Wisdom for Marriage

[Nannette]

1: Love Is Patient

Love is patient. It is patient because it is more concerned with the welfare of another than its own needs. It is patient because it is more motivated to make the relationship right than to be right. Patience is the prerogative of the person who loves, so love can’t help but be patient.

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
I Corinthians 13:4

It is the job description of everyone who loves because patience is the fruit of people filled with the Holy Spirit. Patience comes out of your heart when love dominates it (Ephesians 4:2). When the pressure of life squeezes you, patience comes out. Like a chocolate covered cherry, there is something delicious on the inside.

Furthermore, patience stunts anger’s growth by not feeding its appetite. It lovingly replaces anger with grace and forgiveness. Patience understands that most anger is destructive and self-centered, so it deflects anger by being other-centered. It looks out for the welfare of other human beings for their sake and for the purpose of being an image bearer of Christ.

When people see patience, they see the example of Jesus’ attitude and behavior. He was more patient with sinners who didn’t know any better than He was with religious leaders who should have known better (John 8:7).

Patience oozed out of the pores of Christ’s character like a perspiring body on a sultry summer day at the beach. Patience is a priority for people who seek to love as their Savior loves. Indeed, patience is not reserved for the radically righteous, but is accessible for all who desire to love.

So, learn to love in a patient manner. The reason you are patient with your spouse is because you love him or her. The reason you are patient with people who make you uncomfortable is that you love them. There is a difference between being reluctantly tolerant and lovingly patient.

Patience begins with loving oneself, so do not despise or look down on how God has made you. If you don’t love and respect yourself you will be impatient with your love and respect of others, so relax. The second greatest command: love others as you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

Jesus patiently loves you just as you are. Therefore, you can love others and exercise patience in the same unconditional way Christ loves you. Patient people actively and meaningfully plan to love, so be patient on the phone with the incompetent customer representative.

Be patient with your single-parent restaurant server who is tired, afraid, and anxious. Be patient with your family member who is outside of the faith and uncomfortable with your character. You love when you are patient. Therefore, pray for patience, and you will increase your capacity to love. Be like Jesus, and be a patient lover of people.

How can I patiently love my spouses with the patient love of the Lord?

Related Readings: Nehemiah 9:30; Proverbs 16:33; James 5:7; 2 Peter 3:9


Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

2: Love Is Kind

Kindness means you are pleasant to be around because your countenance is inviting and shows interest. It is as much an attitude as anything, and it is the ability to see beyond the immediate to the potential. Kindness means you go out of your way to love others.

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 1 Corinthians 13:4

People who are unlovable become prime candidates for your kindness. A family member who is far from God, deep down desires unconditional love and kindness. Kindness is a natural application of love because it makes one feel loved. It is the ability to be accepting when everything within you wants to be rejecting. It is a strategy for forgiveness when you are wronged or when someone takes advantage of you. When your trusting spirit has been violated, you still love by being kind—stop fighting and start forgiving.

Love keeps you kind, especially toward those who are closest to you. They do not deserve you dredging up hurtful, bitter, and unforgiving words from the past. Love is kind in its conversations. Harsh and abrasive speech is absent from kind conversation. Love produces words that are “kind and tenderhearted” (Ephesians 4:32).

Love is able to extend kind words that cheer up heavy hearts (Proverbs 16:24). Pray to God for kindness to reign in your relationships with kids and teenagers. Children translate kindness into love, for it is their language of love.

The temptation is to disrespect when we have been disrespected, and the natural response is to become angry when someone else spews out his or her frustrations on us. But God has not called us to natural responses but supernatural ones.

Kindness in the face of frustration is a fruit of the Spirit, and only through submission to your Savior will kindness become front and center. The fullness of the Holy Spirit in your life is what causes kindness to come forth.

Lastly, loving others with kindness does not preclude difficult decisions. Kindness is not patronizing, but it is authentic care and concern, and it is able to deliver hard truth that softens hard hearts. You can dismiss an employee with kindness or disagree with kindness.

Harshness has no hold on those who are controlled by Christ. Therefore, kindly love people through difficult situations. Serve those who are experiencing financial difficulties, for example. Kindness is king for followers of King Jesus, so love with kindness and watch them come around and embrace Christ.

Kindness kills sin and sadness, and it brings to life love, forgiveness, and hope. Allow Jesus’ loving kindness to flow through you, for kindness toward the needy honors God (Proverbs 14:31). Kindness resides where love is applied.

What hard conversation do I need to have with a kind attitude?


Related Readings: Ruth 3:20; Job 6:14; 2 Cor. 6:6; Colossians 3:12



Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

3: Love Does Not Envy / I Corinthians 13:4


Love is not envious. It celebrates the good fortune of others and smiles when someone succeeds because love is an envy eraser. It can’t wait for someone else to reach their goals and get the attention and accolades, for it is emotionally secure and mature.

