The dictionary defines love as “a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.”
Where does love come from? Atheists have trouble with this and describe it as an illusion, the effect of unconscious physical causes or a biological reaction. Sexual love could be considered a self-focused desire for pleasure.
We love love stories. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens shows a different sort of love. It ends with a man choosing to take the place of his friend who had been condemned to the guillotine. He rides the tumbrel to his execution, with words of strength and encouragement for his doomed companions.
You already know my two favorite love stories: Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. I’ve written six pretty good ones, myself. See Books in the Menu above.
All love stories and songs reflect the image of the God who LOVES. Near-Death-Experiences also validate the concept of love being the fabric of the heavenly cosmos. Here are a few NDE QUOTES:
~“The kind of love I experienced there cannot be expressed in words.” (Suresh)
~”What I saw was too beautiful for words.” (Dutch patient)
~”There are no words to express His divine presence.” (Gary)
~”I’m convinced that God has prepared a future filled with more exhilaration and excitement, more breathtaking beauty, more love and relational depth with friends and family than you’ve ever experienced on this big rock.” (Author John Burke, Imagine Heaven)
The Body of Christ sings of God’s love:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
Happy God’s Love Day!
Have you been LOVED or NOT LOVED in your lifetime, and how has that made a difference? Has God’s love nourished your soul? Comment below or egus@me.com
Wow Ellie, good to hear from you again.
When one has not known love, one builds a fortress and lives inside. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. The tough walls protect and defend. They also defend against the possibility of feeling love, should it ever be offered. “I don’t need it; I can live without it.”
I’m here to say that God’s love is more strong and real than my walls.
PS “Skeptics make the best seekers.”
“What will love require of me today?”
That is a question Andy Stanley poses at the end of one of his teaching series. I think about it that at the end of the day as well. “What DID love require of me today?”And answers are so interesting!
Love required my son-in-law to shave off his beloved beard in order to join the police force. It requires me to keep my mouth shut a lot when I really want to express my opinions. And it required the Son of God to make the ultimate sacrifice out of love for his Father.
I have so much to learn about love and I pray that God keeps my heart wide open and growing for the rest of my life. And a special day to commemorate love seems like a very good idea! Happy Valentine’s Day with much love to all.
Sue
Twelve years ago today, my 7th nephew was born. He lived only 10 months, never to celebrate a Birthday here on this earth. Without God’s love, peace and comfort, these past 12 years could have been filled with despair and anger at the “unfairness” of Steven’s short life. Instead, I have the blessed and sure hope that Steven’s life in heaven with Christ has been one that “I can only imagine”… and I look for forward to the day when I too am in the arms of Christ my Savior. Until then, I’m eternally grateful that the God of LOVE reigns in my heart and in this world.
In a recent survey the question was asked, “how much time goes by until you lose passion for a spouse”? I was shocked by the answer. Even during some of the most difficult times, we never lost any passion for one another. We will soon celebrate fifty years of marriage and we can truly say our love never dimmed for one another, in fact it grew beyond all expectations. Our example is the love that the Lord poured out for us. After nearly six decades of excepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we never ever doubted His love for us. The good news is there is still more to come. “Even so come Lord Jesus”. >–
Hi Ellie and Jim:
The love of my life left this earth over a year ago and most certainly is in a better place now. The road ahead, for me, is not a long one until we meet again. Happy Valentines Day!
Ellie, so pleased to hear from you. Good to see the photo of you and Jim. Thanks always for your “pondering”. For your meditations. God love you both with his wide arms around you.
Beautiful Ellie!!! Yes… loved and not loved. God has for sure nourished my soul!!!!
Thank you Ellie for such a great picture and subject of love. Without Love, the world is messy, without friends, the world hurts and cold. God created it and unites hearts. Love comes from God and remains in His Son. Passionately couples have been united permanently in marriage and no one is allowed to put asunder. Only in Christ are we seeing couples united till death separate them for a short while with firm assurances of a reunion later in heaven.
It is because of Christ love that we love. Many have experienced a loss of a loved one, be it a child or a spouse. Deeply united in christ we’ll meet them again.
We Love you!
Thanks so much, Hillary, for your good words on love. Married couples quickly learn, though, that it is indeed for “better or worse.” It’s God’s love that carries us beyond the rough spots. I’ve been reading a lot about Christians needing to nourish that “first love” that John talks about in Revelation, so that “first love” becomes a daily experience. Yes, we learn daily, we live daily, but it’s God’s love for us and ours for Him that carries us through each day. Much love back to you!
WOW!! Powerful stuff. Give me a little time to digest all that was said. In the meantime, the Lord said to the men, “love you wives as Christ loved the church”. He did not say that to women, that they should love their husbands???
Yes, you’re talking about that extra-special sort of love that is required of all marrieds, and crucible living sometimes brings out even more. Thanks for commenting!