Love Is A Packaged Deal

Love is a packaged deal.

When you marry someone you can't marry them just for their body, or just for their looks, or sense of humor. You marry them for everything. Good days and bad days. Laughter and anger. Sweet things and bitter things.

You love their body and soul.

Jesus gave us an example to follow when He died for us. He died not because we were good, but because we were not. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

'While we were yet sinners.' Not 'once we were good enough' or 'when we were ready' or 'once we could cope on our own', No, 'while we were yet sinners.' Christ loved us and still loves us for our good and bad days, laughter and anger, sweet things and bitter things. He loves and cares for us despite all of our flaws. Despite the fact that we will never be able to repay Him for all the things He has done for us.

And so, just as He accepts that about us, we need to respect our spouses. Flaws and superiorities.

Love Is Godly

Love...is Godly.

Love is a work of art that is constructed after what Christ did for us. He hung Himself on a cross for us, knowing full well the pain and agony He would be in.

He is the original lover. He was the first, and He will be the last. Jesus Christ is the model after which all love should be modeled. We should aspire to love as long and well as Jesus has. Love is a sacrifice that He willingly made for us. "Greater love has no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends." Jesus did all that. He doesn't need to prove His love to us anymore. He already has. He died for us, He bled for us, He cried to show us that it's okay to cry, He literally went through hell and back so we wouldn't have to, and He loves us more than any earthly father could love a child. He had no thought for Himself when He came down, willingly to be in pain worse than we can imagine.

"One of the primary characteristics of godly love, however, is that it is focused more upon others than upon ourselves.  Did you notice verse 5 above?  It says that love “is not self-seeking.”  Indeed, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Of course, this is exactly the type of love that Jesus showed for us!  And this is the type of love that we need to show to our spouses as well."

Our love in a Godly relationship should be as that of Christ and His church. The ultimate bride and groom. The first ever marriage bond. When we promise to love and cherish someone, we are promising to be as Christ-like as possible. Whether that means holding someone late at night like He does, or forgiving where it is not deserved as per His example. When we slip on that wedding ring, we are making a vow that we will walk like Christ did, and love...love like He did His church. We are promising that we are willing to lay down our lives for our spouse-to walk through hell and back again to make sure they are safe and will not have to tolerate pain anymore.
We are promising to honor them, and speak to them, to be loyal, and to grow closer each day to Christ, and thereby to our spouse.

"There are no quick fixes to growing in godly love.  Spiritual growth is much like physical growth: it’s a process that takes time.  But just as physical growth is helped by solid nourishment, so too is spiritual growth.  Here are two avenues that will provide some solid nourishment for our spiritual growth in love in marriage.

1. Getting to know Jesus – Jesus is the perfect model of selfless love.  In Ephesians 5:25, husbands in particular are commanded to follow Jesus’ example as they seek to love their wives.  If we would seek to love like Jesus, we need to be serious about getting to know Jesus more intimately.  This happens through good fellowship with other Christians, reading God’s Word, and prayer.  Again, this is not a “quick fix”.  It is a process that takes time.  But it will aid us greatly in learning to love with a godly love.
   
2. Relying upon the Holy Spirit – love is explicitly called a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  As a result, godly love is not something that we muster up in our own strength.  Instead, it is something that God Himself empowers us to do by His Holy Spirit.  This means that we need to look to God in repentance and faith on a day-by-day basis for the strength of His Holy Spirit."
   
   
    There is no way to be completely like Christ. He is perfect, and forever, and though every model has defects, He never did, and He never will. He is...the perfect bridegroom, and the church is meant to be His perfect bride. Model your marriage after Christ, and His bride, and you will never need to hesitate to say you love your soul mate.
   
   
   Sweet dreams, gems.
   