Love does not depend on the “desire to get” for contentment, because its contentment rests with Christ. It is content knowing that God “rains on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). God’s grace and blessing cannot be figured out or bottled in a formula, for He withholds or gives His blessing at His discretion.
Christ, of course, has established principles that, if obeyed, lead to blessing (Psalm 119:1-2). If you obey your parents, you will be blessed by their wisdom, experience, and love. If you follow the laws of the land, you will be free from serving a prison term or paying fines.

God’s truth can be applied and benefited from by both believers and unbelievers. His ways work; so don’t get worked up when the wicked succeed. Success in life is an option for anyone who implements the principles embedded in God’s Word. Envy attracts the immature, the insecure, the greedy, and the faithless.

Comparison with people is an incubator for envy. Instead, reserve your comparisons for the character of Christ and be comfortable with yourself. Your personality, your looks and your gifts are from God, so be whom God created. Love is content to be God’s unique creation. Envy looks at the stuff of others and salivates for the same.

Envy wants to get, while love wants to give. It wants a woman’s smooth skin, a man’s car, or wealth’s options. Love overcomes these sometimes surreal and selfish desires by finding contentment in Christ. Thus seek affirmation from Almighty God in place of the acquisition of stuff.

Love is well versed in congratulating, by making milestones into big deals. For example, completed projects, anniversaries, and birthdays are celebrated as a work team or family. Moreover, a sure remedy for envy is giving. Love gives sincere compliments, money, credit, time, and it gives the benefit of the doubt.

Love’s generosity deflates envy’s influence. Wish well those who have done well and be grateful to God for their good fortune. A mature man or woman is motivated to excellence by those who have achieved. Love those who succeed, and recognize their achievements. Promote your protégé or be glad for the success of your ex-spouse.

Learn from, don’t loathe, your competition. Love your enemies (Luke 6:35) and pray for them, and love those who forgot you after you helped them succeed. Envy leads to a life of discontentment and sorrow, but love is Christ-centered, content, and joyful. Envy has no place for a person who lavishly loves God and people.

How can I celebrate the accomplishment of others with love and respect?

Related Readings: Proverbs 14:30; 23:17; Mark 7:21-23; James 3:14-16


Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

4: Love Does Not Boast / I Corinthians 13:4

Love does not need to brag because those who boast seek security within themselves. Boasting is for those who need something more than eternity’s endorsement. It is bad because it brings the attention down to one person instead of the team.

This is a struggle for all of us because we want our peers to admire our abilities and our accomplishments, and we want them to see us as intelligent and capable. We want to be perceived as spiritually mature and we want to have a reputation as a man or woman who loves and respects our spouse and our family.

We want to reveal our résumé and say that the reason we’re in our current position is our hard work and perseverance. Our flesh lobbies for recognition. Even the most committed of Jesus’ disciples struggled with taming their egos. James and John wanted to know on which side of the throne they would sit when Christ entered into His kingdom (Mark 10:37-40).

However, love learns to leave these matters in the Lord’s hands by deflecting attention away from itself. It is the ability to tell a story without having to be the lead actor in the plot. Love lifts up others and lowers itself. You are able to bring out the best in people because you extend to them sincere compliments and affirmation. Love is not all about you, but all about others.

Love seeks ways to give its Savior credit for accomplishments. It is not a flippant, “Praise the Lord!” Rather, it is heartfelt humility and thankfulness. Our communication with body language and words says that without God, we fail. He answers prayer by giving us wisdom.

He grows our character and forgives our sin. He blesses us with family and friends who love Him. Love looks long and hard to the Lord, and any boasting is limited to Him. James describes the sin of self-boasting, “As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:16).

Love smothers the need to brag, and it is so caught up with reaching out to others that it forgets to stick a feather in its own cap. Love wants to know what you know by understanding your passions, fears, and dreams. Bragging is all about self; love is all about others.

Ironically, boasting is totally unnecessary because the truth will eventually triumph. You do not have to tell others what they already know or will discover. Love understands this and rests, knowing that the revelation of who you are will come out over time, good or bad.

Love trusts God to elevate its standing in His timing. Boasting repels people, but love draws them inward. Therefore, invite people in with your love and lead them to the Lord. He gets the glory, and you get the incredible satisfaction of following Him. Above all else, let your love brag on Jesus. Give God glory and give people credit for your success.

How can I better brag on the Lord and people and avoid recognition?

