I Love You, An Outward Expression

We fall in love by the way someone touches our heart, by the things they
do and say. We then follow that up with saying, "I Love You". In reality,
it's more like "you love what they do for you", or "how they make you feel".
It's the love that they are expressing towards you that you are feeling, and
that's a wonderful thing, to be loved. But love is not a one way street.

So many times though love gets clogged up in the pains and hurts in life.
And sometimes we get so stuck in our own emotions, in our own wants and desires
that we forget what it means to love. We forget that love is something we
outwardly express by our words and actions towards others, it's not all about
how much love we can consume for ourselves, that's not love, that's selfishness.
People tend to blame their poor relationships on incompatibility, that's not
an accurate reference point. The truth is that conflicts are a result of selfishness
and stubbornness, that's what is prevailing in the relationship.

Everyone needs love, and other than God, we can not get all our emotional needs
met by one single source. This is NOT to say that anyone should cheat on their
spouses! Love comes in many forms, you can be loved by your family, your friends,
and your brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you choose to sow seeds of love into others, you will find that you will
receive love as well. Many people today are so focused on what they want
that their relationships starve, conflicts arise, and strife fills their homes.

If you really love someone and want to resolve issues you will first humble
yourself, out of love, and take the initial step. Conflicts are seldomly
resolved accidentally, they have to be intentionally dealt with. Where there
is conflict there is guilt, where there's guilt there is fear, and perfect
love casts out fear.

Start by praying, and first asking God if you are seeing the problem correctly.
You may find that there are issues that are within you that you need to take
ownership of and confess. Don't let your pride get in the way of your love.
Then look for a good time where you can meet together in peace. When you convene
be truthful about your part of the conflict, do not blame one another. Take
the focus off of you and listen for their hurts. Keep in mind that people who
are hurt, hurt other people. Emphasize understanding and forgiveness, start with
their needs ahead of yours, the relationship itself is more important than the
issue. First seek to reconcile and after that you can work on the resolutions
to the problems.

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1:19

What leads to strife, discord and feud, and how do conflicts, quarrels and
fighting originate among you? The arise from your own selfish and sinful
desires that are always at war in side of you. You are jealous and covet what
others have... You burn with envy and anger and aren't able to obtain the
gratification you seek, so you fight and war. You don't have because you don't ask God. James 4:1-2

Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you don't
notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? First take the wood out of your
own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye.
Matthew 7:3-5

For the couples that pray together, Only 1 in 10,000 marriages end in divorce.
But it's 1 in 2 for those who don't pray.

Read Love Is Otherness