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.

Welcome February -- It's the LOVE Month!

Love is in the air!! I sure don't take this month lightly because on February 14th, 1961, my boy friend (and 5 years later, my groom) and I went on our first real boy-girl date, chauffeured by his dad and mom to a church Valentine's banquet. This month has always been the "Love Month" to me, and though my sweetheart celebrates it in heaven, I still celebrate it here....with all those I know and hold dear.

Of course this month is dedicated to lovers and romantic relationships. But why don’t we take it up a notch and determine that February is a LOVE month for all those around us?

Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines, we forget to let those close to us know how much we love and appreciate them. There’s nothing more important than letting people know how much they mean to us.

So, why not let this be a LOVE month with everyone we encounter? Love is as simple as smiling at someone walking toward us, someone in front or behind us in the checkout line or someone standing next to us in an elevator. Sounds innocent enough, but what we really can be doing is secretly telling them “I love you” with that smile. And, if they smile back at us, let’s imagine them saying “I love you” back to us. That silent exchange may cause feelings to emerge that could transform their day AND our day.

So, since February is the month for love, how about we make a commitment to “give our love away” – maybe in a love letter to those people in our life who inspire us, support us, assist us, feed us, nurture us, care for us, love us, pray for us, protect us, laugh with us and cry with us? They have shared the magnificent journey of our life with us. Let's purpose to pour on the love this month....and let me start by saying "I LOVE YOU.....my FB friends and family. You mean the world to me! You make my world a better place. You put a smile on my face and you give me so many joys! May you know God's love in tangible and beautiful ways....not just this month, but ALWAYS!"

1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."