There Is No “I” in L-O-V-E

On February 23, 2011, as I was dressing and thinking about the Lord, this thought occurred to me: “In order to truly LIVE as a person, I must empty myself in order to LOVE. There is no ‘I’ in L-O-V-E!” At the time I was listening to Matt Redman’s  ”If I Have Not Love.” The song was followed by Phillips, Craig, and Dean’s “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us.” This poem was inspired by John 15 and Pastor Mark Cowper-Smith’s series “God Opposes the Proud.”

There is no “I” in L-O-V-E.
Even so in I AM, there are three.
You planned it all before creation,
That we become one holy nation.

As God the Father, You sent Your Son at just the right hour.
Jesus emptied Himself of glory, position, and power.
Hosts of angels sang “Glory to God” with joyful delight,
As the Spirit of our salvation descended that night.

Oh, what a day when true love came to earth!
Your gift of love and life brought our new birth.
The Father commands, the Son says and does.
With great love for mankind, the Spirit draws.

With heart bowed in thankful admiration,
Thank You, dear God, for Your invitation.
I humbly lay down my will to Yours.
Yielded, I kneel at Destiny’s doors.

There is no “I” in L-O-V-E.
True love demands the gift of me.
My heart joined to one another’s
And strangers become my brothers.

No longer a slave to sin, it’s true.
You chose me to go and produce fruit.
Now and for all time I am Your friend.
My promise to You is without end.

Jesus, my Bridegroom, I wear Your ring in my heart;
A circle, the symbol without finish or start.
Thank You for Your gift of peace in heart and mind.
Intimately, You know me, my Prince Divine.

Forever You’ve given me Your name.
In You I chose to always remain.
Just as the Father loves You, You will love me.
My joy overflows as our hearts become we.

On February 23, 2011, as I was dressing and thinking about the Lord, this thought occurred to me: “In order to truly LIVE as a person, I must empty myself in order to LOVE. There is no ‘I’ in L-O-V-E!” At the time I was listening to Matt Redman’s  ”If I Have Not Love.” The song was followed by Phillips, Craig, and Dean’s “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us.” This poem was inspired by John 15 and Pastor Mark Cowper-Smith’s series “God Opposes the Proud.”