21 Love: A Devotional by Julie Pierce Onos

Book Information Page 21 LOVE – BIBLICAL INSPIRATIONS ON LOVE – A DEVOTIONAL BY CHRISTIANMOMMY BLOGGER .COM © 2014 Julie A Pierce All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is not to be sold. The purpose of this book is to share the love of Christ. Printed in the United States of America First Printing, 2014 http://christianmommyblogger.com Sign up to receive weekly information on how to blog and how to blog better here. Contributing Blogs: • • • • •

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http://ChristianMommyBlogger.com http://MountMom.com http://Breething.com http://ecuadorjoannansilmin.blogspot.com http://www.onethingalone.com http://teach4theheart.com http://overseeingthecareofmyhoushold.wordpress.com http://inthemeantimemama.blogspot.com http://www.thecozynook.blogspot.com http://fingerprintsinthedust.blogspot.com http://lauraconnell.com http://prodigalchildreturns.blogspot.com http://walkbyfaithblog.blogspot.co.nz http://reneweddaily.com http://healthyspirituality.org http://www.jraewrites.com http://www.littlerandr.org http://thewritersreverie.com http://thejourneydeeper.com http://reservedandwaiting.com http://thissweetlifeofmine.com http://www.cookathomemom.com

Dedication This book is dedicated first and foremost to my Savior, Jesus Christ. With Him, all things are possible. I would like to give a special thank you to my family for all of their love and support. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank you to all the contributors who poured their hearts out on paper and online, provided their pictures, information and patience.â&#x20AC;? ~Julie

Table of Contents Book Information Page.........................................................................................2 Dedication..............................................................................................................3 Table of Contents..................................................................................................4 Introduction...........................................................................................................5 Chapter 1 - Learning to Love in Different Ways................................................6 Chapter 2 - A Search for Love.............................................................................9 Chapter 3 Imagine: Love....................................................................................12 Chapter 4 So THIS is Love.................................................................................15 Chapter 5 How to Show Real Love to Kids .....................................................19 Ch. 6 Love – It’s an Action.................................................................................23 Ch. 7 When the Going Gets Tough, Love Gets you Going.............................26 Ch. 8 The Greatest of These is Love.................................................................30 Ch. 9 What it Means to Love..............................................................................33 Ch. 10 Faith, Hope and LOVE............................................................................35 Ch. 11 What are you Doing for Valentine’s?....................................................37 Ch. 12 Faith, Hope & Love..................................................................................40 Ch. 13 Where Has All The Simple Gone?.........................................................42 Ch. 14 Spoice and Love......................................................................................45 Ch. 15…But the Greatest of These is Love......................................................48 Ch. 16 The Eternal Essence of Love.................................................................50 Ch. 17 As The Starling Said...............................................................................53 Ch. 18 The Greatest for the Least.....................................................................58 Ch. 19 Nothing Without Love.............................................................................60 Ch. 20 Ten Things I Want my Daughter to Know.............................................62 Ch. 21 The Greatest of These............................................................................65 ..............................................................................................................................67 Conclusion...........................................................................................................68

Introduction By Julie A Pierce Hello Dear Reader! Not too long ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling like I was in the middle of a conversation. Not just any conversation – but one where I just had an epiphany. I felt good. Clear. Strong. Before falling asleep, I’d been wondering to myself, “What I could do to bring people in the Christian Mommy Blogger community together?” I’d also been wondering how we could all reach more people with the message of Jesus and with our own versions of encouragement via our blogs. I’d also been thinking…. well you get the point! When I went to bed, my mind was racing with thoughts. Before dozing off I prayed, turning it all over to God. How refreshing it was to wake up with the idea for this collaboration. It’s a labor of love about… love! Most of the posts center on the theme of the verse, 1 Corinthians 13:13. However, some have a theme of Valentine’s Day or putting love in action. I hope you enjoy this book! Visit these blogs and let the writers know you enjoyed their posts, or sign up for their newsletters. My prayer for you is that your readings are blessed. In His Love, Julie www.christianmommyblogger.com www.mountmom.com

Chapter 1 - Learning to Love in Different Ways By Bree Blum @www.breething.com Taking a trip to the store in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day can be hazardous to the eyes. There's a whole lot of red and pink out there, and hearts, and balloons, and that evil of the craft world...glitter! With every corner you turn in the grocery store, you're accosted by reminders of the day of love, the celebration of romance and the glorification of winning other's affection through material possessions. “I ask you, should we really allow ourselves to stoop so low, to think that love can be won in this manner?” Are a box of chocolates (that's sure to ruin their calorie count), or a bouquet of roses (that will wilt and die) suitable gifts to be given to the ones that mean so much to us? There is so much more to love than winning the adoration of another. So much more, that the Greek's even have four different words to express the meaning of love. How can one four-letter word encompass all that is love? The Greek have 4 different words! Today we're focusing on the type of love that most of us experienced first in our livesthe love of family. The Greek word for this kind of love is Storge, στοργή, which means affection.

It is the "fondness through familiarity (a brotherly love), especially between family members or people who have otherwise found themselves together by chance. It is described as the most natural, emotive, and widely diffused of loves: natural in that it is present without coercion; emotive because it is the result of fondness due to familiarity; and most widely diffused because it pays the least attention to those characteristics deemed 'valuable' or worthy of love and, as a result, is able to 6

transcend most discriminating factors." (Source) This kind of love is sometimes considered to be a "ready made" kind of love; one that comes without expectations and that happens naturally. It's also a kind of love that often extends beyond understanding. It's what I feel to be one of the purest types of love. So if this love, this affection (storge) appears to be innate, how can we ensure that the ones we extend this to truly understand our feelings towards them, without having to buy or make another Valentine's Day card? Extending Love & Affection No. 1 - Show Them • Make a scrapbook or gather together pictures of your favorite memories with your loved ones and spend some time going through it together, reminiscing and talking about why these times are so meaningful to you. Is your family spread out? Create a slideshow on http://photobucket.com/ by uploading your favorite images and send it to them digitally. Just be sure to follow up and tell them why you've made it for them! • Fill your loved one's car, living room, bedroom, office space (wherever) with balloons. On each one, write a favorite memory you've spent together. No. 2 - Tell Them • Buy a deck of cards and write out a different reason that you love them on each card. Decorate the outside of the box and give it to them as a reminder of why they are so special to you. • Buy a picture frame and a large mat for a favorite photo of you and your loved ones. On the mat, write down the reasons that you love being a part of their life and reasons that you love having them a part of yours. No. 3 - Spoil Them • Do something special to let your loved ones know how much you care for them. Maybe it's making their favorite dinner and desert, or taking a day to participate in their favorite activities (such as shopping, an impromptu flag football game, an afternoon at the spa, or a family game night). • Surprise your loved one at work, school, home (wherever they are during the day) with a special treat and a hand-written note to say how much you love them. It's really that easy...and that inexpensive! So get out there and spread the love!

Bree, a single Christian woman in her thirties, writes for Breething.com to inspire others to become the best versions of themselves through their relationships, health and faith. She serves as a sign language interpreter for her church and runs her own graphic design business on the side. She is also in the process of writing her first book, The Pursuit: God and Woman's Relentless Chase After Man.

Chapter 2 - A Search for Love By Joanna Sormunen @ http://ecuadorjoannansilmin.blogspot.com/

1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” What is love? When I was having a marital crisis, this was a very important question for me. What was love, what was it exactly that was missing? “Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely. …He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf My husband felt the same way, and told me, that he did not love me anymore. There was no loving feeling in our marriage, no passion, no great sentiment. For him, finally, it meant searching for the feeling with other women. For me it meant a search for what love is, Biblical love: The love that goes beyond our feelings, beyond our fantasies of romantic love. My relationship with God wasn't at its greatest moment. I had lots of issues and one of them was love, and what God's love meant, especially what it meant in my life. I tried to find answers in my relationship with my son. “To truly try means to accept God's love, his healing, to accept the world can be ugly, but your heart doesn't have to be. It takes courage, Finley the warrior. You haven't held on to your anger and bitterness in search of healing, but as a banner of your hurt. Because it's real and visible and strong, " she said. "But so is God's love and so are those arms he's holding out for you.” - Jenny B. Jones, There You'll Find Me My relationship with my parents is very difficult, my mother had many issues with her parents, and it is hard for my father to show his feelings. They have told me many times that they love me, but I have never quite understood what it means. With my son, I was overwhelmed by love. It was so fierce, and so hard to understand. And so mixed with a need. A need to be with him, to be there for him, a need for his love and appreciation. 9

Because I am a perfectionist, and I could not unite my heart with my head, my first reaction to explain love was by denying that need. “When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But a rather special sort of 'No answer.' It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, 'Peace, child; you don't understand.” - C.S. Lewis For love to be pure and perfect, you have to separate yourself from that need. To truly love, it cannot be selfish; you cannot love someone because you need them in your life. Love must go beyond need. You must not need the person; find a way to be happy and live your life well without that person, and then you can really love them. So, you would love someone by killing that love first?

