"love...believes all things" ~I Corinth 13:7~
No matter how disappointed we become in someone we love, everybody needs a personal cheerleader sometimes. You and I can be that cheerleader. We have to believe all things...not that our faith in that person is so strong, but rather our faith in the God big enough to accomplish seemingly impossible things through that person is so strong.
No matter how broken you have been, believe He can heal all things. No matter how big that mountain is before you, believe He can remove it & open doors. No matter how big that calling is on your life, believe Christ can accomplish all things through you. And no matter how crazy it seems you are for holding out hope in something HE showed you with absolutely no seen evidence...believe it...after all, that's the substance of faith.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"love...bears all things" ~I Corinth 13:7~
True love doesn't take off when the going gets tough. Love stays, works things out. Love stands beside a wayward child struggling through a difficult time, or a friend that's let you down. Love bears disappointment, bad habits, anger and even betrayal. At some point in my walk with Christ, I've put Him through every one of these things, yet He bears with me, fights to keep His relationship alive with me. He keeps going the extra mile to forgive me, and restore me, and encourage me regardless of what I put Him through.
Oh, Father, let me love my friends and family this deeply. Let me bear all things along side of them.
True love doesn't take off when the going gets tough. Love stays, works things out. Love stands beside a wayward child struggling through a difficult time, or a friend that's let you down. Love bears disappointment, bad habits, anger and even betrayal. At some point in my walk with Christ, I've put Him through every one of these things, yet He bears with me, fights to keep His relationship alive with me. He keeps going the extra mile to forgive me, and restore me, and encourage me regardless of what I put Him through.
Oh, Father, let me love my friends and family this deeply. Let me bear all things along side of them.
"love...rejoices in the truth" ~I Corinth 13:6~
Sometimes the hardest person to see clearly is ouselves. It's so easy to see the splinter in our brother's eye, and miss the plank in our own. It's hard to admit how far we have gotten into a bad situation, how out of control some bad habbit has become, how far we have wandered from God, how bitter our hearts have become... how out of focus our life is.
But God's love is a pure love, not tainted with selfish agendas, or alterior motives. The things He desires are always for our best interest. And when He is trying to show us a life lesson in the mirror, we can trust His heart...look deep into that mirror and rejoice in His truth. His truth sets us free....free to live the abundant life HE always longed for us to have.
Sometimes the hardest person to see clearly is ouselves. It's so easy to see the splinter in our brother's eye, and miss the plank in our own. It's hard to admit how far we have gotten into a bad situation, how out of control some bad habbit has become, how far we have wandered from God, how bitter our hearts have become... how out of focus our life is.
But God's love is a pure love, not tainted with selfish agendas, or alterior motives. The things He desires are always for our best interest. And when He is trying to show us a life lesson in the mirror, we can trust His heart...look deep into that mirror and rejoice in His truth. His truth sets us free....free to live the abundant life HE always longed for us to have.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
"love...does not rejoice in iniquity" ~I Corinth 13:6~
To put it plainly, love does not rejoice in sin. I think about the relationship between brothers and sisters, don't they just love to tattle-tale and see the other one in trouble? You hear things like: Wana whip 'em moma--I'll get the belt!
Sometimes we as adults are no different. We smirk and think it's well-deserving when we see someone "get what's coming to them"....Oh, how quickly I forget that except for the mercy of God, I'd be abandoned and left to suffer dark days the rest of my life for my own mistakes. His grace grants me pardon & blessings I never deserved. Remembering that, I am humbled & ready to run restore a fallen brother or sister as quick as possible. The thought of God's heavy hand of chastisement & judgement on someone is more than any Christian's heart can bear.
Reach all you can for Him....pray for the ones you can't reach. Pray for a heart like His to love them anyway. I'm so glad HE never gave up on me
To put it plainly, love does not rejoice in sin. I think about the relationship between brothers and sisters, don't they just love to tattle-tale and see the other one in trouble? You hear things like: Wana whip 'em moma--I'll get the belt!
Sometimes we as adults are no different. We smirk and think it's well-deserving when we see someone "get what's coming to them"....Oh, how quickly I forget that except for the mercy of God, I'd be abandoned and left to suffer dark days the rest of my life for my own mistakes. His grace grants me pardon & blessings I never deserved. Remembering that, I am humbled & ready to run restore a fallen brother or sister as quick as possible. The thought of God's heavy hand of chastisement & judgement on someone is more than any Christian's heart can bear.
Reach all you can for Him....pray for the ones you can't reach. Pray for a heart like His to love them anyway. I'm so glad HE never gave up on me
Monday, January 26, 2009
"love...thinks no evil" ~ I Corinth 13:5~
Do I automatically think the best about people and situations? Or am I naturally inclined to think the worst? We have all been victim to rumors and lies at some point in our life, and we know how important it was to have just one person in our corner, believing the best in us. You and I can be that one person for someone else. We can refuse to believe the worst. And even if the worst proves to be true...we can still show them love despite the worst. Another part of our job as Christians is to help restore a fallen brother or sister in Christ. Love doesn't stop when people don't live up to our expectations, or disappoint us. And love doesn't desire revenge when we have been wronged. Love forgives, even if never asked. Christ calls us to a higher standard. That forgiveness is for our freedom.
Do I automatically think the best about people and situations? Or am I naturally inclined to think the worst? We have all been victim to rumors and lies at some point in our life, and we know how important it was to have just one person in our corner, believing the best in us. You and I can be that one person for someone else. We can refuse to believe the worst. And even if the worst proves to be true...we can still show them love despite the worst. Another part of our job as Christians is to help restore a fallen brother or sister in Christ. Love doesn't stop when people don't live up to our expectations, or disappoint us. And love doesn't desire revenge when we have been wronged. Love forgives, even if never asked. Christ calls us to a higher standard. That forgiveness is for our freedom.
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