Love is a feeling. Love is an attitude. Love is an action. Love is a choice.
Enlarge your understanding. Your definition of love may be too narrow. Love is more than a good feeling or romance.
You may say, "I love ice cream. I am in love with my companion. I love my family enough to labor every day to provide for them. I am compassionate toward hurting people, so I do my part to alleviate suffering and injustice in the world."
You do not need to agree with someone to act with consideration. You do not need to be attracted to someone to demonstrate a loving attitude.
Adjust the angle of your perspective. “It ain’t about you." Love motivates people to sacrifice for others, not expecting any personal benefit. Stop thinking selfishly. Look for the needs of others, and then do your part to meet their needs.
Locate the source of love. You may love something because it is a source of pleasure. You may feel devotion to someone because you enjoy his or her company. Sympathy and compassion are foundations of love toward those living in difficult circumstances. Empathy is a starting place for love, as you identify the value of other citizens of this planet. Love may start as an expression of personal gratitude for the blessings you have received and your desire to share those blessings. Faith and spiritual devotion are powerful sources of selfless love.
Express your love. Find words and actions of love that are appropriate. Learn to speak words of blessing rather than criticism. Share your resources with a needy person. Participate in your community of faith. Offer gifts and perform thoughtful deeds with no ulterior motivation.
Accept disappointment. Not everyone will return your love. This is not failure. It is not your goal to make the world love you, but for you to love the world.
Go forth and love others
Cheryl
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, September 15, 2008
~Love Never Fails~
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
-- 1 Corinthians 8-13
In the last sentence of the Bible's well known "love" chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 is a beautiful profile of love itself: "Love never fails" (v.8, NKJV). Have you ever asked the obvious question--Love never fails what? Here it is in summary: Love never fails to win. Let me point out two ways love can conquer what might be ailing your relationships.
1: Love never fails to conquer selfishness.
I am selfish and so are you. We never have to work at putting ourselves first--we've got that one down. But notice how:
"Love is patient and kind"(v. 4) Selfishness is mean and demanding but love overflows with kindness.
"Love does not envy or boast" (v. 4c). Love is not arrogant because it's not selfish.
"Love is not . . . rude" (v. 5a). Selfishness insists on the spotlight but love is not demanding or unreasonable.
"It does not insist on its own way" (v. 5b), because it's not selfish.
"It is not irritable or resentful" (v. 5c) because it's not selfish.
So love conquers the biggest obstacle in me, selfishness.
2: Love never fails to conquer skepticism.
Over time, it's easy to doubt that anyone is ever going to change. Your family disappoints you and you want to bail but love holds on. Like no one else, our family members can hurt and disappoint us. They do foolish things, and say wicked or hurtful words. In those moments, you want to run. But love does not sell out in the crisis. Love still believes the best; it doesn't keep score. Love trusts again. Love finds a way to give an opportunity for God to work. Love waits for God's agenda to be accomplished in their life. Love is being used by God to transform that person.
When I choose not to love, I'm in God's way but when I choose to love, God's helping me, and I'm part of the solution. In our wounded moments we think, we sometimes forget how desperately we hope others will give us another chance when we fail them.
Love never fails? Yes, love is part of the solution. Love is a tool in God's hands to work through you and transform your relationships.
Read 1 John 3:11-24.
This is taken from James McDonald's weekly devotion.
Blessings!
-- 1 Corinthians 8-13
In the last sentence of the Bible's well known "love" chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 is a beautiful profile of love itself: "Love never fails" (v.8, NKJV). Have you ever asked the obvious question--Love never fails what? Here it is in summary: Love never fails to win. Let me point out two ways love can conquer what might be ailing your relationships.
1: Love never fails to conquer selfishness.
I am selfish and so are you. We never have to work at putting ourselves first--we've got that one down. But notice how:
"Love is patient and kind"(v. 4) Selfishness is mean and demanding but love overflows with kindness.
"Love does not envy or boast" (v. 4c). Love is not arrogant because it's not selfish.
"Love is not . . . rude" (v. 5a). Selfishness insists on the spotlight but love is not demanding or unreasonable.
"It does not insist on its own way" (v. 5b), because it's not selfish.
"It is not irritable or resentful" (v. 5c) because it's not selfish.
So love conquers the biggest obstacle in me, selfishness.
2: Love never fails to conquer skepticism.
Over time, it's easy to doubt that anyone is ever going to change. Your family disappoints you and you want to bail but love holds on. Like no one else, our family members can hurt and disappoint us. They do foolish things, and say wicked or hurtful words. In those moments, you want to run. But love does not sell out in the crisis. Love still believes the best; it doesn't keep score. Love trusts again. Love finds a way to give an opportunity for God to work. Love waits for God's agenda to be accomplished in their life. Love is being used by God to transform that person.
When I choose not to love, I'm in God's way but when I choose to love, God's helping me, and I'm part of the solution. In our wounded moments we think, we sometimes forget how desperately we hope others will give us another chance when we fail them.
