Relationship with God

How many of you have ever wondered what it means to have a relationship with God?
In the Bible, Yeshua said, "‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’" It sounds really difficult to do that when we as humans have a hard time loving our neighbors (etc.) as ourselves.
How many of us love ourselves? Keeping in mind what love is...according to 1 Corinthians 13...4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails...
In Matthew 23:37, Yeshua said, "...How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" God looks at us as his children in need of His protection. With that in mind, how can we show our love for Him?
In John 14:15 Yeshua said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments", and again in verse 21, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 15:10 says, " If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 1 John 2:3-4 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."
According to GOD, to show our love for Him, we need to obey Him. The Commandments were written on stone with God's own hand. The New Covenant was for us to internalize those and have them written into our hearts...by learning to Love God and our fellow humans. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:20.

So...a relationship with GOD will be reflected in our willingness to obey Him. Do you love GOD?

Thoughts from the Monkey King

To love someone or to be in love with someone...what is the difference?

As was explained to me by someone very near and dear, to love someone is not the same as being 'in-love' with someone. You can love someone, and not be 'in-love' with that person. When you love someone you care for their welfare, their best interest, and you want them to be happy. When you are 'in-love' with someone, you actively participate in spending time with that person and you want to be with that person all the time. When you are in the presence of the person you are 'in-love' with, you feel an emptiness being filled...you feel complete and comfortable. I would not suggest that you take my word for it...but I have experienced it...so it is more than just loving that person...you're 'in-love' with that person.