I love love

This is a guest post by Josh Hood. A great young speaker and blogger. You can catch up with him at joshuamhood.com and twitter.com/JoshuaMHood

I love love.

I love how it compels young couples to hold hands. It’s like love makes their hands magnetic.

I love how it fills their stomachs with butterflies and their eyes with stars.

I love love.

I love how it covers a multitude of faults (1 Peter 4:8). I love how it has the power to melt the hardest heart and soften the bitterest soul.

Like the pounding surf washes away words written in the sand on the beach, the waves of love can wash away the offenses and disagreements etched in the sandy soil of our hearts.

I love love.

I love the loyalty and commitment love gives birth to. It compels an old man to stay by the bedside of his dying wife in the hospital. It compels a young mother to sit up all night with her sick child.

A thousand miles seems a long way to drive… unless it is motivated by love; then it seems as nothing. A thousand hours seems a long time to work… unless it is motivated by love; then it seems as nothing. A thousand dollars seems a lot to give… unless it is motivated by love; then it seems as nothing.

I love love.

Love has an impressive resume. A long list of relationships healed and great feats accomplished. But at the very top of the list is the greatest thing love ever did…

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Love sent a Savior.

I smile softly and let out a gentle sigh every time I read those words.

Yes, indeed. I love love.

Comment below: Do you have a story of unending love?

Copyrighted by Jim Laudell. Material contained in this post cannot be reproduced or copied without permission from the author.

Stress of the Holidays

Joy to the World....but where is the joy?

Oftentimes, holiday season is filled with stress filled pressures from various directions. From making decisions about where to spend the holidays, how much can we spend, the kid's are sick, time management and financial crunches. Just being indoors more can cause mounting moments of friction.

The world is on my shoulders - how can I find joy?

1. Map it: Get a December calendar and carefully map out the children's programs, work related parties, church activities and personal adventures, ie; shopping.

2. Plan it: Decide early your holiday places and spending. Know exactly what you can afford and what you can't afford. Be willing to compromise on where and with whom you spend the holidays with; making time for just you and the family.

3. Make it: Get the family together and do a holiday craft together. Bake cookies, create some homemade gifts, decorate the Christmas tree or just sing Christmas carols.

4. Love it: Take in some holiday festivities. There are plenty of Christmas lights to see, lots of fun places to go or just stroll around the mall, drink some hot chocolate and listen to the Christmas music.

5. Give it: Christmas is a time for giving. Find a family in need or call a lonely friend, send a card to someone you haven't wrote to in a while, find a single mother and watch her kids while she goes shopping.

6. Spiritualize it: Remember, the season is because of Jesus - He is definitely the reason for the season. Spend time to worship Him, adore Him and glorify His name.

Oh, by the way, it is still MERRY CHRISTMAS around our house.