesus came and redeemed you by His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. He is the Light that shines in the darkness (John 1). Call on the Name of Jesus. He is as near as the mention of His Name. He knows your needs before you even ask.

You can go to Him as a little child climbs on his daddy's knee. Jesus taught us how to pray by giving us what is widely known as the Lord's Prayer. Sadly, however, many people who recite it by memory do so without knowing the full context of the verse in the Bible. They may not realize that Jesus in the text immediately preceding this prayer warns his disciples not to pray repetitive words, as the Pharisees and others do. Instead, He teaches to go into your prayer "closet," a quiet, restful place undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The Lord's Prayer is so rich with so much food for spiritual thought. Meditate on each phrase and then formulate it in your own words. For instance, what does Our Father mean? Why don't you just say "father," "daddy," or "my father"? Might Jesus be explaining in those two words that you are to be mindful of the fact that he is also the "daddy" of the person who may have hurt you deeply? What would be better: reciting "hallowed be thy name" in old English or to praise Him spontaneously, telling Him how much you love Him and thanking Him for all that He has already done for you? Are you aware that He is coming very soon to take you and all those who have made Him Lord over their lives up with Him and that together with Him you will reign forever? Do you pray for the lost to come into His kingdom before that day, and for the fulfillment of His reign on earth and the eventual true Peace?

Just as He has declared every Word in the Bible, which is established in heaven and earth, when you pray do you acknowledge that every Word, for instance: "By His stripes you were healed," (Isa. 53:5) WILL come to pass here on the earth? Your part is only to acknowledge, speak, and believe it. When you ask for your daily bread, wouldn't it be good to thank Him for all His provisions including the ones you need right now?

When you go to God with a contrite heart, you will know that you are forgiven.

Every morning it is a good thing to thank Christ for His precious Blood, which is your covering us from any evil that may befall us. Reach out for His Wisdom in all things with praise on your lips at all times.

Yes, the Lord's Prayer is rich with instructions on how to come near to Him. You may want to open your Bible to it when you pray and meditate on it, phrase by phrase.

You will get a new revelation every time you do so and, best of all, you will experience His Presence!

HEARTBEAT OF HOPE

The beating heart is a sign of life. Hope is what sustains that life. Yes, food, water, sunlight, these sustain life also but, it’s HOPE that really keeps you alive. Hope is what has brought you to today. Hope is what inspires us to move forward because we believe that tomorrow will truly be a better day. Tomorrow, will give you that new house that you have been saving for. Tomorrow, you will finally be able to spend time with your family – and, tomorrow is the day that you will receive your raise for a job well done. Hope is optimism. Hope is a belief that all your desires will be fulfilled and all your positive expectations will become realities.

Without Hope, our future darkens and the shadow of death is seen crouching at the door. Hope gives us the will to go. We hope in what is “to be”. We hope in what “can be”. Why hope for what is? Why hope for what you already have?

Indeed, why hope for the present. The present is littered with broken dreams, foolish ambitions and missed opportunities. But despite all these, Hope is the herald of a brand new day. Hope proclaims, “yes, we can”; “yes, it is possible”! Hope gives you the breath of life to live another day. This is the “heartbeat of hope”.

In truth, I should pause for a moment and tell you this: That although Hope is filled with endless possibilities and personal triumphs, all who are driven by the heartbeat of hope well know, that Hope can also carry with it defeat, disappointment and heartache. We have all “hoped” and have experienced the agony of heartbreak and the tears of tragedy.

The heartbeat of hope gives us life today through our Heavenly Father, GOD. Today is already here. Tomorrow, …… tomorrow will bring with it the answer to all of our prayers and the fulfillment of dreams. Tomorrow will indeed be a better day!