If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.
I've been thinking a lot about love and unconditional love lately. I must say, I don't think I'm an expert on it, however I like to be challenged to learn how to love more. The bible has pretty high standards for what love is. I'm grateful for the reminder.
7 comments:
Love is a quest for me daily--one of the hardest things I strive for. It's difficult (for me) but well worth it.
You have always loved so freely Cheryl. you are a good model of love. Thank you.
True Love is a daily decision...so much of our world tells us repeatedly that it is a warm fuzzy feeling and when that feeling is gone, we are not "In love".
Such a deception...true love is work, day after day....but it is soooo worth it.
Great reminder Cheryl
Yeah...this is a challenge. Some people are really, really, really easy to love. Others I want to put my hands around their neck and....well, you get the picture!!
BUT, as I was thinking about this the other day I remembered that scripture that says (paraphrase):It's His kindness that leads us to repentance. Ouch. I better release that angry grip...
Cheryl - You are a living reminder. Thank you for how you live your life.
xo
I Love you Cheryl, really, I just love you! You never give up, you care more for others than yourself, you don't want what you don't have, you don't strut (or do you...), you don't have a swelledhead or force yourself on others. Even though you are a princess, you don't insist on "me first", you don't keep score (unless you aer playing Settlers), you don't fly off the handle and revel in grovelling, you take pleasure in the flowering of anything, put up with a lot, trust God always and look for the best, all the time never looking back but always looking forward. xoxox
It sounds like the same thoughts I hear lately...
my heart asks to be challenged and then, there it is... right before me: the person that I must choose to love. Sometimes I feel like a kid and want to stomp away ("that's not what I meant!") but then I recall my quest - - and He takes my hand.
Oh, the merciful, graceful love of the Father.
Thanks Cheryl. Keep taking the challenge.
xo
I also am grateful for the reminder!:o)
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