Agape Love-Forgiveness

Love-We all know what it is.  We all have experienced it (hopefully) at one point time in our lives.  Love is very powerful.  Even the very word can tear someone heart apart or make their heart seemingly fly to the highest mountains.  Love is the very thing that gave us salvation.
But love is a very risky thing.  I have found myself putting my heart out, only to have it returned crushed and broken in a million pieces.  Love isn't something to be taken lightly.  If you truly love someone, you'll risk getting hurt even if you know that they will, at one point time or another, break your heart.
The word Agape is mentioned several times in the bible.  It is a love so selfless and pure that very few people ever experience it truly.  It is so great that God Himself came down to earth because of this type of love.  Agape love is very rare amongst people today, even amongst Christians.
Lately, I have been struggling very hard with two things: love and forgiveness.  My pastor preached about love and forgiveness Sunday morning, so I find myself struggling in these two areas especially.  He spoke on how we gave up our right to take revenge on those who have hurt us, and how we need the love of God to feel our hearts, so we can truly love them...even when they hurt us.
We need to love them like Christ loved us.  He was willing to sacrifice of Himself for our sakes, so why do we let the flesh have control, and, instead of extending mercy and forgiveness, we try to get revenge?  We only trap ourselves in doing so.
This week has been the ultimate test of love and forgiveness.  I felt like I had finally learned how to forgive, and like I didn't have problems with anyone anymore.  Then, even harder challenges arose.  I found myself nearly throwing in the towel and giving into that anger and bitterness that had snuck into my heart.  But (God really does have a sense of humor) God sent another messenger who talked on loving others and how we gave up the right to take revenge.  I really needed to hear that at that specific moment in time.
So, my question is, do you have trouble with forgiving those who have hurt you?  Are you demonstrating Agape love, or do you automatically shun a person when they hurt you?  Do you put your heart on the line, or hold some of yourself back?  Don't worry, I have trouble with this too, but, with God's help, we can overcome these two things.

Matthew 5:43-45

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁴³Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
 ⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
 ⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Beautiful-Outer Beauty

Okay, so I think all of us have trouble with our self-image at one point time or another.  Maybe it's not so much the inner beauty as it is the outer beauty that we struggle with.  I went to a family reunion this week, and I found myself comparing myself to all of these really thin and pretty female relatives I have.  Yes, the effects did last for a few hours, and on top of that, I was struggling with confusion on other people's opinion of me.  I asked God to help me see myself the way He sees me, to help me with these destructive feelings.
Yes, He did help me with these feelings.  He helped me to see that I shouldn't compare myself to others, when He made me in His image.  Mandisa put it this way:

"I am a sixteen year old daughter, lost in a mirror with no self esteem, but God made me in His image, and that makes me a beauty queen."

She was completely right about this.  God did make us in His image, right?  So why should we be ashamed if we have red hair when we want blonde?  Or when we want to be 120 pounds, but we're 140.  We don't have to let society's view of beauty affect our view of beauty.  We don't have to let Hollywood tell us that we need to be stick thin and anorexic to be pretty.  We don't have to cake on makeup, dye our hair, or wear skin tight clothing to be attractive.  You are beautiful just the way you are!
So, if you struggle with these feelings, just know that you are made in God's image, and you don't have to let anyone tell you what you need to look like to be beautiful.  You are what you say you are, and if you say you're beautiful, you are most definitely beautiful.

Proverbs 31:30
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Inadequacy

Yes, I admit that I may not be as pretty or as smart as the next girl, but I also admit that I am of some importance, for God chose to make me.  I struggle greatly with feelings of inadequacy.  In fact, it may be one of the hardest things I have ever had to overcome, but God has helped me, and will help me, with all those feelings that may rise to the surface.
I felt I needed to broach this subject, for I am positive there are many others feeling the same thing I do right now.  Know that you are NOT alone on this. 
Feelings of inadequacy often arise after heartbreaks and insults.  When a guy breaks up with you; when your friend betrays you or walks out of your life; even when somebody gets a higher score on a test than you.  All these things can bring feelings of inadequacy.  These feelings can tear you apart one by one, until you have no self-esteem whatsoever.
However, you need to know that you are precious in the eyes of God.  He made you in His image.  He is carefully guiding you with His mighty hand, even when it doesn't feel like it.  You DO NOT have to feel inferior to those around you.  God made you special and He loves you so much more than you can comprehend.  I am pleading with you that you bring these feelings to God, and allow Him to change your self-image.  You are beautiful, no matter what the world says.  You are special!  You are lovely and God loves you so, so much!  Don't allow others to ruin your self-esteem, for we are not what the world thinks, only what we see and think of ourselves are we.  Keep your faith in God, or, if you don't have any, pray that He will show you how to trust in Him, and follow Him.  Don't let this world try to shake you and give up your principles, values, and beliefs.

2 Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Together

I used to be the type of person that constantly wanted to be alone (mainly stemming from the rejection I felt from others).  I would sit in my room for hours reading, writing, and thinking.  Sometimes it would consume my day.  Eventually, I realized that I was pretty much a loner, and my life was a very forlorn life.
I know enjoy the company of others, and I treasure each and every moment with family.  I find beauty and splendor in the togetherness of people.  With friends and family you find laughter and life.  You suddenly no longer feel loneliness wrapping its claws around you.  God knew what He was talking about when he gave the inspiration for these verses in Ecclesiastes 4.

 ⁹Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
 ¹⁰For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
 ¹¹Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
 ¹²And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Now I just have to ask you one thing.  Do you live a lonely life?  Do you often find yourself alone and wishing somebody, anybody would come and talk to you or acknowledge you?  But then again, have you ever tried to talk to somebody else.  Don't deprive yourself of companionship because of fear, pride, or past hurts.  You NEED somebody in your life.  You can't go on living without anyone forever.
Just remember this post when you find yourself sitting alone.  Yes, a little alone time is good.  You don't need to be around people constantly.  However, don't allow yourself to live a lonely life.  Strive to live a life filled with laughter, friends, and family.  God wants you to live that kind of life.  He wants the very best for you.  Just remember that.

Proverb 27:17
 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.