Love Endures Through Every Circumstance

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "LOVE in 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."

Keep going... keep going... keep going... keep going........ If you have ever ran a long way or done something very tiring, you know the painful feeling of just wanting to QUIT! To finish a race and do your very best, the only thing you can do is not let the thought of stopping ever cross your mind! One thing that came to my mind yesterday when I ran 2 miles was, "Run for as long as you can't." If you think you can't continue, keep going. Eventually, you will have accomplished much more than you hoped in the beginning. That's the way it is with love.

"Love that doesn't endure isn't really love. Its easy to say you love someone, but if they were to reject you, turn their back on you, and never talk to you again, would you still love them?
Isn't that how we treat God? And yet, he still loves us." -Zach Sumner

Words are cheap. Many of us say "I love you", without really meaning it. Love, according to the Bible, is an action. It is more than a feeling when it is truly love. 1 Corinthians says Love endures though every circumstance. Your friend was talking behind your back? Keep loving them. Your parents got divorced? Keep loving them. Your sibling is rude and mean to you? Keep loving them. No one is perfect, not even you. Treat others the way that you want to be treated.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on the day of his return."

God puts us through tough things sometimes. But God, who is the creator, director, author, artist, and mastermind of the universe does not do anything without reason. Every circumstance He puts us through is to teach us something. Ask Him to show You what He is teaching You, and learn from all of Your circumstances! Through everything- Let love remain.

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

-Jenna Hampton
with Zach Sumner

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

Love Never Gives Up

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."

Never giving up is a concept that no one can truly understand, except God. He never gives up on us, and we should never give up on Him. It's very easy to underestimate Him and lose our patience. Just remember that God has a reason for everything and will reward you greatly if you don't give up!

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know me. You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint. You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. You'd not know the joy of resting in me. When darkness and silence are all you can see... You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee, what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, but, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you. So be silent, my child, and in time you will see that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me. And though oft my answers seem terribly late, my most precious answer of all is still... WAIT." -From the poem 'Wait' by Russell Kelfer

One of the best ways to love by not giving up is to think of each day as a battle. If you try your best to obey the Lord, even if you fail, than the battle is won and things will get better. If you follow your own will, than the battle is lost and things will get worse. Soldiers in battle have a command to never give up until the war is won. Your purpose for God is your war. Never give up on your life, or the people in it. "No course is lost if there is but one man willing to fight for it." -Captain Jack Sparrow

Galatians 6:9- "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

-Jenna Hampton
with Russell Kelfer and Captain Jack Sparrow

Love Rejoices Whenever The Truth Wins Out

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."

What does rejoicing mean or look like? The dictionary says:
1. To be glad; take delight
2. To make joyful; gladden
God loves us very much, and He often does things for us that make us rejoice. To love Him, it is very important to thank Him and rejoice when He does something awesome for us. (it happens a lot!)

Philippians 4:4-6 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done."

Keep striving everyday to know the Lord's truth and to learn more of His Word. Always rejoice and have faith that God will be faithful! Shine like a light in the dark, be a wise person in a group of fools. I think the Newsboys have rejoicing down in their song, 'Wherever We Go'.

"Wherever we go, the bluebirds sing, and the flowers bloom, and the grass gets green. It's a curious thing, but it's just our thing. Wherever we go, the bees behave in the treetops, squirrels smile and wave. It's a curious thing, and it's humbling. Wherever we go, little glow-worms glow, little roadrunners run ahead. Gonna tell their friends, little mice, little men. Get em' all excited, all invited." -Newsboys

One thing I've always heard is count your blessings, not your setbacks. It works! Instead of thinking about all the things that are wrong in your life and your relationships, pray that God will take care of those issues, and rejoice about the things that are good.

Psalm 51:6- Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place."

-Jenna Hampton
with the Newsboys

Love Keeps No Record Of Being Wronged

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."

"My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost forever." -Mr. Darcy (from Pride and Prejudice)

Mr. Darcy is not acting very loving, is he? Once someone offends him, he says that they cannot easily win him back. Is that the way we should act? No! God is very merciful and forgiving to us. The Bible tells us that if we ask for His forgiveness, he is faithful and just to fogive us our sins. As far as the East is from the West and as deep as the ocean is wide is how far away he takes our sins from us.

Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.'"

Many times we don't even know that we are keeping records of others' wrongs. We assume that people will always act the way they have acted before, and therefore don't often see when they are trying to change for the best. Look around you today. If there is anyone you have neglected to forgive, forgive them as Christ has forgiven you. If there is someone who has hurt you in the past, give them another chance. They may surprise you!

Proverbs 18:19- "An offened friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars."

"It's better, no doubt, to handle problems with friends and family before they blow up into something greater. Compared with letting a dispute simmer, settling the matter early can be as easy as walking through an open gate. Perhaps that's a gate you can take advantage of today." -Dare 2 B Wise

Please forgive others, because God forgave you! Everyone is a sinner, and has fallen short of God's standard. Love never fails. If there is someone you are trying to win back today, make sure you come to them with forgiveness in your heart.

Ephesians 5:32- "Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

-Jenna Hampton

with Mr. Darcy and Dare 2 B Wise

Love Does Not Rejoice About Injustice

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.



"Love and justice go hand in hand- you can't have one without the other. Justice without love is cruelty, and love without justice is a permissive, anything goes attitude." -Zach Sumner

God is the ultimate judge. The only way to REALLY know the things that are right and wrong is to read His Word! So, what does 1 Corinthians mean when it says that 'love does not rejoice about injustice?' It can relate to a few different things. One way we can look at it is that we don't just think it's okay when we sin against God. Such as, "I love you God... I went to a crazy party and did things that I shouldn't have last night... but it's okay because I still love you."

Proverbs 28:13- "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

God is just, so there's no way of fooling Him. Since He sent His Son to die for us on the cross, He is able to forgive us for our sins, putting the punishment on Christ. The sacrifice of God's Son for us is an atonement for our sins, and it shows that God believes in justice and doing what it right.

Proverbs 28:5, 7- "Evil people don't understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely." "Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents."

Unfortunately, most of our society glorifies sin. Media treats sin like a frozen meal. Frozen meals look great on the packages. Looking at the package in the store makes your mouth water for the good meal shown in the picture. Even more, the low price and the convincing words on commercials push you to buy into frozen meals time after time. We all know how the story ends, though. The meal you get is nothing like the meal in the picture, and the consequences are not exactly what you had in mind.

In the same way, T.V., music, and word or mouth can make sin look very appetising. But just like the food in the picture compared to what it really is, sinning never turns out right. If we act a certain way, we get praised for it, even if doing whatever we did wasn't very honorable. The problem with all of this is that God says it's wrong! He loves us, and He will not pretend that doing the wrong thing is good.

Continue striving to live up to God's standard, and stand for the RIGHT thing. If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. Rejoice about justice, rejoice about love.

-Jenna Hampton
with Zach Sumner

Love Is Not Demanding Or Irritable

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."

"Love is hard to offend and quick to forgive. How easily do you get irritated and offended? When under pressure, love doesn't turn sour. Minor problems don't yield major reactions. The truth is, love does not get angry or hurt unless there is a legitimate and just reason in the sight of God." -The Love Dare


Irritability connects with rudeness in a sense. Usually, people don't act rude unless they are irritated, right? So, how do we prevent ourselves from getting irritated? Be patient! If you have patience, you will not become easily irritated, and therefore will not have the urge to be rude.

Proverbs 16:32- "Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city."

God never demands His own way. He believes in encouragement and kindness and faithfulness. He is quick to love and slow to anger, or get irritated. It is tough not to be demanding, but after all, life isn't Burger King- You can't always 'have it your way'! God knows what He's doing. Who are we to question Him? He calls us to obey Him and to be patient with those we love.

"Here's a good example. If you asked a friend to clean up your house for you, and they did, but it wasn't really exactly how you wanted it, shouldn't you still thank them? You should not get irritated easily with someone, especially if they had good intentions or were trying to do something nice." -Stefanie Hampton

Think of these two scenarios:
A- You come to your parents demanding that they let you go to a concert with your friends because they never let you do ANYTHING, and all of your friends get to do whatever they want.
B- You help your parents out with chores on Friday afternoon, then come to your parents, tell them about a concert that you heard about, ask them nicely if you can go, and be happy with whatever they say.

Scenario B will get you almost anything you want, if you are being genuine. Why? Because love does not demand its own way, and it is also not irritable. Love never fails. God never fails.

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

-Jenna Hampton
with The Love Dare and Stefanie Hampton

Love Is Not Rude

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."

Love is not rude is a very obvious statement! It should be easily followed as well, right? That's not always the case. Well, what does being rude mean exactly? The top five synonyms for the word rude are- abrupt, abusive, bad-mannered, barbarian, and graceless. All of us can admit to acting like that a few times each week.

"This phrase reminds me of the facebook group 'I thought you were pretty but then your ugly attitude ruined it.' In the original Greek language, the phrase 'Love is not rude' means that love does not behave in a way that makes a person appear ugly. Christians are called to love and love is always a beautiful thing." -Piper Kelly

One of the fruits of the Spirit is gentleness. How can you show gentleness if you are acting rude? Talking back to parents, arguing with friends, cussing, and violence are all things that are rude and very far from the way that God wants us to love others! Christians are called to be beautiful on the inside, and kick rudeness out of their lives. Just think about a skunk. People may have loved it and thought it to be a cute animal just like a squirrel or a chipmunk, but the rude and vile smell that it causes makes people run away at the sight of a skunk!

Matthew 7:12- "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."

God is never barbaric or rude! To be like Christ, we must act the same way. Love others today by controlling your temper, guarding your speech, and doing your best not to irritate anyone purposely. The praise you will earn for living up to God's standard is a million times better than the praise you get from the world! Always remember what's important. How great is our God!

John 14:27- "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

-Jenna Hampton
with Piper Kelly

*If you read all of this post, please leave a comment. I would like to know how many people have been reading almost everyday. Thanks! :)

Love Is Not Boastful Or Proud

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 when the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

We all know what being proud is, and we have all been proud before. 'I did this! I did that!' And sometimes, it's great to inform others of the things you have done and the things you are excited about. But when being proud becomes being prideful, and when telling someone about yourself becomes boasting is when it becomes a sin.

"How are you really showing love for someone else if you are being boastful and proud? If you do that, all they see if the love you have for yourself." -Stefanie Hampton

The Bible says that 'kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.' (Proverbs 16:24) During a conversation, you will always be tempted to talk about yourself! It's okay every once in awhile, but to really show the ACTION of loving others, we have to think more about them than we do ourselves. Try listening more than you speak today. After all, we have two ears and one mouth for a good reason.

Proverbs 16:5- "The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished."

The Lord despises those who are surrounded by a bubble of self-love. Be careful never to take the glory that the Lord deserves. If someone compliments you on being a loving, kind person, tell them that it's only because of the love that the Lord has for you! God will use you in any way he pleases, according to his perfect plan. There is no need to be proud of yourself when you can be proud of your God and amazed at His glory.

Proverbs 16:33- "We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall."
Proverbs 16:18- "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall."

Keep loving others the best you can through Christ, and living up to God's standard. Work hard for His glory! If you listen to others very carefully, you may discover awesome things that you never knew before.

-Jenna Hampton
with Stefanie Hampton

Love Is Not Jealous

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."

Jealousy is a little seed that can sprout up anywhere in our daily lives. Having a bad hair day? You're jealous of a girl you see with GREAT hair. Being ignored by some of your friends? You're jealous of friends having a good time. You're best friend is spending more time with someone else? Oh yeah, you're very jealous.

It can also go much deeper. Jealousy can dissolve your self-confidence and twist the ways that others (and God) see you. Since the Bible commands us to love everyone, we should never be jealous! Give praise whenever it is due, but do not envy the talents and possessions that others have. Another thing to remember is to not be jealous of yourself at a different time in your life. "Oh things were so much better back then." Were they really?

"You can't get mad if he wants to hang with the guys or another girl or really do anything, you can be disappointed and express it, but remember to be patient, and not irritable or ill mannered! Trust is key! Jealousy only leads to argument and only God is our judge!"

-Sarah Hoard

Be thankful for all the blessings that you have, and remember to be content in who God has made you. If you watch T.V. shows or listen to music that cause you to be jealous and tear you down... STOP. Look around you at everything that God has given you, follow his will, and humble yourself before others. The Bible tells us to humble ourselves and be to others like a servant. The Lord has loved each of us and made us special. Jealousy can ruin relationships and strangle the Lord's will.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Always be content with who God has made you, appreciate the talents that others have, and follow God's will and plan for your life. Humble yourself and throw out jealousy!

-Jenna Hampton

with Sarah Hoard

Love Is Kind

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."

Kindness is a pretty easy fruit of the Spirit for most people. We think if we hold the door for someone, or hold our tongue when we are tempted to speak badly of someone else then we are being kind. The Bible tells us that love is kind. Kindness is much more than subtle gestures. It is doing things on your own time and out of your heart for someone else, even when you might not gain anything in return. It is also doing putting someone else before yourself even when they don't deserve it.

Ephesians 1:7-8 "He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindess on us, along with all wisdom and understanding."

If you are truly a new creation in Christ, you should want to serve others! We have been commanded to love God first, others second, and ourselves third. To really love someone like the Bible says, we must put their needs before our own. Work hard each day to serve others before yourself to show the result of your salvation in Christ. Why should you hide it?

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

God is SO kind to us. He has been very loving by sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins, even though we didn't deserve it. He also blesses us daily with breath and life. The Lord is so kind! Make an effort to be kind by doing something out of the joy of your heart for someone who really needs a kind word. Remember to treat all those that you love with kindness too, and love them before your own self.

1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God."

-Jenna Hampton

Love Is Patient

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."

What do most people think about patience? Let's consult the dictionary! The definition of patience in the dictionary is:
1. The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
2. An ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay


Mostly that is saying that patience is the ability to be able to handle difficult situations without getting frustrated immediately. How long should we be patient? How long should we wait on God? It is very difficult to wait on God and to go along with His timeline, but the Bible tells us that if we love Him, we will be patient with Him. Just think about how patient He is with us!

"The most important thing I would say to anyone is a person HAS to have gone through the transformation of really becoming a 'new creation'...giving God your WHOLE life, trusting Him, that He knows what is best for you, because He is our Father, and He loves us.Just imagine how patient God is with us. He watches us with sadness in His heart when we screw up, or lie, or cheat...you know...sin. He hurts because He wants the best for us...just like a parent. Soooo, just think about how much pain He goes through every second of every day." -Pam Hughes

If you are in a situation right now that requires patience, one thing that helps is to really consider the amazing patience God has with all of His children. Also, know and BELIEVE that God will be faithful to you if you obey Him and serve Him to the best of your ability. He loves you so much, that He will answer your prayers if you remain faithful. But, remember that it will be on His own time, in His own way.

"Love is patient; it is not our place to rush someone or be rushed into anything or out of anything! patience is a virtue!" -Sarah Hoard

The Bible tells us that love is expressed through our actions. If there is anyone today that you need to have patience with, pray about it, know that God will be faithful, and love them by being patient with them always, even when there isn't much of a result right away.

Pslam 27:14- "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."

-Jenna Hampton
with Pam Hughes and Sarah Hoard

End Of Proverbs 31:30

Proverbs 31:30- "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

Charm is deceptive: Remember to measure up to God's standard, not the world's. You are beautiful, even if you don't own a pair of Miss Me jeans or have the latest hairstyles. If your heart is pure and you are living for God, then the charm you have is worthy of praise.

Matthew 6:28-29 "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are."

Beauty is fleeting: If you want to be known for true beauty that will last your whole life, then you will need a lot more than some money and a close-by mall. You need the Holy Spirit. A beautiful heart is worth more than all the clothes and make-up in the mall! Clothe yourself in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let the beauty that you have in Christ shine from your heart.

2 Timothy 2:9-10 "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."

Woman who fears the Lord: To be a woman who fears the Lord, you have to know Him, see Him, be in awe of Him, respect Him, and obey Him. The God that has made lightning and thunder has also made you. Nothing is impossible with fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10- "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement."

Greatly Praised: What do you want to be praised for? Do you want to be known as the girl who is really pretty with a lot of pretty friends and seems to have fun, but on the inside is unsatisfied and lonely? Or do you want to be the girl who has CHRIST and is friendly, loving, well-liked, beautiful on the inside and the out, and gives wonderful, wise advice? To me, it's a pretty clear choice! A woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

1 Corinthians 4:5- "So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time- before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due."

Proverbs 31:30 is a great verse that helps us all to remember who God wants us to be. Tomorrow I am going to start on 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."

If you have any ideas or suggestions for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, please e-mail me at jennas_blog@live.com

-Jenna Hampton

Greatly Praised

Proverbs 31:30- "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be GREATLY PRAISED."

The last part of Proverbs 31:30 is a promise. It says that a woman who fears the Lord (respects and obeys Him) will be greatly praised. What does it mean to be praised, who should we give the credit to, and what should we want to be praised for?

Being "Greatly Praised" means that people admire you and often give you compliments. Girls get praised for a lot of things like their clothes, their hair, their attitude, their personality, how many boys like them, how cool they are, ETC. Proverbs 31:30 tells us that outward attractiveness is misleading. It also says that outer beauty will fade away and become worth nothing. So, the only way that you will ever be greatly praised for your entire lifetime is if you fear the Lord.

When you recieve compliments, it is easy to let them go to your head. "Oh, she thinks my sweater is cute!", "Oh, she thinks I'm smart! She thinks I'm wise! She thinks I do the right thing!" It is much harder to give the credit to God and to remember that everything we have belongs to Him. (1 Corinthians 3:22-23 "...Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.") If you have trouble remembering to give credit to God, here is a great verse:

Galatians 1:10- "Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant."

Many girls seems to struggle with the things that they want to be praised for. Everyone wants to be 'popular', they want to be liked by guys who do NOT respect them, and they want to be pretty in the way of the world. Measuring up to the world's standards will get you no where without a wise path to follow. You and I have seen over and over again girls we look up to crumble under the weight and sinful pressure of this world.

1 Corinthians 4:5- "So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time-before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due."

What do you want to be praised for? Do you want to be known as the girl who is really pretty with a lot of pretty friends and seems to have fun, but on the inside is unsatisfied and lonely? Or, do you want to be the girl who has CHRIST and is friendly, loving, well-liked, beautiful on the inside and the out, and gives wonderful, wise advice? To me, it's a pretty clear choice! A woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

"For the next few weeks I have a dare for you. I dare you to say something nice to the meanest girl in school. Tell them something that will boost their confidence. Then go to a person you don't really like and tell them the exact same thing." -Caitlin Gater

One of the things that I have learned is that if you don't think a person likes you, then most likely they think you don't like them. Show them that you do.

-Jenna Hampton

with Caitlin Gater

Woman Who Fears The Lord

Proverbs 31:30- "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a WOMAN WHO FEARS THE LORD will be greatly praised."

The third part of this verse is about fearing the Lord. You may be thinking, What??!! The Lord is not scary. God is not one of my biggest fears... but the fear that this verse is speaking of is not the same as the fear you get from a roller coaster or from seeing a spider.

Fear=
1. A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition or being afraid.
2. Concern or anxiety.
3. Reverentail awe, esp. toward God.

Even the dictionary knows that the fear of God is different from the fear of evil or pain, but it can have some of the same results.

Since God is our heavenly Father, our fear of Him relates to the fear of our earthy father. Since we know that he is in authority over us, we obey him out of fear of what will happen if we don't, and out of respect.

After you watch a scary movie, you probably pay a lot more attention to the things around you, and make sure you sleep with the light on for awhile! It's the same thing with God. If you fear him (respect him), than you will pay a lot more attention to what he's saying to you and the things he wants you to know. On a rollercoaster, you notice every breath you take. Life as a Christian should be like that. We should notice every single blessing and every day that God gives us and thank him for it.

"Anytime you see the word 'fear' pertaining to the FATHER, it means being in awe of him and his majesty. (or) To Fear the Lord, ... Means to Worship the Most High, to Obey His Commands, to respect Him as a Father .. and Have no Gods Before Him." -Found by Karlie Klimes

Bottom line is, to be a woman who fears the Lord, you have to know him, see him, be in awe of him, respect him, and obey him. The God that has made lightning and thunder has also made you. Nothing is impossible with fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10- "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement."

-Jenna Hampton
with Karlie Klimes

Beauty Is Fleeting

Proverbs 31:30- "Charm is deceptive and BEAUTY IS FLEETING, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

Beauty is fleeting is the next part of this verse. What does that mean? Usually when I think of that phrase, I think of a young girl slowly turning into an old person and losing her beauty. Why do people work so hard on their outward appearance? Who are they trying to impress? On Google Images, if you type in beauty, the pictures that come up are anything but beautiful.

"True beauty lies in a person's character- not in his or her appearance or wardrobe. It goes much deeper than outward appearances. It involves attitude, conviction, and commitment. A life lived for God and his design will be marked by an inner glow that cannot be duplicated. Such people will be remembered for what they did, not how they looked." -Dare 2 B Wise, 'Beauty That Never Fades', Written by Joe White.

Everywhere I go I find girls who are like Beauty and the Beast. On the outside, no one could disagree that they look beautiful, but on the inside, the have a beast living in them. They are rude to their parents, disloyal to their friends, immature, and lost. Only God has the power to turn something ugly into something truely beautiful. If you want to be known for true beauty that will last your whole life, than you will need a lot more than some money and a close-by mall. You need the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 2:9-10- "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worshop God."

A beautiful heart is worth more than all the clothes and make-up in the mall! Clothe yourself in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let the beauty that you have from Christ shine from your heart.

-Jenna Hampton

Charm Is Deceptive

Proverbs 31:30- "CHARM IS DECEPTIVE and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

This is the verse of the week. Charm Is Deceptive is the first post about how girls/people put on masks of charm to be misleading and get what they want, instead of doing things the right way.

Charm=

1. The power of pleasing or attracting, as through personality or beauty.

2. A trait or feature imparting this power.

3. Attractivness

Deceptive=

1. Apt or tending to decieve

2. Perceptually misleading

The American dictionary tell us that charm is attractiveness, and deceptive means misleading. Since the bible tells us that charm is deceptive, it is saying that a person who gets their power and influence from the way they look on the outside is most often misleading, because they are ugly on the inside.

It is said all the time that the most beautiful girls are also the meanest, and very often that is true. Make sure today and throughout your life that you are concentrating more on what's in your heart than what's on your body. Let the Lord be your source of approval.

Remember to measure up to God's standard, not the world's. You are beautiful, even if you don't own a pair of Miss Me jeans or have the latest hairstyles. If your heart is pure and you are living for God, than the charm you have is worthy of praise.

Matthew 6:28-29 "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lillies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are."

- Jenna Hampton

with Chloe Webber :)

Intro to Measuring Up

Measuring Up is a blog to encourage Christian girls to strive to meet God's standard, even though we never will. *Romans 3:23-"For all have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard."
Our world says so many things about teenage girls, and expects them to act a certain way. I believe that God's way is much different and much better. For the next few months, I will be posting on this blog some things that God has shown me and ways that we can all take a stand to shine for Christ.
You CAN make a difference, and people WILL listen to you. If you have any ideas or questions about this blog, please e-mail me at jennas_blog@live.com.
My first post will be on 2/19/10. Please read it!
-Jenna Hampton