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3/23/10

God Is Love



1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "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 in justice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

1 Corinthians 13:13- "Three things will last forever- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love."

*If you want to read more on love, read 1 John. It is about how God is love, and how to shine for Him.




This is a blog that I wrote for English Class about love. I think it's a good summary:

LOVE
By- Jenna Hampton
Love is a word with countless explanations. In America, it is one of the strongest motivators and it has a very large effect on everyday life. It seems that Americans, teenagers, and Christians all have very different views on the way love should be in life. So, what is the true definition?
In the dictionary, love is described as this:
1. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend
3. Romantic passion or desire
Dictionaries have hit the nail on the head for the general idea of love in America. Love is a feeling that can't be controlled, and gives you warm passion. Also, people think that love is necessary. That idea is strongly encouraged by T.V. shows, music, movies, and novels that tell you without romantic love, you will never be complete. As adults get older, they start to believe that love doesn't last. America's divorce rate is the highest in the world, compared to Puerto Rico's in second and Russia's in third. If love is such a strong feeling, why
can't people stay together?
Teenagers think they know love, but they are looking for it in all the wrong places. At a young age, they have a good understanding of romantic love, but are often disrespectful to parents, family, and friends. It seems like they are spitting on the love that people close to them have. The teen pregnancy rate in the U.S. is the highest in the world, with the U.K. and New Zealand noticeably far behind in 2nd and 3rd. School is not a top priority for teens "in love". More important, teens that are heartbroken, feel insecure, or think they aren't good enough believe that all is lost. They twist their views of love and turn to hate, homo-sexuality, and sometimes become severely depressed. In 2001, teen suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death among young adults and teens 15 to 24.
Americans and teens try to grasp love the best they can, however, according to the Bible, they have it all wrong. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says "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." Christianity is partly based on the fact that love is an action, and therefore the general idea is that actions speak louder than words in the case of love. People around the world are submitting to the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians everyday by loving their families, friends, and neighbors above themselves. Salvation Army, World Vision International, Bread for the World, Church World Service, Tearfund, and Lutheran World Relief are just a few Christian charities that are spreading the Word of God through love and all that it can truly accomplish. Anyone who is desperate for love (as many people are in the world) should know what their creator has done for them. John 3:16- "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, so who should ever believe in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life." No one can argue that Christ is the greatest display of love that the world has ever seen.
Love is definitely very powerful. Just the thought of it sells movies, brings teens to their knees in joy or pain, and changes people's lives for the better. Without love there would be no hate, but without hate or love, what would we be? People are in desperation daily, suffering from loneliness and depression. Everyone is looking for love, but only those who find it in Christ and have a relationship with God, the creator of love, know what its true definition.
LOVE NEVER FAILS. <3






Love Never Loses Faith Or Hope



1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "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."

Faith, hope, and love are tied very close together. A great verse to show that bond is 1 Corinthians 13:13. It says, "Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love." The Bible tells us that to love someone through our actions, we must always have faith and hope in them. So, what does that look like?

Synonyms for FAITH: Acceptance, assurance, belief, certainty, and confidence.

Synonyms for HOPE: Ambition, anticipation, assumption, belief, and promise.

"Hope is what you've got left when nothing else is working out right. Taking it to God in prayer, removes the obstacles of alone-ness and worry. If He'll take care of the lilies of the field, He will take care of you." -swinter5

"He who has faith has... an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well - even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly." -B.C. Forbes

Sin and temptation are constantly pulling at everybody's faith and hope. "I'll never be able to do this." We think. "I just don't know how to trust God when I don't know what will happen." We say. Believing that God is in control is one thing. KNOWING that He is in control is another. His Word tells us that through Him, all things are possible. To love Him, we must obey Him. To obey Him, we must have faith and hope.

2 Timothy 1:7- "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Faith and hope share one common synonym- Belief. Just as you believe that you will be able to get up and walk tomorrow morning, take in a deep breath, or talk when you want to, believe in the things that God can do through you. Everyone can make a difference. If you are truly a changed person in Christ, you have already made an impact. Keep believing! Also, believe in the people around you, and never stop loving them. God gives us great rules to live by!

1 Corinthians 12:31- "So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all."

-Jenna Hampton

with swinter5 and B. C. Forbes