Show Your ID by Julianne Pearson

Both of my children are attending a school district that requires them to wear their school identifications in order to enter the classroom every single day.  In the event their school ids are lost or inadvertently left at home, they are required to purchase another one in order to attend the remainder of their classes.  From my perspective, it appears the school district may have been having challenges with individuals coming onto the school premises who were not students.  Each student being required to show their identification to every teacher, every day, ensures that there are no intruders or counterfeit students in the building.

      As professed Christians, do you know what our ID is?  The one powerful thing that validates our lip service and distinguishes us from all the rest is our LOVE (John 13:35).  Our authentic expressions of Love are the evidence or proof that we are who we say we are – disciples (imitators) of Christ Jesus.  Unfortunately, many of us have experienced counterfeit Love in our lifetimes.  Subsequently, our definitions of Love are distorted from its True Meaning.  Today, let’s set the record straight!  Be enlightened as these four keys revolutionize your love life. Let’s begin at the end of  L.O.V.E.

      Key #1:    Experience LOVE

      First and foremost, God is Love! (1 John 4:8)  In order to express Love, you must first experience Love (God).  Remember, we can only give what we possess.  Therefore, the degree to which we experience Love is the same degree that we possess the potential to give Love.  I call this the “Cross Theory.”  Our fellowship with God through Christ Jesus is the vertical line, and our fellowship with others is the horizontal line.  The condition of our fellowship with God is most reflective in our fellowship with others (1 John 4:20).  Subsequently without Love (God), any attempt to express Love is counterfeit.

     

      Key #2:    Voluntary Self-Sacrifice

      Often times I’ve heard people state, “Love is an action Word.”  And while that is true, I choose to take it further for a more accurate practical endeavor to imitate God (Love).  “Love is a voluntary action Word.”  God so Loved that He gave Jesus Christ to us without coercion or force and without any guarantee that we would Love Him back (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).  Therefore, to express Love is an act of one’s will regardless of whether one’s expressions of Love are received or not. 

      Let’s take some moments to look at the words self-sacrifice.  Love is not a Word of personal convenience; it’s of personal commitments.  Therefore, there will be times when expressing Love requires one to lay down his/her agenda for the sake of others.  I think that goes under the heading “not demanding our own way” (1 Corinthians 13:5).  This is exactly what Christ Jesus displayed towards us.  Nothing is greater than one who lays down his/her life (agenda, plans) for the benefit of someone else (John 15:13).

      Key #3:    Ordinary Acts become Extraordinary Expressions

      The depth of our experience with Love (God) determines the extravagance of our expressions (acts).  It can be said that extraordinary expressions of Love is caring more than what others think is wise, risking more than what others think is safe, doing more than what others think is practical, and expecting more than what others think is possible.  Therefore, our ordinary acts become divine expressions of Love.

      Key #4:    Look, Listen, and Fill the Voids

      As Joyce Meyer states, “It is in our giving that we most resemble God.”  Therefore, we should look for every opportunity possible to express Love (Galatians 6:10).  As extravagantly as God expresses His Love towards us is the degree to which we should express Love to others (2 Corinthians 9:14).  This is when expressing Love can be so exciting! Our Love expressions boldly profess, “I don’t need to be asked.  I see the need.  I have the capacity to fill the void.  Therefore, I do!” 

     

      Oh yes, let me not forget to tell you this one critical point:  the Love you display to others is an indication of the Love you have for yourself (Leviticus 19:18).  Selah!  What a telling principle to consider.  Therefore, as you experience Love (God), be sure to embrace God’s Love for yourself first! 

      Today, I encourage you to enhance your experience with Love (God).  Bask in the bountiful Love that God has already shown you (Ephesians 3:18).  And with each Love Experience­, you will be able to “show your id” well!

© 2011 Julianne Pearson

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Romancing the Soul by Julianne Pearson

When you hear the word romance, what images come to mind?  Does candle light dinners?  Does a box of chocolate candy along with long stemmed red roses?  Even possibly, a hot bubble bath followed by a steamy sexual rendezvous?