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 Kill the feeling, and leave the words? Then I thought that love would be found in actions. You love someone by showing love, by doing loving acts, even if you don't feel love, especially because you don't feel love, THEN it is true love. Again, love became a task, without feeling, with nothing spontaneous or happy about it. “It's not about finding ways to avoid God's judgment and feeling like a failure if you don't do everything perfectly. It's about fully experiencing God's love and letting it perfect you. It's not about being somebody you are not. It's about becoming who you really are.” - Stormie Omartian, The Power of a Praying Woman I learned to control my heart; I learned to control my acts, and even my tongue. But I did not learn to love my husband. I could act like I loved him. I could feel that he was important to me, because he was the father of my son. I could even feel tenderness and caring towards him, for all the years we had been together. But I could not feel love and what really was in my heart, was hurt and bitter pain. Little by little, God started changing me. “Here's the paradox. We can fully embrace God's love only when we recognize how

completely unworthy of it we are.” - Ann Tatlock, The Returning In my search I had found out that I could not change another person, only myself. So, I prayed God to change me, to change my heart, to give me a loving heart, to make me a loving person. And in that process I found a loving God. God, who is filled with feelings. God, who needs me. God, who acts on that love, who cares and wants to be close to me. Love is to need you and show it to you, to be vulnerable. Love is to hope, against everything, that you will love me back. Love is to have faith in you, and in your love, always. Ultimately, I learned what it is to love and to be loved. And how to show it to my son.

Joanna Sormunen is a missionary, blogger and mother. She has a 10-year-old son. She works for Finnish Free Evangelical Church in their mission in Ecuador with Kichwa indigenous people. She is 30-something and was born in a Christian family. She lets everyone know her life has not been perfect. She knows of Jesus’ love and seeks to know what that means in her life. After two marriages, and a very broken heart, she found that there is no love like God’s love; she has been given the greatest gift in being saved.

Chapter 3 Imagine: Love By Julie A Pierce @ http://www.mountmom.com

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV) “There are three things that remain—faith, hope, and love— and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (Living 12

Bible) “But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Message)

Usually when I read the Bible, I’m reading the NIV version that my parents bought me when I graduated from high school. It’s a “red-letter” version and has my name embossed in gold on the cover. This Bible has been many places with me – NH, CT, GA, NC, MA, ME, FL, Canada & Jamaica! And it has been through many stages of life with me too – birth of children, death of a child, marriage, divorce, moving, and starting life over. Other times I read the ESV either on my smart phone or on my tablet – this is the version of the Bible that’s read at my current church. I also have a King James Bible on my shelf that is in English and Spanish. It’s huge! And as such, I rarely take it out. Sometimes it’s useful to read different translations of the Bible. It gives you a richer understanding. Words that were commonly used as synonyms in times past may not be used that way now – and if you don’t know that, you may miss some of the deeper meanings of Scriptures. I love reading 1 Corinthians 13! It stands in such contrast to the exclusively fire and brimstone image of God that is popular in some circles. Yes, my God is mighty. Yes, there are consequences to sin. But the antidote to sin is God’s grace and love. That characteristic of God is what pulls me back to Him time and time again. Today I decided to look up this verse in different biblical translations to see what wisdom was there waiting to be unearthed. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul is writing to a church he had planted in Corinth. He is instructing the members of the church in the characteristics and behaviors they should exhibit. Without love, everything in the church was falling into disarray. While Paul may have needed to address some very real issues of discipline, he understood that no amount of rule-making or procedural undertakings would be helpful if people didn’t have their hearts in order. In 1 Corinthians 13, so many issues are addressed: misuse of spiritual gifts, sacrifices for the wrong reason, bad attitudes, immaturity, and lack of wisdom. These all seem like very different issues – but they are just symptoms of a larger problem. Paul wisely diagnoses it: lack of love. In this letter, Paul doesn’t just point out the error in their ways; he gives them a prescription to cure their disease: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. These are the characteristics that we should aim to have in our own lives. 13

One thing that was interesting to me as I read this verse in the five versions above – is how the King James Bible used the word “charity” instead of “love”. Usually when I think of charity, I think of either an organization that is engaged in actions to benefit the needy or I think of those actions – such as serving in a soup kitchen. Clearly this narrow definition didn’t fully make sense in light of this verse so I looked up the word “*charity” in the dictionary. Merriam-Webster defined it as: “benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity”. This made me realize that the love spoken of here isn’t just nice thoughts and feelings – it is a love that spurs one into actions that benefit others. Wow – I don’t know about you, but that made the verse that much more meaningful! This love isn’t a love that sits far off and prays for you from a distance. It rolls up its sleeves and is right there with you when you need help, wisdom, forgiveness or a partner in rejoicing. As Christians we are called to be representatives of God here on earth. Imagine if each of us were an example of this active, enduring, strong love. Wait. Really imagine it. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? How many would be drawn to Christ from that example? Is there something you could do this month, this week or today that exemplifies love? *“Charity.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.

Each day Julie witnesses the difference that faith makes – a difference that can surmount any obstacle and overcome any problem. The examples are numerous and moving and have motivated her to share along the way of her own faith journey. She is the author of an anthology of poetry addressing the themes of Domestic Violence and re-starting life called, “Discord, Disillusionment and Determination.” She is the editor of and a contributor to this book. You can find her blogging at http://ChristianMommyBlogger.com and http://MountMom.com.

Chapter 4 So THIS is Love By Asheritah @ www.onethingalone.com An Inconvenient Truth I memorized the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 when I was 13 years old. I recited the words incredulously. “What’s the big deal with love?” In the religious circles I grew up, faith was the word of the day. Correct dogma trumped a cup of water any day of the week. So I struggled. My, how I struggled. I scorned those who obviously had it all wrong. Priests weren’t supposed to be called “father” and baptism didn’t save. Rock music originated with demonic rituals in Africa and head coverings were matrimonially mandatory. Pity the person who disagreed with me. The path was narrow, and I deemed myself a gatekeeper. I thought it was my Godgiven duty to guard correct theology and debate whoever got it wrong – regardless of the cost. But one day that changed. The Cost of Misplaced Priorities I sat my brown bag down on the lunch table and peered into it with mild interest. Jessica sat down next to me. We continued our conversation from French II earlier that day. “The Catholic Church is the real deal,” she picked up. “Everyone knows Protestantism was invented a few hundred years ago.” “Um, no,” I said matter-of-factly, carefully peeling my banana from the tip toward the stem–the only right way to peel a banana. “Protestantism simply brought people back to the Truth. The Catholic Church hijacked the True Faith and added a bunch of rules to tell people how to earn salvation when you obviously can’t earn it–it’s free. Protestants guard the teachings of Jesus from those–” I looked pointedly at Jessica to emphasize the word “who would change it for gain.” She seemed taken aback, and forged full speed ahead into a discourse on the 15

superiority of her denomination over mine. I was well versed in apologetics and had a quick replica for her every move. I grinned as a realized I was moving toward checkmate just as the lunch bell rang. “So obviously, you’re wrong and I’m right.” I beamed. This was my best win yet. She seethed with anger as she bunched her brown bag and threw it toward a trashcan. “You may have won the battle,” she said, in an uneven tone, “But you lost the war.” She turned around and walked away. My grin slowly faded. Jessica never spoke to me again. The Greatest of These Is Love I stumble over the words Paul penned two millennia ago: “ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) Let the weight of those words sink into your soul. I can be the most applauded apologist, the most marvelous martyr, the most renowned reformer, the most generous giver and it’s all pointless.

Without love, I am nothing. Here is where Paul closes the chapter: “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 As one singer/songwriter says, “It’s all about LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!” So THIS is Love What exactly is love? Cinderella would have us believe its finding a charming prince and dancing to moonlight. Huggies® would tell us it’s cuddling your newborn after a fresh diaper change. Commercial America touts it’s buying an expensive watch for your husband on Valentine’s Day. Pinterest® shows us it’s a five-course meal complete with coordinating hand-sewn napkins and placemats. 16

But listen: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NIV) He gave His Son to those who rejected Him.

Broken down, this is what it looks like: Sacrificially: giving up my pride, my gain, my slice of pie even though I totally deserve it; Jesus gave His very life Seeking: this means actively looking for ways; Jesus initiated this relationship while I was still a sinner Another’s highest good: what’s best for someone else, considering others better than myself, placing myself last; Jesus secured my eternal salvation and reconciled relationship with God In concrete ways: words without deeds are pointless; Jesus endured pain and death Regardless of the outcome: a one-way street, not expecting something in return; Jesus didn’t coerce me or demand a payment That gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “God is love,” doesn’t it? Can I Have a Do-Over, Please? I often replay that lunch table conversation in my head, wishing I had the chance to do it all over again. It would be very different. I would humbly ask Jessica to forgive me for my arrogance and pride. I would tell her I’ve made a royal mess of the conversation and our relationship. I would tell her that

Jesus doesn’t care so much about getting the theology right if it doesn’t impact the heart–mine first and then hers. I would humbly point her to The One who loved me enough to die for me even when I rejected Him, and tell her that He loves her, too. I would look for ways to serve her, and I would invite her to study the imperfect tense of avoir together over ice cream after school. But I don’t get a redo. To Live Fully, Love Recklessly What God gives me instead are new opportunities to love other people He places in my life. Some of them quite loveable. Others more difficult. But the call is always the same: “ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV) At the end of the day, life is not about me. It’s about loving people into the kingdom of God.

