"Love like that."

I'm reading in Eph. 5, which is probably my favorite CHAPTER in the Bible. I have to clarify that, because I have other BOOKS that are my favorites. I know that you probably needed to know that, right? Anyway... I'm in the phase again where I am crrraaavvviiinngg God's Word. I went one day this weekend without reading (and watched a really REALLY stupid movie, thanks to JoJo, Melody, and Bryce. Geez) and I felt so bad. Not really guilty, just bad. Like I needed some really good food and all I got was trash. So that brings me to tonight. I'm oddly not sleepy, considering we stayed at the church all day today getting ready for our Parent Meeting tonight. Here I am, reading Bible Gateway, and totally soaking it in to every part of me & finding myself wanting so much more.
Listen to this...

"Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that...
The bright light of Christ makes your way plain...Figure out what will please Christ, then DO it...Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ."

I just HAD to put that whole thing here. It's too good!! Those first couple verses really get me. Keep company with God and learn to live a life of love. He doesn't love cautiously. Praise Him that His love is extravagant and flamboyant! He loves so that He can give of Himself and pour into us. Dang... love like that.
I'm always asking, begging, pleading, that He would teach me to love. I think sometimes I focus too much on "steps" and "procedures" and perfect conditions and I forget to just DO what pleases Him. Love. Just love. Love like Him.

I put that phrase on my Facebook: Figure out what will please Christ, then do it.
Sounds so simple, eh? It seems so unfortunate that we have fallen from perfection. It's like our hopes for living to please Him have been so weakened because of our flesh, our human-ness. We so often fall into the lies of our fallen nature. The Bible makes it crystal clear: Figure out what pleases Him. Then do it. There you go!

I keep listening to this song from the Phoenix Masters Commission. "If there's anything left I haven't given, anything left disguised or hidden... I can feel You pullin me far away from what used to be... tired of feelin the same old feelin, I wanna move on to what I'm dreamin...
Anything that's left to do, anything I've kept from You... I don't wanna fear when You bring change, make Yourself at home in me. You see the picture of my life. So much better in the end."

So encouraging. According to Ephesians 5, Christ's light makes our way plain. We don't have to fear when change comes, when trouble comes, when uncertainty lingers.
I am becoming more and more convinced that God really does have it all under control. No matter what. He is the Boss. I am living my life in passionate pursuit of Him, figuring out what I need to do to please Him, letting His light expose the darkness in my heart. And He promises me the "future I hope for." I can't stop believing. Gotta hold on to that feeeeelin' :)
And love like that.

Yeah, let's love like that.