10/16/14
Decisions, Decisions
Starting to wonder what in the world God has planned for me. Sure, having "Dr." in front of my name has a nice ring to it, but me? Really? That means at least 3 more years of dedicated research and writing.... not to mention doing a thesis instead of an internship next semester. Lord, now is a fantastic time to write on the wall of my cubicle just what it is you want me to do! It will take His perfect strength, complete faith in Him, unprecedented focus, and ridiculous drive. Not to mention a move. That, honestly, is the part that is exciting. Wow. Just the thought of all that could take place in the next several years is overwhelming. I know I could do it, but it means I cannot give fear one foot into the door of my mind. This would definitely be one giant worth slaying! Lord knows I feel like I'd be facing it just as David faced his, with only 5 stones.
10/15/14
Perfect Love Part 3
Love is not easily angered. All of us can probably justify why we get angry and when we get angry. But that's not the point. Being angry is ok... if it's for the right reasons. This verse is specifically speaking to how we get angry. Does someone tell you something you don't like and your immediate response is defense and anger? Has someone done something that made you seethe and ready to explode? In order to not be easily angered, it is important to (very quickly) take a step back and consider the other person's perspective. Hear them out. Listen with an open heart and mind. Then, make a decision as to whether the reaction of anger truly is justified and worth the consequences.
Love keeps no record of wrong. Really? I thought that's what all couples did. Store up old painful memories, waiting for the right time to unleash them. Anyone can read that last sentence and know in their mind, that is not love. So how are we supposed to do this? It's called forgiveness. True forgiveness. The first thing most people forget is that forgiveness does not make the other person right, it sets you free. Another important element of forgiveness is that when you forgive someone, it releases you of the right to ever bring up the issue again. Oh yeah that's hard, but the peace true forgiveness will bring you is so worth it. You might need to walk through forgiving someone multiple times before it sticks, and you may not even be able to do it to their face, but through prayer, God can help you to move on and not dwell on the wrongs from the past. (Yes, there are some reasons a person will need to remember a wrong that has been done, but in this context, love does not bring up a wrong in order to harm or hurt someone)
Love does not delight in evil. This is kind of self-explanatory. When you love someone, you should not be glad when they mess up or get in trouble. In addition, love is not going to justify doing wrong.
BUT love rejoices in truth. If it is good and right, true love seeks it and is glad. This kind of love has nothing to hide or justify.
Love always protects. When you love someone, you want to protect them, usually from being hurt. This can clearly be seen in the husband who prepares for the future in ways that will protect his family (financially, physically, spiritually, etc.), and in the mom who stands ready to protect her child from any injustice that may take place at school.
Love always trusts. Trusting can be hard, especially when you've been hurt in the past. But, if you care about someone enough to love them, you should be at a place where you can also trust them. That doesn't mean things don't sometimes need to be explained, or questions can't be asked. When questions are asked with the immediate assumption that something is amiss, that shows lack of trust.
Love always hopes. Hebrews 11:1 is one of my favorite verses, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (KJV). Faith and trust go hand in hand, and this informs us that they begin with hope. Hope gives the idea of expectancy. The opposite of hope is despair. When love begins to lose hope, it falls into a pit that most have a hard time recovering from. A positive attitude, even in tough times, can do wonders, even if it only changes you.
Love always perseveres. Now this is something that is completely ignored by many today. Love is work, hard work sometimes! Godly love tells us we need to push through these hard times, to stand strong and continue to love, even when things look bleak and we may not want to. Sometimes that love changes, but because God tells us to love one another (John 13:34), it should never leave. When my husband and I were separated, my love moved from a spouse-type love to a love that was based on how God would want me to love someone who had hurt me deeply. I had to ask God to show me how to love this way because it was foreign to me. It shouldn't have been, and I am so glad that within 48 hours God answered my prayer and I began to have compassion for the man who had chosen his path away from us.
Love never fails. This brings us back to the beginning. As humans, we can do our best to not fail or hurt those we love, but we are guaranteed to feel each other at one time or another. Only God's love will truly never fail us. If you are looking for that type of love, look no further. All you need is God. He is truly amazing, trustworthy, gracious, forgiving, loving, merciful, compassionate, kind, thoughtful, funny, the list is endless! Embrace His love.
In closing, there are many different types of love: the love for a friend, a spouse, a child, your mom, dad, siblings. All of these attributes can be expressed through these types. Take the thoughts and incorporate them into the relationships you have. Love well :)
Love keeps no record of wrong. Really? I thought that's what all couples did. Store up old painful memories, waiting for the right time to unleash them. Anyone can read that last sentence and know in their mind, that is not love. So how are we supposed to do this? It's called forgiveness. True forgiveness. The first thing most people forget is that forgiveness does not make the other person right, it sets you free. Another important element of forgiveness is that when you forgive someone, it releases you of the right to ever bring up the issue again. Oh yeah that's hard, but the peace true forgiveness will bring you is so worth it. You might need to walk through forgiving someone multiple times before it sticks, and you may not even be able to do it to their face, but through prayer, God can help you to move on and not dwell on the wrongs from the past. (Yes, there are some reasons a person will need to remember a wrong that has been done, but in this context, love does not bring up a wrong in order to harm or hurt someone)
Love does not delight in evil. This is kind of self-explanatory. When you love someone, you should not be glad when they mess up or get in trouble. In addition, love is not going to justify doing wrong.
BUT love rejoices in truth. If it is good and right, true love seeks it and is glad. This kind of love has nothing to hide or justify.
Love always protects. When you love someone, you want to protect them, usually from being hurt. This can clearly be seen in the husband who prepares for the future in ways that will protect his family (financially, physically, spiritually, etc.), and in the mom who stands ready to protect her child from any injustice that may take place at school.
Love always trusts. Trusting can be hard, especially when you've been hurt in the past. But, if you care about someone enough to love them, you should be at a place where you can also trust them. That doesn't mean things don't sometimes need to be explained, or questions can't be asked. When questions are asked with the immediate assumption that something is amiss, that shows lack of trust.
Love always hopes. Hebrews 11:1 is one of my favorite verses, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (KJV). Faith and trust go hand in hand, and this informs us that they begin with hope. Hope gives the idea of expectancy. The opposite of hope is despair. When love begins to lose hope, it falls into a pit that most have a hard time recovering from. A positive attitude, even in tough times, can do wonders, even if it only changes you.
Love always perseveres. Now this is something that is completely ignored by many today. Love is work, hard work sometimes! Godly love tells us we need to push through these hard times, to stand strong and continue to love, even when things look bleak and we may not want to. Sometimes that love changes, but because God tells us to love one another (John 13:34), it should never leave. When my husband and I were separated, my love moved from a spouse-type love to a love that was based on how God would want me to love someone who had hurt me deeply. I had to ask God to show me how to love this way because it was foreign to me. It shouldn't have been, and I am so glad that within 48 hours God answered my prayer and I began to have compassion for the man who had chosen his path away from us.
Love never fails. This brings us back to the beginning. As humans, we can do our best to not fail or hurt those we love, but we are guaranteed to feel each other at one time or another. Only God's love will truly never fail us. If you are looking for that type of love, look no further. All you need is God. He is truly amazing, trustworthy, gracious, forgiving, loving, merciful, compassionate, kind, thoughtful, funny, the list is endless! Embrace His love.
In closing, there are many different types of love: the love for a friend, a spouse, a child, your mom, dad, siblings. All of these attributes can be expressed through these types. Take the thoughts and incorporate them into the relationships you have. Love well :)
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