Perfect Love

"Love is friendship set on fire."
Jeremy Taylor

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Mother Teresa

"When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out."

Elizabeth Bowen

"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius."

Mozart

"He who wants to do good knocks at the gate:

he who loves finds the door open."

Rabrindranath Tagore

"If you love something, set it free; if it comes backs it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was."

Richard Bach

"Love: Two minds without a single thought."

Philip Barry

"The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death."

Unknown

"Age does not protect you from love, but love to some extent protects you from age."

Jeanne Moreau

"Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls."

Mother Teresa

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

Bill Wilson

"Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop."

Anonymous

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? You've got to be kidding me! This isn't what REAL, PERFECT love is!

I had the joy of getting a phone call from a good friend of mine yesterday. She called to encourage me and to let me know that she is praying for a speedy recovery. Throughout the course of the conversation, she mentioned that she'd recently returned from a Women's Retreat sponsored by our church. During the retreat, the ladies studied I John 4, which describes perfect love. My friend encouraged me to take a look at the passage, which I did! This is what I found:

"...Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

(I John 4:16b-18)

In a nutshell, perfect love is fearless, it takes risks without concern for consequences in full recognition that our security is in Christ. One particular thought pattern that I initially struggled with during the beginning of my recovery process was the idea that I might be replaced or forgotten about around church! Pretty selfish, right? I love spending time working on church projects, putting together luncheons, working on children's ministry tasks, etc. Although I no longer see this as a legitimate concern, it was initially a FEAR nonetheless. Without Christ's perfect love, we can be nothing more than selfish. When we cast aside the fear of being replaced, of losing whatever position we feel we hold, or being overlooked in general, it gives God the opportunity to do His work. In pushing myself to "grow up" spiritually, I've been amazed at what He is accomplishing. People are coming out of the woodwork, EXCITED about the different opportunities to serve and work together to further the kingdom; casting aside fear and apprehension and exercising that perfect love. If I'm "replaced", SO WHAT!?!!! I can't imagine what I was afraid of! This is going to be so much better in that Christ is raising up more workers; more harvesters for His crops! How much more can we accomplish when we push our own fears and apprehension aside in order to allow His perfect love to go to work in our hearts and lives?

Late this morning, I received a call from the Children's Ministries director at the church I attend. We discussed at length just how much God seems to be at work in the little things. I then started to think about how true it is that it only takes a spark to get a fire going. It feels as though EVERYONE is on fire! So many people are stepping up to the plate in different ministries at church to work together; to encourage and lift one another up to fulfill our ultimate goal of building the kingdom! Some of these people might not have considered doing this in the past. They are finally utilizing His perfect love. The ironic part of this is that it's actually been very nice to be able to take some time out in order to watch people grow and blossom from a distance!

In the harvest field now ripened,

There's a work for all to do.

Hark, the voice of God is calling,

To the harvest calling you.

Little is much when God is in it.

Labor not for wealth or fame.

There's a crown and you can win it,

If you go in Jesus' name.

Does the place you're called to labor,

Seem so small and little known?

It is great if God is in it,

And He'll not forget His own.

When the conflict here is ended,

And our race on earth is run,

He will say, if we are faithful,

"Welcome home,

My child, well done."

- Kittie J. Suffield

"Little Is Much When God Is In It"

PERFECT LOVE