Tag love

Love as strong as death

Pastor Dave Rose Leave a comment

Song of Solomon  8:6-7 For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love,  nor can rivers drown it.

Love eyes

I finished reading the Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) in my daily devotions and found the amazing supernatural element God placed in mankind to love.  God not only gave men and women the ability to see each other as no one else can.  In love, we look at our desires and see things no one else sees.  Is your wife or husband the most beautiful or most handsome person in the world? What others may see as a flaw is a unique feature to embrace and love. 

Love is a gift

Love is a gift from God that brings lovers closer and closer.  Even in aging, when the body changes, the love grows. This family of love is what the enemy wants to destroy in our nation.  The confusion of sexuality being taught by extreme evil creates a feeling of hatred, victimization, and loneliness.  Love and passion dissipate through the destruction of the family.  We come against these evil forces and cling to the man-and-wife structure, producing a loving family where each family member feels and strengthens God’s presence.

In our spiritual life. 

We also need the passion of love toward God. We know God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit love us from the beginning.  The Song of Solomon represents the love between a man and woman, the love God has for us, and what we should develop toward them.

Generating Love toward God

Bible reading and prayer every day.  Go to bed with scripture.  Play some worship songs and meditate on the many ways God loves you.  Speak to God and express your desire to know Him more.  Gaze upon His Holiness and Goodness.  Thank Him for mercies in your life from Him.

Qualities of Love

For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave.

Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.  

Many waters cannot quench love,  nor can rivers drown it.

Let this passage of love be a goal for your personal life and your relationship with Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit.

Let your Lightnside shine bright with increasing love in the natural and supernatural.

Love’s Passion

Pastor Dave Rose Leave a comment

(Delayed Post – should have posted on Feb.14)

(She)I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. (He) Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. (She)  Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade,  and his fruit is sweet to my taste.  Song of Solomon 2:2-3 NIV

Happy Valentine’s Day

The Song of Solomon describes the passion between a man and a woman in love and expresses the love between God and humanity. The Bible also describes the relationship between Christians and Christ as a marriage. While it is very strange for me to think of myself as a bride, I think of the Christ who is coming to take me away to a place in heaven that He is preparing for me.

Passion now

I have been married to Dawn for forty-three years this May 1st. I remember the passion I had while dating.  All my thoughts were focused on being with my Dawn.  The goal (and I need to improve) is to keep my passion strong, even during everyday problems, pressures, and aging.

Passion for God

Today is a good day to spend some time being passionate about our God and receiving His passion for us.  In the Song of Solomon,  passion grew as the two lovers desired each other.  Their gaze was not on current problems or duties waiting for them.  They sought to look at each other, wanting to be in each other’s presence. 

Seeing and touching

A hug, a kiss, or a holding of hands brings back passion.  This passion is beautifully described in the chapters of the Song of Solomon—the experience of being loved,  holding, and being held for our earthly and eternal relationships.

I challenge you to take some time to experience the love God has for you today.  Read His thoughts in this chapter.  God wants to be with you and embrace your heart.  Will you also seek God in this passage?  Will you look and see God all around you?  Will you look at His goodness, His creation, and protection?  Enjoy His presence and allow God’s passion to rest in your heart. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Whoever believed in Him would receive PASSION in an eternal love relationship forever! John 3:16 (my version)

As Valentine’s Day approaches, let your LIGHTNSIDE feel and give passion to God and those you love.

(She)I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. (He) Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. (She)  Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade,  and his fruit is sweet to my taste.  Song of Solomon 2:2-3

Giving and Forgiving = Joy

Pastor Dave Rose Leave a comment

Hebrews 12:2 …” For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame…

I am reading a book for devotions.  Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard. It is a classic in its 20th edition. Reading a portion as part of my morning devotion has brought me to the subject of “Giving and Forgiving.” 

We live in a society where we know what we have and what others have. We see the poor and needy, and we give as we desire. Jesus calls us to a life of increased  Giving and Forgiveness to all, a life that brings a sense of duty to the Holy Spirit and a deep feeling of joy and contentment.

Giving and Forgiving.

One has to do with our assets and treasures; the other has to do with releasing hurts and pain that have collected in our hearts and minds.  We think these negative thoughts are some kind of treasure that one day will bring justice or deserved pain to those who have hurt us.  When, in fact, it becomes a weight that is heavy to carry even though it feels unfair. To restore the soul, we must follow Jesus’ path to the cross, be able to say, “Father, I forgive them,” and be carried into the tomb by Christ’s teaching. As you feel the negative thoughts replaced by forgiving them, you begin to feel joy as God resurrects you to life anew. 

Quote from the book: “Jesus was not some harsh ascetic who practiced or imposed pain for its own sake. He did not choose death because it was good in itself, but for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross and despised the shame. Hebrews 12:2

Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving, I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. The experience of heightened vitality fills me with joy.  I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, and joyful.  Giving is more joyous than receiving because it is an expression of my aliveness.”

Only through surrendering to Christ’s teaching and example can we begin to take on our assignment to give and forgive. “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap.” Luke 6:38

Jesus gave and forgave by surrendering to the cross.

Jesus gave His life and forgave our sins. Jesus experienced extreme joy as His life was given for all, and His righteousness was available to all because His giving and forgiveness took all our sins upon Him. 

As we celebrate Holy Week, let our LightNside choose to Give and Forgive often.  God will respond by sending you His joy.