"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love. It has been something that I thought had been missing all my life. Please don't miss hear me...I have been loved, but there are those childhood hurts that haunt and linger. That sting deep within your soul. That grip you right into adulthood. Ugliness that raises it's head over your own children. Things you hate the most, that you swore you'd never be...seeping out of you. Heavy chains that have taken years to break.
I praise God for his grace and mercy! That He now clearly shows me that I have always been loved unconditionally. That I am His beloved.
This has taken much longer than it should have. But God knew this. It wasn't until I started clinging to Jesus...believing him, that I tasted the freedom He has desired for me all these years. Soaking daily in His word. Asking for the spirit to fill. Seeing my need for Him.
My hearts desire is to teach this love to my children. To teach a love that myself as a child had not known. To cling to Christ...learning each step of the way through grace.
My Natalie just turned 10. I look out the window and see her. With a blanket spread out on the sun filled grass, there she lays. Eyes closed, arms wrapped around her hound. LOVE. No worries, no cares, no hurts...just love.
It was the picture of Christ! This gift is there for each of us to take! We simply need to seize the opportunity to take hold of it. Choose it.
May your day be full of love today! As it speaks in 1 Corinthians, we can have everything under the sun...faith that moves mountains! But without love it is nothing.
"But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." Col 3:14
"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
The one that is loved much...can love much!
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4 comments:
I've been struggling with this lately. I've been feeling more love, but I feel that it's always baby steps and that's okay with me.
I read a book and this summed up how I've felt for a very long time: "You concede "God loves us," and yet there is this lurking sense that perhaps you aren't fully part of the "us." The arms of God reach to embrace, and somehow you feel yourself just outside God's fingertips."
- Father Gregory Boyle
But we know that we are loved! And we cling to that promise. And Hallelujah for the truth of God's love!
Beautiful. Thanks for the reminder of what we're here on this earth for: to love God, experience His love for us, and love those around us to His glory!
By the way, the doll I ordered for my sweet baby girl (whom I can't wait to meet too!) came in this week and is absolutely precious. Thank you so much for your sweet ministry. I am so blessed to be able to give my daughter such a special and meaningful first doll.
I have been struggling a lot lately. I am currently in nursing school, my dad has been in and out of the hospital, and I am in the process of a divorce (all while trying to raise a 6 year old and a 1 year old). The verse that I keep going back to is Psalm 119:71: "It is good for me to be afflicted that I might learn thy statutes."
Praying for you Jess!
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