Hello once again all!! Finally I have gotten the ox out of the
ditch for the most part. Still a lot happening however there has been a huge
dent placed in things. We had the craft show and it was a big success. Sold
some things including a book, was able to hand out cards and get my name out
for speaking engagements, and had just an overall wonderful day of fun and
fellowship. It is now time to move forward in getting back to blogging, working
on the second book, booking appearances as well as speaking engagements,
working on outlines for the speaking engagements, and more. As I have had time
away from blogging however I have had a topic cross my mind to blog about. The topic is this…..testifying to love; is
there a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. As
you read upon this blog, I want you to think about this. Is there a difference
between loving someone and being in love with someone? If you believe there is
then how do well do you or do you even tend to testify about it?
Love….a four letter word
that comes easy to some but for others, it is very difficult for them to grasp,
comprehend, or even show. I admit that for me it has been somewhat difficult
but there is something about the word that many don’t tend to separate. People
tell each other they "love” the other person. The confusion that many tend to
come across however is separating the definition/term itself. Love is a very deceiving
word if a person is unaware of how to truly use it. It can lead to many
different things from hurt to depression to heartache. So how can or do we differentiate
the term love and how it is separated when saying you love someone compared to
being "in love” with someone ? It’s simple as long as it is separated in
meaning. Let’s look at a little closer and then you will also understand the
testifying part of it.
The way to understand
this particular term is simple Psychology but it’s also simple when you look at
in Biblical formation. When someone says that they "love” someone such as their
neighbor, it is totally different than "falling” in love with them. When you
tell a person you love them, you are just following what God has told us in the
book of Leviticus. The book of Leviticus
helps to remind all of us how important each and every part of lives are to God
and that we are love and serve Him in holiness. We can truly see this in
chapter nineteen of Leviticus. We are told:
18- "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge
against one of your people, but love your neighbor as
yourself.”
We therefore can see is that you are showing love and compassion
toward friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. They however are someone you may
not be willing to truly lay down your life for because the love in this
relationship is not as strong as the next part of this…being "In love” with
someone.
As you have seen, when we
love someone it is what I like to call a "simple” love. A love that is there
and you would do all most anything to help the person and show how much you truly
care. The type of love shown in loving someone is not really considered
unconditional because this type of love just means that you care for them. An
unconditional setting of love however is experienced when two people are "in
love” with each other. Being in love is totally different for being in love
means that you would truly be willing to testify about that love with the
individual. When you are in love with a person the scripture from John fourteen
comes into true play. In the book of John as you may recall, is John writing
his version of the birth, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. He
shows that because of Christ dying on the cross that we all have a chance at a
new life. In the book of John chapter fourteen we learn what an unconditional
love truly is. For in verse twelve and thirteen we are reminded by Christ that:
12-"My command is this: Love each other
as I have loved you.”
13- "Greater love has no one than this, that
he lay down his life for his friends.”
So as you can see when reading this particular scripture, it is
plainly seen that this fits two people who are "in love” to light. The
unconditional love is not only seen in that they real and true love is there,
but that when you love someone as much as that, you are going to be willing to
support them in any and all things that they do. You are not going to try to
make them change their minds nor are you going to try and over shadow them.
Instead you are going to do anything and everything you can to help them and
instead of walking behind them or in front of them, you will be willing to walk
beside them. You won’t want them to surrender anything in their life that they
have worked so hard for or love. You will love them unconditionally, you will
help them as they help you….working as a team, and if it truly came down to it….you
would literally lay down your life for that person. Hence you see where this is
going; you would be willing to "testify to their love.” Let me ask you by
starting with your love for God. Do you love God or are you "IN LOVE” with God;
in other words, would you be willing to go shout about His love from the roof
top and would you be willing to lay down your life for Him? Now, let me ask
this…..Your boyfriend/girlfriend; husband/wife …..Do you just "love” them in
you love them as a friend OR are you "in love” with them? Do you love them
unconditionally no matter what; do they accept you for what you love and do or
are they trying to change you because they want something different and
something more? Are you willing to lay down your life for this person if it
meant having to do that? Are you willing to testify to the love they give you
from the roof top ? If you can truly answer yes then that is great, BUT if you
are questioning things after reading this blog, then think and pray about that
relationship. For I will tell you this….If you can’t be comfortable with how
things are OR if the other person is trying to make you change because they
want things their way, please don’t continue on. For I can tell you personally
that you aren't "in love” with them. For anyone who tries to change a person is
only looking for false security for their own standings and you will be
miserable. I will say however that is one thing with God….He will never expect
you to change who you are for He accepts you for you. Hence that is why I
personally want to continue to testify to His love for no matter what you look
like before or even now, He will always continue to love us each individually
for who we are.
Remember, if you are interested in a copy of the book or would
like me to speak at your church, school, group, or organization, you can find
all the info on the front of this website. Also be looking for dates of
appearances on the front of the website soon.
God Bless and Keep you all and let’s testify to God’s grace and
mercy!
In Christ-
Marla
Psalms 121 and 23
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