just between us...

how well do you love? i've been thinking about this lately - what is love, what does it look like, how do we show it, etc...

i'm going out on a limb to say that most of us don't spend enough time thinking about how we can love our family and friends well. love is not a passive action of just being "nice" - love is an aggressive action that requires knowledge, action, and sacrifice.

people don't usually feel loved by small talk and smiles - there's more to it than that. it takes knowing someone; knowing what makes them excited or upset, knowing when they need compassion, knowing when they need some space, etc...

i stumbled onto this article in a magazine. it's a short one...

we feel free to pick and choose how we express our love, based largely on what seems loving to us. we even use "personality types" to rationalize not doing what love should do. we selectively express our love - mostly based on the way we like to be loved. shouldn't we be dedicated to finding the most meaningful, powerful ways to love others?
on the receiving end, do people have to guess what we mean when we show love, or are we clearly demonstrating what's on our heart? god's love is continual, unconditional and obvious. he goes out of his way to be sure we recognize that he loves us. are we loving god - and others - like that?
loving people should be like scattering seed. as our love falls on others, they shouldn't be left wondering what we are feeling or thinking. we should be so "on target" and so expressive that we leave no doubt. after all, that's the way god so loved the world, isn't it?


my challenge - don't leave your love and appreciation for those closest to you a mystery. love is an action - do it!

rumors have it that the devil came to newpointe on sunday. . .


















(click to enlarge)

Craig Groeschel did an amazing talk at Catalyst about the stages that we usually go through when growing. . . Here they are. . .

1. Stretch Me.

"There is always more you can give. Don't let anyone talk you out of your calling or discourage you in the work you're set out to do."

I've been stretched in unbelievable ways over the past couple of months. God has asked me to do things that I wouldn't have chosen by myself. Being stretched is painful, but good.



















2. Heal Me.

"Heal me from my addictions, people pleasing, adrenaline rushes, hunger for progress. Caring more about what people think than what God thinks. People pleasing = Idolatry."

It is easy to look at others and point out the ways they need healing, but what about me? God is healing me of things I didn't even know needed work. Being stretched reveals areas in your life you may have never thought you needed healing.

Healing leaves scars - and that's okay.













3. Ruin Me.

"Are you allowing yourself to be ruined by God, or are you trying not to become a part of the ruining process? Don't be satisfied with superficial relationships - it keeps ruining and healing at bay."

Just when you're excited about your healing it seems like God shows you other areas where you need ruining. Pride. Critical Attitudes. Avoiding Community. Etc.
















Growing is a process and never ending cycle of stretching, healing, and ruining.

New Creation from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.