   
   Marisa 

Love Is A Promise

"Because real love is a promise, not a feeling. God created us to express love that way. Expressing anything less, no matter what temporary heights you reach, robs everyone, including yourself. You see, God, made us to be highly motivated to want the promise much more than just the feeling alone. It is the only way to make the whole thing last and get every last best drop of those precious feelings to be had from it! It is the only way to feel safe in our relationships and with ourselves. Break the promise and every thing thereafter is set up to fall short and be suspect from even the tiniest dread of betrayal."

Love is a promise. A vow.

It is a promise not to leave, and never to forsake. God loved us first-from the very beginning, from before our beginning even existed, and insodoing, He set an example for us. An example that tells a story. One of love and adoration. When Christ died on the cross, He promised to love and always do what is best for us.

In the same manner, when a man gets down on one knee, and asks a woman to marry him, He is promising to her (as she is to him if she says yes) that he will love her, choose her over any other, protect her, listen to her, commit to her, hold her when she is crying, laugh with her, forgive her, and never stop promising those things until the day he dies.

C.S. Lewis perfectly states: “Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling… Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go… But, of course, ceasing to be “in love” need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense — love as distinct from “being in love” — is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriage) the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God… “Being in love” first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

 You can love someone without being in love, just as you might "be in love" with someone who you do not truly love. You can get those sweet, fuzzy emotions every time you see them, but unless you are willing to truly promise them your forever, you do not love them.

Love is a sacred promise. Unbreakable, sweet, innocent, unmovable, and forever.

Malachi 2:16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful."

 If you are unwilling to promise all these things: faithfulness, patience, kindness, gentleness, a listening ear, etc then you have no business saying you love anyone.

"So we are given such strength to keep that promise by a Maker who knows that we can…even under the most trying of circumstances (Hosea). God demonstrated that it was possible to love even the adulterous nation of Israel and by such love to lead them back to restoration of their covenant marriage.
As the brother of leading Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias, explained to him on the eve of his own marriage: “Write this down and don’t ever forget it. If you will to love someone, you can.”."

The world tempts us to believe that in order to love someone, we must know them. We read in stories about arranged marriages in which people are unhappy.
Ravi Zacharias reassures us that "If you will to love someone, you can".

Love is always possible. But you have to be willing to promise it, and dedicate your life to it, first.

Many blessings,

Goodnight.

Marisa

Love Is Not A Fuzzy Feeling

"love is not a feeling in the first place. While people in love do indeed experience tingles, titillations, or other warm and fuzzy churnings, these are not themselves what love is. These positive feelings and sensations may be like the icing on the cake, but not the cake. They make loving feel good; but they are not what makes love so valuable and coveted by all or most of us. When you're in love you may get goose bumps but we would be hard pressed to say that being in love is getting goose bumps. So what then is love?"

"Christian love is not a warm, fuzzy feeling that believers try to “work up” so they can love others. It is practical! Love is about meeting needs."

True love is not a warm fuzzy feeling. It's not something you feel for a little while, and it's not something that can go away. If you truly love someone, it lasts forever.
It is a popular idea today that...when you love someone,...it is temporary. That love...love is just an emotion, and nothing else.
For most people, when asked what love is, they will say it is an emotion because that's all they've ever known. Most people have never had the pleasure of experiencing true love, and I know this because true love never dies. True love, real, christian love is forever. It's not just a feeling that we get. It's not just that pounding heart, those shaking lips and hands, it's not just the stumbling over words, and the smiles at a gift. It's the arguments, too. It's the angry nights, the sad mornings, the loyalty, and the commitment, the "I forgive you's". 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Love is when someone hurts you, but you choose to stay with them anyway. Love is true, and sweet, and nothing can break it.

Love is teamwork.

It's not just a feeling that comes and goes. True love is not fleeting, but eternal. Forever.

Love is not just a "fuzzy feeling".

Love Is A Choice

Love is a choice.

I watched a movie not too long ago about a girl who was kidnapped. She lived with the man for years and years, and when she finally came forward and told people what that man had done, she said "he forced me to love him and he made me stay". You cannot be forced into love. Love is not something you can learn, or change your mind about. Because love is a choice.
Love is something you choose to do.

