For the Love of my Life

Since we are in the month when predominantly the "love is in the air", let me share to you my poem for my sweet inspiration - the Love of my life!

Actually, I have written this way back 2011 in my past post about the 6 Types of Love. (And if you would like to know what type of love is dominant in you, please do check it out.)

For the Love of my Life

© 2011 Erickson Ibana

That when everything else around me seems to fail,

And when my faith seems to falter,

When all I hold on to seems to be gone,

And all my hopes and dreams  seem to vanish.

When things are not going as I first expected,

And frustrations seem to eat away my flickering faith…

Whenever I look at your love for me,

And focus on your unconditional love,

Everything around me starts to dim,

Giving me another reason to strive,

And run this race called “life”,

For You and only You, my God, my Friend.

I might consider myself a failure in this "area" (one reason might be my extreme introversion, most especially towards the person that I like, and other "valid" reasons), but there is one thing that I have proven to be true all along - Jesus Christ, with His unconditional love, did not leave me even at those times when my faith on Him was weak and rather chose to please myself.

I might not know the future yet (and that includes my future wife), but I am sure He will never leave me (because He promised it, and I believe He will keep His promise).

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Hebrews 13:5

You might have found your "better half" already or still in the progress of meeting that person, but still, know that it is Jesus Christ who is the only Person who can love you unconditionally - but you have to let Him love you first by surrendering your life and turning away from your sinful ways.

I hope and pray that God would open your heart and your eyes, by His grace, for you to see how you really need Jesus Christ in your life. And to fully experience a lasting satisfaction from this "Love Month" on!

© 2014 Erickson Ibana

Image can be found at http://www.saidaonline.com/en/news.php?go=fullnews&newsid=34982

I Miss You

I’m experiencing this really strange feeling of missing you every single second of the day, having  a picture of you in my mind and longing for your presence in my life, hoping that someday you’ll be mine..~Author Unknown 

Have you already felt this kind of feeling?

• Longing to be with that person;
• Wanting to see that person's face;
• Desiring to spend the day with that person, even though you've just met...

As Alfred Tennyson says:

I hold it true, whate’er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

But, before you label it as "LOVE", first evaluate yourself.

• Is it just a mere "crush" or as Dictionary.com says:

"A brief but intense infatuation for someone."

• Is it just because you admire something in that person, may it be looks, attitude, or a personality?

• Is it just because almost all of your interests are the the same with that person?

"Love" is much greater than those circumstances described above.

• Love knows how to wait. As Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 says:

 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

• Love does not envy, is not proud, is not selfish. As 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 says:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

• Love does not delight in evil, always trusts, always hopes.  As 1 Corinthians 13:7 says:

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Do not just trust what your heart dictates. The heart purely relies on emotions, and emotions are very quick to fade depending on circumstances, standards, or incidences.

In fact, Jeremiah 17:9 says:

 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?

Instead, ask God to lead your heart - for He knows what your heart truly desires and He knows everything that is in your mind as well. Jeremiah 17:10 says:

 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”  

And Psalm 37:3-5 says:

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
       
 Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him.

Entrust to God your heart, you will not be disappointed! :)

© 2011 Erickson Ibana

How Do You Know You're in Love?

How do you know you’re in love?

a. when you feel that tingling sensations in your belly

b. when you are already seeing that person's face on your coffee

c. when you are hearing that person's voice almost everywhere you go

d. when you can’t sleep or eat well, without seeing that person first

Quite familiar? Honestly, those were my definitions of love before. High school life seems not complete without these scenarios. These experiences seem to add color to your teen life. As I remember it, there were times when it seemed the day was not complete if I didn't get to see her. And when she was ill, it seemed that I would fly towards her just to let her know that I care.

But, are these the real indicators of what true love is? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails…

As I have pondered on these things, I’ve realized that my definitions of love was a way too far from what true love is. Love is patient, but I was impatient if I didn’t see her everyday. Love does not envy, but I felt so terribly envious whenever she talks to any other boys in the class.

Then, how could we grow in the true love? Quoting Vernon Grounds, a former writer for Our Daily Bread, who has been married for more than 70 years:

Ponder God’s love in Christ. Take time to reflect on how He gave His life for you. Read about Him in the Gospels, and thank Him.

Pray for the love of God. Ask Him to give you an understanding of His love and to teach you how to live that out in your relationships with your spouse and others (1 Cor. 13).

Practice the love of God. Give of yourself. A newlywed told me he thinks love is practical. He said, “My responsibility is to make life easier for my spouse.” The other, tougher side of love is to challenge each other to act in godly ways.

Perhaps you ask “Hey! I was talking about love, but why is it that you’re talking about love of God?!”

Actually, the source of true love is God Himself. 1 John 4:7-8 says:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Indeed, love is NOT JUST purely emotions. It is not just that time-stopping ♪♫ "why-do-birds-suddenly-appear-when-I-know-that-you're-here" ♪♫ experience... 

And the ultimate example of true love? 1 John 4:9-10 says:

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus loves you so much, and if you’d let Him, He would show you more how much He loves you!

Now, how do you know you’re in love?

© 2011 Erickson Ibana