This word... we've all said it. It's probably the most common used word in the human language. To some this word is repulsive, having been said but resulting in hurt. To others it brings life and joy deep down to their bones. So what is this so overused, manipulative, yet also very pure word?
Love
But you know, with each season, it's a time of new beginnings :) so where to start? Where should I start? Where should we start? As summer's coming to a close in a few short weeks, I've been thinking back to my New Years Resolution (yes, I make those), and I had made a goal for this a year to be one centered around and based off of this four lettered word for me. Maybe not necessarily romantic love (although I mean who would be opposed to that?) but a year of growing in love for myself, for others and for most importantly for Christ. What made me really set my heart and mind on this was my devotion on love, called Love Is, this morning. It was super short, but it struck a chord.
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Love Is
Q: Using one word, how would you sum up what love is?
Q: Which of these definitions of love stands out to you right now?
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." {1 Corinthians 13:4-7}
______________________
Here's a little inside story to why these verses are so dear to me, and why they are so miraculously perfect for this day. Reflecting back to where I was a year ago from today, I was in a completely different place. I was searching for love and trying to obtain in all the wrong ways. I didn't have a heart capable of love because of past baggage & sin. I was at my darkest, and when I felt so broken, yet so hard hearted, Christ came in and gave me a choice to let Him heal my hurts & literally restore my life in ways I always yearned for but never knew or actually believed would be possible. I chose to allow Him to hold, heal, and be the lover of my soul. Guess what. It worked. It wasn't a painless fairytale, but a Proverbs 20:30 story. And, I am well on my way to being the woman that I have always wanted to be through my encounters with the living & risen Christ and by studying God's Word. Now I can joyfully reflect on the condition of my heart and rejoice in how whole and loving it has become, but none of it is because of me. And that is the whole point. I might have complied, but I didn't construct or do the work. I was simply following instructions. I was simply a servant.
I hope you have a story like that, but if you don't, it's never too late or too early to start cowriting one of what will be many amazing chapters in your life.
So! Moving on. :)
I challenge you to think about how you need to work on love? Is it love for yourself, others, God?
Does your heart reflect these characteristics mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7? If not, that's okay! None of us will ever get love right, and you know that's okay, because we have a Savior who does.
Love
But you know, with each season, it's a time of new beginnings :) so where to start? Where should I start? Where should we start? As summer's coming to a close in a few short weeks, I've been thinking back to my New Years Resolution (yes, I make those), and I had made a goal for this a year to be one centered around and based off of this four lettered word for me. Maybe not necessarily romantic love (although I mean who would be opposed to that?) but a year of growing in love for myself, for others and for most importantly for Christ. What made me really set my heart and mind on this was my devotion on love, called Love Is, this morning. It was super short, but it struck a chord.
______________________
Love Is
Q: Using one word, how would you sum up what love is?
Q: Which of these definitions of love stands out to you right now?
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." {1 Corinthians 13:4-7}
______________________
Here's a little inside story to why these verses are so dear to me, and why they are so miraculously perfect for this day. Reflecting back to where I was a year ago from today, I was in a completely different place. I was searching for love and trying to obtain in all the wrong ways. I didn't have a heart capable of love because of past baggage & sin. I was at my darkest, and when I felt so broken, yet so hard hearted, Christ came in and gave me a choice to let Him heal my hurts & literally restore my life in ways I always yearned for but never knew or actually believed would be possible. I chose to allow Him to hold, heal, and be the lover of my soul. Guess what. It worked. It wasn't a painless fairytale, but a Proverbs 20:30 story. And, I am well on my way to being the woman that I have always wanted to be through my encounters with the living & risen Christ and by studying God's Word. Now I can joyfully reflect on the condition of my heart and rejoice in how whole and loving it has become, but none of it is because of me. And that is the whole point. I might have complied, but I didn't construct or do the work. I was simply following instructions. I was simply a servant.
I hope you have a story like that, but if you don't, it's never too late or too early to start cowriting one of what will be many amazing chapters in your life.
So! Moving on. :)
I challenge you to think about how you need to work on love? Is it love for yourself, others, God?
Does your heart reflect these characteristics mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7? If not, that's okay! None of us will ever get love right, and you know that's okay, because we have a Savior who does.