Walking In God's Love by Lorilee Guenter

 

We are told Christians should be known by their love. God is love and, as we walk with Him, His love is poured out in us until it overflows, touching everything around us. It infuses our perspective and shows up in our work, our relationships, and our hobbies.

Society has a picture of love that doesn't always match what Jesus modelled. I don't believe love is the lustful passion shown in some of the popular media. Nor do I believe it is a blanket acceptance of everything without gentle correction. There is much more to honest love than this, and it is honest love that I want to define my actions.

When I attempt to define love, I do better at finding examples than at finding a concise definition. I recognize it in those around me. I recognize its absence. I don't need to create my own definition because 1 Corinthians 13 provides one. Love as described in this passage is impossible to achieve on our own strength. Love like this can change the world.

In contrast to many of the "dream big" messages, one of my current favourite songs is "Dream Small" by Josh Wilson. The lyrics tell the story of many small acts of love that together make a difference. This resonates with me. We are called to live in the everyday moments, in the small choices that we make. I have seen many examples in my own life of these consistent "small" acts. By the time years and decades have passed, it is hard to imagine the relationships looking any different than they do now. Just as it is hard to imagine the towering oak as an acorn easily held in a hand, it is hard to imagine the discussions, debates and adjustments that a marriage of 50 years may have had in the early years. 

When I get discouraged because progress is slow, I try to remember. When I notice my flaws, the places where fear pushes against faith, I try to remember. Small consistent choices may result in big dreams being achieved. Small consistent choices to follow God's leading will result in my character reflecting Him to those I encounter. I read and reread the stories recorded of the disciples and the heroes of the faith. They remind me that God can and will work to perfect my faith. My life still needs polishing just like my stories. Every time I pick up my coloured pens, the story becomes a little bit better. Every day I choose to walk in faith instead of fear, my story reflects God's love.  

Love in the Face of Death ~ Valerie Ronald

He held my hand, the one without the IV attached to it, warming it in his big, gentle palms. I was the only chemotherapy patient receiving treatment in the small room, so we could speak and act freely. I shivered, so he brought me a blanket. When I wept he did not turn away, waiting in caring silence. 

“Why are you here?” I asked him through my tears.

“Because I love you and want to be with you through whatever comes.”

“I don’t understand. You could choose from any number of healthy women with a normal life expectancy. I have cancer. Why take the chance of marrying me when I could be gone within the year?”

He smiled.

“I don’t think I am taking a chance. We know God is in this so why would it be taking a chance to be together, for as long or as little time as He gives us?” 

I shook my head in wonder at such love.


When we first met, I told Garth about my recent diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The survival rate stood at 40 to 50 percent at that time. It was important that I be transparent from the start so if it was too much for him, he could bow out. After a divorce, he spent six years raising his children before considering remarriage. I seemed a poor choice for a wife in light of my prognosis, however, with God writing this story, His choice became clear. I soon realized that God had gifted this man with an altruistic character, and I was the beneficiary of it.

Our wedding took place in between my chemotherapy treatments. In spite of weakness and fatigue, joy gave me the energy to enjoy our celebration to its fullest. That day happened 20 years ago, 19 of which I have been in remission from lymphoma. I tell Garth often that he is essential to my well-being. His cherishing love and care are key elements to my ongoing good health. My husband’s selfless love in the face of death speaks volumes to me about its true nature. It is a beautiful picture of Christ’s sacrificial love.

The apostle Paul exhorts husbands to love their wives so deeply, purely and sacrificially that it can only be understood when compared to the love Christ has for His bride, the church. A husband should care for his wife as if his life depended on it, the same way he cares for his own body, loving and protecting his wife as if she were his very heart. (Eph. 5:25-33)  

Every day I experience the love of Christ through the love of my husband. Having escaped a previous marriage scarred by emotional abuse and neglect, I thank God for how He has redeemed those painful years by gifting me with a marriage as He designed it to be. To take for granted the myriad of small acts of love my husband does for me throughout each day would be to miss the greater reason behind them, his love for Jesus.  

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. Love never stops loving. (1 Cor. 13: 4-8 Passion Translation)  

  

 

 The high calling of love as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is not achievable unless Christ loves through us. My husband and I are not perfect at loving well. We are frail humans, prone to wander, to focus on ourselves, and to react poorly. Daily we ask God to fill us with His Spirit so we can be channels for His love to flow through us, first to each other, then to others.

When Garth was praying about re-marrying, a friend asked him what he was looking for in a wife. He said, “A woman who loves the Lord and a partner to help in the ministry He’s given me.” The friend replied, “Perhaps you are to be a partner to help in the ministry the Lord has given her.”  

