Hey guys, hope you guys have gained new insights into love through other people's eyes. =)
By now, you would have realised that love means a different thing to each individual. =P
Isn't it wonderful to see that we are all reading the same text, but the things that we get out of it is oh-so-different? =)

After yesterday's reading on Love God with All Your Heart, I thought it's good that today's reading is on Love God with All Your Soul.
Of the 4 things mentioned in previous day, namely heart, soul, mind, and strength, soul is the only component where you can't pinpoint a part of the body for.

Don't believe me?
Heart -> Heart
Mind -> Brain (Head)
Strength -> Muscles (People normally point to their biceps. =P )

But what about soul?
If you point to your heart, what about heart? If you point to your brain, what about mind?

There is just no one way to pin-point where the soul is, but know that, as Pastor Holladay has mentioned, our passion and desires. It is the personality that God has given you. It is also your will to decide, to determine your direction in life. Basically, it's LIFE! =)

During Pastor Patrick's God is Love sermon, he mentioned that Love is a choice. It is an action, not an emotion.
With the soul that God gave us, it is actually our choice whether we want to love our God back or not. Bear in mind that this is a God who can do anything. He called the universe to be, and created us. He could have easily created us to become robots, but He didn't.
Do you choose to love God today? =)

In order to love God properly, there are a few ways that have been mentioned.
I shall attempt to put it into today's terms so that you can relate better to it. =)

1. Seek Him Passionately
You know that girl/boy you've been eyeing for a while? The first name in your MSN that you always check to see if she/he is online or not, and possibly attempt to start a conversation? The one whose updates you always check facebook for?
Suppose God has facebook and MSN, do you think you would check if God is online and talk to Him? Would you go to God's profile and check if He has any new updates?

If answered yes, good on you! =)
Do know that if God is on MSN, he'll probably be on it 24/7 so that you can talk to Him anytime you want. =P
If He's on facebook, He'll probably have endless people writing on His wall, because everyday is a testimonial. Every moment is a testimony waiting to be shared with the world, by people who have chosen to have a relationship with him. =)

2. Love Him Personally
You know how people like to receive handmade gifts? How it's not about the cost of the object, but the thought that counts?
If I were to receive a sports car(example only... =X) every day, would I still think it's valuable?
But if I receive like a different card, or greeting, or maybe even just a simple text to check up on my well-being everyday, do you think I would feel more loved instead?
Guess what?
So does God! =P

Our God also wants us to love Him personally.
Just because someone else is doing it, doesn't mean you have to do it?
Will you jump off a bridge just because everyone else is doing it? =P

Just as God has created every single one of us to be unique individuals, and has given us different gifts, He also wants us to love Him back personally.
We don't all have to give thanks to God via the same way.
We can all love God in our individual unique way. =)

3. Decide to Do What He Wants You to Do
Ok, here's the tough part.
You know how your other half, even parents sometimes, request something from you, and they end it with "You would do it if you love me."?
God doesn't demand that you do the same, but instead, He has given you a choice to decide.

Despite knowing that our God is a almighty God, who knows everything, and He has plans not to harm us, but for us to prosper (Jeremiah 29:11), sometimes, it's just hard.
However, just as we chose to trust our parents when they pushed us downhill on a bicycle so that we will learn how to cycle, we have to learn to trust God more with each passing day. =)
If we allow Him to guide us with His knowledge and wisdom about what's going to happen in this lifetime, we will all be destined for greatness, and prosperity. =)

I've always thought the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Lost Son was only talking about the people who have back-slided in their walk with God. But through the book, it has also taught me an important lesson through the shepherd, woman who lost the coin, and the father. Their passion to find that one thing. How they rejoiced when what was once lost, was found.

Once we have made the choice and seek God (with all our heart), He promises that He will be found by us, and He will bring us back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29: 13-14)

If we can seek God with all our soul, with the passion and desire to find God, seek after His heart for this world, and apply it into our everyday lives, I believe that is the day where we have really made the decision to love God.

So...

What is your decision today? =)