Charity suffereth long, and is kind;

Charity envieth not;

Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly,

Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,

Thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

But rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things,

Believeth all things,

Hopeth all things,

Endureth all things.

Charity never faileth…

[1 Corinthians 13:4-8]

Over the past couple of months my fiancé and I have been memorizing 1 Corinthians 13.  We enjoy taking time to memorize together and holding each other accountable.  When you purpose to learn portions of Scripture they suddenly take on a new meaning.  I love seeing the new perspective that God gives as you go.

There are two new ways I’ve seen that you can view and apply this passage.  One is as a description of God’s love.

God is patient…

He is kind.

He is merciful (“not easily provoked”).

He is holy and is grieved by sin.

He rejoices in righteousness.

His love never fails.

I have loved thee with an everlasting love:

therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

[Jeremiah 31:3]

The other perspective – the convicting one – is learning to put it into action.

To show love to others…

Be patient.

Be kind.

Be content.

Don’t promote yourself.

Remain humble.

Mind your testimony.

Seek good for others – die to your own selfishness.

Be slow to anger.

Be grieved by sin.

Rejoice when truth and righteousness are pursued.

Bear suffering patiently.

Be quick to believe; slow to doubt.

Don’t lose hope.

Persevere.

This kind of love never fails…

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes,  And ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. [Ezekiel 36]

I want a principle within of jealous, godly fear,
A sensibility of sin, a pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel of pride or wrong desire,
To catch the wandering of my will, and quench the kindling fire.

From Thee that I no more may stray, no more Thy goodness grieve,
Grant me the filial awe, I pray, the tender conscience give.
Quick as the apple of an eye, O God, my conscience make;
Awake my soul when sin is nigh, and keep it still awake.

Almighty God of truth and love, to me Thy power impart;
The burden from my soul remove, the hardness from my heart.
O may the least omission pain my reawakened soul,
And drive me to that Blood again, which makes the wounded whole.

[Charles Wesley]

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.

[Deuteronomy 7:9]

For ye shall go out with joy,

And be led forth with peace:

The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing,

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree,

And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree:

And it shall be to the LORD for a name,

For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

[Isaiah 55]

I am the good shepherd: 

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

My sheep hear my voice, 

and I know them, 

and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

[John 10]

Happy Monday!!

We made it – 30 days – 30 pictures.  I’m celebrating by not going with the set assignment today.  ;)

I took this picture last Wednesday in the heart of Ohio Amish country.  It’s a quiet and peaceful place with so much beautiful Creation to see.

God was in the middle of painting one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen when I looked to the left and saw this sight.  Here it is:  Zion United Church of Christ in New Bedford, Ohio.

Well… this challenge was a little self-portrait heavy.  Oh well… a different twist with this one:  a faceless self-portrait.  Say cheese!

Playing cards

Another tricky assignment!  ;)  This wasn’t exactly the idea I was going for, but I did try some new ideas…. and that’s always good.