Fighting for love

Well, I've decided to blog today about that four letter word that seems so foreign to so many people today...L-O-V-E - LOVE!

Gone are the days of happy families...gone are the days of free love...here are the days of 'whatever goes'! It's everywhere! It's all over TV, through magazines, papers, INTERNET!! It's everywhere! We live in a society that tells you that sleeping around is no big deal...there's no way you should wait for marriage because you need to 'try before you buy'...well I say...DOWN WITH THAT STINKY ATTITUDE!! Lets fight to bring back LOVE!!

Well, here's me writing...a single young girl with no hope of a relationship at the moment (not that Im not interested...just not on a two way street at the moment and can't seem to get off the street I'm on!! haha...some of you will understand that...the others I'll leave guessing...haha)...But thats ok...because Im in love with God...I know that people will probably think thats a cop out thing to say coming from a single girl with no relationship prospects at the moment...but you know what? I don't really mind. People will think what they think and I can't change that! However, I can blog about real love and you can make up your mind from there!

So wat is love? I have often pondered this question. There have been times when I thought What is love really all about!??...How do I know when Im in love?? And don't people ALWAYS give you the same cliche answer? You'll just know!! haha It always makes me laugh...and maybe one day I will 'just know' ...but there have been MANY times when I've thought I 'just knew' and I was wrong...I walked away from relationships thinking 'What was I telling myself? I wasn't inlove! I just wanted to be!' So, how do you know the difference between 'real love' and 'pretend love'?

Well, Im no expert in love really...remember, Im still single...it hasn't worked for me yet...but here's something I do know!...1 Corinthians 4-8a...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails!

Love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres! This is my first favourite part! haha...This might seem a bit girly, but hey, Im a girl..so tough luck!! haha...

Love always protects! Girls will know what I mean when I say that I've always dreamed of my dream husband being someone who will protect me. I don't care if they're fat or thin, ugly or spunky, tall or short...as long as I feel safe and protected that's all I ask for! Protection. It's a bigger thing than we think sometimes. How do we want to be protected? How SHOULD we be protected? A relationship with someone who will above all protect your purity. Thats the biggest thing! Especcially in the world we're in today! Someone who will respect you and not push the boundaries. As Pam Stenzil will say, 'If you want to know how far is too far...keep your pants and shirt on...otherwise its too far!' In a relationship you should never be self-seeking. But instead just be around each other! Hang out. Lots of hugs and little kisses. But, never about lust - only ever about love! Love protects your purity, protects from harm, protects from hurt...You know who the GREATEST protector of all is? Who will never fail to protect you??...God!! He says in Psalm 91:14 says "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." How awesome is God!! He will ALWAYS protect us!! If we continue to call on His name He will continue to protect us!

Love is about TRUST!! Man, thats a biggy!! If you can't trust someone, theres no relationship!! Theres nothing!! There needs to be trust! God knew about trust! Now there's one person who will never let you down! In Psalm 9:10 it says "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." Praise God for that!! How true it is!! He has never, nor will He ever, forsake us or fail us!! You want a perfect partner in a relationship??!! Have a relationship with God! There's nothing that you need that He wont provide for you! God wants you to have someone that will never forsake you. He wants you to have a husband or wife who you can trust! Don't settle for second best! If you dont trust someone then it wont work! Trust in God! That always works!

Love HOPES! We have so much hope in the Lord. Romans 8:24-25 says "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." We have this hope and assurance that we will one day dance in Heaven with Jesus! We will one day see His Kingdom! He gives us more than we could hope or dream of!! He has poured His favour on us! Love hopes! It hopes for better things! Real love puts its trust and hope in the Lord!

Love perseveres! Far out! I could tell you a thing or two about a certain someone who perseveres chasing after the wrong boys and never gets anywhere!! hahaha...Love is a beautiful thing...but its not an easy thing! Love hurts, love cries, love laughs, love enjoys, love hopes, love trusts...but love must also know about perseverance because without it love will fail! Society has the attitude that if things get tough you should give up and start somewhere else! Get divorced...dont work it out! Break up and move on. The night you break up with your boyfriend of 5 years go out to a club and pick up the first sleeze bag you meet. Society really doesn't know a lot about love! Real love perseveres! Real love sticks around long enough to work things out. Real love waits! It waits for the right person. When that person comes along, real love waits for things to happen naturally. Real love doesnt give in to lust. It waits for the sanctity and blessing of marriage! Real love perseveres...even if its hard....because the rewards are phenominal!! "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12 Real love perseveres no matter what happens!!

LOVE NEVER FAILS!! My favourite part of 1 Corinthians 13! I have had lots of failed relationships! I've had abusive relationships...I've been used...I've been hurt! I've failed in relationships and relationships have failed me! But true love NEVER fails! Jesus never fails!! Jesus is TRUE LOVE!! He is the only One who will NEVER fail!! Even when I am in a God ordained relationship with someone I know I will fail at times and I know they will fail at times! But I know that Jesus NEVER fails and I can always draw from Him and lean on Him when I fail!! David says in Psalm 119:76 "May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant." God promises His unfailing love!! He also promises His unfailing compassion in Lamentations 3:22 "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." We can never be consumed by this dismal and sad world...because we serve a God who fills us with compassion and joy, peace an grace, mercies and blessings...but more than anything...we serve a God who fills us with His UNFAILING LOVE!!

So, after all that...what is REAL LOVE? What do you tell a society who says that love is all about sex and lust? Tell them that Jesus is what real love is all about!! He understands you and knows you better than anyone EVER will!!JESUS IS REAL LOVE!!

Lets fight for LOVE!!

Love you all...

Your sister in Christ

FIGHTING FOR THE CAUSE!!

Jodi