equipped to love

Last night and today there was an equipping time held at church. I sat in on two classes, gleaning from each a measure of new knowledge. Having a fair amount of dreams, i thought i would check out the dream workshop. What i learned in one short hour was good enough for me to know that my dreams are pretty self explanitory. They are generally directional- for myself. and all this time i thought they were so for everyone else! visions? definately self explanitory. So. On to prophetic. Here, i learned that my prophetic gift is also pretty weak, but my love quotion is large. During the morning session, the word EQUIP was discussed. It means to mend, repair, complete, strengthen, perfect--so that we may become ALL that we have been created to be. That brings us to love. Because if we are to truly equip another, we must love them to allow them to be who they are. If we are to be fully equipped, we also must know love or we won't know the safety to be ourselves. My own love quotion is large, because i have been loved well. But, i have not always loved well in return. Many who know me, know that i can love well. However, i believe it's time to love at a new level. a Jesus level- It's great, of course to say that. but what does that look like in my daily life? How can i- how can we- love more effectively? How can we help to truly equip? In a recent discussion, a question was raised about Christian love and how it seems (often) to be conditional. IF the person is willing to be transformed, we can love them thru that process. But truth is, Christ alone is the Author and the Perfector. He only calls us to love as He loves. That is without conditions. So, my first step is to drop the conditions. Love them as they are, so they might become all they are to be. Someone mentioned today, that to love well, we have to be willing to look for the treasure(pearl) buried in each persons field. ( Matthew 13) We have to be willing to purchase the whole field to find and cultivate that pearl. The gates of Heaven are likened to pearls. (Rev 21) Maybe when we learn to find the pearls well, we will also find the gates of Heaven. I have been loved well. My heart is mended. Tho i am not completed or perfect, I am strong in the LORD. If you have not been loved well, allow God to strengthen you thru His Son Jesus our Redeemer. Look for places to become equipped. Many times, as we reach out to others their love reaches out to us. Start simply, by showing love to those you find easiest to love. Then move up a step. Take a chance on love and your heart will be opened to recieve more. We can restore each other as we love each other. One day at a time. Becoming equipped to love.