"GOD LOVES YOU!"

    First and foremost, GOD loves YOU, and every single soul who has ever existed, and ever shall exist (even before conception)!  Not only does HE love us, HE LOVES us unconditionally (read 1 Jn. ch's 3+4)!  I didn't always know this, but, now that I do, at the age of fifty four, it means more to me than I am able to express with words!  Knowing this with my mind, and even deeper, down in my heart, surely has helped to bring a peace to my soul (mind, will, and emotions) that once seemed unattainable!  I cannot fathom that 'The Creator' of the  universe and beyond, completely loves me, and that there is nothing that I can do or not do that will cause HIS love for me to increase and/or decrease!  Praise 'The Lord!!  All human beings have a strong need deep within us to KNOW that we are truly loved!  Whenever a person does not believe that she is loved, she'll  attempt to get this need met, often in ways that are actually unhealthy (psychologically, emotionally, etc). for her, sometimes causing her to feel even more unloved, and more determined to be loved, and then, engaging in "attention getting"/"grasping for love from anyone" behavior repeatedly, living in a vicious cycle of frustration, unmet needs, regret, guilt, shame, and the such, and yet still feeling unloved and unaccepted. The vacuum within a human soul can only truly be filled by 'The One' who designed and created it, 'Jehovah GOD,' through a relationship with 'The Lord Jesus Christ.'  The ultimate demonstration of pure love is that God sent Christ to earth to redeem mankind from the sin mess in which Adam and Eve had made, and HE accomplished this through 'The Cross of Calvary!'  Jesus PROVED HIS (The Trinity) love for each of by HIS 'Incarnation,' and, finished work!  The more a person studies 'The Word,' and grows in the grace and knowledge, of 'The Lord,' the more she shall understand that she IS loved and accepted by her 'Heavenly Father' (in 'The Beloved,' and 'in Christ' positionally).  Personally, for years, as a preteen through my twenties, I felt loved CONDITIONALLY, and had an emptiness within, which was the result of several things, I believe.  Anyway, I tried for years (before and after I got "saved") to fill that void/need with all sorts of stuff (things, people, activities, popularity, achievements, etc.) (like Solomon in Ecc.2:1-15), to NO avail!  During my first quarter of college, "Autumn 1982," after graduating from high school, I continued to rebel against the authority in my life, sowing my wild oats, searching for "love" in many wrong places!  After partying one night, as I lie on the bed, alone in my dorm room, not at all thinking about God, HE spoke to my heart, saying, "Kim, I love you." I recognized "HIS voice," but, honestly, chose to brush it off, not wanting to give up my sinning and "fun!" However, 'The Holy Spirit' would not leave me alone, because I was 'The Lord's' possession, and had been since the night that I had gotten "saved" at a revival service at my grandparent's church, back when I was in 7th. or 8th. grade, so, I was around 12 or 13 years old.  Although I was very sincere about trusting Jesus as my personal Savior, I didn't grow very much spiritually, mainly due to not being properly discipled after my conversion.  However, the time had come for me to start growing up spiritually, although I didn't know it, and even if I had, I would have had absolutely no idea what that meant, nor the work that it would entail! By the time Christmas break came, I had decided that over break I was going to attend a Sunday morning service at my home church, and work on getting "right" with 'The Lord!'  I somehow knew that true happiness would only come to me IF I would start over with HIM!  It was also time to get rid of my teenage theme for my life of  "ALL is fair in love and war," which was selfish, and not "Christ like!" Hehehe! So, I did go to church, and surrendered my life (sincerely, but, temporarily) to Jesus, at almost nineteen yrs. of age.  So, thirty five years later, after many failures and successes in my walk with 'The Lord,' learning to 'LOVE' (HIS kind) is the most important of the many things HE is teaching me.  I thought that I knew what love was, but, I really didn't.  Mostly, the love about which I knew, before getting "saved," was based in selfishness.  As I grown spiritually, God continues to teach me how to love, especially by HIS perfect example of it!  HE IS LOVE!!  HIS love is power!  HE'S helping me to understand, that,  before I can sincerely love other people, I have to receive HIS love!  HE accepts (in Christ) and loves me just as I am!  After I receive HIS love, only then, am I capable of loving HIM, which must happen before I can truly love other people!  Consequently, after all of this is consistently happening, I am then ready to receive love from other people!  These godly, loving behaviors/actions must be done continually, until they become part of who I am.  I am not saying that I have mastered the 'LOVE' thing, but, HE is changing me to be more loving as I, grow spiritually, study HIS Word, try to apply and obey it, commune with HIM in prayer (1 Thes. 5:17+18), try to be faithful in HIS house, and the such (being conformed into HIS image - Ro. ch. 8).  HE has also taught me that part of being a loving person is accepting people JUST as they are (1 Cor. ch. 13), and not trying to change them (HE can handle that), after all, if I desire to be accepted by HIM, and them, as I am, and I do, I MUST! The major "KEY," in my opinion, to becoming a "loving"/"Christ-like" person (I am definitely a work in progress) is REALLY KNOWING that I am completely accepted and loved by GOD!  Over and over again, I fail HIM, BUT, HIS love for me remains faithful and constant, which encourages me to be more like HIM in this way, with the people in whom HE has put in my life!  God's love for each of us has everything to do with HIM, and who HE inherently IS!  HE CAN'T NOT LOVE US!  This great love is what motivated HIM to provide us HIS great plan of Salvation through 'HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON' (John 3:16, Romans 10:9+10)!  We do not earn HIS Salvation or love, but rather, receive HIM (with many benefits)!  What a bargain HIS glorious LOVE is for us, however, 'The Gospel' was extremely expensive for HIM!  Let's LET LOVE have HIS way - for HIS glory!