Asheritah grew up in Romania as a missionary, where God graciously saved her from being a goody two shoes and introduced her to the beauty of Jesus. She is married to Flaviu, her constant champion and companion, and together they have a blast raising their daughter, Carissa (and making lots of mistakes along the way). In between loads of laundry, full-time HR work, and daily chaos, Asheritah blogs at http://for consiste it to be a link nspires women to sit at the feet of Jesus so they can dwell with him deeply, love others recklessly, and live their lives fully.

Chapter 5 How to Show Real Love to Kids By Linda Kardamis @ http://teach4theheart.com Love is powerful. In our homes, in our classroom, love is what makes the biggest impact, what changes hearts and minds. We’ve seen its power. We know what it’s capable of. Yet sometimes it’s hard to demonstrate true, genuine love. Especially when a particular kiddo’s not being very lovable.

Since love is such a powerful force, maybe that’s more what we should focus on when things are going wrong – when Bradley’s temper is out of control or when Nicole seems to be ignoring everything we say. I Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) states, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” We know how important faith is and how much we desperately need hope. But love – that is the greatest of all. Love is not a feeling. Love is a choice. And on the days when love is hardest, we must choose to show love. But how? There’s so much we could say, but the best description of true love is found in I Corinthians 13. Let’s take a look a few of love’s characteristics.

What True Love Looks Like 1. Love is patient and kind. Oh, this is easy to say but so hard to actually live out. When my little one has made mess #2,452 of the day, I’m not always very patient. And how many times have we teachers reacted to the question “What are we supposed to do again?” with something less than patience and kindness? We know we love our kids, but are we showing it to them by being patient and kind? Talk about a challenge! 2.

Love does not seek its own. As parents and teachers, we know what it means to put others first. Our lives are given to serving the kids and doing what is best for them. But that doesn’t mean selfishness can’t slip in. When my toddler is crying but the bed is oh-so-warm, I’m not always 100% focused on his well-being. And as a teacher, when the grading starts to swallow my desk, I tend to get more taskfocused than student-focused. But genuine love doesn’t seek out what’s best for me – it gives and gives and gives some more.

Love is not easily provoked. Thankfully, I don’t really have a big temper. But don’t the kids just know how to push all the right buttons? There’s definitely been some moments where I just wanted to scream at someone, and while I’ve never actually hurled chalk at a student, there have been times I’ve responded with less than complete control. But true, genuine love is not easily provoked. It loves even in the most frustrating moments.

Love thinks no evil. I think this one applies more to teachers than to parents. As parents, we tend to think the best of our own kids, but teachers often have a student or two that just seems impossible. You know, the one that we secretly wish would just transfer to another school. But often these kids are the ones that need our love the most, the ones who desperately need someone to believe in them. And if you’ve been teaching very long, you’ve probably seen that these are the kids that can turn out to be our biggest blessings! (I share my favorite transformation story in my post What to Do with the Student Who’s Driving You Crazy.)

Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. How many times have we been told that it’s mean or even hateful to tell someone that what they’re doing is wrong. But if you truly love someone, you won’t allow them to continue down a destructive path. Genuine love speaks the truth, humbly pointing out wrong and showing the right way. Correcting and guiding our kids and students is a powerful outpouring of love, as long as it’s just that – done in love.

Love never fails. On the days when everything is going wrong and Wesley’s snide comment feels like the last straw, love doesn’t fail. When dinner needs to be on the table and the baby’s crying and our toddler is pitching his own fit, love doesn’t fail. It endures all things. It bears all things. Love always loves.

How Can We Love Like This?

So if you’re like me, right now you’re thinking that there’s just one word to describe this type of love – impossible. And you’re right. This type of genuine love is impossible because it’s not a human love. It’s a Divine love. It’s God’s love. Love is listed as the first fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). That means that it’s the result of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Just as the fruit of an apple tree is produced by the apple tree, the fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Spirit. The only way we can ever love like this is if He is loving through us. If you don’t have a personal relationship with God, You’re missing out on the greatest source of love, strength, and power. Click here to find out more about God’s love and how You can know Him personally. For those of us who do know Christ, the answer’s simple, though not necessarily easy. We need more of the Spirit in our lives. That means we need to read His Word, memorize it, and think about it. We need to deepen our relationship with God through prayer and worship. And we need to yield our lives to the Spirit and allow Him to work through us. It’s not an overnight change. It’s a daily – no, moment-by-moment – decision. Will we spend time with Him? Will we yield to Him in the toughest moments? Will we allow Him to change us one little step at a time? Lord, please change me today. When do you find it most difficult to love your kids or students? How has Christ helped you to demonstrate His love?

Linda Kardamis is a teacher and writer who is passionate about helping teachers and parents impact the next generation. After teaching middle school math for four years, she chose to step away from the classroom to raise her new son. With her passion for 21

education still burning strong, Linda started Teach 4 the Heart and wrote Create Your Dream Classroom to share the lessons she learned as a young teacher. A dedicated Christian, she finds strength, purpose, and joy in God and His Word. She makes her home in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband Tim, and son Clayton.

Ch. 6 Love – It’s an Action

By Joanna Walker @ http://overseeingthecareofmyhoushold.wordpress.com

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (ESV) “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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 have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 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. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13 – this passage is so familiar even unbelievers and unchurched can probably quote it, without even realizing they are quoting scripture. This beautiful passage is frequently read at weddings, has been set to music, reproduced on to millions of refrigerator magnets, and is probably hanging on a plaque somewhere in most of your homes.

However, have you ever pondered the true message of this passage? Or have you heard it so often you no longer think about what the words actually mean? Paul is actually stating that love is and action, not a feeling. This kind of love is seen, experienced, & demonstrated. How counter-cultural in a society that elevates feelings above everything else. In this culture if it feels good, do it. If it feels bad, don’t. But this passage never mentions feeling love. Instead it talks about doing love, living love, acting love. So what does love look like when it is acted out?

Love is sticking with my husband and fighting for our marriage even when the going gets tough. Ok, lets get really personal & transparent; love is having sex with my husband even though I’m sleep deprived, have a headache, a million and one things still to do around the house, just finally got the teething baby down to sleep and the only thing I feel like doing is crawling into bed between cool sheets by myself and sleeping for 15 hours straight, or at least until the baby wakes up crying in the night for Mama. Yep, not what I feel like doing but that is love! Love is getting up in the middle of the night, over and over and over with a crying baby. Even though everyone says he should be sleeping through the night by now. Comforting & soothing away the fears of his nightmares when I really just feel like going back to sleep. Love is disciplining my children and training them up to be godly men & women. Not letting them get away with poor choices or behavior just because it is “cute” right now while they are little. Love is teaching them modesty and appropriateness while they are tiny instead of waiting until they are teens or young adults when it is too late. Love is setting aside my continuing education to focus on raising and educating my little ones now while they need me the most. Love is dropping out of some outside commitments activities to be a better, more present wife and mother. Even though it feels unfair at the time.

Love is a million little everyday things, cooking, cleaning, washing, mending, comforting, nursing. In short, love is putting myself last and putting others first; because love is an Action.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

I am a stay at home Mommy-preneur of a seven month old, a full-time caregiver to a 15 month old and just found out that I am expecting our second child. Since I was young, I knew God was calling me to be a wife & mother. This dream was put on hold for many years as He shaped & refined me in the corporate world; when His time was perfect He blessed me with my dream. There is no higher calling for me than to be my husband’s wife & my children’s mother. Proverbs 31:27-29 describes a wife and mother whose example I strive to follow, “She oversees the care of her house. She is never lazy. Her children say good things about her. Her husband brags about her and says, ‘there are many good women, but you are the best.’” My blog shares various ways that I try to follow this example as I oversee the care of my household.

Ch. 7 When the Going Gets Tough, Love Gets you Going By Liz @ http://inthemeantimemama.blogspot.com

It's not always easy, but our soul’s highest calling is to demonstrate love, even if it’s imperfect. As a wife and a mom, here's how I am tested in this area: • When my child starts a rebellion in the middle of the grocery store • When I run out of patience with my spouse • When my spouse walks away in an argument, or when I do • When my loving gestures aren't always reciprocated back by friends • When I hold back in fear • When I feel defeated by the loss of a dream I had or by the loss of a loved one It's easy to just think of "me" and how I look like and forgo being a loving person. But learning about God’s love through Jesus has reminded me to love when the going gets tough. And when it comes to being a mom, His love shines a new light in me even in the most disappointing and exhausting moments of parenting. He provides a biblical form of love for me to follow. Biblical love transcends human love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Apostle Paul states that love is the greatest virtue of all: "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Paul isn’t writing about a Valentine’s Day marketing ploy or the type of passion depicted on television dramas. He’s referring to what the Greeks have coined “agape” which is a benevolent love towards another. The basic concept of agape love is to love someone regardless of their worthiness. When I learned what was meant by this, I awakened. This love isn’t a codependent love—which attempts to be with someone in order to meet your own needs for love (and which turns the attention to you)—agape love is an unconditional love.

