DAY 7 – We have all – so give

Today’s Scripture

1 John 3:16-23 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

His love was plain 
He gave it 
Our love is plain 
we give it
But things get in the way
Ways of thinking get in the way
The way of "mine" gets in the way

I love has a way 
and it isn't just spoken 
it's given 
it's evident
and how we know we are of it 
we give it

And we know when we haven't 
for our hearts speak moments 
wondering of why we couldn't
why we wouldn't 
why we didn't 
give it 

But the giving if we let it 
expresses a confidence we have 
a knowing that we too have been given
all that we have asked for 

a love that never leaves
a place that's been readied for me 
where I am always welcome 
and have eyes that see me with delight 

This is why He says 
that we should believe on the name
 of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, 
as He gave us commandment.
Because it's the place we come to know 
His love was plain 
He gave it 
Our love is plain 
we give it

The reluctance to love is so great sometimes. I see it in how people resist each other over preference, over opinion, over need for greater self.

It’s hard to watch – Lord let not that be in me, let me love in deed and truth not just words of tongue.

I may not be able to help everywhere, in everything, for everyone but I am sure that there will be some where I can.

Thanks for listening,

Starla