Garth’s encouragement and belief in the calling of God on my life speaks volumes about his love. He has suffered late, scrambled-together dinners when I’ve lost track of time while in the writing zone. Because my work space is in our open concept living/dining room, he’s missed his favourite TV programs so I can write in peace and quiet. As my “in-house pastor”, he critiques my writing for theological and doctrinal accuracy. He has taken time off work to drive me to speaking engagements at women’s luncheons, waiting patiently in a coffee shop until I’m done. His support gives me wings to fly and confidence to pursue the ministry God has given me. I love doing what God has created me to do. With the encouragement and support of my husband, I am finally free to pursue my calling. 

We have come a long way since the days of chemotherapy treatments, poor prognoses and an uncertain future. Garth and I enjoy growing old together where we acknowledge every day as a gift from the Lord. Most of all, I want to use this gift of time to thank Him for showering me with His love through the man who loves me so well. 

 

More of Valerie's work can be read on her blog:

https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com/

A 1 Corinthians 13 Approach to Writing by Steph Beth Nickel

“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. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV).

Patience
If anyone knows the importance of patience, it’s the writer. We must be patient with others, with ourselves, and with the process itself.

Kindness
Kindness goes hand-in-hand with patience. Being kind to fellow writers, writing-related professionals, and readers is crucial. But we must remember to be kind to ourselves as well.

Envy
Do you feel yourself getting fidgety? Who among us can’t think of other writers we’re envious of? Rather than letting envy take root, we can look to these writers for inspiration and motivation. If we’re deliberate in our efforts, it will become easier.

Boasting
There’s a difference between boasting and effective marketing. It has to do with focus. Boasting draws attention to the writer. Effective marketing considers how a writer can pour into the lives of their readers.

Arrogance
Just as there is a difference between boasting and effective marketing, there is a difference between confidence and arrogance. Confidence says, “I have something important to say and the skills to communicate effectively.” Arrogance says, “I am a more capable communicator than so and so.”

Rudeness
Rudeness and arrogance speak the same language. (Just an aside … we can disagree with someone and communicate our perspective without being rude—and without compromising our integrity. This takes great skill and much practice.)

Insistence
Writers must resist the temptation to develop a “my way or the highway” attitude. After all, there’s always more to learn.

Irritability
One need only glance at their Facebook newsfeed to become irritated. The temptation is to react with our words rather than respond. In most cases, this will only inflame the situation. A thoughtful, prayerful response will usually go a lot further in getting our point across.

Resentfulness
Again, the focus of resentfulness is self. Instead of exhorting and encouraging, words written from a place of resentment will likely discourage and dishearten.

Rejoicing in Wrongdoing
Life and writing are full of tension. One of the challenges facing writers is how to maintain authenticity and honesty in the darkest times while not glorifying the darkness.

Rejoicing with the Truth
As writers we can celebrate truth whether we’re writing fiction or nonfiction. As we make that truth accessible to our readers, we have achieved something important.

Bearing All Things
Laundry. Dishes. Vacuuming. Illness. Heartache. Depression. Whether it’s the day-to-day or those unexpected realities of life that we don’t see coming, as writers, we must bear what comes our way—and keep on writing. In fact, these are often the things that fuel and enrich our words.

Believing All Things
If God has called us to write, we must trust that He will guide our steps—when the path ahead is well-lit and clearly marked and when we lose sight of it because it is hidden in shadows.

Hoping All Things
Writers are familiar with hope. We hope that we’ll be able to craft something worth reading. We hope that someone will be blessed/challenged/entertained by our words. We hope that the wellspring of ideas won’t run dry.

Enduring All Things
From heartbreaking criticism to five-star reviews. From flying high to plummeting to Earth. From plain old hard work to free-flowing streams of creativity. Writing and endurance go hand in hand.

Persistence
There is always more to read, more to learn, and more to write. May we all continue to press on.

Why Didn't I Think of That? by Glynis M. Belec

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal...

So what You are saying, Lord, is that you are not interested in my highfalutin fancy speaking ways?  All that does is draw attention to me and takes the glory away from You? What a dope I am. All I have to do is be still and think. I have to stop looking in the mirror less and start looking at Your Word more. Laying a foundation of love is the beginning. It creates harmony and dulls the clanging. Why didn't I think of that? 

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

I thought if I studied hard and learned all about the cool stuff, helped crack the code on the mysteries of the faith and showed everyone how brilliant my faith is, then You would like that. But You say - no. You would rather I appreciate, emulate and disseminate the love you have placed in my heart. So in other words, God, You are telling me to stop talking about it and go help my neighbour? Why didn't I think of that?

