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Life 101

14591698360_fdddbf7986_c(1)1 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. 2 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. 3 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.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

12 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.

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

(1Corinthians 13:1-13 NLT)

 

 


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41 Responses to “Life 101”

  1. SFDBWV says:

    I would like to believe Mart, that you have reprinted 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 because of the horribly ugliness that ended “Under Fire” and always creeps into whatever subject you put up.

    Good luck!

    Recognize the problem then act on it.

    There are several adages that come to mind. Jesus told us not to cast our pearls before swine, and it is said you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

    Like I said Mart, “good luck!”

    We have had several days of winter weather, with plenty of snow and cold temperatures. Thankfully it became overcast and snowed last night and so kept the temperatures above the minus mark, it is 01 f as I write. Warmer temps in the next couple days only means more wet snow, but added with ice. Looking forward to June the first.

    Steve

  2. tracey5tgbtg says:

    These verses from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 never fail to bring solace to my heart. Paul wrote so many words in Scripture that just blow me away.

    Oh God, let me love you. First You Lord, and then my neighbor.

    I’ve been reading so many uplifting, positive and encouraging messages from people posting to this blog.

  3. saled says:

    Verses 1-3 make me think that all of our words and efforts are useless unless we are motivated by love. Sometimes in the busyness of life, my words and efforts become just a routine designed to make it through another day. I need to remind myself who these efforts are for; breakfast for my husband can be an act of love instead of another chore to get out of the way. When he gets up and tends the wood fires in the night,I know that it is an act of love as well as a necessary chore.

    Today is Valentines, the day of love. Let’s give love its proper place, above even faith and hope. Can anything be above faith and hope? Paul says that love is. Love can be our motivation.

    4 degrees here today, with wind chills around -30. Warm compared to this day last year when it was -22 and for the first time in 10 years, my Ford Ranger refused to start. The Ranger and I are both looking forward to June along with Steve.

  4. tracey5tgbtg says:

    A great song based on 1 Cor 13:1-3 is “The Proof of Your Love” by For King and Country.

  5. Mart DeHaan says:

    Woke up to 7 degrees f here in the Great Lakes. Sun shining. Unlike WV we’ve had little snow this winter and little on the ground now.

  6. remarutho says:

    Good Morning Mart & Friends —

    A positive, hopeful word seems to be lost in the midst of loud, negative statements. The Apostle Paul encourages everyone, “do not grow weary of doing good,” no matter what opposition comes along.

    Today, we remember St. Valentine who, according to tradition, encouraged those who loved one another in the face of cruel treatment and forced separation. Let each one consider what it would be like to face persecution, prison or death for the sake of faith in Jesus. All that matters is God’s faithfulness in Jesus Christ.

    Happy Valentine’s Day!
    Maru

  7. remarutho says:

    47F with rain here in the valley. We are affected by the Japan Current in the Pacific — if all this rain were snow, it would be several feet deep! Maru

  8. narrowpathseeker says:

    Good Morning All. There are many things that I believe that I know in regard to right and wrong. For instance, I KNOW we are to love God with all our heart, our neighbors as ourselves, and even our enemies…horrible people that are cruel and mean spirited. I know that and I WANT to do whatever GOD wants me to do, to be, to say, to think….BUT I DON’T and I am NOT!!

    Now whether this is right or wrong, I have found this helpful to me in recent days. At the very beginning of my morning talk with the Lord, I tell Him that I am confessing all of my sins in thought, word, and deed, past and present often to remember how much I have been forgiven to HELP me to forgive others…see them in a different light… Then I ask Him to cleanse me in the blood of Jesus and fill me with His love…the Love that covers a multitude of sins…then I begin praying for others while I am momentarily righteous before some flashback defiles me with angry thoughts of what I’ve done or what others have done to me.

  9. poohpity says:

    What a wonderful description of how God loves us. Frankly at times in my life I do not understand how that is but I however do cling to knowing that. I know I certainly do not deserve that kind of love but God is so very big beyond my imagination and that is where I place my belief and hope.

  10. poohpity says:

    God’s love will last forever!

  11. oneg2dblu says:

    Sounds pretty loving so far from most of the comments posted.
    We can start off here with a fresh mindset, casting a Valentine if you will, or we can drag the old baggage around everywhere we go.
    The beauty is,that God loves us so much, He will help us carry it all. Heck, He even bring us together just to help/love each other.

  12. joycemb says:

    As many time as I’ve read this passage for the first time I’m seeing that the “childish” verse is speaking of all the “love is not” verses. Wow, still trying to grow up here.

    Pearl I too believe that humbling myself before God as you are doing is pleasing to God and also how we grow up.

