What is Love?

What is love? Is it that nervous feeling that you get when a special someone enters the room? Is it long phone conversations until the wee hours of the morning? Is it even marriage for that matter? Surprisingly, it's not. I spent a long time trying to figure out what love is, and finally came up with a definition. A few weeks ago, at our church's missions conference, God reinforced that definition by having the visiting preacher quote my definition almost word perfect. So let me ask again, what is love?

Love is not a feeling, but an action. Love is a verb, not a noun. Love is "doing what is best for the other person, no matter how much it inconveniences you." Let's look at the greatest example of love ever--Jesus. Do you really think that He enjoyed being tortured, beaten, mocked, spat upon, and eventually crucified? Obviously not, but it was what was best for us. Jesus put aside the inconvenience of personal suffering so that we could be forgiven of our sins. He did it because He loves us. Jesus' death on the cross is a perfect example of love, because He is perfect.

So how can we display love in our daily lives? First, Matthew 5:44 tells us to love our enemies. Obviously, you will never have feelings for people that treat you bad, but as we learned above, that's not love! Romans 12:20a says, "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink." Even though you may not like them, you can still show them love by doing what is best for them. Second, we can love our acquaintances. In this way, love is more of an attitude. It's a willingness to show love. If you see someone that needs help, go and help them. In doing so, you can show them love. Even if you don't really know the person, you can still make a difference in their life by showing them love. Finally, we can love our family/friends. Most people think that this would be quite easy. It's not. When your mom asks you to take out the trash right when you reach the most interesting part of your book, do you show her love? Do you "inconvenience yourself to do what is best for another person"?

Imagine how different our lives and relationships would be if we showed true love. Gone would be infatuation and meaningless crushes. Gone would be gossip and hurtful words. Instead, we would focus on doing what is best for other people.

So what about you? Are you showing true love? Are you doing what is best for the other person, no matter how much it inconveniences you? Don’t bother searching for true love; instead, start showing it.

-Glen

Glen - Are You Really Waiting?

Are You Really Waiting?

By Glen Cuthbert

I’ve been struggling with trying to find something to write about, so I decided to look at my own life and write about something that I have been having a problem with. Right now, the problem I’m having is not having crushes because I’m waiting on God. I know I’m not alone with this problem. So, I’m writing this month’s post on just that. Just so you know, this post is written as much to me as it is to you. I think it will help all of us.

Trusting God one-hundred percent is always going to be a struggle. Yes, we can all say that we are trusting God for our future mate, but if we just say it, are we really trusting Him? God has that perfect person all picked out, and He doesn’t need our help. No matter how amazing that certain someone that you are interested in may be, the question still remains: Do you completely trust God?

Having a crush while waiting on God is like having a backup plan. Most people have backup plans when they are scared that something will go wrong with their original plan. God doesn’t make mistakes. His way is perfect. Because of this, we don’t need a “plan B” in case something goes wrong. You’re probably wondering, “This person is SO AWESOME, how could they not be ‘the one’?” My question to you is: How can they be?

Going back to the first post that I ever wrote for this blog, I wrote about how “the right person at the wrong time is still the wrong person.” Seriously, we’re all still young. The time is not yet right, so the person is also not right. No matter how “right” they may seem.

Also, crushes come at a price. I’ve written in the past about giving your heart away. There is still pain, there is still heartbreak. I’ve never had a girlfriend, but I’ve been hurt just from “innocent crushes.” There is no thing as an “innocent crush.” People still get hurt.

God made us with a natural sense of attraction. That’s just part of being human. But the real question is: “Will you trust God and control those attractions?” View guys or girls that you are attracted to as prospective good friends, and work on those friendships. Someday, if you go about it right, you should marry one of your closest friends. So, start now, and you may increase your chances with that person more than you would have with a crush. Or, you might just find out things about them that you wouldn’t have seen if you were still interested in them. Just make sure that your motives for friendship are right. Trust God, build your friendships, and He will take care of the rest.

Do you completely trust God, or do you have a backup plan?

Psalm 27:14- “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Glen - Are You Trusting God?

Are You Trusting God?

by Glen Cuthbert

While reading "I Kissed Dating Goodbye", I found a summary of a story from William J. Bennett's Book of Virtues. It's the story of Peter, a boy who tends to be impatient and is constantly daydreaming of the future.

One day while wandering in the forests, Peter meets a strange old woman who gives him a most tantalizing opportunity—the chance to skip the dull, mundane moments of life. She hands Peter a silver ball from which a tiny gold thread protrudes. “This is your life thread,” she explains. “Do not touch it and time will pass normally. But if you wish time to pass more quickly, you have only to pull the thread a little way and an hour will pass like a second. But I warn you, once the thread has been pulled out, it cannot be pushed back in again.”

This magical thread seems the answer to all of Peter’s problems. It is just what he has always wanted. He takes the ball and runs home.

The following day in school Peter has his first opportunity to put the silver ball to use. The lesson is dragging, and the teacher scolds Peter for not concentrating. Peter fingers the silver ball and gives the thread a slight tug. Suddenly, the teacher dismisses the class, and Peter is free to leave school. He is overjoyed! How easy his life will now be. From this moment, Peter begins to pull the thread a little every day.

