one another

Thursday, January 2, 2014 (6:58 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Holy Father God,

Thank You! Thank You for blessings. Thank You for surprises. Thank You for family. Thank You for friends. Thank You for time to enjoy one another's company.

One another. 1John 4:7 comes immediately to mind ♫This is my commandment, That you love one another That your joy may be full♫ Hmm. Love one another that your joy may be full. I like the sound of that!

Not only the sound though. The actual experience of it! Blessed Father God, You have provided us so many opportunities to recognize love coming from and going to one another.

The simple acts of gift giving this past week. People taking time to consider the preferences of one another. The desire to bring a smile to someone else's face or heart. Random acts of kindness. It all adds up to loving one another. And it all comes from You.

Thank You for blessing us with the opportunity to care greatly for one another. Thank You that somewhere (often deep) inside is that desire to truly love one another.

Here is where I recognize a misquote above. “This is my commandment” is found in John's gospel (5:12). The song for ♫First John, four: seven and eight♫ comes straight from the King James Version. ♫Beloved, let us love one another For love is of God And anyone that loveth is born of God And knoweth God. He that loveth not [clap, clap, clap] Knoweth not God for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another. First John, four: seven and eight♫

As I look to the various translations and paraphrases of verse seven, I'm still drawn to The Living Bible. “Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know Him better.”

Getting to know You better. Being loving and kind. These are definitely things I long to experience. The Life Recovery Bible comment says that You are seen by us when we love one another. Blessed Father, make it so that we see You often. Regularly.

Thank You for every opportunity You provide for us to practice loving one another. Make us good and able learners. We long to see You each and every day in all that we are, hope, think and do.

We love You Father and we want that to be evident to all with whom we come in contact. Thank You for gifting us so abundantly with Your love. Enable and empower us to use it well. Thank You. Amen.

(451 words ~ 9:30 a.m.)