Get the Book! From the Introduction to my book ABSOLUTE LOVE Published by Westbow Press.
"Love is not
sentimentality, not weak capitulation to others, not passive acceptance of all
things, and certainly not sexual intercourse. Love is humility, belief, trust,
acceptance, confidence, gratitude, compassion, freedom, stewardship,
servanthood, loyalty, purity, justice, rest, and determination. Love is the
overflowing character of the only absolute in the universe. It flows throughout
the One who is love and establishes everything.
Humility is the characteristic of
believing that gives us the ability to admit our needs, weaknesses, and
limitations so that we can submit to the power of God in our life and receive
our strength from Him and through others. It is not powerlessness; it knows
where the power comes from. Humility is the beginning of faith that love works
in us as we look outside of ourselves to I AM. Humility involves being able to
give to others but also to receive from others as we keep our eyes fixed on I
AM and thereby become more like Him in love. The key characteristic of humility
is mercifulness. The loss of humility brings about rebelliousness.
Belief is an
overwhelming sense of hope based on understanding of past actions and in the fulfillment of future promises that gives
encouragement so that we can be enthusiastic and self-stretching, in order that
we might grow through developing (God-given) potential. The key characteristic
of belief is hopefulness. The loss of belief brings about despair.
Trust is the
characteristic outgrowth of believing that gives us the ability to be open and
share who we are and what we have been given so that we can be catalysts in the
development of openness and candor in others. The key characteristic of trust
is openness. The loss of trust brings about suspiciousness.
Acceptance is the characteristic
outgrowth of believing that gives us the ability to forgive ourselves and
others so that healing and understanding can take place. The key characteristic
of acceptance is forgiveness. The loss of acceptance brings about a judgmental
nature.
Confidence is the characteristic outgrowth of
believing that gives us assurance of our being accepted and gives us the
ability to look past self-promotion to the promotion of others so that their
confidence is built up. The key characteristic of confidence is assuredness or
certainty. The loss of confidence brings about inconsistency.
Gratitude is the characteristic
outgrowth of believing that gives us the ability to look at all good things as
gifts from God and causes us to give in return so the gifts can be shared by
all. The key characteristic of gratitude is thankfulness. The loss of gratitude
brings about an expecting nature: ungratefulness.
Compassion is the characteristic
outgrowth of believing that gives us the ability to be gracious (giving
undeserved favor) and merciful (not demanding retribution) so that we might
live in a way that will be most beneficial to ourselves and others and glorify
God. The key characteristic of compassion is graciousness. The loss of compassion
brings about degradation, the using of others.
Freedom is the characteristic
outgrowth of believing that gives us the ability to set aside personal desires
and postpone pleasure (i.e., physical and emotional gratification), in order
that we are liberated to find complete satisfaction in God and be separated
from enslaving entanglements. The key characteristic of freedom is
purposefulness. The loss of freedom brings about insatiability, the inability
to be satisfied.
Stewardship is the characteristic of believing that gives us the ability to be
inter-connected with each other in a truly loving manner. We do not lose any
integral parts of ourselves or disintegrate into another person, yet we value
and need each other’s gifts and uniqueness for the full use and completion of
our own giftedness. The key characteristic of stewardship is carefulness. The
loss of stewardship brings about codependence, an inability to be helpful.
Servanthood is the characteristic of
believing that gives us the ability to worship in everything that we do by
looking to God to fill us and overflow through us into the lives of others for
thoughtful attentiveness to God’s desires for them. The key characteristic of
servanthood is submissiveness or interdependence. The loss of servanthood
brings about an uncaring attitude, inattentiveness.
Loyalty is the characteristic
outgrowth of believing that gives us the ability to remain true or faithful to
I AM, ourselves, and others so that we are not pushed or led along by demands
other than God’s. The key characteristic of loyalty is faithfulness. The loss
of loyalty brings about inconsistency.
Purity is the characteristic outgrowth
of believing that gives us the ability to be unmixed in our allegiance toward
God so that we won’t be driven by any other purpose than to love, glorify, and
enjoy God to the ultimate benefit, enjoyment, and fulfillment of ourselves and
others. The key characteristic of purity is objectiveness (integrity,
congruence). The loss of purity brings about confusion.
Justice is the characteristic
outgrowth of believing that gives us the ability to act rightly on behalf of
God so that despots (those who want to control, oppress, and use others for
personal gain) are not allowed to triumph and the defenseless are defended. The
key characteristic of justice is righteousness. The loss of justice brings
about either apathy or being overbearing (despotism).
Rest is the characteristic of
believing that gives us the ability to see past obstacles to our own well-being
and the well-being of others so that we can peacefully work to overcome those
obstacles and overthrow those who are setting them up. The key characteristic
of rest is peacefulness. The loss of rest brings about anxiety, panic.
Determination is the characteristic of
believing that gives us the ability to persist until that which has been
started is completed. The key characteristic of determination is steadfastness,
completion. The loss of determination brings about an inability to follow
through, indecision."
http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Love-R-I-Willroth/dp/1449718396
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