But soon Peter begins to use the magic thread to rush through larger portions of life. Why waste time pulling the thread just a little every day when he can pull it hard and complete school altogether?He does so and finds himself out of school and apprenticed in trade. Peter uses the same technique to rush through his engagement to his sweetheart. He cannot bear and wait months to marry her so he uses the gold thread to hasten the arrival of the wedding day.

Peter continues to pattern throughout his life when hard, trying times come, he escapes then with his magic thread.

But sadly when he comes to the end of his life, Peter realizes the emptiness of such an existence. By allowing impatience and discontentment to rule him, Peter has robbed himself of life’s riches moments and memories. With only the grave to look forward to, he deeply regrets ever having used the magic thread.

How many of us waste our time wondering, dreaming and fretting about the future? I've been guilty of it, and I'm sure you have too. People are naturally curious, and the future provides the greatest unknown. Marriage is very far away for many of us, so why worry about it? I know a twelve year old girl that is constantly asking, "Could this guy be the one?" She still has at least eight years before she can get married! Yet, many of us do the same thing, asking, "Could this guy/girl be the one?" I'll tell you right now. They're not. At least not yet. Until that "yet" happens, do we need to worry about it? NO!

Just think how much more could we do for God, if we would focus on today, instead of tomorrow. God knows how it will go, and He is in control. All we need to do is trust Him. God is the Author and Storyteller of our lives.The story is already completely written, and He knows how it ends, but He chooses to read it to us one chapter at a time for a reason. Here are a few verses for you to think about:

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths"

Matthew 6:34a "Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."

Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Psalm 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

There is no need to worry about who God wants you to marry. Don't try to peek ahead in the book! God doesn't want you to know that yet! Instead, trust that He cares about you, and that He will do what is best for you.

Have a blessed Easter, and remember the sacrifice that Jesus made, because he LOVED us.

Glen - Who Has Your Heart?

Here is another post by Glen. He will be writing a post for us once a month...I'm sure you will all enjoy them. I really enjoy this one! : ) Please feel free to contact Glen through his email: gcuthbert35@cogeco.ca

Who Has Your Heart?

by Glen Cuthbert

It was finally here-Anna's wedding day, the day she had dreamed about and planned for months. The small, picturesque church was crowded with friends and family.

Sunlight poured through the stained-glass windows, and the gentle music of a string quartet filled the air. Anna walked down the aisle toward David. Joy surged within her. This was the moment for which she had waited so long. He gently took her hand, and they turned toward the altar.

But as the minister began to lead Anna and David through their vows, the unthinkable happened. A girl stood up in the middle of the congregation, walked quietly to the altar, and took David's other hand. Another girl approached and stood next to the first, followed by another. Soon, a chain of six girls stood by him as he repeated his vows to Anna.

Anna felt her lip begin to quiver as tears welled up in her eyes. "Is this some kind of joke?" she whispered to David.

"I'm ... I'm sorry, Anna," he said, staring at the floor.

"Who are these girls, David? What is going on?" she gasped.

"They're girls from my past," he answered sadly. "Anna, they don't mean anything to me now ... but I've given part of my heart to each of them."

"I thought your heart was mine," she said.

"It is, it is," he pleaded. "Everything that's left is yours."

A tear rolled down Anna's cheek. Then she woke up.

I was floored when I read this story in "I Kissed Dating Goodbye". It left me wondering, "How many times have I given my heart away?"

Have you ever asked yourself the same question? Every one of us has had people in our past. Have you given your heart to them? Once you give your heart to someone, you never get all of it back. If we keep giving our hearts away to every guy/girl that catches our interest, then how can we expect to have anything left for the person that God wants us to marry?

So what can we do about it? Well, I've found Someone Who I can give my heart to that promises to give it all back when His timing is right. Let me ask you this: Does He have your heart?

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

Guest Post 5 - "The Right Person At The Right Time"

The Right Person at the Right Time

by Glen Cuthbert (age 17)

Glen's Email: gcuthbert35@cogeco.ca

"How will I know who the person that God wants me to marry is?" Chances are you've probably asked this question before. I know I sure have. The answer that I got was: "When God says it's the right time to know."

I didn't really understand that, until one day I was thinking about an interesting statement by Cary Schmidt in the book "Just Friends". The statement was: "The right person at the wrong time is still the wrong person." And then it hit me. You will know who the right person for you to marry is when they are the right person. The problem with many of us teens today is that we believe that the right person is out there for us somewhere, and we waste our time looking for them. The only problem is, the right person is not out there, because they're not the right person yet. Why not? Because it's not the right time yet. So when do they become the right person? Why, at the right time, of course. God has a plan for each one of us, and for most people, that plan includes getting married. He will bring the right person along, in HIS timing. Only then will they be the right person.

So do yourself a favor. Don't waste your time looking for the right person. You won't find them. Instead, focus on being the right person. In God's time, once someone becomes the right person, God will bring the two of you together.

"If you keep following God, there's no way in the universe that He would let you marry the wrong person." -Bro. Cary Schmidt (Associate Pastor, Lancaster Baptist Church)