Your Birthday Coffee 08/27/2025

Good morning!

Welcome to your morning coffee! May our Heavenly Father help us to better understand what it means to love one another. Father, too many of us struggle to let others love us. Perhaps we think that we love well, but we are too often unwilling to be loved well by others. It can't be like this. Father, in the name of your Son Jesus, by the Spirit, help us to better understand the fullness of the command give to us, to love each other. Fully. Earnestly. Honestly. Amen.

Your Morning Song: "Resurrection Day" by Rend Collective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc7OcNceuVw

Your Morning Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly,

since love covers a multitude of sins.

...

Earnestly.

How many of us love each other earnestly?

Or better yet, when was the last time you gave some real time and effort to consider, "how am I doing at loving others?"

Here's one suggestion that might help you love others, and it is one of my least favorite.

It is my birthday today. I've never been comfortable with my birthday. Gifts are nice, but just a few. I don't want a party. I don't want to celebrate. I feel awkward. I don't like the "spotlight" being on me.

But what does that say to the ones that I love?

I love you. But you are not allowed to love me.

That is not Godly. That is not good. That is not selfless or humble. It is wrong.

If you want to love others well, you have to let them love you.

Sure. I agree that there are some people who take this too far and keep taking without ever giving. But that is for another day.

We cannot love well if we do not allow others to love us well. We are all commanded, by our Lord Jesus, to love each other. So, when you stop others from loving you, you are setting yourself against Jesus. Not the best life choice, if you ask me. And you're reading this, so you kind of are asking me.

So tonight I am going to celebrate my birthday with my wife and children. And there will be presents. And cake. And laughter.

And love.