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

So downsizing, getting rid of all my dust collectors and going on mission trips because I think it is a good thing to do is not gonna' get me any brownie points, You say, God? I can talk a good talk and impress everyone with my great sacrifices all I want, but really, it's all about the motivation of my heart. Is it about me or is it about Thee? Thanks for making me think, Lord.

Love is patient; 

Forgive me for the last time I prayed in earnest about that article getting accepted and then was slightly ticked off because I didn't get my way.

Love is kind; 

So what if I was going to be thrown off my precious schedule? I should have stopped in that day to see her. I tried to justify my unkind behaviour. But You reminded me.

Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 

Why do I feel the need to tell someone that I 'did good.' The main thing is that You know that I 'did good.' If I am bragging, I'm not loving anyone else except myself and that isn't what You've been teaching me lately, is it, Lord? I'm a slow learner, but I am starting to get it. 

It does not insist on its own way; 

I'm starting to see why you don't always answer my prayers in the way I initially thought that You should answer them. I'm trying to get my head around that. 

It [love] is not irritable or resentful;

Lord that is a tough one especially when I see other Christians getting a better deal than You give me. Or when I see fellow writers getting a break and I don't. I want to write full time but there are obstacles. I sometimes get grumpy because I want something different.  I'm working on that, too, Lord. 

It [love] does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 

No matter what the world says, I need to test it all with Your amazing Word. That's where I will find the truth. Love grows when I speak truth. That cliché, 'love will set you free' is actually pretty wise when I think about what it means to be free in Christ. 

It [love] bears all things, 

When I was sick I thought I couldn't make it - then you sent all sorts of people to love on me. I made it. 

[Love] believes all things, 

This doesn't mean I need to be a sucker for false preachers or prowling lions. right, God? I believe because I have faith. I believe in You, God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in You, Jesus Christ. You were conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

[Love] hopes all things, 

I find that when that man you blessed me with almost 36 years ago, and I talk civilly and respectfully to one another our hope meters coordinate. Because we hope together; because we love each other; because we remember that Your love is what has kept our heads above water - hope floats. 

[Love] endures all things.

Remember those times I wanted to give up? Your promise to never leave me nor forsake me helped me to endure.  I was thankful for the kindness of some very good friends. Through them, You pressed upon my heart to find ways to pay it forward. So I did and again, it took the focus of me, and made me wish I would have thought of that idea. It's priceless - just like your enduring love for me! 

Love never ends.

Sometimes people call me a drama queen. I've been accused of being like the Energizer Bunny who keeps going and going and going. But I'm noticing lately that my body can't do the things my brain would like it to do - the mind is willing but the flesh is weak? My life is going to end one day - did I mention, Lord, that I am in no hurry for that to happen, but the good thing is, I know you love will never run out of batteries. 

But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

My chatter will one day cease. But your love for me will not. That gives me a good reason to rise and shine each morning. 

 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three

When I get up tomorrow morning, I'm going to think about choices. I can moan and complain or I can dance with joy. Oh, God, you know I can find plenty to moan about but I know You are teaching me some great faith lessons here so I am going to opt for door number 2 and I am going to do my very best to show that abiding love to whomever I encounter in my day.  

And the greatest of these is LOVE.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life John 3:16

Thanks, God, for the reminder and for the love letter...

Love Perfected - Sulo Moorthy

1 Corinthians 13, the Love chapter

Apostle Paul had given us what true love looks like. Each of us have a vague picture of love, mainly from the romantic novels we've read or the movies we've watched on the screen. But true love weighs much heavier than what is cheaply portrayed on Hollywood movies and novels.

Let's read Paul's version of love and check it out whether our understanding of love come anywhere closer to it. According to Paul,

"Love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do you wrong. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Such a definition sounds beautiful and gives a deeper meaning. But, at the same time, it makes us guilty too for falling short of displaying such love, especially towards those whom we encounter on a daily basis- spouse, children, parents, siblings, coworkers, neighbors. It is within the four walls of our house, such love is challenged and put to test more often.

Love expressed in words and gifts do look good and make some impact to brighten the mood and solidify relationships. But buried hurts and deep wounds wouldn't be erased by bouquet of roses or glittering diamonds.

Being kind and patient doesn't cost us dollars, yet we choose to do the opposite.We find it difficult to put Paul's version of love into practice because "I", "Me, " and "Mine" intervene and overtake our thoughts and action most of the times. But prayer and meditation on this chapter on love could make us to practice love instead of talking about it or longing to express such love.

What a happy and wholesome family and community we could establish on earth if we could live by this scripture! Lately I have started meditating on it so that I could put it into practice easily. Would you like to join me for support?