O Holy Night - Gaither Homecoming

LOVE YOU!

It’s that time again.... It’s that time where some of us expect to give and receive “special” gifts from loved ones; it’s that time where we start to love and probably remember what it means to love in the way we give; It’s that time again where we remember what it means to be given a second chance at living- The birth of our one and only true LOVE- Jesus Christ!

I sat staring into space and wondered why some people wait for “special” occasions before they can show acts of love or gratitude- If it’s not Christmas, It’s some special season or day set aside to do something specific. Do we really have to wait for such “special occasions” before we show the people that we love (which in my book is EVERYONE!!), that we really love them by buying them gifts? I also started to ponder on these things.... Is buying gifts the only way we can show love? Everyone seems to be buying into the idea of Christmas = gifts! I don’t quite follow.... Then it dawned on me – As much as we might not want to admit it, there is an atmosphere that is set by Christmas! As I said earlier on, it is indeed the season where we remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! I know that the ageless book records that the birth of our saviour was a free “gift” from God, the Father! He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) God started this act of showing love through the giving of gifts... Of course there is nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts, but what was behind the idea of God giving His only begotten Son? Well, to the best of my knowledge, God gave His Son as an everlasting gift that will remain now and forever! The gift of Christ was not just something to have and forget! Christ was not a seasonal gift, Christ was not an after thought, and Christ was definitely not a way to silence nagging wives and unhappy husbands! Christ was given out of love to me and you in order for us to have something EVERLASTING!!! Life (Salvation!)  

So this is my take on giving gifts, especially in this season of “giving” – Don’t give because you just want to partake in the norm of placing gifts under Christmas trees, do not give gifts as a replacement of your time with that child and a way to silence that nagging (but very lonely) wife or that cold (but love starved) husband! Don’t give to buy love; don’t give as a way of ticking off one of the chores you have to do before the year runs out!

Give because you want to give out of genuine love, give because it is something you are accustomed to, almost a lifestyle!! Give because that Child, Mother, Father, Husband, Wife or neighbour deserves your act of love, not out of obligation, but out of an undeserving and unmerited act of LOVE!

Give something that would not just last for that Christmas day, give something that would last a life time- It doesn’t necessarily have to be presents, it could be your time, your kind and compassionate words, it could just be YOU! Give selflessly, Love passionately and remember the reason for this season and the reason why you are alive and breathing!

Merry Christmas

Be love. 

      

PERFECT LOVE... CASTS OUT FEAR!!!

I find that I keep asking myself the same question, time and time again... Why do we fail to be ourselves, regardless of who is around us? Regardless of what people might think or say? Why is that such a difficult task? It does not make sense for us to try to be everything but ourselves!! It is unnecessary hard work! Imagine the pain of frowning, when you are a natural smiley face!  What do we get from acting like we do not care when really and truly we do! Is there supposed to a trophy or medal for being someone else? I really find it hard to comprehend... It is funny that I ask these questions, because I am a 100% guilty of this crime!

Guilty as charged, yes! Nevertheless, I need to get behind the motive of this crime... Why do I act oblivious when I know exactly what is going on; Why do I feign ignorance and amnesia when I have my brain cells working perfectly well! I prayed and thought logically about it... Then suddenly it hit me! FEAR!!!

Fear can be so crippling! Fear can turn a Lion into an Ant in a split second; fear can destroy something great and promising! Fear can destroy YOU! Having had that light bulb finally come on in my head.... I decided to overcome this “spirit”!  The first step they say to recovery is admitting that you have a “problem” and understand what that “problem” is...

According to Dictionary.com, “Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc; whether the threat is real or imagined, it is a feeling or condition of being afraid.”

Don’t act like you are macho and fearless when at the slightest hint of danger or pain, you automatically curl up into a shell and try to hide from everyone, and unfortunately, even yourself! Would you rather act differently from who you are, MANIPULATE people’s opinions about you, because you are so bent on them having a certain impression about you? At the expense of losing who you truly are? My question now is this... Why is it so important for you to lose who you are, place very little value on God’s approval and get everyone’s approval? Can we please try to prioritise our lives and destinies!! Would you rather be an impersonator?  Proverbs 22:1 says “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold”. So do you want to preserve your name and who you are, or would you rather be tagged “an impersonator”- What’s the deal?

We need to cherish who we are and stop trying to be something we are not. Fear is a carnal thing and only God, through the Holy Spirit, can help conquer that fear. To be honest with you, that is the only solution I came up with. God is love (1 John 4:8b) and there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). So the answer to all the questions I asked above is... LOVE!!! Love God, Love who you are and love others; and the fear to be looked down on or disrespected will be destroyed, because you will start to walk in God’s love which will enable you to love yourself enough to be yourself and love others enough not to deceive or manipulate their opinions about you!

So what are you trying to hide away from people? Be yourself! Nevertheless, be willing to emulate good characters and personalities; don’t try to be hard and tough, when you are not! It’s so hard to be something you are not, why don’t you take the easy way out? ;)  If you really want to compliment someone, but the fear of having it thrown in your face is stopping you from saying it, overcome that fear with the love of God and say it already (The only reason you will be afraid to say it, is if it is inappropriate or if the motive is wrong! Are you paying compliment to get something in return or do you genuinely want to compliment that person out of love? And I don’t mean romantic love!!). Know that whatever you say or do is unto the Lord; you are complimenting God’s creation! – What a good way to show that you appreciate and love God ;)

Something came to mind... Why is it that when a single man/woman sees another single man/woman, they try to put up a front (and I mean both the man and woman!). You would rather frown, feign blindness (The person is right in front of you, but for some weird reason, you just can’t see the person!!), act “posh”, “arrogant”, in fact anything and everything so that the person does not “think” that you like them or might like them. Why are you scared to be your friendly self and have that mistaken for like or love as the case may be? If that is your fear, then how on earth will you ever meet that person that God has set aside for you, if you walk around with your nose in the air? I don’t know where we got that attitude.... To be honest, I think it is more of a culture thing! Our mothers and even fathers (older generation) tell us to act a certain way in order to be seen in a certain way, but what we do not realise as singles is that that attitude will follow you right into that relationship (when you eventually admit that you like someone) and eventual marriage – you might try to manipulate your spouse and act tough and macho (goes for both men and women) and in the process deprive your spouse of love! The key word here is “LOVE”....

Be yourself and let the love of God radiate through you! Stop being suspicious about everything and everyone!! Stop analysing and over analysing every word and action!!  If that boy or girl smiles at you, it does not necessarily mean that he or she fancies you!! Don’t allow suspicions and impressions rob you of good “friendships”, possible “relationships” and wonderful “Marriages” – hey, hey, hey... This goes for me as well. ;)

“DON’T BE A CHRISTIAN BY WHAT YOU SAY ALONE, BUT BY WHAT YOU DO AS WELL!!”

Peace and Blessings

Be Love.