Love never fails? Yes, love is part of the solution. Love is a tool in God's hands to work through you and transform your relationships.
Read 1 John 3:11-24.
This is taken from James McDonald's weekly devotion.
Blessings!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
~The Love Of Christ Is Beyond Comprehension~
EPHESIANS 3:18-19 NLT ~ And may you have the power to understand, as all God's
people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his
love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great
you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled
with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
How can words describe, or humans fully understand, something
that is as deep as God Himself? God's love is greater than
words have the ability to communicate. It is impossible to put
into language.
How can we explain the unexplainable? How can we know
something that is beyond the ability of human knowledge to
comprehend? We would have to be God Himself to fully
understand why He loves us the way He does. Don't expect to
ever understand it. But we can accept it. We can believe it.
We can experience it and enjoy it.
God's love for us was demonstrated in redemption. God took
our place and suffered what we deserved, so we could be
forgiven and go free. God proved that He loved us more than He
loves Himself. He did not spare Himself to help us.
God's love for us is also evident in creation. Not just in
abundant provision, but also in all the beauty He created for
our enjoyment. What a wonderful display of the loving and
giving nature of God. Not only did He make everything we need,
but He made it in abundance -- and with great variety.
Every good thing in life was created by God for you and me because of
His great love for us.
You won't find anyone that comes even close to loving you the
way that Christ does. It is hard to grasp when you really think about it.
But, isn't it awesome that someone loves us that much. He isn't like anyone else.
Blessings!
people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his
love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great
you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled
with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
How can words describe, or humans fully understand, something
that is as deep as God Himself? God's love is greater than
words have the ability to communicate. It is impossible to put
into language.
How can we explain the unexplainable? How can we know
something that is beyond the ability of human knowledge to
comprehend? We would have to be God Himself to fully
understand why He loves us the way He does. Don't expect to
ever understand it. But we can accept it. We can believe it.
We can experience it and enjoy it.
God's love for us was demonstrated in redemption. God took
our place and suffered what we deserved, so we could be
forgiven and go free. God proved that He loved us more than He
loves Himself. He did not spare Himself to help us.
God's love for us is also evident in creation. Not just in
abundant provision, but also in all the beauty He created for
our enjoyment. What a wonderful display of the loving and
giving nature of God. Not only did He make everything we need,
but He made it in abundance -- and with great variety.
Every good thing in life was created by God for you and me because of
His great love for us.
You won't find anyone that comes even close to loving you the
way that Christ does. It is hard to grasp when you really think about it.
But, isn't it awesome that someone loves us that much. He isn't like anyone else.
Blessings!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
~Loving Others WELL~
I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. — John 15:12
What is love? This word (in our society) has become so watered down. It is used to describe feelings for inanimate objects, food, television shows, and every once in awhile, people. When all is going well, there is an abundance of love, but when things are going poorly, we blame others and our love is gone.
The love that Jesus talks about is not a passing or temporary emotion, nor is it superficial. Rather it’s a choice, a decision, a commitment, an action. Love is not based upon attraction, but virtue. In order to love others in the same way that Jesus loves us, we must learn how to love the Lord, and then how to love ourselves.
Love the Lord
If you love me, obey my commandments.
— John 14:15
However, God distinguishes one as the most important.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
— Matthew 22:37-38
I do love the Lord, but do I actually do it with all of my heart and all of my soul and all of my mind?
All of Your Heart
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
— Psalm 51:6, 10
The word heart comes from the Hebrew word lev, which carries the simple meaning of center, as in the will or intention of a person.
My intention is to love the Lord, but the state of my heart (selfishness, negative thoughts, doubt, fear) tends to inhibit me.
To cleanse my heart of all impurities (not of God), I must start by admitting my weaknesses, asking the Lord for forgiveness and forgiving myself.
Spending time with the Lord—in his Word and in prayer, reconciles me to God and enables me to love him with all of my heart in the same way that he loves me, unconditionally.
All of Your Soul
Honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.
Put away forever the idols … Serve the Lord alone … Choose today whom you will serve … As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.
—Joshua 24:14-15
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.
— Luke 16:13
To truly love the Lord with all of my soul (and passion), I must reevaluate my priorities and not create or serve any other god before the Lord; not money, not fame, not power, not love (of any thing or anybody).
All of Your Mind
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
— Romans 12:2 The Hebrew word dianoia translates to the word mind, meaning to think through and think over in meditation and reflection.
In order to love the Lord with all of my mind, I need to be one with the mind of Christ. That takes time, patience, and perseverance, as it would with any relationship.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
—1 Corinthians 2:14-16
Love Yourself
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
— Romans 12:3
What is your immediate thought when you hear that someone loves themselves? Conceit? Arrogance? Pride? “Loving yourself” in today’s world usually translates to mean that you love some thing (usually superficial) about yourself, such as looks, possessions, status, money, or a significant other. The reason some people do not love themselves is because they have based their self worth upon these things and currently lack them.
