Notes from this week's podcast: Jo & Sydney: God Is Love

God is love. 

- How do we manifest God's love? What does that look like? How does it set boundaries in our lives?

God's love is different than the world. When we talk about God's love, it diminishes self and it increases God. 

Sydney: To think about love God's way might look a little different and more narrow. If you think of the word narrow, you might think of it as restricting or binding. What is actually leads to is freedom -- as the Bible says "spacious living." 

Jo: By establishing good boundaries, that's how our life truly does flourish. God created us to be in a love relationship with Him. So, He doesn't want anything competing with that. It's important to establish those "narrow" boundaries, so that we can be everything God wants us to be. 

Sydney: God's way examples include: Denying yourself; Obeying God when it's really hard or uncomfortable, inconvenient; Staying faithful; Loving people when it's really hard; Putting others ahead of you. 

As believers, we have a guide. We have a source of truth always -- that's the Bible. With that, it will ground us. We will be able to lead with the truth as opposed to leading with our feelings. 

Jo: In the midst of making those decisions, making them based on truth, because His truth is love, at that moment, you don't just consider the facts at the moment, you need to peer out into the future, and say, "what's down the road?" And foreseeing what God desires in our lives can have a tremendous impact on how we decide to love at the moment. 

Sydney: Loving our children is more of a long-range vision than the here and now. We have to have wisdom to think 5 years from now, 10 years from now. How will these little decisions impact them? What's our end goal? Thinking about their hearts, their purity and their protection, not to immediately please them. Maturity in Christ -- that's our goal -- for them to know and love God with all their heart. 

Jo: Why is that so hard for us to do in the moment? Yet, in the field of athletics, it's not so hard?! We see into the future where we want them to end up. Sometimes we let the world and life get in the way and diminish how important the stages of building up love is. 

Sydney: I think it's that the world doesn't always applaud faithfulness, or the long-range term of raising a heart. You don't see that really. It's very unseen -- parenting someone's heart and their love for God. Sports are more immediate (or grades). 

Godly loves looks different and what the world is applauding. Keep our heart focused on, our eyes fixed on the eternal. It's daily discipline and asking God's help in that. 

Jo: It's getting insight on who God created [the children or grandchildren] to be. It's helping them to choose activities or choose friends that's going to enhance that rather than enhance the physical. Love is the foundation. 

Sydney: The narrow way may feel restricting at first. You may be seen as a strict parent. But it leads to a life of spacious living. 

In loving others, rejoice in the truth -- that is love, celebrating truth. 

Jo: You know, that you know that you know that this is true. The end result: you can rejoice. You did what was righteous. And God honors that. God gives you the grace to do it. 

Sydney: He gives you the encouragement to do it. He is so faithful to put people in your path to affirm this. 

Jo: If you happen to be in the moment and don't see these physical friends around you that are agreeing with you, run to God. Let Him be your best friend. Get a higher vision of God. Keep looking at God because HE is love. And see Him smiling on your obedience. And receive that. So many times we leave God out of that part and we look for the flesh around us to confirm what we're doing is right. And it may not be there. And if it's not, be sure to get a good vision of God, in the moment. 

Sydney: The source of love. . . He will shower it on you. 

Jo: Love is patient. Patience means: In your love relationship with God, it means giving God all the time He needs in your life and in your moment to do whatever He knows He needs to do in your heart. 

1) Pause. When you know frustration or lack of impatience is coming on. 

2) Take a deep breath. You can't talk.

When you do talk, let God be the first one you talk to. You can be in the moment with the people around you, but you can talk to God (at the same time). What would bring You glory, honor? How would I show love at this moment? When you hear God, just reflect the words of God. 

Sydney: He's so patient with us. Re-aim (when we fail). His patience is so powerful. 

Jo: The first step starts with us changing first. That's love. Coming to God and laying yourself on the altar. And all that you are and all that you desire: giving it to God and then watch God give you back the desires of your heart. We've got to be willing to surrender ourselves. 

Sydney: Focus on: where God in my heart needs to be changed? Let your life speak to whoever it is that you're praying for. 

Let the way He loves (which sometimes) is so upside down but let it guide us to that narrow way. To love is to love His narrow way. 

Jo: When we do that, that's how God opens the door to bring these desires of our heart. He broadens for us what is available for us. He knows what our heart longs for. He knows what it looks like so much more clearer than we do. And He opens that door and broadens that access to His love. 

Sydney: It's life-giving. It's not always flashing or applauded. But God's way and His way of love is faithful and consistent. Keep at it and it will lead you to a spacious, free place of God's love. 

Jo: At the end of the day, be content that you loved the way God is love. 

Scripture for further study: Matthew 7:13-14, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 1 Corinthians 13:1