The Proof of Your Love

This week's song is very new and has been playing on the radio a bit lately.  It's by For King & Country, and it's called "The Proof of Your Love."

One of the things I do to serve the church is to help out with the Senior Youth group.  Every week the teens get to hang out with each other, play games, catch up, and we spend about half an hour having a discussion about a Christian topic in the middle of the fun.  This past week the topic was: "How do you live like a Christian?"

So of course all of the obvious, straight forward answers come up when you ask the kids: read the bible, go to church, pray, don't swear, talk to others about Jesus, etc.  For me, when I think about living a Christian life, one word comes to mind: LOVE.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: "'Love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:34-40

One of the main messages that Jesus had for us was that God loves us, He wants us to love him and love eachother.  For those who are looking for the "meaning of life," this might just be it!

If I sing but don't have love
I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say

If I give
To a needy soul but don't have love then who is poor?
It seems all the poverty is found in me

When it's all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains
Only love remains

Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

This song reminds me that love is the most important part of life.  "When it's all said and done, only love remains."  Whether it be our love for God, His love for us, love for our spouse, parent, child, our neighbor....this is what makes life fulfilling....loving others, feeling love from others, sharing the love of God with the world. 

And as we share our love, we can be the proof to the world that God is real, He loves us, and wants us to be close to Him.  So may your love be the "proof" to those in your life. Don't ever forget the power that your love can have.

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

Life is Beautiful

Happy Mother's Day to all you American and Canadian mommies out there! This week's song is a new one by The Afters, a song that will help you reflect on all your blessings. This life that God has given us really is beautiful.

"Life is Beautiful" is from a movie called October Baby, which I have not yet seen, is about a girl that finds out she the adopted survivor of an attempted abortion.

The words of this song are really comforting to me.  When I listen to it I just think about the little things that are so beautiful in my life.  As a mother, of course I see beauty in each of my children every day.  But if I make a conscious effort I can look for beauty everywhere I go and in every person I meet. 

So I hope when you listen to this song, it helps you to make a conscious choice to see and feel the beauty in life.

God Bless you all!  Have a beautiful week!

Closer

So we've had a lot of rain here lately....now I'm seeing the weather that England is typically known for! Today was particularly wet, and windy....and though I'm a bit tired of the rain, I found myself thanking God for the rain this morning in our worship team prayers at church.  Not only did I thank God for the rain because of all the good that it does for nature, but the symbolism that the rain provides us...cleansing, purifying, leading to new growth, new life, new perspective.
This week's song is called "Closer" by Shawn McDonald. It's a bit of an extension of the last song I shared...moving beyond "the motions," beyond the "mundane".

Looking for a color in a shade of gray,
Looking for a love in a drop of rain.
Trying to find change from the old mundane.
Everything I do just feels the same.

So today, on this dreary, rainy day I was able to find "love in a drop of rain."  To feel a a bit closer to the God who created this miraculous place called earth and everything on it.  This song reminds me of my desire to just be closer to God, my desire to understand Him, trust in Him and listen carefully for his guidance. 

Spending my life out in the weather.
Been gone so long and I need some shelter.

When we finally find the shelter that God gives us from the weather of life, we can feel so peaceful. Like this afternoon when the wind was blowing, the rain was whipping, and we just snuggled up in the warmth of home for the rest of the day.  This sheltered afternoon at home gave me comfort in being with my family and appreciating all of the blessings in my life.  The shelter provided by my Lord also gives me comfort in knowing that I am loved by Him, and that He will take care of me.

I just want to be closer to you.
I just want to be closer.
I am yours.
You can have all of me,
Anything, everything.
I just want to closer.

May you feel the shelter of God today, regardless of the weather, and find ways to get closer to Him so that you can feel the warmth of His embrace.

God bless you all, and have a great week!