It’s loving anyway even in the hard times. It could be reaching out and making the first gesture of love. It could be resolving to keep an open but vigilant heart, without defenses or excuses. Needless to say, as a parent and wife, I'm learning new ways to love. I'm still a work in progress. But in the meantime, I’ve been trying to “load up” on love: God’s supernatural love. I try to dwell on the joy He had in creating me (Genesis 1:27, 31), that He knew me even before I was made (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:16) and that we are all wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) that he knows everything about me and my life (Matthew 10:30) and that he helps direct my steps (Proverbs 16:9). That’s the extent of his love—detailed and all encompassing. Gosh, not even my own parents know me that well! I guess I've lived enough of my life and have seen a lot to know that God's love “outbests” even the most epic of romantic dates and relationships (even the dramatic ones). The latter may satisfy temporarily, but the more I study the Bible, the more I see God’s love as a steady, everlasting one. And the older I get, the more I want of that type of love. Because I am receiving His love, I can give it. Knowing this allows me to love others imperfectly because I am loved perfectly. I constantly rest on God's second chances, including the chance to try loving again. His grace allows me to “keep on keepin’ on”. So I try to love anyway. And I cling to Scripture that reminds me that I am loved and known. I do it so I can go back out there in the world. That’s what frees me up the most. I can love imperfectly and face heartaches, rejection, and dismissal - and still survive past the sting because I've got an everlasting love in my back pocket.

Most of all, God's love makes me feel like I'm redeemable.

• • • • • •

His love will be there in the struggle for appreciation and approval. His love is comforting when no one else has the words. His love allows me to learn about being myself, even when I'm searching for who I am. His love is present in times of my loneliness. His love is the true standard to the world’s fickle messages of lovability. And when I feel like a failure, His love will reminds me He is more than enough.

Now I want to offer some encouragement to you. When you feel like you are struggling with love and are knee-deep in the mud of life, get behind these four truths: I am loved right now (and others know that about you). The power of God’s love is transformative if you take the time to really look into it. Get close to God. We are all His creation. He loves us regardless of our worthiness. When you feed off that notion, you can feed others (as a parent, this is how I fill my own cup because I know I’ll be emptying it throughout the day!) Life is a journey of exploring and demonstrating love. So instead of following your heart, choose to lead it. Love is action. It’s a choice. And I don’t have to always be reactive; I can be proactive. Lead your heart on a lighted path, not a bitter one. These quotes and messages are some of my favorites from The Love Dare, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. Open the book and you’ll see 1 Corinthians 13:13 in the very first few pages. I turn to this book when I feel like I hit a bump on the road in my relationships. The book offers 40 ways in 40 days to demonstrate agape love to your loved one. It’s a great place to start if you need ideas. Try reading it and notice how you feel after doing a few love challenges. You'll find yourself growing in your capacity to love. I can love right where I am. Forget waiting on love. I don’t have to sit back until everything’s all perfect and rosy. I can practice building a lifestyle of love each and every moment. From prayer to treating yourself right to spending time with your kids to serving your spouse or friend. Love keeps me present and available. And when I mess up, I can step back and learn from it. Think about someone you can practice agape love with right now. Then do it! Love is what lasts—on earth and in heaven. Being under the umbrella of love is what our soul wants. It’s what people remember. It can be passed on to the next generation. We take it with us when we go to heaven. That’s why it’s so important to fellowship with others. We get to practice receiving and giving love by living it out here on earth and in every season until we die. When you truly become awakened to that

concept, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see what an amazing opportunity it is to become a steward of love. Ask yourself, "What promises of love from God do I need to remind myself of today?" Before the end of the day, get fed. Meditate on these verses: 1 Corinthians 13:13 ("So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.") and 1 John 4:19 ("We love because he first loved us").

My name is Liz and I write while the baby naps. My blog celebrates the creative and resourceful: checklists, how-tos, DIYs, self-care and more. I'm raising a family and trying to stay sane! I'm married to a techie husband and we have a buttoned-nose toddler who loves avocados at snack time and almond butter sandwiches for lunch (subject to change at his own whim).

Ch. 8 The Greatest of These is Love By Lisa Jefferies @http://www.thecozynook.blogspot.com/

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (King James 2000) I have always thought this was an interesting verse. If I didn’t know this verse and someone had asked me, which was the greatest – faith, hope, or love – I would probably say “faith”. To have faith is to believe in the God who has created us and accept His plan for our lives. As Hebrews defines it: “ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:2(KJV) … and the chapter continues with a list of people in the Bible who have lived their lives in various ways “by faith”. To me, faith appears to be the connecting point, the point where we decide to follow God and as I said, believe in Him – believe He exists, believe He loves us, believe He died

for us. As I think about the verse in 1 Corinthians more deeply, however, I see that love is really the foundation of the universe. First and foremost, the Bible says, “God is love”. (1 John 4:8 ) That’s a pretty big statement. God equates Himself with love. HE is love. If we look at the character of God, therein we see love – His compassion, patience, strength, holiness, righteousness, perfectness, nobleness, goodness… He encompasses love. God, who is love, has always existed. At one point, He decided to make an extravagant world, out of love. He created a beautiful world that was “good”. He created humankind and gave them the fruit of their labor, the fruit of their land, and the fruit of their relationship with Him. He did not create robots who would automatically serve Him. He created beings who could *choose* to love Him. The world was created, out of love, from God. Jesus summed up the commandments this way: “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ’This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-40. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Following God’s commandments is all about love. We obey God and try to please Him because we love Him. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word; truly the love of God is perfected in him. 1 John 2:4-5 At the end of the world, faith and hope will dissipate, but love will continue. Faith and hope both involve believing in and looking forward to things that we do not see and things that have not yet happened. At the end of the world, everything will be made clear and perfect, and there will essentially be no more need for faith and hope. However, love will continue throughout eternity in the midst of God and His people. There are many verses that emphasize the importance of love in the Bible, above other qualities. It is the underpinning of the universe and the glue that solidifies our relationship with God and people.

Lisa Jefferies is a follower of Jesus, wife, mother of four, homeschooler, and homemaker who appreciates the quiet respites of life. She writes at http://www.thecozynook.blogspot.com/,"The Cozy Nook", seeking to create a place of rejuvenation and inspiration.

Ch. 9 What it Means to Love By Dorothy Gitelman @ http://fingerprintsinthedust.blogspot.com “ And these three remain, faith hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) Valentine's day and love go together. I suppose. Aside from the fun part of the day - the hearts, the cards, the candy - I don't make a big deal about the day. Love is bigger than just the day. It’s more than just romance. It’s about relationship. I think sometimes my faith and hope get in the way of my capacity to love. Do you ever get to the point of getting to know someone when a difference holds you back from becoming closer friends? I have. Perhaps you disagree on how to interpret the Scriptures. Or perhaps this person doesn't read the Bible at all. Or perhaps their lifestyle is the exact opposite of how you live and how you believe God asks you to live? Or maybe they think the things you like are stupid? We've all probably been through this. We learn to make safe friends, people like ourselves, people who will return our love. Even today, I'm most comfortable with a musician, Trekkie (or Whovian), or someone who shares my beliefs. I've found over the years, though, that I share different core beliefs with different people. I have found that I have more similarities with others than I'd realized as my younger self. As a teenager, I had a tendency to distance myself from those who didn't believe in the same way I did. I was concerned and loved those who didn't believe, but I always felt separate. As I've grown-up, I've come to understand that God wants me to love. He wants me to love with His love, a love so profound that it breaks down all kinds of separating walls. He wants me to love the unlovable and those who are different. Yeshua was criticized for breaking bread with those who were considered unworthy. He tended to talk to the unwanted, eat with the unpopular, and heal on the wrong days. In this century, don't you think Yeshua would accompany people to happy hour? Wouldn't He go to the worst parts of the cities despite the threat of shootings? Wouldn't He shake your hand, even if you were in the middle of the Noro Virus? He loves when it’s inconvenient and messy. I still am not sure I understand how to love people while believing that what they are doing is wrong, without compromising truth. But this passage encourages me, "For 33

now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 (TLV). I don't have to know! I know that love is the greatest. I need to follow the example Yeshua put before us, and love others. Meanwhile, I'll trust God for the rest. “But now these three remain— faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (TLV)

Dorothy M. Gitelman, from New Haven, CT, writes at http://fingerprintsinthedust.blogspot.com where she finds the little ways God touches our lives. Sometimes it's just by being a mom, wife, or a musician. The right recipe or craft just might show the fingerprints of God. Other times a piece of liturgy may ring true as the footprints in the sand. Can you find them? The miracles are with us in the evening, the morning, and in the afternoon, you just have to pay attention.

