The Greatest Commandment

I've heard it my whole life, "God is love" "Love others" "No greater love has anyone than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  I know it... You can't hear it that many times and not know it. 

But sometimes things that you know in your mind have to be taught so that you really know them in your heart.

          

                        'Let all that you do be done in love.' 

                                   ~1 Corinthians 16:14

                                                                 All that you do...

How is it that we can so easily be distracted and forget the things we know? They might not be bad things that occupy our attention; for example: school, work, even a missions trip.Yet they can still distract us- (at least they can distract me) from my purpose right where I am, right now- to love with the love of Christ.

'By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.' ~John 13:35

My life without the love of Christ is useless.

'If I speak in tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.' 

~1 Corinthians 13:1-3

So often I want my rights, and if anyone interferes with them...

If someone hurts my feelings...

If someone is purposely trying to annoy me...

If someone doesn't treat me the way I wanted to be treated...

    ...I can be jealous, angry, impatient, prideful. 

'Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do."' ~Luke 23:34a

Our Savior cries out on behalf of His executioners as He is bearing the wrath of God that should have been mine.... That kind of love is incomprehensible. The purest example of humility welcomes us ungrudging and patiently with open arms and loves us even after our sin, including my lack of love- nailed Him to the cross and held Him there- naked and exposed to the wrath of a holy God; even after we have rejected Him time and time again He still loves us.


                                           This is the love that He calls us to have for others. 

'"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you all this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."' 

~John 15:9-12

                                        "This is my command: Love each other." ~John 15:17

'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 22:37-40

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."                                 ~Matthew 19:26b

Brief Update

My ticket to Montana is purchased and my ticket to Ukraine is being figured out. 

I have an end date for my job.

I am starting to think about the clothes I am going to need when I am there... It is all coming so fast!!! I have less than four weeks until I leave for Montana and less than seven weeks before I leave for Ukraine! 

I am excited and nervous! 

Lord Willing, I'm Going!

Monday- I anxiously checked my email between 2-10 times an hour until I had to go to work. After work I checked my phone again and still found nothing. I walked out towards the parking lot to see my mom and dad getting out of their car- I was a bit suspicious... I introduced them to one of my co-worker's-they chatted briefly. When my friend had gone they started by saying, "so we got an email from Jeff..." *cue the flip flopping heart* then my mom read it out loud... I have been accepted!!!!

Tuesday- my siblings and I spent the night at my grandma's house so I texted my mom in the morning to ask her if she had responded to Mr. Jeff's (I'm not going to use his last name as I don't have permission...) email yet. She forwarded it to me as soon as she had. Then I emailed him as well with a few more questions I had. Then my dear aunt came and took graduation pictures of me. I did school and we headed back home. After work that night he called me and we talked about the questions that I had.

Wednesday- Mr Jeff is going to contact the missionaries today and tell them that they may contact me! Trying to figure out plane ticket costs to Montana as I will need to be there on the 11th of June.

Super excited, and thankful for this opportunity but nervous and sad (at the thought of leaving my family and friends for the whole summer.) Prayers that I would "Be all there.." And "live to the hilt [in this] situation" for God and His glory would be awesome.