The "Love" word

Dont you just love that?  I love coffee, I love this song, I love this weather, I love this shirt, I love this movie, I love I love love...lo...v...e.   We whip that word around like we are trying to swat a bunch of flies with a wet noodle. 

May I say I am very good and certain things, almost too good for my own good.  Sound like any voice inside your head?  Paul knew only too well what that was like, if I speak in the tongues of angels, if I prophecy, if I have faith to move mountains.....but have not Love I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor, but have not Love, I am nothing. 

Gosh, God goes to the center of who we are, to make us miserable? No, to set us free from ourselves, Scripture says we love because He first loved us.  The ability to love, it comes from the author of love.  The definition comes from Him.  Could it be that God is more concerned with me being patient, kind, keeping no record of wrongs, always forgiving, always hoping, always enduring than looking great as a Christian?  I myself have ran over people in the name of ministry, I also have been run over in the name of the gospel.  I need Jesus, as a Man, as a Husband, as a Leader, I need Jesus.  Our striving for cars, money, status, etc.  they mean nothing if we are using those to fill our need for Jesus.   Below are lyrics to a recent song by Shane and Shane:

I'm overcoming fear
With Your perfect love, Your perfect love
You're opening my ears to hear
The sound of a lover's voice
You're calling out, You're calling out
Let me see Your face, Your loving face

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together

I'm overcoming fear
With Your perfect love, Your perfect love
You're opening my ears to hear
The sound of a lover's voice
You're calling out, You're calling out
Let me see Your face, Your loving face

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together
Your love calls me out
Of my death and my failure
Love, Your love

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together
Your love calls me out
Of my death and my failure

Your love tears me up
And when its done
Puts me together
Your love calls me out
Of my death and my failure
Love, Your love, Your love