I read something that said

" real love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person.

It's true.

When all the butterflies have fluttered away and your wedding day becomes a distant memory, you will discover that you've married someone who is just as imperfect as you. And they, in turn, will come to learn that you have problems, insecurities, struggles, quirks--and body odor--just as real as theirs!

Then you will realize that real love isn't just a euphoric, spontaneous feeling--it's a deliberate choice--a plan to love each other for better and worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health. Of course, you don't choose who you're attracted to, but you definitely choose who you fall in love with and (more importantly) who you stay in love with."

We live in a world that tells us to follow our hearts, and that when we no longer feel a fuzzy feeling whenever we see that person's face, we are no longer in love.

'Commitment to an imperfect person', 'a deliberate choice'. Love is not something that just happens - yeah, yeah, love at first sight isn't real - it takes time. It takes many choices and many turns and twists that may throw you off track for awhile, but when it comes down to it, if you choose to love someone, and they choose to love you, only the love of God will make you any happier.

Have a blessed night. Sweet dreams.

Marisa

Love Is Commitment

Love is commitment.

True love is not something tangible. It's not something you can touch. It's a mutual agreement between the two people that they will always stay committed. They will never leave each other or forsake one another. There will not be anyone else. It is one girl, and one boy who are completely and fully committed to never leaving the other person's side. "Till death do us part".

Love is not something you can throw away. If you " don't love" someone anymore, you never did. Because love is commitment, and when you are committed, you don't lie, or cheat, or go to someone else. You are loyal. You are loving, and selfless knowing going into the relationship that till death do you part, you are with that person forever. Sickness, health, decay, anger, sadness, when they are lovable, and when they are not so lovable. True love is patient, and kind, and sweet and true.

Sorry it was a bit short, and sorry I posts late. Many blessings.

Marisa. 💜

Love Is...

Good morning, lovelies.

So, today in my youth group, we talked about love, and what love is, etcetera. My pastor was telling us about a couple who he is counselling and how when they first started, they walked through the door, and he said "what will hold your marriage together?".

That prompted my thoughts on what love is, so for the next 13 days (until Valentines day) I'm going to try and do one post every day about what love is.

Here's the layout:

1. Love is commitment

2. Love is a choice

3. Love is not a " fuzzy feeling"

4. Love is a promise

5. Love is Godly

6. Love is A packaged deal

7. Marriage is not undoable (divorce is not an option)

8. Love is understanding

9. Love is forgiving

10. Love is honest

11. Love is in sickness and in health

12. Love is until death

13. Love is like God's love of the church

I look forward to the first one tomorrow.

A New Poem

Hey, everyone! I wrote a new poem, and in the spirit of Christmas, I thought I'd share. Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. Hahaha

I Live For The Moments

I live for the moments.
Not the times or the days.
I live for the memories
When I'm swept away.

I live for sweet things
Hugs and kisses at night
For opening the door for me
And turning off the lights

I live for porchstep-kisses
And stars hung in the sky
I live for the wonderful things
The ones that get me by

I live for actions, not just people
I watch what they do
A deep head-thrown-back laugh
Little things get me through

I live for the soft things
A bird that flutters by
The jumping of a fish
The kiss of butterflies

I live for the love
And for the lovely things
I love the thought of fantasy
Of kings and of Queens

My heart beats for the good times
The times of happiness
Where all of my anxiety
Shrinks away like mist

I breathe for the gentle times
The rise and fall of a chest
For late-night sipping cocktails
Until there's nothing left

I live for pouring out emotions
I didn't think I had
And saying I'm upset when
I didn't know I was sad

I live for the moments
And the times of trust
When I know they'll last forever
Like friendship's loving rust

I kind of started it at work on Saturday, and continued it while I was taking a shower that night. I really like it. Ha-ha anyways, to all of you who are alone this Christmas, I love you, and I wish I could wrap my arms around you. You are all so precious to me. If I knew you all lived nearby, I would invite you to spend Christmas with me. You are all beautiful, sweet children of Christ, and I hope He grants you many blessings this year.
No matter what you are going through, there will always be better days. Whether someone has hurt you emotionally, or physically, you are beautiful, and nothing could ever change that. Place your trust in the one who gave His Son for you. I look forward to meeting you all one day when He comes again.

