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“God loves each of us with a most tender and personal love. His longing for me is dearer than my longing for him.”
“Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in his love than in your weakness.” (St. Teresa of Calcutta, Everything Starts From Prayer, Ed. Anthony Stern)
And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts (AV, “shed abroad”; Greek, “pour out, spill, gush out [Strong’s Concordance]") with his love. (Romans 5.5, NLT)
“Love cannot be appropriated as an abstract idea; it must be encountered, it must be participated in. It must be allowed to work its transforming power in our hearts, at the center of our identity, where its affirmation is received and responded to.” (Theodore Runyon, The New Creation)
“Is thy faith energoumene di agapes—filled with the energy of love.” (John Wesley, “Catholic Spirit”)
“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.” Blaise Pascal
"There are two types of persons in this world: those who know and trust that Love is the most potent force in the Universe and those who, even if they they say they know such, do not trust that Love is the most potent force in the Universe. Indeed, our actions will show to what extent we trust this Love." Brian K. Wilcox
Spiritual Exercise
The above quotes are for you to reflect upon. Take at least one and meditate upon its meaning. Recall, St. Paul encourages us each to “pursue love” (I Corinthians 14.1, AV). Ultimately, our lives do not consist in what we think but how much we love.
Prayer
Spirit of Love, pour your love into and throughout my heart, that I might pour your love into and throughout your world. Amen.
Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union, can be ordered through major bookdealers.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
The People of the
United Methodist Church
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