Love Shows Up in Whole Foods

Loving and Singing Through the Years
It seems I'm still caught up in this “Love Month”. I was at Whole Foods and over the sound system I heard Kenny Rogers singing "our" song, “Through the Years”. I was somewhat jolted and teared up a little! Of all places to be reminded of my sweetheart was Whole Foods. We had special songs that were “ours” in our earlier years, but when true love didn’t quit through all of life’s ups and downs, this song spoke volumes about two determined people willing to stick it out and realize how sweet the love grows when we don't give up. This song describes us perfectly! I can imagine, for those of you who have been together through thick and thin for many years, can relate to it, too.

I can't remember when you weren't there,
When I didn't care for anyone but you.
I swear we've been through everything there is,
Can't imagine anything we've missed.
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do.

Through the years. You've never let me down.
You turned my life around.
The sweetest days I've found, I've found with you.
Through the years. I've never been afraid.
I've loved the life we've made.
And I'm so glad I've stayed, right here with you.
Through the years.

I can't remember what I used to do, who I trusted,
Whom I listened to before.
I swear you've taught me everything I know,
Can't imagine needing someone so.
But through the years it seems to me,
I need you more and more.

Through the years, through all the good and bad,
I knew how much we had.
I've always been so glad, to be with you.
Through the years. It's better every day.
You've kissed my tears away. As long as it's okay,
I'll stay with you. Through the years.

Through the years, when everything went wrong,
Together we were strong.
I know that I belonged, right here with you.
Through the years, I never had a doubt,
We'd always work things out
I've learned what love's about, by loving you, through the years.

To love and be loved is life's sweetest treasure. But even more than the earthly love we enjoy, the most beloved relationship we could ever hope to have is our relationship with God. What a beautiful romance I have had with Him…..through the years.

This romance, beyond my Sweetheart’s “great escape to heaven” is the life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure I have with God. In Jeremiah 31:3, He says “I have loved you with an everlasting love”. Talk about a romantic lover. He’s given us the whole world for romance -- the rivers and the meadows, the mountains and the beaches. Flowers, music, a kiss, a sunrise, a sunset, a touch.

There's no "earthly" love like His love. Shhh! I hear Him singing a love song to me.....Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God among you is powerful -- He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you".

Intimacy "In-To-Me-See"

INTIMACY: close familiarity or friendship; closeness, rapport, warmth, affectionate

Those words that describe INTIMACY are from the dictionary, but I embrace this meaning: being INTIMATE means “In-to-Me-See”. It’s a blending of our heart with another’s so we can “see into” who they really are, and they can “see into” us.

Experiencing true INTIMACY begins with being connected to our own heart which is directly connected to God’s heart when we open our heart to Him. Because God made us, He intimately knows us better than anyone else can. He sees inside us and knows who we really are. Sees “into” us. For this reason, He can make us feel known in a way that no one on earth is able; and in this we can experience intimacy in an indescribable way. Intimacy with God through His Son Jesus has been the most rewarding and life-changing thing I have ever experienced.

This month of February is known as “The Love Month”. The greatest commandment is this: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind" (Matthew 22:37). So simple, so important, so transforming. This is the one thing God most desires. I’m so grateful that God loves us and that He keeps working on us. How DO we go from "believing in God" to REALLY falling in love with Him – being INTIMATE with Him? Since He “sees into” me and knows me – so much so that He knows the number of hairs on my head (Matthew 10:20), how much more should I crave to “see into” God’s heart and grow my heart of love for Him.

Here's how my INTIMACY with God grows:
1) I think about Him. That's one of the easiest things to do because everywhere we look -- He is there. The more I think about Him, acknowledge His presence in my life, recognize Him in EVERYTHING -- people, nature, circumstances, etc., the more deeply I fall in love with Him. I think about how amazing He is as my Creator and how selfless He is as my Savior. I contemplate how incredible it is that the God of the universe cares about me – is INTIMATE with me.

2) I tell Him I love Him and why I love Him.

3) I spend time in His presence. No INTIMATE relationship can grow without time spent together. The same is true with our relationship with God. When I determined long ago to set aside specific time with Him to pray, share, express gratitude to Him, then my love for Him started increasing.

4) I endeavor to do everything out of love for Him -- from serving at my church and volunteering, to my everyday tasks and chores. When I choose to do a task out of love for God, my love for Him grows and our INTIMACY grows.

We can all work at loving God more. I know I’m still walking out my faith journey, but I'm on assignment to urge others to fall in love with God, too – to become INTIMATE with Him. It’s one of the most important trademarks of a Christian -- to help others learn to love Him with all their hearts. And the best way to teach others is to model OUR love for God.

My prayer is that you will experience the joy that comes from an intimate relationship with God and that out of that love you have experienced with Him, that you will find INTIMACY with a special someone who is also in an intimate relationship with God. No doubt, with that priority -- true INTIMACY will be found with each other and the load of walking this earth will become a little lighter and so much brighter.