"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
"If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, 'Jump,' and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
"If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
"Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut.
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always 'me first,'
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back, but keeps going to the end.
"Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
"When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
"We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
"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, The Message
Father, What a mighty God You are. Thank You for Your compassion, Your mercy, Your faithfulness and love. You amaze me as You surround me with Your Presence - that place of rest and comfort. Teach us to love with Your love, not the love the world knows and acts upon. Help us to love fully with a holy love. Strengthen us to do Your bidding in this world of pain. Strengthen us to walk in grace and mercy. Thank You Lord. Thank You for writing these words upon our hearts. We love You and give You praise.
Tweetables to Encourage Others
How can I still love after this? @NanJonesAuthor offers words to strengthen you. (Click to Tweet)
"Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly" ( The MSG) (Click to Tweet)
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory page. I'm featuring JJ Heller singing, "What Love Really Means." This is an AWESOME song about God's unconditional love.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercy never ends. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness to us! May you know God's love to you in a new way today. I'm praying for you sweet friend. Love always.
ReplyDeleteI love that song. Do you know it? It's always been one of my favorites and I cling to its message. Thanks for your prayers. I love you.
DeleteYes, I was singing it as I was typing it! :-D
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