What is Love?

God answered the question for us over and over again.  I have heard it a million times, but have I really listened?  I just wanted to share a little trick a friend taught…

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  New International Version (NIV)

Love is Patient...

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Now, replace the word LOVE with your name.

Amanda is patient, Amanda is kind. Amanda does not envy,  does not boast,  is not proud.   Amanda does not dishonor others,  is not self-seeking,  is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.   Amanda does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.   She always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I dont know about you, but that humbles me and inspires me simultaneously.  I cant say with honesty that I am any of those things.

God calls us to be love.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith Hope Love
While Valentines Day is commonly called a man-made holiday, I do appreciate the idea that we are given an opportunity to show love to others.

Even if we dont spend one cent, just try and be love to others today.  Replace your name in 1 Corinthians, then model it.  You could be giving someone a priceless gift.

I know that is what I am going to focus on, as well as trying to be an example for my kids!

May your day be blessed and full of faith, hope, and love.

 

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Whole World vs. Soul

I just wanted to share a story with you that really touched my heart.  I hope it will yours as well!

 

 

Not a lot of press coverage was given to the tough Argentine golfer Robert De Vincenzo, but one story from his life shows his greatness as a person.

After winning a tournament, De Vincenzo received a check on the eighteenth green, flashed a smile for the camera’s, and then walked alone to the clubhouse.  As he went to his car, he was approached by a sad-eyed young woman who said to him, “Its such a good day for you, but I have a baby with an incurable disease.  Its of the blood, and the doctors say she will die.”

De Vincenzo paused and then asked, “May I help your little girl?”  He then took out a pen, endorsed his winning check, and then pressed it into her hand.

“Make some good news for the baby,” he said.

A week later as he was having lunch at a country club, a PGA official approached him saying, “Some of the boys in the parking lot told me you met a young woman after you won the tournament.”  De Vincenzo nodded.  The official said, “Well, she’s a phony.  She has no sick baby.  She fleeced you my friend.”

The golfer looked up and asked, “You mean that there is no baby who is dying without hope?”  This time the PGA official nodded.

De Vincenzo grinned and said, “that’s the best news I’ve heard all week.”

 

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

1 Timothy 6:6-7

The preceding story is from Gods Little Devotional Book, published by Honor Books.  Its a great book and I encourage you to get it if you need little boosts of faith.

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Family Holiday Gatherings: A Biblical Perspective

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Having hubby home, the spirit behind the seasons, the amazing food… its all enough to make me dream about these holidays for weeks before hand.

But there is another side to gatherings, one that can be sometimes stressful.

The truth is sometimes we just dont get along.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I deal with family.  Sometimes I look for the negative and not the positive in the people I love.  Sometimes I react to them in defensiveness based on my own issues, not on what they have actually said.  Sadly, its been easier for me to be in a pattern of critical thinking during those long holiday gatherings.

I forget how impactful the words I say are, and how lasting their impression is.  Even if what I am saying is not a true reflection of my heart, but simply an indication of a sour emotions or a bad attitude.

I came across these verses and I believe they have a direct correlation to how I can choose to think about extended time with family.

1 Peter 3:10-11 NLT

For the Scriptures say,  “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.  Turn away from evil and do good.  Search for peace, and work to maintain it…”

I love that part, “search for peace”.  What if I looked for good in others?  On purpose?

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 NLT

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.  For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

This is Paul talking to the Corinthians.  One interpretation I heard of this message was that he was saying to them, “I am not here to listen to the gossip or the quarrels.  I am not focusing on this things of this world, I only want to focus on Jesus.”

I can only imagine the changes that others would see in me if my focus was truly on Him!  If I did not get caught up in strife, yet set my focus to the Lord.

Proverbs 19:11 ESV

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

One observation that I have noticed is that the deeper you love someone, the more vulnerable we are to feeling hurt.  I dont know about you, but I have heard words from family or close friends that cut like a knife.  Coming from a stranger would not have nearly the impact.

I know that those people love me,  and want the best for me, but I cant help but be torn up at how painful their sharp words are.  The above verse speaks to that so acutely for me.  I know I would want my family to forgive me when I say things I shouldnt, and here God is telling us that it is wise to do this right away!  Dont let things fester and turn into bitterness.  Forgive and let go.

Here are a few more versus that can help a troubled heart:

1 John 4:19-21 ESV

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Romans 12:18 ESV

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

John 13:34 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

From the OpenBible.info.

 Heavenly Father,

I pray that your holy words will be permanently cemented into my heart.  That I will look for the good in others always.  That I will seek positive and loving words when speaking.  That I will honor you with my thoughts and actions.

Lord, please bless my family and our time together.  Help me to overlook things that may hurt, and to forgive as readily as You forgive me.  Help me to be an example of Your peace and love.  Help me to love others as You love them.

Thank you for this wonderful time we have together, where we can celebrate the birth and life of your Son.

In Your precious name I pray!

Amen.

 

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Love is Patient… Right?

I came across this “Love” passage for kids from the Adventure Bible.  My kids really like this Bible!

We were reading 1 Corithinans passage last night, the famous one you hear at weddings.

“Love is Patient, Love is kind…”

This Adventure Bible had a little different take on it, and for some reason it really spoke to me.

“Love will stand in line and wait its turn.

Love looks for the good in others.

Love doesnt always want what others have,

and it doesnt brag about what it does have.

Love is polite, even when the other person is rude.

Love doesnt have to be first.

Love doesnt get angry over small things,

and doesnt remember one reason after another to be hurt.

Love isnt happy when someone else fails

but is happy with the truth.

Love will always protect others,

especially those who are picked on or teased.

Love always believes the best about others and is steady and true.

Love never gives up.“

While I still believe the “original” version is brilliant and wonderful and compelling, for some reason this childs version spoke to me.

I dont know if I have been struggling with sin more in this holiday season, but I felt such a pang of conviction when reading, “Love is polite, even when others are rude.”

Have I been polite in the face of rudeness?  Sadly, no.

Have I held on to anger, found sin in others, or wanted what someone else had? Yes.

If the Lord is convicting me of something, there is a good reason.  If the Lord has shown me His holy and sacred word in a way that is specific and personal, then I know He is trying to reach me.

Today I will read this verse.  Today I will say this verse.  And today, I will try my hardest to live this verse.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Thank you Lord, for not giving up on this wretched sinner!

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My Worst Possible Fear

Birthdays are an exciting event around this house.  No matter whose birthday it is, it is cause for celebration.  When Chad and I told the kids that we were heading over to Uncle Jamie’s house for his 60th birthday, they reacted with screams of delight. Upon arriving they were not [...] Read more »

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Forgive Me

I read this quote recently, and it conjured up a variety of counterproductive emotions in me. “I like to define forgiveness as ‘giving up the right to punish the one who has hurt you.’ That’s what Jesus did on the cross.” -Jan Silvious Wow. I am sure other people dont [...] Read more »

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Me, Myself, & Lies

I just finished up a Bible study entitled, "Me, Myself, and Lies" written by Jennifer Rothschild. It was just a six week study (I'm sorta used to the 12 week study's with Beth Moore) and it was jam packed full of information that is essential to me being a better [...] Read more »

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