Unselfish love...is there any other kind?

I've been thinking about love lately. Maybe it is on my mind because my wedding anniversary is coming up next week.  A whopping thirty one years! That's some OLD love.  Or maybe I'm thinking of love because we've attended a few weddings this summer. That's some NEW love. Or just maybe I'm thinking of love because I'm reminded of how much I love my kids, since we are adjusting to our empty nest, at least for the academic year. That's some HEART love. God's love, however; is a pure, UNSELFISH love. I'm reminded about how I should love God by a secular, country song that was popular about a year ago.  Sung by Uncle Cracker, it's entitled "Smile." If you don't know the song, do a search on the entire lyrics, but a portion of them are here:

"Don´t know how I lived without you
'Cuz every time that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild"

Oh, if only my love for Jesus could be so filled with joy and excitement. Paul also describes love for us in I Corinthians 13, appropriately called "The Love Chapter."  He's omitted dancing like a fool and forgetting how to breathe, but what a powerful example of true, unselfish love.  I'd like to share a portion of this passage from the Message (in quotes) along with some of my thoughts added in.  I hope you enjoy it!

Love is…

“Love is patient, love is kind,”

Love is almost always blind.

“It does not envy, does not boast,”

Love becomes a humble host.

“It is not proud, it is not rude,”

True love breeds soft-spoken mood.

“Not self-seeking,” not at all,

Selfishness is not love’s call.

“Slow to anger, tracks no wrong,”

Forgiveness is love’s sweetest song.

“Love rejoices in the truth.”

Lying lips bears out no proof.

“Love always hopes, protects and trusts,”

For love is pure, it never rusts.

“Love will not fail, but perseveres,”

Through ups and downs, through joys and tears.

God’s timeless love will never fade,

This commandment is one He made:

“Love one another” as my own

And trust in God and God alone.

I Corinthians 13: 4-8a

Scripture from “The Message”

Verse by Teresa De Graaf

The Fragrance of Life

Last week I went on a baking frenzy. Those of you who know me well are smiling. The kitchen is a room in our home I wish I could do without. That's right. I would be totally content with a kitchen-less home. I am not a fan of cooking, baking, or food preparation of any sort. This is not to say that I don't love eating. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I just do not like to make it. Period. Pardon my rant. Anyway, back to last week. My husband came home from work, walked in the house, and immediately stated, "You're making Kremeltart." He knew right off from the scent that filled our home, the delight that awaited him for our evening dessert.

Fragrance can be that way. It can be a delight or a dread. My Dad had a love of cologne. He probably put on a tad too much every day. In fact, I know he did. But after I gave my Dad a hug, I carried his scent on my clothing for the rest of the day. Memories of my Dad still evoke the scent of his favorite cologne. On the other hand, have you ever been seated in a pew behind an elderly woman wearing "Orange Blossom" perfume? You nearly gag at the overwhelming power the odor carries around her person!

As Christians, we carry Christ's fragrance wherever we go. I pray that mine is a beautiful, attractive scent to those around me and not an unpleasant odor that begs a Febreeze cleansing. Praise God that Jesus sprinkles his fragrance on my life allowing my aroma to linger long after I have left to be a witness of my love for him.

2 Corinthians 2: 14-17 speaks of our fragrance to the world (I LOVE this passage):

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."

Leave the scent of Him wherever you go...

What are the odds?

The summer Olympics are over.  A world competition in the spotlight. Millions, if not billions, of viewers. The United States winning not only the most medals, but also winning the highest number of gold medals. This is pretty much old news. But being an accountant, I like numbers. So I checked some Olympic odds. The odds, if wiki answers has it right, of becoming an Olympic athlete are 636,000 to one. More amazing still are the odds of winning a gold medal. A staggering 22 million to one. The dedication and perseverance of an Olympic athlete makes this feat quite remarkable. This week, the remarkable matched up with my ordinary life. A Bible passage challenged me to have this same type of dedication and perseverance.  Whoa...I'm not sure I'm up to the task.

You see, for me, Scripture itself is alive and relevant, but I feel a disconnect with Biblical authors and their lifestyles. My devotions have me in I Corinthians. Imagine my surprise as I reached the end of chapter 9.  It was as if I had been struck across the head with a 2X4.  There it was. In black and white. Written by Paul. Events that I enjoyed these last weeks. The Olympics. Right there.  Chapter 9.

From the Message, read I Corinthians 9:24-27:
"You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself."

So there it is. A total connection to a Biblical event that still occurs today! Even more importantly, a challenge from Paul to give it everything I've got in the race for God. I know I'll never be an Olymnpic athlete. What I do know is that I will persevere ALWAYS in my quest for eternal gold!

Please join me in the race.

Who you are when no one's looking...

A few years ago, I was given a nifty motivational frame with a picture of a kayaker navigating a beautiful river.  The words that accompany it are these: "Your true character is revealed by the clarity of your convictions, the choices you make, and the promises you keep. Hold strongly to your principles and refuse to follow the currents of convenience. What you say and do defines who you are, and who you are...you are forever."  I am convinced that your true character is defined by who you are when no one is looking. Let me share an incident I experienced this last week. 

After waiting fifteen minutes in the checkout lane at Meijer, I wrapped up my grocery purchase and started pushing my cart away from the checkout when I noticed a bottle of contact lens solution hidden between two Powerade multi-packs.  I had paid for the Powerade, but not the contact solution. Its cost? A whopping $4.55 + tax. Turning back, I realized the cashier was already checking out the next order. Nuts! And so began my dilemma. What should I do? Pay or leave? Refusing to wait in line, I headed out the door to the parking lot. I decided that on my next shopping trip, I would pay for the solution. And yesterday, I did just that. I added $4.82 to my order for last week's "purchase." The cashier was confused, dumbfounded and even speechless when she finally understood what I was doing. Eventually, she ended our transaction by mumbling out the words, "I guess I need to thank you for your honesty."

Now, I'm not looking for kudos or a pat on the back for doing the right thing. In fact, I still feel a pang of guilt for not paying at the courtesy desk last week. But what I realize is that while I can talk about character being defined by what I do when no one is watching,  I never really have that option. I need to understand that God knows my every move. He sees and watches my actions. Through faith, I want to be aware that every day God is actively working in my life. This awareness is not meant to bring guilt, but a desire to serve him. To love him. To devote the mundane tasks to him. To dedicate the great things to him. All these things lead to the great truth that Jesus shares with us in John 5. Jesus does not tell us to go out and bear fruit. The truth he shares is that we cannot bear fruit on our own. In fact, Jesus tells us simply to remain in him. Remain. Stay. Grow. Flourish. Bear fruit.

 Enjoy the truth, right from Jesus lips.  In John 15: 4-9, he says:

⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."