A large percentage of our television shows and advertisements are focused on surgically altering (cosmetically), physically changing (weight loss/quick fix exercises), or superficially covering (make-up/fashion) one’s body these days. Billions of dollars a year are poured into “making over” the way God created us, which means there are a lot of people who don’t genuinely like how they are, let alone love who they are.
Don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?
—Matthew 6:25
And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. —Matthew 6:28-29
Oswald Chambers says this about the “lilies of the field” and us:
“They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere.”
We refuse to grow where God plants us because we tend to not like who we are, where we are, or what we are—God’s intended creation. Many of us look at ourselves each day through the world’s point of view. Instead we need to look through God’s eyes.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
—Psalm 139:14
Until we are able to love ourselves and accept God’s creative work in us, we will fall short on loving others as the Lord has commanded us to do.
Love Others And the second (commandment) is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
—Matthew 22:39
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers asks us the question:
“Are we experiencing the ‘much more’ He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him?”
And our service to him is “to love each other in the same way that I love you.”
Are you absolutely free to concentrate on your service to him, able to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind, able to love yourself as God’s creation (not the world’s), and able to love others in the same way that he has loved us?
These questions shouldn’t make us feel defeated, rather they should inspire us to work harder, love better and serve more sacrificially.
(Excerpts taken from Cliff Young at Crosswalk)
I know I struggle in some of these areas.
What is love? This word (in our society) has become so watered down. It is used to describe feelings for inanimate objects, food, television shows, and every once in awhile, people. When all is going well, there is an abundance of love, but when things are going poorly, we blame others and our love is gone.
The love that Jesus talks about is not a passing or temporary emotion, nor is it superficial. Rather it’s a choice, a decision, a commitment, an action. Love is not based upon attraction, but virtue. In order to love others in the same way that Jesus loves us, we must learn how to love the Lord, and then how to love ourselves.
Love the Lord
If you love me, obey my commandments.
— John 14:15
However, God distinguishes one as the most important.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
— Matthew 22:37-38
I do love the Lord, but do I actually do it with all of my heart and all of my soul and all of my mind?
All of Your Heart
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
— Psalm 51:6, 10
The word heart comes from the Hebrew word lev, which carries the simple meaning of center, as in the will or intention of a person.
My intention is to love the Lord, but the state of my heart (selfishness, negative thoughts, doubt, fear) tends to inhibit me.
To cleanse my heart of all impurities (not of God), I must start by admitting my weaknesses, asking the Lord for forgiveness and forgiving myself.
Spending time with the Lord—in his Word and in prayer, reconciles me to God and enables me to love him with all of my heart in the same way that he loves me, unconditionally.
All of Your Soul
Honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.
Put away forever the idols … Serve the Lord alone … Choose today whom you will serve … As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.
—Joshua 24:14-15
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.
— Luke 16:13
To truly love the Lord with all of my soul (and passion), I must reevaluate my priorities and not create or serve any other god before the Lord; not money, not fame, not power, not love (of any thing or anybody).
All of Your Mind
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
— Romans 12:2 The Hebrew word dianoia translates to the word mind, meaning to think through and think over in meditation and reflection.
In order to love the Lord with all of my mind, I need to be one with the mind of Christ. That takes time, patience, and perseverance, as it would with any relationship.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
—1 Corinthians 2:14-16
Love Yourself
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
— Romans 12:3
What is your immediate thought when you hear that someone loves themselves? Conceit? Arrogance? Pride? “Loving yourself” in today’s world usually translates to mean that you love some thing (usually superficial) about yourself, such as looks, possessions, status, money, or a significant other. The reason some people do not love themselves is because they have based their self worth upon these things and currently lack them.
A large percentage of our television shows and advertisements are focused on surgically altering (cosmetically), physically changing (weight loss/quick fix exercises), or superficially covering (make-up/fashion) one’s body these days. Billions of dollars a year are poured into “making over” the way God created us, which means there are a lot of people who don’t genuinely like how they are, let alone love who they are.
Don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?
—Matthew 6:25
And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. —Matthew 6:28-29
Oswald Chambers says this about the “lilies of the field” and us:
“They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere.”
We refuse to grow where God plants us because we tend to not like who we are, where we are, or what we are—God’s intended creation. Many of us look at ourselves each day through the world’s point of view. Instead we need to look through God’s eyes.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
—Psalm 139:14
Until we are able to love ourselves and accept God’s creative work in us, we will fall short on loving others as the Lord has commanded us to do.
Love Others And the second (commandment) is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
—Matthew 22:39
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers asks us the question:
“Are we experiencing the ‘much more’ He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him?”
And our service to him is “to love each other in the same way that I love you.”
Are you absolutely free to concentrate on your service to him, able to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind, able to love yourself as God’s creation (not the world’s), and able to love others in the same way that he has loved us?
These questions shouldn’t make us feel defeated, rather they should inspire us to work harder, love better and serve more sacrificially.
(Excerpts taken from Cliff Young at Crosswalk)
I know I struggle in some of these areas.
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