Tuesday, January 27, 2009
LOVE
Dear cell, I know that this is a long entry which may just make u feel not like reading it, but i really hope that everyone of you can spend some time reading this few passages that i've taken out of the book 'purpose driven life'. Read and digest it slowly. If u can't, then just read those black words right at the bottom.
"Love is not a good part of your life, it's the most important part.' The bible says, "Let love be your greatest aim."
Often we act as if relationship are something to be squeezed into our schedule. We talk abt finding time for our children or making time for pple in out lives. That gives the impression that relationships are just part of our lives along with many other tasks. But God says relationships are what life is all abt.
4 of the Ten Commandments deal w our relationship with God while the other 6 deal with our relationship with pple. Jesus summarized what matters most to God in 2 statements: Love God and love pple.
I have been at the bedside of many pple in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have nv heard anyone say,"Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch i was given." When life on earth is ending, pple don't surround themselves with objects. What we want ard us is pple- Pple we love and have relationships with. Don't wait until you're on your deathbed to figure out that nothing matters more than relationships.
Relationships, not achievements or the aquisition of things are what matters most in life.
When our schedules become overloaded, we start skimming relationally, cutting back on giving the time, energy and attention tt loving ralationship require. What matters most to God is replaced by what's urgent.
Busyness is the great enemy of relationships. We become preoccupied with making a living, doing our work, paying bills, and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. They are not. The point of life is learning to love - God and pple.
Many pple have said to me,"I don't understand my wife and kids. I provide everything they need. What more could they want?" They want you! Your eyes, your ears, your time, your attention, your presence, your focus - your time. Nothing can take the place of that.
In heaven God won't say, "Tell me abt ur career, your bank account, and your hobbies." Instead he wil review how u treated other pple, particularly those in need.
The greatest gift u can give to someone is your time.
The best use of life is love.
The best expression of love is time.
The best time to love is now.
Pray this: " God, whether i get anything else done today, I want to make sure that i spend time loving you and loving other pple -because tt's what life is all abt. I don't want to waste this day." Why sld God give you another day if you're gg to waste it?"
With love,
farmer
5:58 PM
cell group, out!
cell group, out!