WHAT IS LOVE

Jesus the Carpenter (google)

     I think, to often, we forget that Jesus, was a carpenter. He was a public servant. This week has been interesting. An issue arose, with one of my children, that I, myself, had dealt with as a child. I was met with accusations, shame and guilt. Because of that, I decided that I didn't want to respond in the same way. God had given me a dream, one year prior, addressing the issue. I freaked out then, cried myself silly, then He dove in, grabbed up the root, and let me see it. I couldn't believe what I believed about myself, "I'm unlovable; something evil in me brings good people to harm me." I asked Jesus what He  KNEW about me. He said, "You are my Beloved," and bam! the lie is gone with all its entanglements. Lies, lies, and more lies. The enemy sets us up to believe lies about ourselves, the people around us, and more importantly, the Jesus we serve, but fear to know.
     As I watched the news this week, and saw people rejoice over Kim Davis, my heart groaned within me. I find the best way to understand is to put myself in the position of confusion. If my boys, my miracle babies, given by God, came to me one day and said, "Mama, I'm gay and I have met my life partner. We are getting married," what would I do? The same thing I did before, pray....and not speak. How dare we speak about a God that we haven't even had the courtesy to walk with, acting like we KNOW Him through His law. It's like being a public defender speaking on behalf of pedophile with the church elder-ship.  Confused? You should be. What is spirit is spirit, and what is flesh is flesh. The Law can not be understood through the spirit, nor the Law of the Spirit through flesh. Go with me in the day of the life of Jesus, who by the way, has no FEAR in His love.

     Jesus, is commissioned to build a bed for a man. So, he builds it. The man comes, pays for it, and takes it home. End of story. You don't spiritualize what is natural. Things would have been a bit different if the man wanted to KNOW Jesus, but he didn't. He just bought a bed. If God is Love, can He stop being who He is to yell out....YOU VILE SINNERS....you tricked me. If I would have known you were gay, I wouldn't have sold you a bed!!! Uh, no. Love is not rude!

Kim Davis (google)

    When I don't know how to act in any given situation, you will find me praying to the Only One Perfect in Love, and He always shows up. So, He gave me a dream. I was dropped into this daycare with broken children and broken toys. This little girl ran up to me, just needing huggies so badly. I pushed her away and told her she needed boundaries, followed by what boundaries are, and how she needs to keep herself contained in her own bubble....not bleeding all over people (so not me). Then some boy, brought me old mail that he said would bring me money if I just cashed in the insurance policies. I pushed him away, and told him to get out of my personal business. Then, I told another adult that I was going in this particular door and she should lock me in (lock on the outside), cause that boy was vile. On top of feeling an inordinate amount of fear, some lady comes up to me, grabs a chunk of my hair on top of my head, and snip. It looked hideous. When I protested, she proclaimed, "It's ok, cause I know your beautician." Then I tried to clean up the daycare, and some girl comes in and tells me to put in the Jesus movie cause "Spongebob" was awful for children. At the end of the dream, I understood. This is our world, and if my Love is marked with unaddressed fears, what affect will I have on the world around me.

     How would love answer that dream. I'll tell you how, because my heart is singing with the answer. I would grab that little girl up and hug her silly, I would play with the broken kids with the broken toys, using our imaginations, of course. I would have interacted with the young boy, building relationship with him, not being reviled by his remarks, but welcome him in my arms. Oh, and we would have watched "Spongebob" for a good long time, just like I did with my kids. As for the woman who felt a right to cut my hair just because she knew my beautician, I would have informed her that I did not request her services (opinion/license/expertise), grabbed the scissors and returned the favor (oh, no, I think that was the flesh).There is a reason why Jesus said,"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34). If Jesus had refused service, as a carpenter, to anyone, then The Gospel (good news) is imperfect, biased, touched by the human condition....but thank God, He didn't. How do we know? If we Know Him, we Know how Love responds to the demands put on it. If you have forgotten, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud, It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."
     When I look at the "love" of myself and of those with whom God has allowed me to relate, I look for fear, and speak peace to it. I am so happy for every opportunity God provides me, but I am most grateful for "whosoever will." The ones who will Know Jesus will Know Jesus. The ones who want to serve the Jesus of religion will serve the laws of God, but imperfectly....asked the Jewish nation. The ones who will accuse will accuse, but we can rest in this: When the perfect work of Love is complete in us and there is no more fear, there is no law against it. That's why I swoon over His Love for the sinner. Whosoever will always applies. We all need Him, and not one of us, can pick up a stone in good conscious, and throw it. That's pride, and it is UUUUUggggglllly. The fear? I'm not lovable.