Many blessings, and a merry, blessed Christmas.

Marisa 💜

Tumblr and Thanksgiving!

Hello, gems.

Happy happy thanksgiving.

Not a whole lot to update on since the last post. Haven't been writing much lately, buy I have discovered a passion for cooking and baking. I'm so so glad that I got the opportunity to go to tech. I am so blessed.

In the spirit of thanksgiving, here are some things I am thankful for.

1. Poetry. It gives life a little sweet, flowy, special twist. I can't find the words to describe it. There's a word that I know would come close, but at the moment, I just can't remember what it is. That's my memory for you.

2. A loving, living God who forgave me of all my sins. He died for my wretched soul, and continues to love me despite all my flaws. He cares for me in my ups and downs, and never in a million years could I hope to have a best friend as wonderful as Him. My God, my heavenly Father is beautiful, and sweet, and lovely, and kind. He had a sense of humor, He is caring, and He never lets me down. He always comes through when I need Him, and I can honestly say that He is the one hero who I will meet one day who I know will not disappoint.

3. All of you. My faithful followers, and people who read my blog, sliding the happiness I try to impart here. I hope something I say here has our will bless you all in some way.

4. Trials. This may sound odd. You may wonder if it's a typo, but it's not. I am thankful for my trials. They let me know what when God is beside me, even the darkest, gloomiest, most insecure days of my life are filled with at least a small rainbow.

5. My church youth group. I don't know what I would do without all of them brightening my weekend. They constantly remind me of God's grace, because with friends such as these, there had to be a God.

6. The tech center, and the friends I have there. I love love love those people, and quite honestly, they keep me going though they may not know it. They have imparted so many blessings on me, and I don't think they realize how much they mean to me.

7. My siblings.

8. The ability to read and write. All of you know how much I love writing, and a huge party of that is how much I've always read. I wish I could just achieve more and more, I can't get enough of the adrenaline of writing a good scene.

9. A good job with good people.

10. An amazing pastor who cares for my well-being. He never ceases to dazzle me with his caring spirit.

11. Music. Something without which my day would not be complete.

There are many many more things I am thankful for, but there is a taste. I love you all so very much, and I hope you have a marvelous thanksgiving.

For those of you who don't have someone to spend it with, feel free to pm me or shoot me an email. I'd love to help make your day a little better.

Blessings in Christ

Marisa

"Me Without You"

I wrote a new poem, guys. ^-^

I was sitting downstairs, and I took a test about who couldn't live without me. It was kind of silly, but I just thought to myself, well if I had never existed, would they have? The wise words of Aslan from Narnia come to mind. Ha-ha "No one is ever told what would have happened."

But...I met someone, and he's the boy version of me, and the phrase "opposites attract" has never been so wrong. If I was alive, and he was not, maybe I wouldn't even know who he was. But I know this, if I ever lost him, I wouldn't be able to cope.

Me Without You

If there was a world
Where I lived without you
Had other friends
That would be something new

If there was a world
Where you didn't exist
Would I have a reason
A way to persist?

If there was a place
Where you didn't survive
Or lived somewhere else
Or you weren't alive

If there was a plane
Where you, my treasure
We're taken from me
With all of life's pleasure

I can't say I'd know
Whatever to do
Because, dearest friend
I can't live without you

So do keep on well
And try to survive
I can't live without you
So keep by my side

Have a blessed Sunday. 💜

Marisa