TAKE FIVE | Mini-Retreat - Love Well
Dear Partner,
This winter our teen retreat will focus on faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Enjoy today's thoughts as we tune our minds into love.
I encourage you to Take 5 | Mini Retreat. Take a few moments to rest your soul and grow in your intimacy with Jesus. May you experience the deep restoration God describes in Psalm 23:1 “…he restores my soul.”
Love,
Sean McFeely
The Oasis Ministry Ventures Team
L.O.V.E. Such a small and simple word. When all is said and done, love is what matters and what lasts.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
So go ahead and love. Love little things. Love big things.
Zippers. The color red. The smell of a baby’s hair. A jar full of M&Ms. A giraffe’s long neck. The fragrance of the ground after a rain. The sound crickets make by a campfire. Ocean waves lapping. A sunrise.
Love it all. Love it well.
God is love. The great commandment is to love. God is a creative creator. Why then would I withhold love from anyone or anything?
I’m not talking about being in love with stuff. I’m talking about embodying love, exuding love, letting love drip from your pores, allowing love to be the air you breathe.
Why? Because God is love. And he is here, with you. In you.
So love. A lot. Love the good around you…
The graceful moves of a dancer. People who have been married for 65 years. The purple stripe in the neighbor girl’s blond hair. The silence of falling snow. Chocolate melting on your tongue. Lobster mac and cheese.
Love it. Love it all.
Let your heart open to goodness. Revel in it.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Watch for these characteristics in your daily life and then love them. Let the God of love give grace to you through simple pleasures. Honor God by delighting in goodness, no matter how seemingly small. Practice on the small stuff and let your heart widen ever larger.
Our world is crowded with overwhelming, noisy, distracting words and imagery. Do not let your flame of love decrease at the sight of these things.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13)
Notice goodness in all its forms. Embrace love and then share freely with others. Point out the beauty that pops up like a sprout through the last winter snow. Not a form of denial, but active, overcoming love.
So love and love well.
Reflection Questions
How has the quality of my love been lately?
Do I feel loved by Jesus today? If not, how can I take time to engage Jesus to remove this lie from my mind.
Who is it hardest for me to love right now? How can I choose to love them today?
What is something beautiful I can help someone else see today?
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash
