Rick Springfield said it the best!

I've been waiting for God to give me a reason to interject Rick Springfield into one of my blog posts and today is the day! I admit it. I'm a Rick Springfield fan from the 1980's. I know most of his songs. I've been to two of his concerts, AND, I'm pretty sure I cried at both of them when he came out to sing. I know. That's probably not what you wanted to hear a Christian woman talk about today. But it's the truth.

Rick Springfield makes me think about love. BUT WAIT! Before we go any further let me make one thing straight. God knows my heart and He knows I'm a committed follower of Jesus Christ and not Rick Springfield. And, God knows that my husband, Dean, is the love of my life and there is no other man for me. But, God also knows that the teenager in me just loves Rick's music. It takes me back to my younger years and some fun memories. It takes me back to a time when life was simpler and I drove a Camero. Rick's music does make me think about a lot of people and things I love.

Love is important to us Christians. The Bible tells us that God is love. The God of the Bible is actually called The God of Love. We also know that we love others because God first loved us. The Bible also tells us that God so loved us that He sent His Son to pay for our sins. That's an amazing love! Love is important to God. So important that He even told us how to love. Check out these verses:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7.

This kind of love seems hard, but it's so beautiful when we love this way. When we are patient and kind, it shows the most beautiful kind of love for someone. When we are not proud or rude, we are showing love to others. When we are not irritable and when we forgive rather than keeping up with someone's wrongful actions, then we have loved well. Love rejoices in truth and it never gives up. I like the thought of this kind of love. 

So, what am I saying to you here today? What would God have us do in this world? Well, in the infamous words of Rick Springfield from his 1980's hit song.....

"You better love somebody!!"

Jesus - help us to love others like you love us. And thank you for Rick Springfield. May he find you and know your kind of love if he doesn't already. - In Jesus' name, Amen.

For a deeper study read and journal about what God tells you in the following scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 13
• Matthew 5:43-48
• John 3:16
• 1 John 4:8
• Galatians 5:22-23

PS - I confess that my ringtone on my phone is "You Better Love Somebody". I believe it's a perfectly acceptable ringtone for a Pastor. Just sayin'.