Words to SPARK your Heart-Song from our co-founder Sherry Douglas.

#uplifting #positive #encouraging #motivational

Hi everyone. I’m Sherry Douglas with Heart-Song. In the last few weeks, we have explored three of the themes of Advent, HOPE, PEACE, AND JOY. The last theme of Advent is LOVE. This theme was complete on Christmas Eve with the celebration of Jesus’ birth the next day. The kind of love we’ll look at today is agape, the Greek word for unconditional love. It’s the kind of love the Lord has for us, the kind of love that arrived in a manger. No matter what we’ve done or not done, as our Creator, the Lord’s love for us is definite; it’s absolute. He hopes we’ll have the same kind of love for others. 

1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Do everything in love.” That verse is simple enough for a child to understand and complex enough to keep us shaking our heads. “Do everything in love,” points to our thoughts, attitudes, every one of our actions, words, and works. It not only speaks to our beloved relationships, but also with the guy begging for food, the rude woman at the store, the politician we don’t respect, the person who spoke badly of us, and those who reject us. Paul’s words prick our conscience and if we allow them, wound our hearts. It leaves us asking, “Is this even possible?”  

The answer is 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.” This sentence is written in reverse of how it takes place. It’s actually A then B; A is God’s love for us and then B – our love for others. God loves us and then we are empowered to love others. This verse lets us know it is possible to do everything in love. Easy? No. Will we do it perfectly? No. But, all things are possible with God. 

As the New Year dawns, may you accept the love of Christ wholeheartedly, and love others in everything you do. Live the way you want to be remembered! Happy New Year!