Feel The Love

Feel the Love

Philippians 2:1-2

-Valentine’s Day is a couple of days away, and with love in the air, many couples all over the world will be saying “I do” to each other on Feb. 14.

-But unlike years past, not many will leave their reception with a shower of rice.

By the mid-1990s, it was common knowledge that the uncooked rice would kill unsuspecting birds. The rice would swell in their stomachs, cause them to burst, and cause a tragic death.

-So the tradition of rice, superstitiously believed to foster fertility, was abandoned and alternatives like birdseed, confetti, and bubbles were established.

-Ironically, there is no truth to the idea that rice is a threat to birds. Miyoko Chu, a Cornell University ornithologist (bird expert), has stated there are no documented cases of birds dying as a result of eating rice. She says, "In fact, house sparrows, red-winged blackbirds and bobolinks eat it all the time in the wild."

-Weddings and marriage are surrounded by so many myths. If a whole country can be duped by misinformation about rice, how many more people are being misled by the idea that when they get marry, they will live happily ever after; no arguing or fighting, because, if they are madly in love, they will have the perfect marriage. Right?

-Alicia thought she had the perfect fiancé. As she was getting to know Michael and his family, she was very impressed by how much his parents loved each other.

"They’re so thoughtful," Alicia said. "Why, your dad even brings your mom a cup of hot coffee in bed every morning."

After a time, Alicia and Michael were engaged, and then married.

On the way from the wedding to the reception, Alicia again remarked on Michael’s loving parents and his mom’s morning coffee in bed.

"Tell me," she said, "does it run in the family?"

"It sure does," replied Michael. "But you should know -- I take after my mom."

-When the honeymoon is over, and weeks give way to months which give way to years, the love that once burned with passion often becomes a weak flame.

Question: What has happened? Where has the love gone?

Many wish they could rekindle the fire, to make it like it first was.

-A woman woke up and told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s day. What do you think it means?"

"You’ll know tonight." he said.

That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it - to find a book entitled "The Meaning of Dreams"

Sadly today, Valentine dreams are turning into nightmares at an alarming rate.

George Barna, statistician, reports, "Boomers are virtually certain to become the first generation for which a majority experience divorce."

But in spite of all the failed relationship attempts, each of us still has a strong need and desire to love and be loved.

Question: What can be done to make our Valentine dreams come true? How can we rekindle the flame in our marriages, or feel the love? What about as a church? How can we as a church family begin to feel the love that should exist among us?

I believe the Bible provides the answer. Scripture is full of rich insights of rekindling the love. One place in the Bible you might not have thought much about is found in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi.

Paul wrote this “love letter” to people who were struggling in the area of unity. Apparently there were some problems between some of the members, two of which he named: Euodia and Syntyche.

In the 2nd chapter, we discover sound advice from Paul for unity in the body.

These principles can help us become the loving family God wants us to be, but will also work for married couples, to strengthen their relationship with one another.

So to rekindle the dream, and feel the love,

1. Encourage one another.

Philippians 2:1a If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

Question: When was the last time you praised someone with encouraging words?

Someone noted, "Man doesn’t live by bread alone. He also needs buttering up."

And there’s some truth to that! Life is difficult enough. We all need encouragement, a pat on the back, a boost in our daily lives.

George M. Adams comments, There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come through encouragement from someone else. I don’t care how great, how famous or how successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause. —

-One man tells about seeing love in action when he watched his grandson’s Tee-ball game. A little boy came up to the plate. He swatted the ball off the tee and ran as fast as he could to third base.