Love Like God Does

This post is take from my old blog.  I posted this on February 27, 2007.

Love Like God Does

Sometimes it can be difficult to see people the way that God sees them. To see past the walls that they have built to protect themselves. The walls which are inhibiting them from embracing the love that God has for them.

It can be easier to only visualize people where they are right now and not see them fulfilling all of their Godly potential.

I was praying and asking God to help me to love others the way that He does. I asked God to allow me to see people after their hearts have been changed and living for Him. I wanted to see them (in my mind) the way that God can see them. I wanted to be able to love them. I so wanted to see past their situations and see them living in God's will. 

BUT! God said to me that He loves them at their absolute worst. God told me that I have to love them right where they are now. 

John 13:34 says "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Things I Love About My Husband

Mark and I started dating 33 years ago.  

We became best friends and fell in love.  I am so blessed to have been married to the love of my life for over 25 years.   Staying married and being together until 'death do us part' is non-negotiable for us.

I still get excited when I see him.  If he sends me a special text telling me he loves me or an email telling me I'm beautiful, my face lights up and my heart is full.

Everyday is not a fairytale. Marriage means committing to real life together. Forever.  Marriage is a Vow.  Not a contract.  

My husband adores me and I love and and respect him. 

My love for him has continued to grow and to honor him I'm making a list of what I love about him.  It will continue to grow as I am reminded daily of his many character attributes that have captured my heart.

1. He loves God.
2. He loves me.
3. He loves our children.
4. He is funny. He has a quick sense of humour.  He shows his love to me by letting me be the object of his humour.
5. He is incredibly intelligent.
6. He has amazing blue eyes. When he looks into my eyes, my heart melts.
7. He says he's proud of me.  (Wow!  That is so important to me.)
8. I love his voice.  
9. The way he forgives me when I make mistakes.
10. He prays with me and for me.  This speaks so deeply to me and solidifies our relationship.
11. He always holds my hand whenever we are walking.
12. He is a great cook and enjoys making meals for me.
13. He vacuums and mops. Every week. (I know I am spoiled.)
14. He likes to take care of me.
15. He is the perfect height for me.
16. Although he is right most of the time, he doesn't rub it in.
17. He can always make my troubles go away with an 'I love you'.
18. I can tell him anything and he won't be shocked.
19. He has incredible integrity.
20. He is all I've ever wanted for my husband.
21. He didn't freak when I got a tattoo without telling him.
22. He is patient with me.
23. His strength. Physical and spiritual.
24. He inspires me and brings adventure to my life.
25. He is my biggest encourager and supporter.
26. He is very sexy.
27. His strong arms.
28. He sets goals and achieves them.
29. He dreams with me.
30. He is creative.
31. He often puts me first.
31. He wants to make my dreams come true.
32. He is ambitious.
33. I feel so protected when he wraps his strong arms around me.
34. When he reads to me.
35. I love when he surprises me.
36. He is thoughtful.
37. He has fun with me.
38. I can be silly with him.
39. He'll take me shopping.
40. He celebrates marriage.
41. I love when he sings to me.
42. He thinks I'm sexy.
43. He is an incorrigible tease.
44. He is generous with me. Sometimes too much.
45. He loves me freely. He only expects me to be me.
46. He inspires me to be my very best. He never gives up on me.
47. He invests in me.
48. His confidence in himself.
49. He handles stress very well. He brings peace to me.
50. He is willing to try anything.
51. He sees more in me than I often do.
52. He is prompt. I am not.
53. I love standing beside him.
54. He talks to me.
55. He has always made 'us' a priority.
56. He tells me he loves me.
57. He is a great kisser.
58. He is good at forgiving me for my occasional stupidity.
59. He is the friend and the lover that I've always dreamed of.
60. He is my best friend.
61. He extends grace to me when I definitely don't deserve it.
62. He works tirelessly for our family
63. He is open and honest with me
64. He doesn't let our conflicts carry over to another day
65. He makes great eggs - the way I like them
66. He is great at decision making
67. He reads his bible
68. He is steadfast
69. He likes to have fun with me

Too be continued....

The Truth in Love

Speaking the 'truth in love' can be a very difficult thing to do.  And a very difficult thing to receive.  And sometimes unnecessary.

Confronting isn't always ours to do.

If my friend is talking disrespectfully about her husband; complaining and not honouring him, is it my job to confront her?

If my husband is not helping around the house, or watching too much tv, do I tell him?
Or if my husband is short with our children, do I need to confront him?

Sometimes love doesn't need to speak.  Sometimes love remembers that I watch too much tv, get angry with the children and sometimes complain as well. Sometimes love just prays.

When I see something someone in my life is doing wrong, sometimes the best thing I can do is pray and trust the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26
"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall everything I have told you."

The Holy Spirit is there to convict us because God loves us and wants the best for our lives. His conviction is all about God's love.

When I give the situation to God and He can speak into the hearts. I have seen God change hearts in a way that would never be possible for me to do.  God loves our friends, our children, our husband and our marriage even more than we do.

I need to remember that true change takes place when the Holy Spirit speaks, not me.

Love, Honor & Respect

I deeply love my husband. We have been married for more than 25 years and I can unequivocally say that I love him more now than I did on our wedding day.  He is my best friend.  

He is a man of integrity and strength.  I honor him completely.

He is very wise and I submit myself to his leadership and spiritual guidance.  I respect him.

I love and adore our three children.  They bring life to our home and have made us a family.

I am honored to be their mother and to be their friend.

Our children are now young adults and as they begin to make their own choices and establish their own lives, I need to show them respect.

I also need to show love, honor and respect to myself. 


We're so much better than we've become, because God is so much greater than we're allowing Him to be through us. 


"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12