What is “Perfect Love”?

The tiny Delta Commuter flight that was to deliver me to Little Rock sang the normal squeaks and rattles, competing with the squealing baby seated behind me. As we taxied down the runway, I rested my head backwards, closed my eyes and began to pray. Mind you, my honey had already prayed for me, a sweet girlfriend had called me on the phone and prayed for me and I had already laid  hands on the little airplane door as I entered and prayed. All those things are routine for me, before–during and after, every airplane flight.

You see, I pretty much hate to fly. Unlike my daughter who is FLYING this little plane in Alaska!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God has absolutely performed a miracle in me when it comes to airplane travel. There are now actually times now when I ENJOY a flight! He is good!

Up until the last 3 years I have done a pretty good job in my life, of avoiding my fears and airsickness, by just NOT flying. Then God called me up. Up to the air that is. When STS was published, I knew that I was going to have the opportunity to share some ideas with leaders in the church on how to minister to this particular heartbreak that is filling the pews.

I knew God was calling me UP, out of the comfort zone of my little local ministry, into the Nations.

So….I have been flying.

I have flown in and out of just about every state in the US multiple times. I have had more bumpy flights than smooth ones. I have flown in rain, hail, snow, those puffy white clouds that look so pretty but make me want to throw up. I have flown on airplanes that are so huge I can not wrap my brain around them staying in the air. I have flown on airplanes so tiny they look like they belong in a toy box.

I fly only because I absolutely know God has called me to go where I go. I fly afraid. I fly sick. I fly with tears running down my face. I fly squished in next to people who, bless their hearts, take up their seat and mine. I fly because I desire with all that is within me to capture every ounce of blessing that God has planned for my life and to offer every ounce of surrender I can muster to make His name known.

On that day, as I silently uttered my normal prayers I heard God say, and not for the first time, “Perfect Love Casts out Fear”.

I asked Him, “Lord, what IS perfect love? I know you love me but I still have fear so that must mean I don’t HAVE perfect love, right?  How do I find “Perfect Love? I am not sure I will or can ever accomplish that, can I ?”

The next WORD I heard from God was “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit”.

It makes me think of my love for my honey. We have been married for 36 years. We have been to the dark side and back in our marriage. God rescued us and put us back together when we looked like a sad version of Humpty Dumpty. I LOVE my husband, with all that  is within me, but, man, does he hack me off sometimes–they are usually VERY important times…Like when he uses a whole bunch of dish towels in the kitchen when one would do. Or when he doesn’t have his cell phone on and I am trying to call him. Or how he parks his car in the middle of the driveway and I can’t get my car out of the garage. This is BIG stuff and it rattles my “LOVE” walk.

The truth is–

I do not love my husband perfectly.

I do not love my children perfectly.

I do not love God perfectly but HE loves ME perfectly and is always working HIS LOVE out in me.

Not by might–Not by power but by HIS SPIRIT, I press on.

How about you? I would love to hear how you measure your Love Walk, with God, with your family.