Charity

In the past few months I've been praying to understand what Charity LOOKED like. I knew that quite often I felt no feelings of love towards those I cared so much about, so what could I do to have charity?? I didn't even realize it, but I wanted to understand what the essential choice was in this virtue I so desired. God did.

While reading C S Lewis' Mere Christianity yesterday I had a major break through.

Starting with "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," Lewis says, "our love for ourselves does not mean that we like ourselves. It means that we wish our own good." Right. That made sense.

Following that line of reasoning, Lewis explains that "it would be quite wrong to think that the way to become charitable is to sit trying to manufacture affectionate feelings." We must start by wishing them good, then "treat everyone kindly" so that one "finds himself liking more and more people as he goes on."

So I have found that "Christian Love, either towards God or towards man, is [after all really] an affair of the will." And God "will give us the feelings of love if He pleases. We cannot create them for ourselves, and we must not demand them as a right. But the great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not."

Having Charity, then, is not about feelings.

It's about choosing
to wish the best and serve others the best I can.

The feelings of love then
are a gift from God for choosing Charity.

Thank you, Father, for helping me understand.

Knowledge really is freedom and in this case
the freedom to love!!!

I had thought this would be a good post on Facebook. Obviously, I needed more room. ;)

TOYB Journal

Trying to get back to blogging:
Dec 31 TOYB (The One Year Bible) Journal

OK, so I discovered this people who lived a long time ago and God loved them and He brought them out of bondage. And he helped them form into a great nation. They messed up a lot, but He kept sending prophets and He helped them build a temple and a great city. They got ran over by neighboring nations, but God kept helping. He kept talking to them and helping them find happiness. He warned them of dangers and guided them through tough times.

In the 2nd chapter He came to earth as a baby and lived for them. Then He died for them. He died for us too. He talks to us too and wants to help us be happy. He can warn us of dangers and guide us through tough times. God loves all of His children. He speaks to them according to their understanding. And when He speaks, His children share what He says with others. They write it down as their testimony of how wonderful God is, how He loves all of His children and wants to keep them from danger and to teach them how to be happy.

August 10, 2009

I don’t know everything about how God talks to His children. But after immersing myself this year in reading the Bible from cover to cover, letting the book stand on its own as a distinct entity, I think I know more. I know more about how God spoke to the people in the Old and New Testament and about how He speaks to those who rely on these testaments as their primary connection with God. I know more about the foundation of my own Faith. I know more about my God and the Son He sent to save us.

I’m very excited to continue my study of the Bible.

Next I’ll be reading: And: