DAY # 32 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional Verse: "People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs." Proverbs 19:11 NLT
NIV - "A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense." KJV - "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression." NKJV - "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression." MSG - "Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget." The ability to forgive and forget is a tricky one because of our human instincts, our human thoughts and the desire to retaliate. We as Christians had a NEW BIRTH, and are NEW CREATIONS, so we should be trying to live by the Spirit. Forgiveness is an important part of life. We need to choose to forgive, yet we also need to choose to forget. Just as God forgives each of us (when we repent), we need to have that same genuine love for others as we forgive them. God tosses our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. "...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12 NIV)
Forgiveness is basically showing love. When we forgive others, it allows God to fully forgive us. Some of our sins towards God are probably bigger or more hurtful than the little sins that others do to us. We were reminded of just this fact about love & forgiveness in service on Sunday. We've also been reminded in the past that full healing cannot come until full forgiveness comes. Pure, perfect love for each other is what the Lord desires of us. God loves us unconditionally, no matter what we do, what we say, how we act -- HE LOVES US! (with a deep love). Why is it that we can allow ourselves to get entangled in things like gossip, talking behind other's backs, and other things that lead to bitterness (which certainly does not help us forget past wrongs)? Well God desires us to forgive and forget, and to go beyond bitterness and beyond envy (you can click those words to go to more devotionals). In 1 Corinthians 13 verses 4-8, you will find the best definition of 'love'. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..." Thankfully with God's help all things are possible to they that believe. God is willing to help us forgive and get past those feelings of betrayal, bitterness and hurt. He even reminds us that it is His place to give vengeance, if it so requires Him. So ask the Lord to help you forgive others, so that He may fully forgive all that you have done, and will probably do against Him. It does take work on our parts, and we have to fully forgive intentional and unintentional sins, and give the negative feelings to God - lay them at His feet, and He will surround you with love, peace and joy, so the only thing that will overflow from you is His love. :)
"Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging an injury makes you even with him; forgiving an injury sets you above him." ~Anonymous BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!
Day #15 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
This verse continues... "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8) It has been said, sung and heard for generations that 'All we need is love'... that is sooooo true! We take it frivilously, and we love with conditions at most times... but God's love is unconditional, deep and true. He loves us no matter what we do. We can't truly understand how he loves us... but He does, and we are to love those around us too.
It's that simple... Love because He loved us first. It's in the Bible! (1 John 4:19)
Can't feel or see His love... check out this picture of a simple cloud in the sky... He does love you! All of creation shows the love of the Creator...
This verse continues in 1 Corinthians 13:13 saying, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." The greatest thing you could ever be, and ever do is LOVE. Faith is very important, and so of course is HOPE... but God showed His love for us by sending His one and only Son. We are to in turn share that Love with EVERYONE! So get out there today, and show some love... (Send me a comment of a testimony of yours, how you shared the love of God and were blessed by it -- or how someone shared God's love with you and it changed your life.)
His Love is UNFAILING... check out this song by Chris Tomlin...
For more exciting devotionals on LOVE, click HERE... and truly let yourself be touched by the LOVE of God!
(I was asked to do the devotional at a local place we go to volunteer once a month. So of course being VALENTINE'S was in 4 days, I chose to do my lesson on LOVE! I also decided to share it here as well, since I got so many interesting comments and encouraging words from others who heard it! Praise and glory be to God - I am just an obedient vessel! Words in [square brackets] are words spoken that night. I tried to re-write in some cases, so it would make sense for the reader. Here it is...)
So it is the MONTH of FEBRUARY… the month of LOVE!
Did you know that most people believe VALENTINE’S DAY started with St. Valentine at the time of the Roman Empire? However, I know that the first VALENTINE sent was sent long before that first celebration on February 14th? God is LOVE, and LOVE is for all. God sent us His Son as an action of His love. He sent Him for ALL of us.
[I have given you all little] VALENTINE cards, with the infamous JOHN 3:16 Scripture on it. As you can see, using the words of the Scripture, God sent us His own VALENTINE. Jesus was sent as a gift to show God’s love. I would like us all to read it together. (Here is a copy of God's VALENTINE.)
Most people think love is a NOUN today; something that you can fall in and out of; something that involves playing with someone’s heart until you most likely get it broken. But GOD created love to be a VERB, not a NOUN. He intended that it be an active part of our lives. Loving someone requires some action on our parts. Real love is not something you can fall in or out of. Real love is shown in daily actions.
Love is not just something between a couple (dating or married). Love should be seen and heard throughout the world everyday with everyone. [We would not be here, and the ARK would not be here if we didn’t LOVE you.] (For devotional readers, this devotional blog would not be here if I did not love you and want you to come to know the Father).
Now some of you are thinking, (because we all think it) “but I am not worthy enough, no one will love me. I am not handsome enough, or beautiful enough, or rich enough, or smart enough. Some of you are even thinking, but what about my past, if they only knew all the things that you have done, etc… then you wouldn’t be able to be loved, let alone be able to love others. (and you think that I wouldn't love you or God wouldn't love you.)
Well I am here to tell you different… WE love, because HE first loved us. HIS love is unconditional, which means that He loves you ANYWAY. There is a saying, BEAUTY is all in the EYE of the BEHOLDER, and Jesus is telling you, and we are telling you, “if you could see what I see”. If WE want to be truly called His followers, then we must learn to love as He loves. We must be REAL! That takes a lot, I know it. I pray daily that God will help me love others as He loves me.
Usually these verses I am going to [read] (give) to you are heard at weddings, however, God wants you to know His love, and that it is REAL. He loves you no matter who you are, what your background, race, sex or lot in life is. He loves you for you. That is why He made you, so He could love you, and you could love Him in return. He tells us all about His kind of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
“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, 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. endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!” Another translation says, LOVE NEVER FAILS.
This is REAL love. Taken from the words of a song I know, When all else around you comes crashing in, and you feel like you are surrounded. What’s actually surrounding you is God’s love.
"When the walls are closing in, the enemy is back again. Heat comin' from all sides like you are surrounded. You can't believe everything you feel. Treasure what you know is real, cause, if you could see from up above, what's got you surrounded is love!" ~ Geoff Moore
Now can you think of all kinds of songs with the word LOVE in it from the world’s point of view… there are lots? • Love, it makes the world go round
• Love will keep us together
• Love Me tender
• Love Love Me Do, You Know I Love You
• All you need is Love
• Love Hurts
• Do You Love Me?
• … and many many more.
What kind of LOVE is this? Pretty superficial to me…
But ONE SONG that I know, and that I love to SING is called AMAZING LOVE. Just let the words of the song sink into your heart and your spirit, and allow your heart to be opened once again to know what it means to be loved!
Since I cannot sing it here, I chose to have one of my FAVOURITE groups the NEWSBOYS sing it for you...
AMAZING LOVE HOW CAN IT BE, THAT YOU MY KING WOULD DIE FOR ME? To experience this REAL love, you have to first come to know the One that gives this LOVE. This VALENTINE’S DAY, ensure you are in the BEST RELATIONSHIP that this life has to offer. The one between a FATHER and His Child. The one between a BRIDEGROOM and His BRIDE. Some of you may have really bad earthly relationships with your dads, or with spouses, and other family members, but God is so much more.
Here is a cool VALENTINE POEM I found on the internet tonight, wish I had it last night when I spoke!
God’s Valentine Gift
God’s Valentine gift of love to us
Was not a bunch of flowers;
It wasn’t candy, or a book
To while away the hours.
His gift was to become a man,
So He could freely give
is sacrificial love for us,
o you and I could live.
He gave us sweet salvation, and
Instruction, good and true--
To love our friends and enemies
And love our Savior, too.
So as we give our Valentines,
Let’s thank our Lord and King;
The reason we have love to give
Is that He gave everything.
By Joanna Fuchs
Prayer: God I thank You so much for all that You have done for us. You know us inside and out, You know our hearts, and deeds and love us anyway. I thank You for Your unconditional love. I thank You for Your example that You brought us to the world, in Your Son Jesus. His life was a life of human, without sin. Help us accept Your love even though we certainly don't deserve it. Your amazing love, that comes along with Your amazing mercy and grace too. Granting us that which we don't deserve (Your love), and not giving us what we do deserve which is death. God I pray this NEW and fresh prayer tonight for all those who are reading this blog, or even those who may have popped on and just skimmed, or even just read the first part and clicked away to another site in anger or frustration. Help them come to know you in a NEW and FRESH way. I pray that this VALENTINE'S DAY, we will truly seek after the RELATIONSHIP with You. Some of us for the FIRST time, and others who need to RENEW our hearts back to our FIRST LOVE which is You! It's not about RELIGION, it's all about the RELATIONSHIP! Thank You God that we may have a relationship with You and Your Son. Thank You also for Holy Spirit which we can have with us everyday to lead, guide and direct us in all that we think, do and say. Lord, just bless us and fill us with Your love that we may learn to love others like You love us. Help us look passed all the faults that we see on the exterior and help us to love and encourage that which is on the inside, which You are making beautiful in Your image! In Jesus' precious name I pray all this, AMEN!
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