Sunday, April 21, 2013

What is Love?




I’m sure you have all been to a wedding or watched A Walk to Remember where 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is used in the vows

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not boast. Love is not proud. Love does not dishonor others. Love is not self-seeking, Love is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects. Love always trusts. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love never fails.

In 1 John 4:7-8 it says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

GOD IS LOVE

What does this mean? God is the very essence of the word Love.

Let’s replace the word love with God in that verse.

GOD is patient, GOD is kind: he will not force a relationship with you, he waits on you.

GOD does not dishonor others.

GOD is not easily angered: Psalm 103:8 He is slow to anger

GOD keeps no record of wrongs: Micah 7:19 He tosses our sins into the depths of the ocean.

GOD always protects. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

GOD always perseveres.

GOD never fails. Hebrews 13:5 “…for God has said, I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.

 

 

We can show love to others; through kind words, smiling, random acts of kindness, responding nicely when harsh words are said to you.  Is this not how we show God to others?

Let us go out into the world, and offer to randomly pray for someone, help them pick up groceries if the drop them, and listen to their story.

The Power of Words


Have you ever been really affected by someone’s words?

Words can really hurt.  I know when I chopped my hair off there were a few people who thought I looked better with long hair, including my mom. I know she had no intentions of hurting me or lowering my self-esteem but her reaction and dislike of my hair stung and even made me cry.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OIfGoNfm4w  I found this video really showed how our words can hurt others. Even though we aren’t physically hurting someone or thrusting them into a locker it stings that way.

Now that we know our words can have such a negative effect on people, we have to try and bite our tongues before we let these mean words slip out. Thumper in Bambi said it best, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothing at all.”  That’s basically what I get from this verse in Ephesians 4:29 (nlt) “Don’t use foul or abusive language, Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”


 

Now that brings me to my next thought. If our words can impinge others with such a great impact, how do you think our words can affect us?  If we tell ourselves negative things are we not hurting ourselves just as badly?

I watched a youtube video and I’m sorry Bomba it’s too long to play… it was Will Smith talking about the power of words. He said, “Setting limitations on yourself or by others is a self-fulfilling prophecy if you believe them.”

 A quote Will used from Confucius was "He who says he can, and he who says he can’t, usually both are right.”

I interpret this as; if you think you can do it and you set your mind to it you probably will. If you don’t think you can and have no hope to, you probably won’t achieve your goal. We should all be like Thomas the Train….I think I can I think I can….Positive thinking.

We need to change our thinking and know all things are possible.  How can we change, with God, and with our words.

Read aloud with me;

Romans 8:31 “…If our God is for us, who can be against us?” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.”

If we can proclaim these things from the bible, the promises God made, with the power that words speak to our hearts, we will change our way of thinking. Here are two cute videos on the subject.


Recently in Girls of Grace, we have had bible studies telling us how precious we are to God and self-worth. This is the bible lesson I did in preparation for our princess theme party next month.

1.    We are Princesses

2 Corinthians 6:18(NLT) “And ‘I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Jesus, our King has called us his daughters.

 

How do you think Princesses should be treated?

With respect, kindness, love, ect.

 

2.    How should men treat us?

1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) “In the same way, you must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so that your prayers will not be hindered.”

I know this verse speaks of how men should treat their wives, but is that not the goal of a relationship? Personally I think that if you are dating someone and he is not the type of man you would marry, (the way that he is) you shouldn’t be with that person.

 

Men should be living Christ like lives, they are to be the spiritual leader of the household. They will be wise.

 James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace, loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”

In Psalms 1 it says, a blessed man is rooted in God’s word and full of God’s fruit and doesn’t join in with people who mock God.

 

3.    What is required of us?

If we expect to be treated well and lovingly, that means we should be holding ourselves to certain standards as well.

In Proverbs 31:11-30 it Lists the qualities of a good wife one that is more precious than rubies. She will; be trust worthy, bring good not harm to him, be energetic, be strong, be a hard worker, show kindness to the poor and needy, have strength and dignity, and be a woman who fears the Lord.

 

It says in the bible that we are not to cause others to stumble into sin.

1 Corinthians 8:12-14 (NLT) “And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.  So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

Mark 9:42 (NLT) “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.”

 

4.    How can we find a man without being scantily clad?

1 Peter 3:3-6 (NLT) “Don’t be concerned about outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourself instead with beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God…”

 

Remember that modest is hottest!

A woman’s heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek HIM in order to find him.   - Anonymous

To conclude, God loves his sons and daughters and wants what is best for us. We need to remember he created everything and everyone. This means that he knows the best way to do things. So be patient, let God shape and mold you into the perfect woman for the man that is learning to be like Christ so he will love and treat you accordingly.