The Fruit of "Love"

Hello!
I got a good nights sleep and I feel a little more on my game - finally!

Family update:
Lauren is doing good, a little testy about the fact that she is on a liquid diet, but doing well.
We still don't have an address from Matt and haven't heard from him since last Saturday.
Mark is traveling this weekend, he went through the storms in Wisconsin yesterday and we now have golf ball to baseball size hail damage to the motorhome! He saw several semis and cars with busted windshields so he was thankful that didn't happen to them.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I can honor the Lord with my life.
I want so badly to give Him all of me and be a reflection of Him to others.
I keep coming back to the fact that LOVE is what He is all about. Loving Him first and then loving others.

I want people to see HIM in me and be drawn to Him.

Galations 5:22-25
22 But the fruit (the evidence that He’s there) of the Spirit is
love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
23
gentleness and
self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
NIV


How do we know what an apple tree is? We see apples on it.
You know what kind of tree it is by the fruit that is hanging on the branches or vines.

The same is true of our lives.
The fruit or “what is being produced” in our life, is the evidence of what kind of a tree we are.

Matt 7:16
16 By their fruit you will recognize them.


A look at the fruit of LOVE.

First, love God.
Deut 6:5-8
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
NIV

Impress them on your children.
Do your children know what you believe?

It is our job as parents to teach them the Word of God. Sunday school and youth group should enhance that, but WE are the ones God has appointed to teach these children the Word of God.

We love God first, then we are to love others.

Matt 22:37-39
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Paul told us very clearly what it looked like to love people:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4
Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
5
It is not rude,
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.
8
Love never fails.

There it is, I can't say it any better. This verse makes me take inventory of my life.
I fall really short- but our God is faithful and doesn't call us to do it alone- thank You Lord!
His mercies are new every morning.

Lord, help us to live a life of love that beautifully reflects who YOU are!