Love Note #43

"We love because He first loved us."

-1 John 4:19

"If we are to truly love as God intended we must first receive love from beyond ourselves. 

In seeking to love it is not uncommon to skip this step. We start with the command to love. We tell people to love each other. But instructing people to love each other without telling them how much they are loved is like telling people to prepare a meal without groceries...

When our love does not flow from the well of love God has given, it will be obvious in our relationships. Our ability to be kind, generous, or otherwise loving to others will be lacking... Human relationships are a mirror in which we view our interior world. Ultimately, our capacity for love is a reflection of our openness to the love of God."

-Phillip Carlson, commentary on 1 John 4:19 from the book You Were Made for Love

"We all have ways of blocking love at times, not letting it into our hearts. It is not an act of humility to reject love. We must learn to receive love from God and others." 

-Phillip Carlson, from the book You Were Made for Love

"Invite God to love you. And as you experience His love, embrace it."

-Phillip Carlson, from the book You Were Made for Love

Love Note #42

"Love comes from God."

-1 John 4:7

"In God, there is no hunger that needs to be filled, only plenteousness that desires to give... God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them."

-C.S. Lewis, from The Four Loves

"The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

-1 John 4:18

"If we are living in fear, it is not a failure of His love for us but an indication of our need to allow His love to permeate our lives. Fear is a manifestation of the places in our lives where we do not feel loved and cared for. Experiencing the full extent of God's love for us brings an end to any fear. His love creates an unshakable environment of trust."

-Phillip Carlson, commentary on 1 John 4:18 from the book You Were Made for Love

Love Note #41

"I felt the love which I had felt just a few times before. This love caused me to love everything deeply that I looked upon. Of all of the glorious experiences I had received in the heavenly realm, this love was the most wonderful of all. I did not want the Lord to stop until this love had penetrated every cell of my being. I desperately wanted to keep this feeling..."

-Rick Joyner, from his book, The Torch and the Sword

"Holiness is the nature of heaven, and it must be your devotion. True holiness is true love. True love cannot come without true holiness, and true holiness always causes you to love, not condemn."

-Jesus speaking to Rick Joyner in his book, The Torch and the Sword

"Holiness is perfected love."

-Christopher Bounds, as I remember him teaching in class several years ago

"Now the best thing you actually can do for another person is for you to watch and pray. Because what that other person needs, that person you love- they don't just need you. They need you with courage and discernment. Because if they have good old you you filled with fear, backslidden, with no discernment, you're going to be a problem to them, not an answer... 

If you really want to walk out love for people, get a burning heart and get a heart of discernment, and you will have the compass in the storm, you will have the map... The most practical way for you to love other people, is to build a bonfire in your spirit."

-Mike Bickel, from his sermon "Being Strengthened to Stand Without Compromise"

Love Note #40

Quotes from the film The Nun's Story

"The Reverend Mother Emmanuel represents Christ among us. And as such, she is loved and obeyed by us."

-Sister Margarita, Mistress of Postulants

"Dear Children, it is not easy to be a nun. It is not a life of refuge from the world, it is a life of sacrifice. In a way, it is a life against nature. It is a never-ending struggle for self-perfection. Some of you will have more trouble than others. Poverty, chastity, and obedience are extremely difficult. Each of us here can assure you of that. The sacrifices that are required of us are bearable only if we make them with love. Just as in the world we can do impossible things with a glad heart for a loved one, so it is with us. We can endure greater sacrifice, for the object of our love is the Lord Jesus Christ... The perfect nun is one who for the love of God is obedient in all things unto death."

-Reverend Mother Emmanuel, speaking to the postulants

"We offer our Lord our liberty, our memory, and our will, and we ask only for His love and His holy grace."

-Postulants on their day of vesture as novices

"We will have exercises to develop charity, forbearance, and humility, and tests to destroy love of self."

-Mistress of the novitiate, to her novices

"Perhaps the Reverend Mother feels you are not yet ready for the Congo. You must learn to accept with love whatever comes to you. It is essential in religious life."

-Mother Marcella to Sister Luke, on her being sent to a mental hospital in Belgium

Sister Luke: I simply cannot obey, and if I cannot obey-

Priest: You're so hard on yourself, my child

Sister Luke: Father, please lay my case before the cardinal. I am no longer a nun.