  13. oneg2dblu says:

    narrow… that was music to my ears, that was giving love to your enemies in your praying for all others, it is giving yourself a moment to die to self first, and then to really live, as to live for Him.

  14. oneg2dblu says:

    Hopefully, we can all learn to keep a short list of things with God through Our Daily Confession, a daily emptying as in making a little more room for an even greater filling of Our Daily Bread.

  15. narrowpathseeker says:

    Joyce, for me as I start going through the many many MANY sins I have committed collectively in thought, word, and deed it is DRAINING, as I remember some things I had forgotten, I realize that when including thought and word, there isn’t a very long list of sins that I HAVEN’T committed….and it is certainly humbling…Unfortunately even at that…within a short period of time I am right back into my sinful nature!!!!

  16. joycemb says:

    I know Pearl i sometimes experience the same thing. What i do then is say “Lord Jesus i trust in You” until i feel at peace again. Peace comes as i let go of ‘myself’. God bless you Pearl.

  17. poohpity says:

    The enemy would have us dwell on our sins but God said that he cast our sins away as far as the east is from the west after we have confessed them to be remembered no more. What better way to keep us depressed and living under condemnation than to constantly remind us of that which we have been forgiven for. Psalm 32:5, 103:12; Hebrews 9:26

  18. poohpity says:

    1 Cor 13:5 NLT

  19. SFDBWV says:

    My dear friend Pearl, don’t beat yourself up. As you are indeed a “Pearl”.

    I hope that you and Frank have a very special day as you both live out your special Valentine of being together here and now.

    For all,

    Interesting in that Paul described love and attempted to live his life accordingly. However he also lived with his own “thorns”.

    One thing to talk so easily of love, but the proof is in the living.

    It is rather difficult to love the snake that bit you.

    Bottom line is that real love is sacrifice, if someone can’t even give up an argument how ever can sacrificial love be intended?

    The “Love Chapter” becomes much like the “Beatitudes” a measuring stick we can strive to live up to but most of us fail.

    I wonder sometimes does it always have to be about comparing our failures to what is required of us. Is it really a requirement or just another reminder of why we need Jesus?

    The county emergency people called me this morning at 7:30 am to warm me of incoming winter weather, the warning is meant for preparation; one could say they love us enough to warn us.

    We shared a laugh together as we agreed the past two months of winter is in retaliation for having such a nice December.

    I hope everyone has a very special day today. I will be back tomorrow as Matthew takes over the computer for the remainder of today.

    Steve

  20. poohpity says:

    1 John 4:10 NIV

  21. poohpity says:

    Jesus loved those who crucified Him and asked the Father to forgive them even when they did not realize what they had done.

  22. poohpity says:

    Happy Birthday Mart!!!! Thank you for the impact that God has used you in getting out His Word and prompting us to think about things beyond just saying we believe and what we believe pushing to the substance of it all in living it out.

  23. narrowpathseeker says:

    Thank you Steve and I hope you, Glenna, and Matthew have a wonderful Valentines day as well. You made me smile as usual. Like so many other aspects of what I know to do or not do, knowing it and living it out is another story. Thus goes the “beating up of self”. The memories just come and while I do my best to expel them…they are there and I really can’t stop myself from feeling terrible about it..depending on whether I am the offender or the offendee in any particular flash back. If I am the offendee, and it is a memory of someone who remains totally unremorseful, then I get that deep lack of the LOVE I know I am suppose to have. So your comment today, “Is it really a requirement or just another reminder of why we need Jesus?” really hit home. I just know I always feel better when I keep telling Him how sorry I am, .because I really am and I know He knows that, so maybe this is what He wants me to know…how much we all NEED Him. In memorizing some Psalms in an attempt to expel ugly thoughts to replace them with the Love that david expresses for God, I am reminded what a sinner David was but how much God loved him because of his honesty and remorse for his sins.

    OK, must run…but Gary…thank you as well and I hope you have a very special Valentines day.

  24. oneg2dblu says:

    Imagine how tragic things could be for all of us if we had no memory from how far we have fallen, what darkness we used to walk in, or where we are going.
    If we had to put a label on that condition, I would say it would be called, lost.
    But, the lost has been found, and the party has been thrown in Heaven with the news of each new soul that has been awakened or born again into a new condition, Forgiven.
    We who have been forgiven our sins, although we can still carry the memory of them, we do not have to carry the weight or sentence which that sin once carried, that sentence of death has been removed from them, by Our Redeemer, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

  25. jeff1 says:

    I do not believe that love as I know it measures up to God’s love. If I could love as God does then I would not struggle with hating my enemies for I would be like Him but as it is I have a lot of growing to do.

    I seem to take one step forward and two steps back so I seem to be stuck with a thorn in my side. The other difficulty is loving myself, as a manic depressive I am two extremes, I go from being elated to believing I am the worst person ever.

    I remember watching the film ‘Love Story’ and one said to the other love is never having to say your sorry. I would say from my own experience that love is sacrifice. I as a parent would sacrifice for my children and that is to me unconditional love for I have no expectation of them in return.

    There are many different forms of love and acts of love but we probably do not get to hear so much of them as we do of the acts of war/hate.

    I remember when television/films where not so graphic and of a purer nature. I am shocked today at the language and violence that is shown and then Governments asks why so much violence in society today. If we allow young minds to be fed violence, sex and foul language then we should not be surprised when society reflects it.

    My heart goes out to the younger generation who has grown up with it for I was so very fortunate to grow up in a society where I was protected from all of that.

    Its an act of love, to protect, but, Governments, no longer, seem to regulate what goes on our screens today because they expect parents to do it, but that is not working out well and I think it was much better when censorship and family values where adhered to by regulators.

    I was brought with tough love because my parents cared I am not so sure that tough love is understood these days.

  26. poohpity says:

    We get the celebration of Valentines day from the Irish

  27. street says:

    dear narrow, i think you are learning to become a priest. that said yes it is draining. also the sins are gone and you are saved from them. as a sinner you and i both have patterns or habits that led to sin. it is in these reminders of sin we should look for these patterns and replace them with godly practices. yes, the sins are gone, no reason not to love and be like Christ. God bless you in your duties to Him.

  28. street says:

    keep your eyes on Jesus. less internal drama.

  29. bubbles says:

    Please, please pray for a situation here that I cannot write about. I need to bear a responsibility for one who refuses to and I cannot because of a storm. I have no one to help me, and am concerned this could become even more serious in the next few days. I will need to take off work, and the burden there is so great I cannot. Being gone would only make matters much worse for me. Thank you.

  30. joycemb says:

    praying Bubbles

  31. phpatato says:

    Will be praying for your situation Bubbles. Trust in the Lord to supply ALL that you need!

  32. remarutho says:

    Prayers going up, Bubbles. May the Lord guide all events for His gracious outcome. Maru

  33. bubbles says:

    It is not easy when there is not someone physically here. I know Jesus is with me.

  34. bubbles says:

    I am thankful for my job, but the workload has been increased to what feels like 2 jobs instead of one. It is impossible to do what has to be done. I am exhausted, and the weather is making the stress worse at work.

    Then I go to church, and hear how we are to be doing work there, and if we are not going to work in the church, we just need to leave and go somewhere else. I am doing all I can.

  35. jeff1 says:

    No, it is not easy when you do not have support from another person. I pray that God will get you the support you need, I know He has always given me help when I needed it and often I was too drained to pray myself but God knows us in ways we do not understand and turns up when we do not always expect Him to and in ways we do not expect.

    Keep your mind on Him and remember He is your forever friend and His strength will increase yours for what lies ahead.

  36. oneg2dblu says:

    bubles… through the storm, the anchor holds.

    Through the darkest hour, comes a light.

    And when we need it most, He always provides.

    Your are receiving much more than our prayers,
    for you are being loved.

    “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
    Gary

  37. joycemb says:

    I cor 13:12b “just as God now knows me completely.”

    I find this verse very comforting in light of bubbles’ prayer request amd things i am dealing with.
    He knows how much i can do or not do, and He will always get done the things He wants, whether in the church or the marketplace.

  38. poohpity says:

    bubbles, I guess I never understood our good deeds as work, I think it is more how we act and our attitudes at work while doing our job and just living our lives. I do not think it has to do with heaping more burdens on one’s back. Jesus shares our burdens by His being pleased with us, extending grace and being a person to go to who really cares about us so we can share all our struggles with Him.

    It often does not have to do with what we do at church, within the building, but our over all life style. Sort of like singing while doing labor because we are doing it for the Lord and having a grateful heart for what He has given us.

  39. poohpity says:

    Sometimes we do the heaping of burdens on ourselves by our thinking.

  40. pegramsdell says:

    I love you Bubbles. And I’m praying for your situation to be relieved and for you to be blessed with wisdom and understanding from above. Praise Jesus!

  41. petros says:

    Bubbles,and anyone else that might be weary and heavy laden, if we are finding no rest were we go to assemble with other sisters & brothers in Christ, it could push us away from there but inevitably into His rest!

    “So you don’t want to go to church any more” – Jake Colsen

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