Teach Me How Love Goes

I'm not 100% sure what I want to say in this post so I'm just gonna write down what's been on my mind. 

I've had some great conversations in the past week or so with a good friend of mine, Sara. We've talked about probably every topic we could think up but one that we've really been excited about is this summer. See, we're both working at summer camp for kids where we share the gospel. I am beyond excited. Last Sunday, so the one before school started back from the break, we went to get fro yo and we had a great time sittin' in the spring weather (which I don't know what has happened to) and just talkin'. 

On my way home, I started thinking about what it means to love your neighbors, your friends, your family, and even strangers. I was thinking that I could love on my campers all the time, but I don't think I do such a good job just in everyday life with friends and family and even strangers. Coincidentally, the song "Teach Me How Love Goes" by Kris Allen came on. I've heard this song many times; in fact, it's the 1st song on my Top 25 Most Played playlist on iTunes, but it meant a little more as I was contemplating what the lyrics meant. In the song Kris says (I'm assuming he's talking about his wife. He has one) "Is it in the words I say? Is it in the things I do? Is there a way to let her know that she's the way I make it through?" Earlier in the song, too, he's reaching out to his dad asking what to do, and his dad says it's a life lesson and Kris doesn't want to wait so he asks God what to do.

I think he's on to something.

I think that is something I really need to do. My youth pastor has talked plenty about spending time in the Word because that's what you need to be rooted in to be more Christ-like. You get on a "camp high" or "mountain top high" but, those go away. We can't depend on mission trips and camp and good deeds to make us closer to God because what happens when your back in school for 8 months at time? You forget how you felt when you were there or you don't have that same passion you did before. Spending time in God's Word is the way we become Christ-like because we've hidden His Word in our hearts. Psalms 119:9 

If we don't have love, we have nothing.

This is something that's been on my heart for a few weeks now, and I love how God has pointed it to me. I bought Kris Allen's album Thank You Camille whenever came out in the summer, but I've listened to it more and more and I've found that most of the songs are centered around love. Both kinds. eros as in the romantic love and agape as in brotherly love. I think he has a passion for spreading love.

But why can't we do that all the time?

Something I'm working on is my initial reactions to things that are said or done or just to people I don't like. I'm trying to bite my tongue. I want to show the love of Christ to others through my words and actions. "Is it in the words I say? Is it in the things I do?" I think this is how God communicates most with unbelievers- through love.

Here's a funny video that has to do with love. It's on the lighter side. I think that the video was made for a youth conference somewhere and it's trying to explain the theme a bit jokingly. Give it 5 seconds to start. It's a bit delayed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLtPjX-tIXA

It makes a funny point. Love your enemies. Love shows itself in many ways. I want to show love in my school to people that I know and people that I don't know. I bet you can make a difference in a class, in your work place, or even in someone's day just by something as simple as a smile or saying hi.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13 that if I give everything up including myself, but do not have love, it means nothing.  I guess my point for this post is to challenge you to think about it and consider what love is and how to love. Turn to God so he can teach you how love goes.

Anchors aweigh
Emily Anne