Ch. 10 Faith, Hope and LOVE

By Laura Connell @ http://lauraconnell.com/bible-verses-faith-hope-and-love/ “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) Oh, what a beautiful soliloquy Paul gave in 1 Corinthians 13. Christian contemporary band, For King and Country, made it the basis of their hit The Proof of Your Love. In the song, they take Paul’s words as a challenge to let their lives show His love to the world. A challenge to view love as an action verb rather than a term of endearment.

Love’s dictionary definition is “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person, an intense feeling of deep affection”. I asked my children to define love and my oldest called out, “Unconditional“. The youngest replied, “Patient”. When pressed, they revealed their answers were based on Gods’ love: God is patient with us, so we have to be patient to show love. God’s love is unconditional so that’s what love is. God defines love and only He can give a love that is truly without limits. We seek to define love in all kinds of ways. As always, God’s word trumps all our meandering thoughts. Here’s how the Bible describes Love. May we seek to imitate Christ in our desire to love like He did. Love is patient. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one 35

another.” John 13:35 (NIV) Love is kind. “Love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8b (ESV) It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16a (ESV) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1a (ESV) Love never fails.

Hi, I’m Laura Connell, devoted mom to two beautiful girls and certified Girls Circle facilitator. I’ve created God's Girl, found at http://lauraconnell.com/bible-verses-faithhope-and-love/,to help girls and women improve their confidence through God’s Word and a relationship with Christ. If you’re saved, you belong to He who came so you could have life and have it abundantly John 10:10 (KJV). So, if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed John 8:36 (NIV). The purpose of the blog is to help you and me find freedom through His Word: Jesus.

Ch. 11 What are you Doing for Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s? By Modupe Omotajo @ http://prodigalchildreturns.blogspot.com

Golly! (Wait, do people still say that?) Anyways, it's Valentine's Day in less than two weeks!! I get to eat chocolate and not feel guilty. On a more serious note though, what exactly is the point of Valentine's? For the benefit of those that do not know the supposed history of Valentine's Day, it is said that this day was named in honor of a Christian saint, St. Valentine. He fought against persecution and preached the gospel. Centuries later, Geoffrey Chaucer set this day apart for the purpose of expressing romantic love in the Roman empire. This comes as no surprise to me because even in today's world, almost all Christian holidays lose their true meaning. It's been replaced by those that are marketing and selling products or those that just want a day where you can eat lots of food and smile at the stranger at Macy's for no just reason... (That used to be me, by the way). After these Christian holidays, everything goes back to normal. We never even wonder about their true meaning. So what's my point? Well, what are you doing this Valentine's season? For some of us, we are deciding to remain faithful to our husbands/wives (in my case, future husband).

For some of us, we have faith that our current significant others will turn around for the better. For some of us, we are hopeful for a ring by spring. For some of us, we just eat and stay happy! For some of us, we Love! "And now, these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love." 1 Corinthians 13:13(NIV) I pondered on this verse for three solid days. What exactly was Paul telling the Corinthians? I mean everyone knows love is of utmost importance. Faith and hope can't compare right? Big deal! Let me make an attempt to explain what he meant. First, Hebrews 11:6 puts it to us as Christians, that without faith it is impossible to please God. Surely, that's true because without faith, you would not even believe in God. I mean, faith is what keeps us going. Secondly, during Job's trial period, his friend tells him he will be secure because there is hope. So we know that hope in God, gives us security and something to look forward to (unfathomable peace). Lastly, we know from multiple verses that love covers our sins, imperfections and fears. In faith, we believe and know that everything works together for our good. For those living in faith as I mentioned earlier, your results are going to be worthwhile because your faith pleases God who grants you everything above all you can ask or think. In hope, we are convinced of our security in God. We know Christ in us is our hope of glory. For those of us living in hope this season, do not fret for your security is in God, the Creator of the Universe. In love, we surpass faith and hope because now, we are not even thinking of ourselves. We just love others. We have come to the knowledge that love (agape) is the perfection of God's will in us. For in love, hope, faith and so much more exist. Love is patient Love is kind Love is just Love is truthful Love endures 38

love has faith Love is hopeful Love perseveres Love is unconditional So that's what Paul was telling us, just love God and one another and you don't have to worry about a thing. Christ said ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!!! For those of us living in love, we partake in God's mission and love those who we think do not deserve chocolates or flowers. We love them because God loved us first. So what are you doing this Valentine's? Are you loving? I am!

Hi, I am Modupe Omotajo. I am currently completing my degrees in Health Science and Psychology in Lee University, Cleveland, TN. I have always loved to preach the Word from a young age of 15. Entering college, I left the Christian walk of faith but recently got reconnected with God. My favorite authors/bloggers include C.S. Lewis, Jim Collins, Victor Frankl, Dale Partridge and Mike Hayes. Fun fact: I love food!

Ch. 12 Faith, Hope & Love

By Tamryn de Laborde @http://walkbyfaithblog.blogspot.co.nz 1 Corinthians 13:13 Faith, Hope and Love. Three of the most awesome words in the world. Faith gives you something to Hope for. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseenâ&#x20AC;?. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) I think faith is awesome. I love having faith in God and in the things He can do and has done, through us and for us. I love how Hebrews 11 goes down the list of all those who and how through faith in God they achieved so much and did great things and had to step out into what God asked them to do. They saw God as faithful to do what He promised and so they stepped out in faith. Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. Romans 5:1-8 says that through being justified by faith we have peace with God because of Jesus. It is through Jesus we have access through faith into the grace we stand in and we rejoice in Hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:3 says that no only do we have this faith but we also rejoice in suffering because we know that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces, character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint. Hope does not disappoint or put us to shame. When we have faith it bolsters our hope. Hope is not just like a wish, like 'I wish or hope you get well soon' or 'I hope all goes well' but it is something we have in Christ. It is sure and steadfast and the anchor of our souls. Hebrews Faith gives us hope and hope anchors us. It means we aren't blown this way and that and we cannot drift off out in to sea. We are steady and sure and sound. Now Love is the greater than faith and hope. It is greater because we read in John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 that God loved us so much and demonstrated how much He loved us through sending His Son to die on the cross while we were still sinners. While we were still the ones yelling crucify Him and mocking Him, He died for us so that we can know what Faith is and what it really means to have Hope in Christ Jesus. But most of all what it truly means to be loved with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. 40

This Love will never leave us or forsake or abandon us. This love does not leave us as orphans; it doesn't stop on a bad day. God's love for us never gives up and is never broken under any circumstances. It will be there always and forever. Nothing can separate us from His love. Trust steadily in God, Hope unswervingly and Love extravagantly. We love because God first loved us. I remember as a young girl being totally overwhelmed by the love of God for me. I just wanted to see His face. I wanted to look upon the face of Jesus, who died to save me. Today I understand He loved me so much He was willing to take on my filthy sin onto His pure and clean body so that I can live the life that was always purposed for me. I pray that you too will understand what faith and hope are but most of all I pray that you will be overwhelmed with the love God has for you.

My name is Tamryn and I am married and a mom to 4 daughters. I was born in South Africa and now live in New Zealand where I have lived for 7 years. I have been a Christian since I gave my heart to the Lord when I was 8 years old. I decided to start writing a blog because I had so many thoughts going around in my head. I felt that they needed to be put down in some form and maybe it would help someone out there understand more about God.

Ch. 13 Where Has All The Simple Gone? By Shelly Hendricks @http://reneweddaily.com

Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. - 1 Kings 19:4ª (NLT) I'm tired. Are you tired?

photo credit: Vainsang via photopin cc

I'm tired of always having to think about the way each small decision will affect me now and in the immediate future. I'm tired of the energy it takes just to get out of bed every day. I'm tired of the roller coaster. I'm tired of the draining maintenance on a body that hardly seems worth the effort anymore. With even the smallest things, things most people take for granted, health must be factored in. Pain must be considered. Long-term impact must be weighed. Even in the blessings we have. Even in the autonomic systems that most people are never even aware of going on in their body. The nature of chronic illness is that it is a part of EVERYTHING, even the blessings, so it's not like you can ever just take a break and get your mind off of your troubles. Elijah felt this way. He had had enough. He was tired. Bone tired. And do you know what word God had for him in that moment? Not a one. The Scripture goes on to tell us that Elijah slept. An angel woke him gently and showed him that God had provided bread and water for him. Not just that... the bread was warm. Yeah, that's how He rolls. He won't wake you to feed you just any old mush. His bread will be warm and soothing to your belly, and his water will quench and refresh. What did Elijah do then? Slept some more. Never underestimate the power of a good nap. Later, the angel woke him and he ate again. God knew what journey was ahead of him and He gave Elijah enough nourishment to get him to the mountaintop. On that mountaintop, Elijah listed his complaints to God. God listened. God asked questions that would engage him. And God came, as a gentle whisper, to talk with him face to face. Are you tired? God doesn't expect you to keep going, sweet one. God doesn't say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Suck it up, wimp, we still have a long way to go.â&#x20AC;? God doesn't remind you of all the blessings He's given you, as if they could somehow erase the pain of right now. He doesn't ask you to paint a smile on and pretend you're doing fine. He provides a tree and a cave for you in the wilderness. He gently wakes you to fill your weary heart with warm bread and wash your parched hands with cool water. He meets you face to face, nods understandingly at your retelling. He leads you with a gentle whisper, but only after you've power-napped a few times while He keeps watch through the night. Your God understands what this journey takes out of you. He knows how desperate some days can feel. He's provided for those moments, so don't feel bad about admitting the need for them. Come and rest with me. It's ok. Lay it down for just a bit. Come and rest. 43

Dear Lord, Thank You. For everything You are, and everything You allow us to be. Refresh us during this time, as we come to you for rest. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Shelly Hendricks is a wife and mother of 2 amazing kids. She was a teacher and librarian in another life. She also suffers from Intracranial Hypertension, Interstitial Cystitis, and Essential Tremor, among a myriad of other issues mostly stemming from these three. She had brain surgery in 2012 to install a VP Shunt, and now considers herself to be a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bionic womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; who is learning to walk again. Disability has been hard to deal with, but she depends on God for all strength and hopes to encourage others on this journey, through her blog.