Related Readings: Psalm 44:8; Proverbs 27:1; 2 Corinthians 12:5-9



Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Complete]

'Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife,
even as Christ is the head of the church;
and He is the Saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject to Christ,
so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,
that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,
that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church,
without spot or wrinkle or any such things,
but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,
even as the Lord loves the church.
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife,
and the two of them shall be one flesh."
This is a great mystery,
but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
But also let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself,
and the wife that she defers to her husband.'
(Eph 5:22-33)

 

[Nannette]

5: Love Is Not Proud / I Corinthians 13:4

Love is not proud. Indeed, there is no room for pride in a heart of love. Pride is an anchor to love that restrains its rich offering. It prolongs the inability to love by short-circuiting the effect of agape love. Pride is a precursor to loveless living; it struggles with love because it requires a focus off itself and onto others.

Pride is deceptive, as it always negotiates for its own benefit. There is a driving force behind pride that is unhealthy and unnecessary. Moreover, it is indiscriminate in its seduction of either gender. Men may be the most susceptible to pride’s illusion, but women can be deceived just as well. Eve fell into this trap in her encounter with the devil (1 Timothy 2:14).

Pride’s feeling of superiority slices into the soul like a surgeon’s scalpel. It inserts its influence deep and wide. You can be controlled and wired by pride and not even know it. Love longs to have the same status as power-hungry pride. Love seeks to defuse pride’s time bomb of terror and coercion. Love outlasts pride if applied humbly and heavily.

Instead of demanding its own way, love seeks to make those around it successful. Love listens; pride talks. Love forgives; pride resents. Love gives; pride takes. Love apologizes; pride blames. Love understands; pride assumes. Love accepts; pride rejects. Love trusts; pride doubts. Love asks; pride tells. Love leads; pride drives.

Love frees up; pride binds up. Love builds up; pride tears down. Love encourages; pride discourages. Love confronts; pride is passive-aggressive. Love is peaceful; pride is fearful. Love clarifies with truth; pride confuses with lies. But, love comes alive with humility.

Most important, humility is a hotbed of love. It has the opposite effect on love than does pride. Humility invites love to take up permanent residence in the human heart. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), and humility understands that love is reserved for all.

Love forgives even the worst of sinners, as pride struggles in a life of bitterness and resentment, thinking somehow it is paying back the offender. This state of unresolved anger only eats up the one unable to love and forgive. Furthermore, humility positions you to love and be loved. Humility knows it needs help in receiving agape love.

Your humble heart yearns for love from your Lord Jesus Christ.

Once you receive the love of your heavenly Father, you can’t help but give it to others. As you receive love, you are capable of giving love.

Therefore, let the Lord love on you and allow others to love you, so you can, in turn, love. Proud hearts melt under the influence of intense and unconditional love. The calling of Christians is perpetual love; so be guilty of love. Your love is healing and inviting. Pride exits when humility enters, and then you are in a position to love.

How can I cultivate a life that loves liberally from a humble heart?

Related Readings: Psalm 31:23; 2 Timothy 3:2; Colossians 3:12

Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

6: Love Is Not Rude I Corinthians 13:5

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
I Corinthians 13:5

Love rejects rudeness because rudeness is reserved for the insensitive and the insecure. Rudeness is impolite and disrespectful. Indeed, a rude reply stands ready on the lips of an unlovely life. Rude people use coarse words that rub their listeners the wrong way.

They pride themselves in being without airs, but they are insensitive in the timing and the tone of their conversations. They hurt feelings at the drop of a hat and seem to alienate people on purpose. However, love is the light that leads rudeness out of darkness (Romans 2:19).

A rude person is a rascal to work alongside because you never know when they are going to offend you or someone else. You lose confidence in rude people because of their volatile nature. You don’t want to be embarrassed around one of their outbursts or social indiscretions, so you shun their presence. Rude people become loners by default.

Over time, no one can tolerate a barrage of irreverence and sarcasm. Even the most accepting saints grow weary of rudeness. Rudeness has no place in a caring culture. Love expunges rudeness like a healthy body does a virus. Tough love escorts rudeness out the relational door.

You need to be very direct and matter-of-fact in your communication with a rude person. Direct conversation is the only way they begin to “get it.” Love takes the time to be very candid and clear with rude people who run roughshod over others. However, be careful not to be rude in dealing with the rude. Be prayed up and filled up with the Spirit before you encounter the rude with truth (Romans 9:1).

Without patronizing, love is able to find at least one thing they admire in someone else. Even if a person is full of himself, there lies dormant, within him or her, some redeeming quality. Love is able to pull out the potential for good that lies deep within a selfish soul; the way Barnabas saw possibilities in Saul (Acts 9:27).

Love looks beyond the hard, crusty exterior of someone’s character and understands that fear may have locked his or her love into solitary confinement. They feel lost, lonely, and afraid. Nonetheless, love is able to get past this rude roadblock and inject faith.

Faith in God, faith in oneself, and faith in others frees one from rudeness. The Almighty’s rude awakening transforms an impolite heart into one full of kindness and grace. When love has its way, rudeness runs away. Love the rude, and watch what God can do. Their sarcasm is a smoke screen that hides a lonely, loveless, and hurt heart.

Rude people are reaching out but they don’t know how. Stay committed to your rude roommate, relative, parent, child, or colleague. Love them to Jesus, and your unconditional love will melt away their iceberg-like insecurities. Pray they will see themselves as Christ sees them, and pray they will love and be loved. Love loves the rude and is not rude.


What rude person needs my loving acceptance?

Related Readings: Psalm 144:3; Proverbs 29:7; Luke 4:24; John 13:20


Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

7: Love Is Not Self-Seeking /Matthew 6:33

Love is not self-seeking. It seeks instead the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33

Like a heat-seeking missile, love is locked onto the warm heart of God. Self is lowered to the bottom shelf and God is elevated to the top shelf.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
I Corinthians 13:5


Love understands that it is all about Him. Its top priority is not to look out for number one, but to look to the One. Love seeks its Savior, Jesus, moment by moment, for wisdom and direction. Self seeks its own way; love seeks God’s way. Self seeks praise; love seeks to praise. Self is fearful of being found out; love is an open book.

Self is self-absorbed; love is saturated in the Spirit. Self is preoccupied with pleasing people; love is compelled to follow the commands of Christ. The goal of love is self-denial and to serve others on behalf of Jesus. Love dies daily to self and comes alive for Christ.

Prayer is your expression of love for the Lord. It places your affections above self-satisfaction toward what pleases God. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to remain self-seeking when seeking the Lord in prayer, confession, and repentance (Hosea 10:12).

This self-seeking scenario also applies to our horizontal relationships with people. Love seeks to meet the needs of people first, even above its own. Love understands and is not afraid to deny self for the sake of a spouse or friend. Families provide a daily opportunity for selfless living where you can selfishly demand your way or you can lovingly serve others.

The outside world also provides similar opportunities to put others first. It is far more fulfilling to seek the welfare of widows and orphans than your own life of leisure. Use your position and influence for the good of other people by giving up and/or giving away self-seeking rewards. This is counter-intuitive and countercultural.

Someone will probably take advantage of your good will; as a consequence your unselfishness may become a chronic cross you bear. But any cross you bear is a reflection of the cross Christ bore. If it had been about His physical and emotional needs, He would not have been obedient to the cross (Hebrews 12:2-3).

Jesus’ goal was to do the will of His heavenly Father (John 17:4). Jesus loved by doing God’s will over His own will. He subjugated His selfish desires to eternal interests. Since Jesus trusted His heavenly Father, so can you. Your choice to love others may mean death to your own desires, but it will provide life in your relationships.

As Jesus said, “But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first” (Matthew 19:30). Love may finish last in man’s eyes, but wins the gold in God’s eyes. Love seeks its Savior first, and it serves others. Love is a Savior-seeker, not a self-seeker.

How can I channel my love into seeking God’s Kingdom and not my own?

Related Readings: Psalm 119:36; Proverbs 18:1; Romans 2:8; Titus 2:2

Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

8: Love Is Not Easily Angered

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
I Corinthians 13:5

Love is slow to anger and it is not easily angered. It is not in a hurry to get angry because it knows God is at work. Love knows God can handle the irregular person and the stressful situation. Most of the time, the best thing love can do is refrain from anger. A calm response diffuses an angry outburst (Proverbs 15:1).

Poverty, AIDS, and terrorism should work us up much more than traffic, forgetful waiters, and not getting our way. Indeed, apply anger appropriately and proportionately to the degree of injustice to the underdog. But love overlooks the silly things that really don’t matter that much in the big scheme of things.

A friend or family member who is rarely on time is no reason to get angry. Instead, adjust your expectations and build a time buffer into your schedule. Why get angry when a little bit of adjustment remedies the situation? Love adjusts rather than stews in anger; it calms the nerves, while anger wreaks havoc with your blood pressure. Love-filled living is by far a healthier way to live physically and emotionally.

Love is able to keep the big picture in mind. It understands that tomorrow is another day and there is no need to stress over this temporary setback. God will work things out in His timing, for He can be trusted. It is much wiser to trust God with your spouse, instead of attempting to whip him or her into shape with your anger.

God’s discipline is much more thorough and precise. He puts His finger on an attitude or action and won’t let up until He is satisfied with the resulting change. Love knows how to trust God. Therefore, pray to God before you get angry. Ask the Lord to increase your love quotient before you lash out in anger.

Love understands there are better ways and a better day ahead. However, there are times love sees the need for anger. Your love needs to rise up in anger over the abuses of drugs and alcohol. These are enemies of unsuspecting souls that wreck relationships and take lives.

Your love can confidently invite anger to rise up and rebuke these artificial enhancers of hope that logically lead to death. Love doesn’t stick its head in the sand of isolation and detachment, but engages by offering wise choices and compassionate counseling.

Love is all about solutions to the seduction of sin. Love is angered by sin’s control of a loved one’s soul. It drives us to our knees in our own confession of sin and to our feet to be a part of the solution. Love gets angry at times, but is is reserved for the right occasions.

Even Jesus administered anger at the appropriate time (Mark 3:5, John 2:15). Love will anger at times, but only after much prayer and patience. Love more and be angry less. Above all else, be rich in love and slow to anger (Psalm 145:8).


What situation or person requires me to be slow to anger and trust God?

Related Readings: Numbers 14:18; Joel 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 1:20

Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

9: Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
I Corinthians 13:5


Love forgives continually and it forgives comprehensively. Forgiveness wipes clean the slate of offense, hence it is freeing for everyone. Indeed, forgiveness was the heartbeat of Jesus. Some of His last words requested forgiveness from God for the ignorant acts of His offenders.

Christ’s greatest act of love was the forgiveness He extended by His voluntary death on the cross (Colossians 2:13-15). Jesus described His own act of love when He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Forgiveness is the fuel for living a life free from the clutter of cutting words or unjust acts. A life without forgiveness is a lonely life locked up in the solitary confinement of sin. Forgiveness flows when you have been authentically and thoroughly forgiven.

Half-hearted forgiveness is the destiny of those who have not tasted the tender touch of forgiveness from their heavenly Father. Unless the forgiveness of God has graced your heart and soul, your capacity for forgiveness will be foreign and futile.

It is the grace of God and faith in Him that fuels forgiveness in followers of Christ. The job description of Christians is to love with forgiveness because we have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13). Think about the depth and breadth of your forgiveness. Ignorant acts, forgiven; drunkenness, it’s forgiven; lust, it’s forgiven; immorality, it’s forgiven; hate, it’s forgiven; ignoring God, it’s forgiven; unbelief, it’s forgiven. Love forgives because it has been forgiven.

Remember where you were BC (before Christ), and reflect on where you would be today without His love and forgiveness. Recall what it was like to be lost and bound up in your sin, and celebrate how far God has brought you. Love is extremely grateful for God’s goodness and redeeming power. Forgiveness is second nature and somewhat automatic for followers of Jesus who are consumed with Christ’s love.

They are enamored with God’s love for them and others. When you have been forgiven much, you love much (Luke 7:47). Your capacity to love is directly tied to your willingness to receive Christ’s forgiveness. Accept the Almighty’s forgiveness so you can extend forgiveness.

Love looks for excuses to eliminate hard feelings, as it replaces resentment and bitterness with love and forgiveness. Love by forgiving your family member who may not even know they hurt your heart. Love by forgiving your friend who volitionally violated your confidence.

Love by forgiving your father and mother who are preoccupied parents. Love by forgiving your child who is ungrateful and selfish. Love by forgiving yourself for your unwise decisions. Forgiveness forgets the past, engages in the present, and hopes in the future. Love forgives!

Who do I need to love and forgive by the grace of God given to me?

Related Readings: Genesis 50:17; Numbers 14:19; 2 Corinthians 2:10

Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Tothalordbeallglory]

and love sure dont rejoice in INQUITY , in a lie , in another image of god
that sure seems to accept sins and even a real broad UNBEIEVING path to GOD .
Love rejoices IN THE TRUTH and not in a lie . Lets all keep that in mind too .
Cause i am seeing a love that seems to hate its neighbor .
How so . You shall not hate your neighbor in your heart you shall in any way correct him and NOT allow sin upon him .
But they say JUDGE NOT hater to those who do correct sin and error in the churches .
I see a love so darn worldy that it even tries to imply ALL religoins serving the same GOD we do . Talk about anti christ .
Do you ever get the feeling that satan can quoate scrips
and he can SAY GOD is love and yet man does he twist things . HE can even say dont hate
BUT MAN he twists that too .

 

[Marvelloustime]

and love sure dont rejoice in INQUITY , in a lie , in another image of god
that sure seems to accept sins and even a real broad UNBEIEVING path to GOD .
Love rejoices IN THE TRUTH and not in a lie . Lets all keep that in mind too .
Cause i am seeing a love that seems to hate its neighbor .
How so . You shall not hate your neighbor in your heart you shall in any way correct him and NOT allow sin upon him .
But they say JUDGE NOT hater to those who do correct sin and error in the churches .
I see a love so darn worldy that it even tries to imply ALL religoins serving the same GOD we do . Talk about anti christ .
Do you ever get the feeling that satan can quoate scrips
and he can SAY GOD is love and yet man does he twist things . HE can even say dont hate
BUT MAN he twists that too .

@Tothalordbeallglory
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 

[Nannette]

10: Love Does Not Delight In Evil

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
I Corinthians 13:6

Love avoids evil by not delighting in its alluring temptations. Evil is an outcast of love, and it has no room for sin in its circle of wise influences. Evil seeks to destroy love. Indeed, sin is the hatchet man for hell and it lures in both the rich and the poor.

It is relentless in its pursuit to replace love with lust. Sin takes well-meaning workers and grinds them into workaholics. It takes people under extreme pressure and turns them into alcoholics. It portrays drugs as cool, euphoric, and romantic. But love sees beyond the momentary escape, the temporary release, and the artificial high. Love longs for the authentic and the real. Love does not cohabitate with sin because it is counter to the cause of Christ.

Sin is the enemy, and love does not sleep with the enemy. Love does not flirt with sinful people or experiment with sin; it is not worth it. Not to mention that sin and evil breaks the heart of God. Sin may lure you in with good looks and false promises, but its outcomes are outrageously bad. There is no good that comes from a force that is the antithesis of the Almighty.

Satan will continue to unleash his evil strategies until our Savior returns the second time. Then, after a period of time, the devil and his evil endeavors will be cast into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:10). But for now, the role of love is to reject any demonic evil advances.

Jesus Christ is the focus and attraction for those motivated by love. Faith is not lukewarm for men or women who love God, for they fear becoming distasteful to their Savior (Revelation 3:16). Without hot and committed love, you are disqualified to engage in Kingdom initiatives. Furthermore, love does not perceive church attendance as a perfunctory exercise done out of obligation or guilt.

Love sees the church as the “Bride of Christ,” so it is not cold or dispassionate toward Christ or His church. Committed disciples of Christ cannot straddle the fence with one foot flirting with sin and the other with evil. Love is an either/or proposition, not a both/and one. You are either for Him or against Him (Luke 11:23).

The passion of Jesus-followers is to love and obey God. When your focus is on Him, there is no room for evil. The agenda of love is to delight in the Lord; it is preoccupied with pleasing God. Love can’t wait to commune with Christ because its desire is intimacy with Almighty God.

Love flushes out evil desires and sinful thoughts as it loves and obeys God. Love has no time for sin because it is caught up with Christ. Therefore, stay away from sin, run from evil, and run toward God. Disengage from people who lean toward evil. Be true to the One who loves you most. At the cross His love overcame evil, so express your love by delighting in Jesus.

What are some ways I can delight in the Lord with my faith and family?

Related Readings: Psalm 119:47; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 12:18


Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

11: Love Rejoices with the Truth

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
I Corinthians 13:6

Since love enjoys truth, it seeks it out and rejoices in the ramifications of its application. Love knows truth comes from the Father, and it is His way to lead and direct you in His will. Truth is a tremendous asset to love because it illuminates the way.

Truth teaches love where to apply itself, and love teaches truth how to apply itself. Truth delivered in love brings joy; it brings a smile to the face of love. Love is pleased to give and receive the truth. However, love without truth is shallow and sentimental because it has no lasting effect. Truth without love is harsh and abrasive and is rarely received well. Love and truth need each other.

Jesus modeled this when He lovingly spoke to both the woman caught in adultery and to her accusers. He confronted the sin of both parties with a spirit of redemption and love (John 8:3-11). Indeed, love uses the truth as a facilitator of faith and obedience to God.

It can’t wait to understand and apply truth, because it knows its positive outcomes. Love knows that truth is a tool of the Lord by which He grows you up in Him, and it gets excited over the possibilities of becoming more like Jesus. Truth has this effect on the character of Christ’s followers and is the remedy for ignorance.

For example, truth reveals disrespectful attitudes in wives and replaces them with respect. Truth exposes husbands who lack love and invites them to confession and repentance. Moreover, love takes the time to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Many times, you can most effectively deliver truth with questions. Help people discover truth without telling them what to do. Love understands this process of honoring others by facilitating the understanding and the application of truth. Questions like, “What do you think you need to do?” “Do you really want to do this?”

“Why do you want to do this?” “Have you prayed through this?” “What does God think?” “What do your spouse and friends think?” Love loves questions because they help sincere seekers get to the essence of truth through their own self-discovery.

God used a question from the very beginning when He inquired of Adam as to his whereabouts in the garden (Genesis 3:9). God knew the answer, but He wanted Adam to think through his curious condition. God loved and respected Adam so much that He gave him the opportunity to reason and reflect on truth.

Love leads others into truth because it is a patient lover of truth. Love longs for truth to be exposed and embraced. This is what it means to love God with your mind (Matthew 22:37-39). Therefore, love truth and lovingly speak the truth. Love knows Jesus intimately, for He is Truth (John 14:6).

What truth do I need to embrace and celebrate for Christ’s sake?

Related Readings: Zechariah 8:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Peter 1:22

Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

12: Love Always Protects

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
I Corinthians 13:7

Love always protects. It protects because it loves, and it loves because it protects. Love protects physically; if you love someone, you do not want him or her to suffer bodily harm. You provide for them an environment that protects them from the elements.

You shield them from harmful substances that might damage their bodies. You keep them safe by obeying the speed limit and not driving recklessly. You protect them by not endangering their lives with unnecessary risks. If you love someone, you protect them.

Wives love to be protected; it makes them feel valued and cherished. They yearn for physical, financial, and emotional protection. Husbands, when you keep your wife safe and sound you speak their love language. Your provision of a dependable automobile and a secure home screams love.

Because you love your family, you protect them from unwise financial exposure. For example, you don’t “bet the farm” and place your house at risk. Your temperament might be able to handle high risk, and even thrive on it, but because you love your family, you do not personally expose them to on-the-edge endeavors.

You do not want them to fear being unprotected within an unstable home environment. Love protects emotionally because it understands the sensitive nature of others. Emotional protection allows children to grow up well-adjusted and loved. Adolescents are vulnerable and tender; they need the loving protection of their parents.

Love prays for the protection of the ones it loves. Pray for their hearts to be protected from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and from unwise influences. Pray for the testimony of those you love to remain unsoiled and fresh in their walk with Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to protect well-meaning loved ones from straying away from God’s

Furthermore, pray for protection from yourself. If not careful, you can talk yourself into almost anything. Sometimes, you can become your own worst enemy, so pray for protection from yourself, and be accountable.

Lastly, think of ways to protect your friends and work associates. Your wisdom and counsel provide loving protection (Proverbs 4:6). A small, encouraging word may protect peers from over-commitment. Your colleagues may need your permission to say no, just so they can let go.

Do not underestimate your actions, for what you do provides protection. Your model of appropriate behavior with the opposite sex protects you and provides an example of discretion for those you influence (Proverbs 2:11). You love others by creating an environment of protection. Thus, pray for God’s protection and provide protection. Love always protects.

How can I lovingly protect others and myself from unwise decisions?


Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

13: Love Always Trusts


Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
I Corinthians 13:7

Love always trusts, for trust is a staple of love. If you are always suspicious and uncertain, then love is lacking. Love thrives in an environment of trust, but shrivels up in a spirit of distrust. It is very difficult to love without trust, for it is a lubricant for love.

It calls out love like an engagement invitation. Trust is what it takes for a love relationship to flourish and take root. Therefore, look for the best in someone else and trust them, even though they may not have been trustworthy in the past. Love is all about second chances. Of course, you must be responsible as a good steward of money and time.

Don’t blindly believe everything everyone tells you. Have instead a policy of “trust and verify.” On the other hand, love does not write someone off when they fail to meet expectations, or when they blatantly experience failure. Love picks them up and says, “I will trust you again,” “I have not given up on you,” “You are on the team,” “You are a child of God, therefore you deserve another opportunity to succeed.”

Love is all about making people successful. When you love someone, you trust them to carry out the plan. Love sees trust where others see distrust. Love sees potential where others see disqualification. Love sees success where others see failure. Love sees a hurting human being where others see someone who is just angry.

Love thinks the best, but distrust thinks the worst. Love and trust feed off each other; they propel one another to greater heights. Love always trusts. This is especially true with Almighty God. Love trusts God, for He is trustworthy. His track record of trustworthiness is without blemish. He can be trusted. If you love Him, you will trust Him. Your affection and love are meant to originate in heaven not on earth. Love leans on and listens to the Lord because it trusts Him.

So the goal is to fall more deeply in love with God. Go deeper with God, and you will become more and more infatuated with Him and His ways. John explains it well: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (I John 4:16).

Indeed, His love relationship is based on trust. God is your lover. He is a lover of your mind, soul, body, and emotions. You can trust Him to love you authentically and unconditionally. He has no inhibitions in His love toward you, for His intimacy is uninhibited. Therefore, you love better when you regularly receive the love of God.

Because He loves you, you love better, and because you love, you trust. Sad is the soul that has not learned the secret of loving by trusting. The conditional lover is always looking over their shoulder in distrust. Cynicism creates a cold heart. However, your heavenly Father wants to flood your heart with love. Your trust in God accelerates in direct proportion to your intimacy with Jesus. Love always trusts.

Does my love and trust in others flow out of my love and trust in God?

Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

14: Appointments for Love

Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom—there I will give you my love.
Song of Solomon 7:12


Many things compete with your marriage. Work, children, parents, money, hobbies, friends, volunteerism, selfish desires and life in general can masquerade as marriage competitors. So, how can you transform these competitors to your marriage, into compliments to your marriage?

First, when you make marriage a priority, the other important things that clamor for your attention become secondary and supportive. This is wisdom, because marriage is not meant to get the leftovers of your life, for its vitality will melt in the face of neglect. Yet, if you are intentional in your marriage appointments, it will flourish with freshness. It’s a priority when it is embraced by your calendar.

Husbands and wives need focused quantity time with each other, because quality time flows out of quantity time. Quality time is a consequence of an environment with the least distractions. Cell phones are silenced and there is a cease-fire from interruptions. ‘Fast' from e-mail, so there can be a focus on friendship.

Co-existing does not create intimacy in marriage, but intentionality to get to know one another deeply does. Romance is the result of regular real time together in communication, care and understanding. Indeed, physical intimacy between husband and wife is part of God’s game plan
(I Corinthians 7:3-5).

Therefore, make routine appointments to love your spouse. Pull out your calendars and create a time just for the two of you. The best gift you give to your children, next to faith in God, is a healthy marriage. So, make appointments for emotional love and physical love.

Emotional love may be unfiltered listening and learning about the fears and fantasies of the other. Make your spouse feel secure by being trustworthy and respectful, and listen intently to their struggles and disappointments. Secondly, fatigue and busyness are twin tyrants looming over physical love.

However, you can dethrone these detractors with focused time for a husband’s release and a wife’s fulfillment. Romance one another with a date night, by dressing up and smelling good, as if it were a grand occasion. Woo each other with the fire and excitement of youth. Adultery is not even an after thought in an enthusiastic love life.

Yes, physical intimacy needs to be planned and prepared for, and let any spontaneous rendezvous be a bonus. Make sure to calendar time where you have an occasional overnight together, or a week of vacation for just the two of you. Use the calendar to create emotional and physical intimacy. The Bible teaches there is a time for everything, even a time to love (Ecclesiastes 3:8). Make appointments for love and love!

When can we set our next appointment for love? Ongoing appointments?

Wisdom for Marriage

 

[Nannette]

15: Love Always Hopes

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [
I Corinthians 13:7

Love always hopes. It hopes for the best and is prepared for the worst. It is hopeful because its hope is in the Lord. As the old hymn proclaims, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” When we love God, we also hope in Him because we are sure of His promises that transcend hope and provide assurance.

Promises such as, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b). Moreover, faith helps us be sure of what we hope for. As it says in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Faith, hope, and love are all first cousins; they complement each other and support one another.

Love hopes because it knows the end of the story, for heaven is its destiny. It bridles its emotions to not fear because love casts out fear (I John 4:18, NKJV). Hope conquers death and fear because Jesus has gone before us and done the same (Acts 2:23-24).

Therefore, you can be hopeful because you get to hang out in heaven with your Lord and Savior, Jesus. But there is something just as big that you can hope for in real time. You can hope that others you love will place their faith in Jesus Christ.

You know it is God’s will for them to be saved from their sin (2 Peter 3:9), but your part is not to get them saved, but to love them to the Lord. Some plant and some water, but it is God who makes faith grow (1 Corinthians 3:6). It is the Lord who convicts and draws people unto Himself. But be hopeful. If God can save us, He can save anybody.

Love always hopes, especially when you are drowning in adversity. You may feel like you can only come up for air one more time. The undertow of your circumstances may be sucking you out into the sea of despair. Your emotional energy may be overspent and close to bankruptcy.

Your marriage seems hopeless, but you are still called to love. Your health has ravaged hope, but you are still called to love. A relationship may be hopeless, but you are still called to love. Your finances are struggling to be hopeful, but you are still called to love.

Hopelessness has hijacked your work, but God still calls you to love. Love in spite of your sorry situation, and the feelings of hope will catch up. You do not have to love the situation, but you can still love those around you. You can love the Lord, and you can love yourself.

It is okay to not like what you are going through right now, but continue to love. Love, for love leads to hope and drops despair. Hope follows love as ducklings follow their mother. Love is a creator of hope. Therefore, anticipate the outcomes of aligning with Almighty God’s agenda. Love Him and love others. Love especially when you don’t feel like loving. Be hopeful, for love always hopes.

How can I express a hopeful love to hurting and hopeless relationships?

Wisdom for Marriage