Thankful Thursday: True Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

For the first time in my life, I am truly learning what it means to be loved, by God and others, and to be imitators of that love. It sounds strange, both to be in the learning process and imitating it, but after many, many years of developing the habit of selfishness and defensive moves, it truly requires determination, focus, and God's extravagant grace to learn how to love others.

Two verses have been a key part of my "how to love" training, which is part of the theme this year of Live, Love, Laugh...

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails.

These verses have been my guide, as the Holy Spirit uses them to challenge me to evaluate my heart and actions. It has been a difficult training course, but well worth the growing pains. Learning to love is truly the greatest of blessings.

I pray that this Valentine's Day that you will not be caught up in the commercialism and turn instead, to the love of your Heavenly Father. It is through His love and by His love, that we will feel TRUE LOVE sincerely and deeply. Here are just a few verses to consider...

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Nehemiah 1:5
Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands...

Psalm 57:10
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 103:8
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 15:9
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love

Ephesians 5:1-2
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

It is indeed a day to give thanks. Not only for the LOVE of God, but for the freedom to love Him and others in return. Thanks for taking the time to read this Thankful Thursday post. Head over to Iris for more thoughts on this Thankful Thursday.