Ch. 14 Spoice and Love

By Jean Wise @http://healthyspirituality.org

I learned a new word this week – SPOICE!

Sage Kotsenburg tweeted a message after the American won a gold medal in the men’s snowboarding slopestyle event in Sochi. “Keep it spoice.” Was this a Russian word? Actually no. Surprisingly, it is good ol’ US slang, rising from the snowboarding culture. I never heard of it before. The Urban Dictionary defines Spoice this way: “Spoice is an exclamation of gratitude towards life. It’s the proper word to use when you find yourself in a situation involving a multitude of positive things at once. You

may only utter it with pure joy behind it.” Let’s say this fun word together. Ready? SPOICE! Saying this word out loud it reminds me of the word: “rejoice”. I almost smile when saying it. A fun word. A festive word. A great word to use to celebrate and enjoy a special moment. I helped to lead worship Sunday morning. As we sang the Hymn of Praise, I faced the altar and looked up at the cross. For a moment it felt like I was standing in front of the Lord upon his mighty throne. “Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise for your glory.” That moment was a Valentine’s Day card from God to me. In a world where often we don’t feel loved, accepted or worthy – He invited me to come near him and sing to him. Spoice! I came to him empty handed except for my praise but left rich with his gifts – priceless and precious tastes of faith, hope and love. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13: 13 (NIV) God peeled back the curtains and gave me a glimpse of heaven. Spoice! Thank you for faith, Lord. He held out his arms and accepted me as his child. Spoice! Thank you for hope, Lord. And he touched my heart with his powerful and compassionate spirit: Spoice! Thank you for love, Lord. I worship with pure joy for the multitude ways God loves us. I think it’s time to amend the definition of spoice. Spoice is an exclamation of gratitude towards Life and Love. “And the greatest of these is Love.” 46

Spoice! Where have you experienced Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love?

Jean Wise has been a spiritual director since 2006 and also works as an Associate in Ministry for her church. She is a freelance journalist/writer and a speaker at retreats and gatherings. She has written numerous devotionals, magazine articles, and newspaper features. Jean is an RN who retired from the local health department after 26 years to concentrate on a speaking and writing ministry and serving God in the second half of life. She lives in Edon, Ohio with her husband enjoying their empty nest. She invites you to visit her blog where she writes four times a week: http://www.healthyspirituality.org.

Ch. 15â&#x20AC;ŚBut the Greatest of These is Love By J. Rae @http://www.jraewrites.com

She looked up at me with those big blue eyes, her hair soaked in bath water. Joyfully squealing and playing with her toys. Smiling at me as though this was the moment she'd been waiting for all day long. Bath time. My heart was full. Does it get better than this? She snuggled into my shoulder, wrapped in her towel, as I carried her to the change table to get dressed for bed. We're halfway through our bedtime routine. Just a snack, clean up time, a story, and a snuggle left to go. But, I don't want it to end. Love. I felt it. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." -Paul writing to the Corinthian church 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) Just an hour prior, baby girl had been putting up quite a fuss. I was doing dishes, and she wanted to be held. Unfortunately, those two things are not compatible. After awhile, I decided that it wasn't worth the battle and it ended with me, sitting on the floor with baby girl, singing "the wheels on the bus go..." Love. I chose it. Right after his sentence about love being greater than faith and hope, Paul continues his letter with: "Pursue love" 1 Corinthians 14:1a (ESV) Love is something I surely feel. But, this love? This love that never ends (1 Corinthians 13:8), this love that is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4), this love that endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7) is something I choose. That means I don't run in and out of relationships at my convenience. That means I don't withhold affection from my daughter or anyone else because I'm not getting my way. That means I pursue and serve people who are hard to love. The kind of love that is greater even than faith and hope is the kind you choose.

J. Rae is the author of "There Once Was A King" (available on kindle) and "So, You Have A Newborn" (offered for free on jraewrites.com). She's a twenty something momma to the coolest kid on the block and wife to a phenomenal Canadian man. You can find her writing about her love for Jesus, her family, food, and DIY-type-things at http://www.jraewrites.com.

Ch. 16 The Eternal Essence of Love By Rosilind Jukic @ http://www.littlerandr.org

â&#x20AC;&#x153;And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these [is] love.â&#x20AC;? 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) When all is said and done, the message of 1 Corinthians 13 can be reduced to three attributes: faith, hope, love. Faith in our brothers and sisters in Christ, the ones God gave us to walk this narrow path by our side. Hope in their future and the finishing work God is doing in their lives. Love for the body of Christ that never gives up, but chooses to believe the best, hope for the best and do the best to help them be better today than they were yesterday. But letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take these three elements to the next level. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Faith is what enables us to believe that what we merely hope for, and what we cannot yet see, will one day be reality. Hope is looking to our future with expectancy and anticipation.

Yet, one day faith will fade away as we are finally able to clearly see. And all that we hoped for and anticipated will become reality. And all that is left is love. Love. God is love. John reminded us of this over and over in the book 1 John. God is love. It is His character - the very essence of His being. And this is what makes Him so far above what we can fathom, because while God is holy, righteous and just - He is also love. His character is the perfect balance of principle and grace. Holiness and love. Righteousness and love. Justice and love. If the very essence of God isn't love, then He would never have released His Son to come to earth and die for the sins of those who spit in His face, trampled His law, and prostituted themselves with other gods. What other motivation could there be to sacrifice something so precious as your only child than pure, unadulterated love? And what is amazing is that He uses us - flawed, broken vessels - to communicate that love to mankind. He trusts us with this beautiful gift, to show the world the essence of Himself through the prism of a love we can barely comprehend ourselves. And the best way to communicate it effectively is to become as much like His as a mortal can. Spend regular time in His presence. Know His Word. Let Him to show you areas where you fall short of His grace. Allow His light to illuminate every part of your being. Because one day faith and hope will fade away, but love is eternal. Invest in eternity!

This is an excerpt from 14 Days of Agape - available in Kindle速 and PDF.

Ch. 17 As The Starling Said By Kathryn Ross @http://www.thewritersreverie.com

Miss Bertram seeks longingly to pass through a locked gate:

By this scene in Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, Miss Bertram had become disenchanted with her fiance, Mr. Rushworth. A third member of the party seeking the park beyond the gate, Mr. Crawford, was a carefree cad, newly arrived in the neighborhood, captivating young hearts with his provocative manner. Miss Bertram found her way to be first in line to flirt with his temptations, imprisoning herself in jealousy and discontentment. Jane Austen uses a powerful metaphor to illustrate Miss Bertram’s fettered heart – a sense of imprisonment she believed to be caused by others, unwilling to wear the guilt of her own sensibilities. The allusion is to a line from a late 18th century novel of the day titled, A Sentimental Journey. The words, “I cannot get out, as the starling said,” recall an imprisoned starling in the Bastille at the outset of the French Revolution – who, though set free from a metal cage, is still imprisoned within the tower – able to see beyond an iron trellis to freedom, but not able to pass through it to

the same; to which he laments, “I cannot get out . . . I cannot get out.” Living life on the down side of a locked gate, with all the glories of goodness, beauty and well being within view, but beyond reach, is often a source of discontentment – a true to life inspiration for this fictional scene. It’s been a common complaint in humans from the time of Adam and Eve, when the consequences of their sin imprisoned them – and all their descendents – to live on the down side of the Garden Gate. Miss Bertram observing the iron gate, expressed a wish of passing through it into the park, that their views and their plans might be more comprehensive. It was the very thing of all others to be wished, it was the best, it was the only way of proceeding with any advantage . . . Go therefore they must to that knoll, and through that gate; but the gate was locked. Miss Bertram would be forced to settle for less – BUT. FOR. THE. KEY. Mr. Rushworth wished he had brought the key; he had been very near thinking whether he should not bring the key; he was determined he would never come without the key again, but still this did not remove the present evil. They could not get through; and as Miss Bertram’s inclination for so doing did by no means lessen, it ended in Mr. Rushworth’s declaring outright that he would go and fetch the key. He set off accordingly. If you’re an Austen fan and know Chapter 10 of Mansfield Park, you will remember Mr. Rushworth stopping, turning around and heroically going in the opposite direction to get the KEY – quite repenting of his carelessness in leaving it behind thinking he could move forward without it. Unfortunately, Miss Bertram was left behind in the bad company of the unsavory Mr. Crawford, who urged her to not wait for the key, but to squeeze through the gate to the park beyond – by another way. Most inappropriate. Neither Mr. Crawford or Miss Bertram met with a desirable end in the story, I’m afraid, quite in keeping with a want of virtuous character on both their parts as this particular scene exposed. They really ought to have waited for the KEY, because, you see – there WAS one. A KEY. That thing uniquely designed to open the locked gate so “their views and their plans might be more comprehensive.” So they might see perfectly. Now, we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) 54