Unfortunately, all of these portrayed images of romance have been heavily influenced by the spirit of the current worldly culture at large.  Various commercials, advertisements, television shows, and movies have bombarded our minds to accept their carnal definitions of romance without even a second thought.  However, today I would like to challenge you to go deeper in your understanding and raise your commitment level of practical application, as we discover together how valuable divine romance can be for the sustainability of any relationship.  By the time you finish reading this blog, you will realize that true romance makes a life-changing and lasting impact, far beyond the short shelf-life of any physical encounter.  Why?  Simply because romancing the soul is rooted and anchored in Love not lust.  Let me explain.

It is important to understand that someone in the relationship equation must have an accurate understanding of Love in order for romance to be present.  In order to fully embrace the revelation of romancing the soul, let’s begin by refreshing our understanding of what a soul consist of and how romance relates to each part.

Our soul is comprised of three parts:  our mind (the way we think), emotions (how we feel), and our will (our behavior based upon our thinking patterns and feelings).  To romance one’s mind is to be acutely aware of their intricate design by seeking to understand them before seeking to be understood by them.  To romance one’s emotions is to be aware of their places of pain and choose to minister healing instead of adding more hurt to the injury.  Therefore, the recipient’s will (behavior) reciprocates romance when the aforementioned Love acts are exhibited towards them.  In essence, you reap what you’ve sown.  The measure in which you give will be the measure given back to you. 

Therefore to successfully romance the soul of someone we claim to love, we must make a personal effort to learn and lovingly display the attributes of romance.  Are you ready?  Let’s go deep…

R = Relate

Romancing the soul begins with having the capacity to relate.  This means what’s important to those we claim to love becomes very important to us.  This eradicates mere lip service!  While we apply the principle of relating, our lifestyle becomes our mouthpiece. 

O = Opportunity

Everyday we must look, listen, and fill the voids in others’ life experiences.  With clarity of vision, we are endowed with the spiritual capacity to see where deficiencies lie.  Not to criticize or expose, of course.  However, opportunities arrive to give us the privilege of being an agent of healing while they endure their personal process to wholeness.

M = Meekness

I believe meekness is the fruit of power where one is graced to govern their own soul, dealing wisely with the ignorant and erring.  This is where pride must die so that we can become other-centered and have the ability to see the flickers of light in the midst of darkness.  Meekness also gives us the divine empowerment to choose gracefully which hills to die on!  This invokes a couple of questions, “Although I am right, will I really win?  Is it worth what it’s ultimately going to cost me?”  Most often, it’s not!

A = Acute Awareness

Being acutely aware increases one’s level of spiritual discernment in regards to perceiving an opportunity – the time and season.  Therefore, this is the divine wisdom to know what to do, when to do it, and how to properly function in the opportunity.  There may appear to be an opportunity to do something; however, it may not be the best time.  Consequently, due to being discernment deficient, one may lose the positive, lasting impact they desire.

N = Noteworthy

Since everyone is “wired” differently, romance has numerous definitions.  In essence, the receiver is the one that determines the definition of romance for them, not the giver.  Therefore, when we are the giver, being acutely aware (sensitive to the slightest details) enables us to create noteworthy moments more frequently.

C = Care

Most have heard the quote, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care!”  As our desire to romance the soul of those we claim to love increases, it is imperative that we choose to handle them with care through constant communication, acute awareness, revelation, and from eternal perspectives.  The ministry of reconciliation should always be the motivating force behind our decisions and choices.

E = Entrust

In my opinion, “entrust” is the icing on the cake of romance.  As we stand grounded in Love and exhibit the attributes of romance, we become qualified to be a “safe place” for someone else’s heart.  In choosing not to exploit their areas of weakness, we become a place of refuge, a haven if you will.  As a h.a.v.e.n., we are a place of healing that is acutely aware of the importance of operating from voluntary self-sacrificing and eternal perspectives which enables us to network by capitalizing on each others’ strengths while minimizing the exposure of individual weaknesses.  In essence, we become a place where they can experience the Unconditional Love and Peace of the Lord! 

You may be wondering why I repeatedly stressed “claim to love” throughout the blog.  The reason is without the corresponding actions of Love, our claims are empty confessions void of application.  I am hopeful this ministry of practicality equips you with the romantic tools necessary to make a significant, long-lasting impact on those whom you have the privilege to re-present Love and build your life with. 

Can you believe…I’m so excited for you!  For I believe romancing the soul has a long-lasting impact with returns that will richly bless you and your descendants for years to come!

© 2011 Julianne Pearson

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