Well, I've been planning this blog post for about a month now, but life has gotten crazy in unpreccedented ways. Do you like my new background? I can't decide if it's vintage-y or just little-house-in-the-prarie-ish. I couldn't handle the winter wonderland anymore since I now work in an unheated wearhouse and have become much more interested in the quilts-and-hot-chocolate side of winter than the whole snow thing.
Between my new full time job and my new incredible boyfriend, I find that my time lately is no longer my own. Not that I'm complaining, because really my time never was my own and I hope that for the rest of my life I will have ways to spend it wisely rather than horde it. But I do miss not having time to write, especially since I am learning so many new things and changing so much right now!
One thing I've been thinking a lot about is love. Nope, not THAT kind- the God kind. I've been thinking about the command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength," and how there's really no way around the fact that this requires some output of emotion. Also, the Bible says, "he who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me." So what I'm gathering is that we are REQUIRED to have an emotional attachment to and preference for God above every thing else in existance.
A lot of times when I think about that it seems oppressively difficult, because my heart is compulsive and wraps it's self tenatiously around perishing things and relationships. So what I have been realizing (through God's grace) is that it's not as much about loving the tangable things less as it is about loving God more. Loving Him not just in a sacrificial and resigned way, but in an active and joyful way.
And the most amazing part is that I think, just maybe, the more you love God, the more you'll be able to love others. I think this is Biblical because the very next part of that original verse is to "love your neighbor as yourself." Which makes me wonder and hope that maybe preparing for eternity actually requires living and loving MORE rather than less. Like these are the practice grounds in which our souls are conditioned in the matters that will have weight in eternity. In which case, nothing done here is irrelevent or insignificant in the big picture, not even the things that seem like they're just here to tie us over until we get to our real home.
Pretty cool, right?
The background looks great. The font not so much. There isn't enough contrast between the grey font and the white background right behind it. My 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteI certainly can't think of anything to complain about. So amazing! God provides us with tastes on earth of what eternity will be like. I mean, when I think of love, either that of parents, friends, significant others, I guess their love ought to in some small way or by contrast pointing to the more prefect love of Christ and make us love Christ and the others more. It's not a narcotic (listen up, Marx) to dull the pain of life, but a sweet reminder and preparation for the fullness of the future. "The streams of earth I've tasted. More deep I'll drink above. There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand."
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Thanks for the fantastic reminders of such sweet truths.
Emily, you are so inspiring to me! I agree with all of this soo much. What a good point that we don't need to love other people, things, etc. less, but God more than all of that. On one hand it's so obvious, but it's still one of those things that once is said, just kinda clicks into place. And I agree that sometimes that does seem hard anyways, because my heart is so willful, half the time it seems I have no control over it. But of course that's not true. It's said that love is a choice, yes?
ReplyDeleteYes Beth: Everything is a choice; everything we do. - Marian to Robin
ReplyDeleteSorry, I just couldn't resist the perfect opportunity to quote Hood ;-)
Who is this "boyfriend" you speak of!?!? Oh. Right. Cool.
ReplyDeleteI can't complain about much either.
Hehe Julie. Silly girl. <3
ReplyDelete