How do you love?

Yes, I asked how, not who, but let’s start with who. Who do you love? Just pick 3 names.
Now, why do you love them?

If they are a family member or relative, the quick answer might be, because you have to or are expected to. Fair enough, but maybe there is more. Let’s continue.
Often, it’s more like a business relationship. You give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you want. Many couples’ relationships & marriages are like this, and are bound to fail sooner or later.

Maybe you’ve turned it around and try to provide more than what you’ve received. Maybe you are so grateful for everything little thing you get, that you try to give more back. If you’re like me, you feel a spark, a flame, a warmth inside of you. That’s called JOY!
I believe that when you love with this JOY, you have God with you, Jesus living inside you, and the Holy Spirit guiding you!

When you see a newborn baby, you often see the JOY in them. They are giggling and laughing, and sometimes you see it in a couple on their wedding day. Obviously, a newborn baby has not heard the name of Jesus, but I believe that Jesus is with them at that moment. When was the last time you felt that kind of JOY? What were you doing at the time? Who were you with?

Now, sometimes that JOY, that spark, that flame can be extinguished. Either you’ve driven God out of your life, or someone has driven Him out of you. There is a book “Hit and Run” by Dr. Bob Rich, where that exact thing has happened. The JOY in a teenage boy was totally extinguished, to the point that he thought he was saving other children from that pain, by killing them.

But, through divine intervention, someone lights that flame again. At first, it’s one of those candles that blows out, every time there is a breeze, and the slightest thing goes wrong. But, over time, with a lot of support from others, it becomes a strong and mighty fireplace, maybe even a forest fire.

I’m sorry. Many of you, or your loved ones, are under the threat of forest fires. But then you know how quickly JOY can spread! And you have plenty of chances to feel that kind of JOY by helping others. But don’t try if you think you have to, you’re just going to put other flames out. Wait for the spark, ask God for the spark.

In conclusion, if you have that kind of JOY, share it with others. If you want that kind of JOY, find others who have it and stay close to them. If you feel someone blowing out your flame, stay away from them, at least until you have a strong enough fireplace, that you can give a spark back. And don’t try to light someone’s candle if they have no wax or wick; you can’t. They need a new candle, and only God can give it to them, so pray for their new candle.

That’s what my stories are about.