I thought of this recently when I was tempted to take another way to making my views and plans more comprehensive – complete – fulfilled. Sometimes, waiting on the downside of the locked gate with the promise of the glories beyond in my line of sight, tempt me to devise ulterior methods to reach my goals. The KEY is delayed in coming. Surely, there must be another way because – I WANT IT NOW! Paul addressed this in his letter to the Corinthians. They began well enough, taking the KEY OF FAITH – setting themselves on the Foundation of Christ . . . And, subsequently, yet another key – the KEY OF HOPE – which brought them to the threshold of a vast parkland of God’s promises. How hungry they were to take full possession of what they could see, though imperfectly. Paul affirmed their zeal while rebuking their inappropriate methods of acting upon that zeal. They were trying to squeeze through the locked gate with the space afforded them by only TWO KEYS – when, in fact – a THIRD KEY was necessary. “Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT) The KEY OF LOVE – a melody that we find played out of tune so often in our world today. It’s no use pointing fingers and assuming our sour notes of jealousy and discontentment are the fault of others. The truth finds us out. We move ahead of the Lord with our Keys of Faith and Hope, zealously charging forward without waiting for the KEY OF LOVE that will bring a balanced three part harmony to our life song and open the gate into all God has planned for us – for His glory – not that or our own. God is Love. He is worthy of the wait. And, waiting is hard. Waiting on the Lord to unlock the gate of all the good things our Faith gives us the Hope for – in this world where we live now, and in eternity to come. Earlier in 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NLT), Paul gives us a detailed look at HOW our Faith and Hope is to be walked out in the practical: “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, 55

and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” And, this is the KEY – the greatest of them all. The personification of God – LOVE Himself – in Jesus Christ. The GATE – the ONE WAY through to the promise of glories in the park. The LOVE of the Father is the KEY. There is no other way to walk out this Christian life in the fullness of our Faith and Hope in Him apart from waiting on the Lord to bring the KEY OF LOVE into everything we do, every word that we speak, every decision that we make, every thought that we think, every prayer that we breathe. Love is foundational to our Faith. Love is foundational to our Hope. The three are inseparable – and eternal. Like the Godhead – Three in One.

If only Miss Bertram had put her Faith and Hope in her betrothed, waiting on him for the key to the gate, rather than allowing herself to be distracted and discontented through the machinations of an evil outsider whose only aim was to exploit her weaknesses to exult himself. Mr. Crawford was quite the villain of the piece, to be sure. For all the literary analysis’ of Jane Austen and her works that are out there, I am moved only to conclude that here she has given us a cautionary tale mirroring profound Biblical principles. And, when story is used to implant the principles of God’s Word deep into our hearts, we sing with delight in a major chord of three notes, “I cannot get GOD out . . . I cannot get GOD out . . . as the starling said . . .”

Kathryn Ross is a freelance Literacy Enrichment Artist in Southern New Jersey, creatively communicating Christ through literature, art, history and drama. Via classical storytelling, performance programs and playwriting, "Miss Kathy" brings literature and life lessons alive for multi-generational audiences, combining Biblical principles with theatrics, whimsy and the power of metaphor. She is the artist/designer of Cameo Impressions, creating handcrafted vintage floral accessories, and the author of Fragrant Fields, a collection of devotional poetry, available through Amazon. Kathryn makes her home with her bookseller husband, Ed, in a cozy cottage surrounded by vintage treasures, tons of books and two cats.

Ch. 18 The Greatest for the Least By Shanique Edwards @ http://www.thejourneydeeper.com

As I write this, we're in the height of the Valentine's season. (Yes, it's become an entire season now.) Everyone, in some way, is talking about love. Sometimes it's with sparkling eyes and hopeful hearts, sometimes it's with tears and bitterness, sometimes it's with some other emotion. The point is, we all seemed to be focused on love. As I write this, we're in the middle of one of the harshest winters in recent history. The Northeast has been hit by storm after storm, and it hasn't even gotten warm enough in between storms to melt the snow from the previous one. Temperatures have stayed below freezing for weeks at a time. Everyone in some way has been affected by this weather. Sometimes it's with frustration at canceled classes and working days lost, or because they are fed up with shoveling snow and scraping ice off cars. Sometimes they react with playful glee at the abundance of snow, or with concern at finding somewhere warm enough to sleep at night. As I write this, this is a time of year in which we seem to celebrate the greatest of these, but forget the least of these. That well-known verse in 1 Corinthians tells us that while faith, hope, and love remain, love is the greatest of these. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that the hungry, thirsty, naked and stranger are the least of these.

Unlike faith or hope, love is direct. We have faith in God, and hope for the future, but we love both God and others. I can tell others of my faith, and share with them all my hopes, but I cannot transfer these to them. My love is the medium by which I can truly illustrate both my faith and my hope. Love is what makes the difference between work, and works. We are called to clothe ourselves in love, for it creates harmony in all things together.

Love is powerful, perfect and constant. It casts out fear. It covers many sins. It is evidence that we know God. And in loving God, we are called to love the least of these: those in need around us, our neighbors. So in this season of love, let us love not only our spouses and crushes and significant others and friends, let us also love the least of these. It may be something as small as a smile, giving directions to someone who is lost, or giving a cup of hot chocolate to the person on the street. But whatever we do, let us give the greatest of these, to the least of these. And let us do it in the name of Jesus. Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

Shanique Edwards is a young Barbadian, currently living in New Jersey. She is an avid Bible-reader, an encourager, an enthusiastic dancer, and sometimes, a decent singer. She tries to do justice, love, kindness and walk humbly with God, while making it through the trying times of the life of a 20-something. Occasionally, Shanique can be found over at her blog, The Journey Deeper.

Ch. 19 Nothing Without Love By Christine Willis @http://reservedandwaiting.com

They are gagged and bound being led to their slaughter. The armed guards spontaneously beat them, pushing them through and sometimes down. No one dares to say a word for fear of the wrath. But then one does, removing his gag to speak love. The words resonate like the wave from a sonic blast. His actions then reaffirm the words that were spoken; the darkened veil is then removed from his eyes. He is then released from the grips of emptiness. An emptiness without love. One by one, they come alive with a new sight. Breaking down the walls of the dark prison that holds them captive to walk out into the light. A light that brings them into the world around them that was out of reach. My description of the music video ” The Proof of Your Love” – For King & Country As I watch this video, I find myself as one of those gagged and blinded by emptiness. I also have seen myself released from that prison many times over. The monologue in this song is directly from 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 of The Message. It reflects truths in my life. Saying: I can do, I can say, I can have hope, I can have faith but if I don’t have love none of that matters. Without love, His love, I am nothing. In my own life, I have seen this played out, time after time. If I let the priorities in my life outreach what I should be reaching for, I have wasted my time. His love remains, it’s my love that gets blinded. The blindness is lifted when I turn my eyes back towards Him. So when I read:

“But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation; Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of these three is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Message) I get a better understanding of what Paul is writing. As I ponder over this verse from The Message translation, I am able to see what the NIV translation says: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) Then, when I take into account the whole theme of this chapter; it is Love!!! Without my faith in God, without my hope that anchors me and without love; I am nothing and have nothing. Love is the greatest of the three that binds me into a whole. What about you, Are you nothing without love? If so, write in the comment area “I am Nothing without Love!”

Hi, My name is Crisi. I am a wife, a mother of three and a daughter of God. I love Him with all my heart, mind and soul. I write to encourage fellow daughters of God to view daily life through the eyes of their heart. To see how God is displaying Himself daily in every situation. My life verse is "for in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28b (NIV). Come; join me on this journey of faith while we pursue God's characteristics in our life.