Priest: You solemnly promised to obey unto death. You should seek God's pleasure and your own joy in keeping faith with your vows. Sacrifice is the only test to thy love of God.

-Exchange between Sister Luke and her priest at confession

"You entered the convent to be a nun, not to be a nurse.

The religious life must be more important to you than your love of medicine."

-Reverend Mother Emmanuel to Sister Luke

Love Note #39

Quotes from the film It's a Wonderful Life

"I love him, dear Lord. Please watch over him tonight."

-Mary Bailey 

Mrs. Bailey: Can you give me any good reason why you shouldn't call on Mary?

George: Sure - Sam Wainwright...

Mrs. Bailey: Sam Wainwright's away in New York, and you're here in Bedford Falls.

George: And all's fair in love and war?

Mrs. Bailey: Well, I don't know about war.

-Dialogue between George Bailey and his mother

"I love you truly, truly dear.

Life with its shadows, 

Life with its cheer,

Plays into dreams,

When I feel you are near.

I love you truly, truly dear."

-Duet by Bert and Ernie on George and Mary's wedding night

Quotes from the film White Christmas

Judy: Last night she couldn't sleep. Today she won't eat. She's in love.

Phil: Well, if that's love, somebody goofed.

Judy: Oh, it's love all right, but she's deliberately putting up barriers. I'll bet my bottom dollar on it.

-Judy and Phil discussing Betty and Bob

"Love, you didn't do right by me.

You planned a romance that just hadn't a chance

And I'm through.

Love, you didn't do right by me.

I'm back on the shelf and I'm blaming myself,

But it's you.

My one love affair didn't get anywhere

From the start.

To send me a joe who had winter and snow 

In his heart 

Wasn't smart.

Love, you didn't do right by me.

As they say in the song,

'You done me wrong.'

Yes, Mr. Love, 

You done me wrong."

-Betty Haynes, singing at the Carousel

"The two of us were having some laughs together and got away with loving each other."

-Bob to Betty

"We'll follow the old man wherever he wants to go

As long as he wants to go, opposite to the foe

We'll stay with the old man wherever he wants to stay

As long as he stays away from the battle's fray

Because we love him, we love him

Especially when he keeps us on the ball

And we'll tell the kiddies we answered duty's call

With the grandest son of a soldier of them all."

-Soldiers of the 151st division singing to Major General Tom Waverly

Love Note #38

"i get made fun of quite a bit for my cheesy love of christmas time. i'm too happy and i get too excited, apparently. but this time of year moves me in a way that's hard to explain without being cheesy.

in a world of brokenness and depravity, God sent Jesus.

and what does this gift mean for us? well, it's ridiculous really.

hope
healing
heaven
relationship with both God and man

see? ridiculous. so riduclous, in fact that it is worth celebrating every single year. it's worth making cookies for, it's worth throwing parties for, it's worth searching for the perfect gift, not to fulfill an obligation, but to communicate love and value to those God has put in our lives. to give out of what God has given to us. to honor the relationships of family and friends.

and i guess i do sort of get caught up in the magic of it all. cause if we all really knew how much God loves us, if we all really had the kind of joy that He wants us to have, if we believed in each and every moment that our hope is in heaven.....well, i guess that would be pretty magical, don't ya think?"

-Mandy Houle, from her blog post hustle and bustle

"It's gotta be more like falling in love than something to believe in. 

More like losing my heart than giving my allegiance...

It was love that made me a believer

More than a man of faith or creed

Fallin' in love with Jesus brought the change in me."

-Jason Gray, from the song "More Like Falling in Love"

"Your love is deeper than my view of grace,

Higher than this worldly place,

Longer than this road I travel,

Wider than the gap you fill..."

-Jami Smith, from the song "Your Love is Deep"

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, 

there can be no more hurt, only more love."

-Mother Teresa

"I'm Katie.

I want to be like Jesus.

I mess up a lot...

But He still loves me!"

-Katie Geglein

Love Note #37

"It is love to pay the price for truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding, but to give them away freely."

-Reflection on Proverbs 23:23

"I am learning slowly the pure joy of love."

-Claire Hollywell

"I love the lights, the trees, the green and red, the snow that's falling, the hats, the scarves, the scented candles, the wrapping paper, the bows, the holiday ham, the crazy shoppers, and so much more. I love this season! Merry Christmas!!!"

-Whitney Mitchell