Love

Today I have been asked to speak at Church about Love, this is a new experince for me. this is the written version of what I will say.

To the 10 am Redcliffe UC congreation.

Today is the day that we want to be sure, that you are totally maxed out with love, for this Christmans time. So full of love, that there is heaps to spare, that it is overflowing, wetting your feet and touching the hearts of all those people you come across in the next few days,
We are not talking about that human love that waxes and wanes, that can be needy, or demenading.
But Gods love, the love that is always there, the love that is in every breath we take, the love that makes flowers bloom, Gods love is the love that holds everything in place and keeps everything moving foreward.
Before I became a Christian I was a "New Ager". I had always searched for love, human love and I have found it to be elusive and insecure. When I was a "New Ager" I had love, but we called it the light. My tiny human understanding of God need more, and so God sent me Jesus. I get Jesus love, I get that God sent a baby, his son, who grew into a man,- to show us the way. And the way is to love one another.
Its not a love that wants something back, not a love that has conditions or is dependant. You know we can be in a room of people who love us, and still feel un loved. Gods love for us is our very foundation, the rock of our lives and through Jesus we are told what love is , in Pauls first letter to the Corinthians he repeated what Jesus had taught him. " If I have no love than I am nothing". Sometimes I feel like nothing when the Humans around me don’t love me the way I want them to. What keeps me together is knowing Gods love.
Jesus love, is a love that serves, nurtures, heals, and forgives, it is constant and gracious.
At this Christmas time we are called to stand up for Jesus, to spread the news of his mirical birth, and to be the embodiment of Gods love for human kind.
So lets get down to the nitty gritty of this time, It can easily be, a really stress full time, we all know that. And I am going to ask to you rise above that stress, and embrace the people around you. To behave as Jesus would, enjoy the joy, the hospitality, and the people around you.

Serve out of love, not because of a sense of duty or obligation. If you feel obliged to serve, either change your attidue, or don’t bother serving, because service without love, is meaningless, in Gods world.
The really big thing to remember is that sharing the Love of God, is a Choice you make
So here is a little exercise you can do if it all getting to much, (everyone stand), Ok raise your hands in the air,- take a deep breath, -and another one, and say " God please fill me with your grace and love". Amen.
If you see others stressing out, have a quite prayer for them, smile offer to help, laugh it off with them, be there for them, let them feel the love from your Maxed out heart. Remember love is good, love is kind, love is generous.
And God loves you.

At the end of the service, everyone was invited to experience some love. In a walk through, that touched all the senses.

We burn't Sandal wood and rose insence, and played Bethovens "Moonlight. Sonata" The lights were dimmed and we had fairy lights.

Walking through the curtians, touch, beautiful soft fabrics.

Here is Kurtis, my Angel (Ha Ha) he sat very quitely, and sprayed everyones feet with rose water.

Taking a moment to stop, see your reflection, and say God Loves Me.

Someone who cares.

The walk through finished with hugs, and a cold drink, strawberry/rose/kaffir lime cordial, I made mixed with sodawater.

It was great, and I would like to give a big thanks, and hug to Jen, for helping and being so much fun, and to the REV Pete, for allowing such creativity.