Ch. 20 Ten Things I Want my Daughter to Know By Tara Mitchel @ http://thissweetlifeofmine.com

Mothering my little girl has been so different than mothering my two boys. My boys were rough and tumble. Sure, there are times when Emma is rough and tumble with her daddy or her brothers. Usually, however, she is pretty quiet, reserved young lady. She is such a sensitive soul with a heart as big as the universe. There are things I want her to know – deep down in her soul- as we travel together through the upcoming tween/teen/young adult years. I refuse t buy into the concept that the teen years are turbulent. I want to befriend my sweet girl as I journey through these years molding her into the young woman God has called her to be. I Love YOU! I don’t love you “because.” I love YOU! I doesn’t matter to me what you look like. It doesn’t matter what clothes you wear or the color of your hair. I don’t care if you are the best ballerina in your class. I don’t care if you struggle with diagramming sentences. I love YOU just the way you are!! I WILL tell you “NO”, because I love you. Sometimes, you will have to hear “no” in order

to achieve your goals. Sometimes, “NO” makes you work a little harder. Sometimes, “NO” keeps you safe. Sometimes, “NO” means you have to check your attitude. It is important to hear “NO” sometimes so the path is paved for a “YES”. Life isn’t always fair. You won’t always get what you want, and that is okay. Everyone has different needs and different personalities and different “currency” that motivates them. You won’t always receive the same benefits or consequences or rewards as someone else, because each of these will be unique to you. This is true in our home, in the classroom, and in the real world. You don’t have to like the rules, but you have to follow them. I understand! I was a kid/teen once, too. I didn’t like all of my mom’s rules. You won’t always like mine. However, your dad and I have created a set of rules for our house that you have to obey. These rules are in place to help keep you safe. They are set up to teach you to be a caring and responsible adult. We want the best for you, sweet girl, and we have set boundaries to help you succeed in life. Your opinion matters. I want to know how you feel about things. I want to know what you are interested in. I do not want you to go through life making decisions based upon my beliefs. You are strong young lady with the capacity to make some really wise decisions. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently. Now, I may not always agree with your opinions. Your opinion may not be the deciding vote. But, never be afraid to voice your opinion in a respectful way. Have fun! Laugh! Tell jokes! Be a goofball. Don’t take life or yourself so seriously. God has created such a wonderful world. Go out and enjoy it! Dream! Dream big! Don’t let anyone tell you, “You can’t do that.” If you want something – a ballet role, a career as a vet, or even a fancy dance combination – work for it. You, my beautiful little lady, can do anything you set your mind to! I believe in you! I believe that you are capable of achieving great things! I think you are an amazing little girl. You are brave enough to perform a dance on a stage by yourself in front of 100 strangers. You are smart enough to learn and perform five or six recital dances at one time. You are sweet enough to attract some really cool kids that you call “friend.” You are strong enough to face new challenges in a new city in a new state with a smile on your face. God has created in you such a wonderful being, and I believe that you will go far in this world!! Know what you stand for and stand up for it. Don’t let others persuade you to compromise your faith. Don’t be tempted to follow the crowd when the crowd is making a bad choice. Live life wisely. Have fun, and make good choices. Stand up for your principles. Stand strong in your faith. Stand up for the underdog. You are God’s princess, and that makes you “good enough”. You are exactly who God created you to be. He gave you your hair, your eyes, you body type. Your personality 63

was designed by the almighty Creator. You are perfect just the way you are, because you were created in His image! Always strive to be the best YOU that you can be, and you will always be more than “good enough”.

Tara is a wife and homeschool momma. Her children are 20, 15, and 10 – two boys and one girl. She is currently homeschooling her daughter – 5th grade. The two older boys were homeschooled in previous years. She and her family recently moved from Texas to Ohio, and they’re having fun exploring their new surroundings. She is looking forward to entering a whole new world as her daughter grows into those teen years that need not be as turbulent as society thinks it is. With God’s grace and lots of love, Tara is looking forward to training her daughter to be a Woman of God. In her free time, Tara loves reading, crocheting, sewing, and watching movies with her crew.

Ch. 21 The Greatest of These By Laura B Miner @ http://www.cookathomemom.com

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) I grab a cup of coffee as I check my phone in the morning: Two new Facebook notifications. I open them; then browse through my newsfeed. An old friend from college posted a photo finishing her second marathon to raise funds for cancer research. Look a little further: A photo of a friend’s kids, dressed in adorable matching outfits and already playing at the Children’s Museum this morning. A little further down: A couple adopted their second special needs child. I glance at my cup of coffee, lukewarm by now, then at the sink full of dirty dishes, and I wonder why I haven’t accomplished anything yet for the day. Better yet, why can’t I get it together and be a better mom like them? They make it look so easy, so what am I doing wrong? I think to myself, “How do I be a more motivated, generous, patient, and compassionate person? Figure it out, and do it now.” It’s only 8:00 AM, and I’m already paling in comparison to these women, and I can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. With lots on the agenda each day, it’s natural for moms to feel pulled in many directions, and we tend to hold ourselves to sometimes unrealistically high standards. Especially in this age of Facebook® and Pinterest®, it’s easy to think that everyone else is mastering all the things we can barely get the hang of. While they’re great ways to connect, keep in touch, and share with our extended communities, it’s probably not the most productive time I spend each day. At the very least, it’s a small distraction from focusing on the important things 65

in life. At worst, the constant updates on the accomplishments of others have become what I use as a measure of my value as a parent. Social media gives us just small glimpses into the best parts of the lives of other moms and families. Let’s keep it real here; I’m not always patient, and I’m definitely quick to anger sometimes. There are days I don’t get out of my pajamas, and there are days I’m not completely positive that I brushed my teeth. I’m fairly sure nobody wants to see me post a photo of any of that! But if I have no tangible proof that I’ve been a good mom today, how do I know if I am? Everyone else can easily do what I can’t: lose the baby weight plus five pounds, cook delicious meals, homeschool, volunteer, and they do all this while matching their heels to their lipstick. They achieve so much, all while embodying everything I wish I could be: patient, organized, hardworking, compassionate, and kind. The thirteenth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is read often at weddings as an example for the bride and groom. Children recite it in Sunday School when learning the basic principles of Christian living. Maybe it’s such a famous passage because when we read it, we are reminded, challenged, and convicted to keep focus on the first and most important foundation for our relationships, love. It’s a special passage to me in many ways; we even have verse thirteen displayed in my son’s room, hanging as a reminder in the prominent space above his crib. Paul expresses in the most simple, yet profound ways what defines love. It is patient, kind, does not boast, is not rude, and rejoices with truth. Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. 1 Corinthians 13:7(ESV). He notes over and over that love is what is most valued and most virtuous, and then ends the chapter by professing again that it is what is of highest importance and endurance. It is greatest of all. Yes, virtues are ordered, and love is number one. But when I read these verses, the requirements I see for being a mom suddenly change. It isn’t about keeping count of what I do and creating proof of my worth with a photo. True love isn’t about achieving or comparing our good deeds, it’s about honoring what Christ has done for us. We love only because He first loved us. Our little ones light up with love for us because they reflect the love we show them. It’s the same with the love we receive from Christ. His love is what unites us with Him; then we resound with it, being filled compassion and care, giving us strength and foresight to witness to the needs of our children. It resolves our inward need for comparing our outward lifestyle amongst others. It’s what allows us to bless the name of the Lord in the face of trials and tragedies.

Focus on knowing the love of God and reflecting His love to others. Read this passage through once a week and spend a few minutes reflecting on the ways Christ has loved you, and how we can better show love to our families. That love will encompass everything, spilling over into all the many other aspects of our lives. It is what we need to strive for, because it makes us our best for our kids, husbands, families, and friends. Love is what makes the hours we spend with our children worthwhile, because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what makes us moms in the first place.

When Laura isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eating pizza, you can usually find her spending time with her son and husband. She loves cooking, being outdoors, reading, and taking photos near their home in Virginia. Connect and read more on her blog at http://www.cookathomemom.com.

Conclusion By Julie A Pierce Reading 1 Corinthians 13, really reading it, was so instructive. I was vaguely aware that the context of this chapter was NOT actually romantic love. But that the truths that Paul was writing about were applicable to romantic love, family love and community love. However, I had not really taken time to contemplate these verses. This chapter of 1 Corinthians is pretty short – only 13 verses. But despite its brevity, it contains three powerful truths: • • •

Love is way of life. Love has specific characteristics. Love is the greatest thing.

Way of Life Chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians discuss spiritual gifts. They are important and should be put to good use in a manner that builds up the church. However important they are, though, Paul takes great pains to point out that none of them matter if they’re not used and applied with Love. Love is not a feeling or an emotion. It is to be the underpinning of every action we take. It is also barometer or measuring stick by which we can evaluate ourselves. Are you doing what you are doing out of love?

Specific Characteristics God has given us Scripture to give us wisdom. Love is so important that we need to be crystal clear about what it is and how to recognize it in others and ourselves. Paul uses 15 verbs in a very short space, verses 4-7, to paint a picture for us of what love is. Does your life demonstrate that love is an action?

Greatest Thing The final six verses of this chapter help us understand truly where Paul was coming from. He makes it clear that spiritual gifts are important, but they are important only for this lifetime. There is a gift that is far greater and lasting than these temporary gifts: love. Do you understand the eternal quality that love has?

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) What a blessing it is to be able to receive, understand and apply the Scriptures to our daily lives!

I hope this book was a blessing to you! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian Mommy Bloggerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift to you. Please share it with anyone who you think would be edified or encouraged by it. Blessings on you and yours, Julie http://christianmommyblogger.comAcross the board: