Love

Could you imagine taking the life of one of your own children, to save trillions of other people? Stay with me for a minute. Is there anyone on earth that you love so much you would be willing to take the life of your own child? Now, I'm 17, but someday when/if (depending on God's plans) I get married, I would like to have kid's, and I can't even begin to imagine doing that. Do you understand that God did that for you? It's a verse that everyone, be it christian or atheist knows.

John 3:16 (ESV)
For God so love the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus was pure. Born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. Yet died on a cross to pay for the sins that we have and will commit. That my friend is true love!!!

Romans 5:8 (ESV)
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He died for US!!!!! I've said it before, and I'll say it again my friend! God has an unfailing, never ending, everlasting love!!!!!!! You will not find that love on earth, ONLY THROUGH GOD!!

Romans 8:37-39 (NLT)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below--in deed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NOTHING on earth, no angel, no demon, no fear or worry. NOTHING can separate us from His Almighty love friend!!!! Doesn't that just fire you up!?!? If it doesn't than there is a major problem my friend because it should!

1 John 3:1 (ESV)
See what kind of love the father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Friend you are a child of God. Whether you love him or not He loves you!!! =) Always with an unfailing love!!!!!!! God wants us to love people like he loves people. And no we're not going to be perfect in doing so, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

John 15:9-17 (NLT)
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Jesus made a command that you shall love one another as he has loved you. Obey him. I pray just about every night that God will remove all of the anger and bitterness from my heart and replace it with forgiveness and a love like his. I pray the same for anyone who reads this, or comes across this verse.

I found a quote that I think goes great with this post:
"God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus." -Max Lucado

God loves you too much to leave you the way he found you my friend!!!!!!! There is a place in my testimony where I said that I thought I was happy, but towards the end I mention that, though things aren't always easy, I have a joy in my heart that can only be experienced through a relationship with God! Through the LOVE of Jesus Christ. He love me too much to leave me without that joy, and he loves you too much to leave you without that joy as well my friend!!

Some of you may know this verse fairly well and some of you may not, but I would like to leave you with a verse that God has placed on my heart.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NLT)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

I pray that you would all think of this verse in your everyday relationships, and apply it to them as well. Know that God loves you no matter what and he has plans for you. Praise God in all situations good and bad. I pray that you will radiate the love of Jesus today and always so that those around you will be (as my pastor would say) splashed with a little bit of Jesus. God loves you my friend!!!!

May our heavenly Father bless you and yours abundantly!!!!!!!