Many thoughts and emotions have been roiling around in my head for the past few days...like rambunctious puppies rolling around biting each other's ears. Sometimes, there is too much to say.
So, instead, I will say the one thing that keeps coming back to me over and over again in answer to every difficult dilemma and unanswerable question:
"...The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5:6, niv)
The only thing.
Now I must discover how to live that out.
I'm going to chew on it for a while.
***************
Any ideas?
Posts
6 comments:
A number of years ago when contemplating the same thought, a timely article focused on the "love chapter" of 1 Cor 13. This author had us read the very familiar verses 4-7. Then she instructed we go back and insert the name of Jesus every time the word "love" is stated. Very powerful! Then when I was catching my breath, she instructed us to read this passage one more time, now inserting our names for the word "love". I couldn't get past the first phrase because I knew I wasn't patient!! But she wrapped up by encouraging that if we have Jesus in our hearts, then He will help us live out these places of love. All these years later, I'm still learning to walk this out each day!!
Kim, I love this quote. I just love it. I am a woman of faith, but no longer of any specific religion, and this quote speaks to me at an elemental level: faith expressing itself through love.
Along with my husband, the two main objects of that love are my two young boys (ages 1 and 2) and I often think of them as rambunctious puppies, rolling around, nibbling each other playfully. Thank you for helping me think of my love for them as an expression of faith.
@ masterdesigned: My thoughts went directly to 1 COr 13, too. "Faith, Hope, and Love. But the greatest of these is Love."
Love is the binding agent for faith and hope.
Kim,
I wanted to ask you if you can tell me the date of your entry on prayer...and the scriptural reasons why we should continue to pray (if God's will is going to be done anyway)...I think I remember either reading this on your blog or on one that Katherine wrote once and I loved it! My husband's friend is currently struggling with this same issue right now and I wanted to share your thoughts with him if that is ok. Thanks so much!
How true! I have been fascinated by the apostle Paul's writings lately (2 Cor 5 and 6 specifically) and our call as Christians to be ambassadors for Christ (5:20) and what that entails.
WIshing to read about the timeline of Paul's life and death, I started searching the internet and stumbled upon this site describing the lives of the early Christians (http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/foxe-book-of-martyrs/ten-primitive-persecutions-first-persecution-under-nero-chpt2.html) I promise you will not be the same after reading through this history of how early Christians loved their captors and did not denounce Christ in the face of torture and death. May we be emboldened by their witness and the power of Christ's love in our lives. And I mean power!
Kim
for years one of my strongest beliefs has been that "love" is my strongest tool as I face the challenges of life. I believe it is the one thing that all of us have as a gift from God! Each of us chooses how we use it & each day brings many opportunities. I loved our son through a difficult "growing-up". He is now father to a precious 9 month old son & I recently heard him give advice to a friend whose first child will be born soon and who was expressing anxiety on how to be a parent. My son's advice--"all you have to do is love them."
Post a Comment