Inspired to Inspire : Week Number Two: Paris, Venette & Snow!

This week was so awesome! Awesome is actually an understatement. The time I spent with my french family was refreshing, comfortable, and very welcoming. I am beyond grateful to have had the ability to stay with a fully french family, to be taken in as a daughter, sister, and friend. My family hosted Mathilde about two years ago for three weeks during the summer for an exchange program. We hosted french students almost every year, but have yet to host a student as warm, kind, and fun as Mathilde. She bonded with my family right away and seemed to enjoy herself as much as we enjoyed having her. When I arrived at the Burki household, Theophil (Mathilde's younger brother) and Jeanne (Mathilde's younger sister) were shy and kept to themselves for the most part. But as time went on... dance parties, cookie making projects, family dinner, and snack time seemed to break the ice. I have truly found some loving and fun little siblings. I enjoyed every giggle, every random dance party, and all the (french) conversations I did not understand at the dinner table.

Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks.
Boy, this book was a page-turner. If you have not read it, I would recommend it for everyone. Mostly women actually cause its basically a chick flick, but regardless. After reading this book, I started wondering why women have such an idealistic view of what relationships should look like. Romance novels, romantic comedies, and modern media has brainwashed society to think that there is a perfect guy for every perfect girl. This perception women have seemed to throw me. Why do women believe this? Why are women always so disappointed with their "less than perfect" relationships? What does love really mean in a love-marriage society? All of these questions seemed to roam my mind and linger in my thought pattern this week. A mentor of mine bought me a book called, "Passion and Purity" which has started to open my mind to the purpose that Christ had for love. I've always believed that love was a choice as well as a feeling. Unconditional love is one that is portrayed in many families; no matter what you've done or continue to do, they will still love you. This isn't shown in every family, but for the majority of what I've seen in my own life, this seems to be the case. When the question crossed my mind, "What is perfect love?"a couple verses came to me,

"God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God..."
-1 John 4:16

This explains a lot.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
-1 John 4:18

Ok, so perfect love casts out all fear. And God is love, so God casts out all fear. That makes sense.

"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
-Romans 5:5

The love of God is in our hearts, given to us by the Holy Spirit. Alrighty.

"You love is like fire that burns for all to see, my only desire, to worship at your feet, so let this fire consume my life.

Let your love take me deeper, draw me closer to where you are, cause all I want is more of you."

-Hillsong, Love Like Fire

The Holy Spirit can speak to you in many different ways, as long as you are patient and listen intently. These verses, as well as this song opened my mind and heart to the purpose and plan God had for love here on earth. Love is not about the humans needs and wants, love is about the unconditional, sacrificial, and perfect act Christ showed us. When God sent his son to earth, he gave us love, in human form. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was perfect love; and that is the love that casts out all fear, that draws us to his feet, that dwells in our hearts. Truly an amazing gift. The conclusion I came to this week was that the love society searches for here on earth is not the same love God created. Perfect love is displayed in many ways on earth, but only through and in Christ.

Anyway.. SNOW! It snowed a bunch here! The kids and I went out to play in the snow for at least an hour for the three days it snowed. Definitely a fun time. I forgot how fulfilling it is to throw snowballs at peoples faces. Sounds harsh, but the enjoyment was mutual among my french siblings. The snow seems to bring out the child in everyone; the idea of having no school is probably the most exciting thing that could happen.

So excited for the new adventure which begins tomorrow on move in-day! Nervous? slightly. Excited? Heck yes!

Colossians 3:2 "Set your minds on things above, not on earlthy things."