Love

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13a (NIV)



Paul describes love, unselfish benevolent concern for another, as the most excellent way and the greatest gift. Poets and song writers tell us how basic love is to us. Dramatists portray the stories of love in our world.

We learn as young Christians, that God gave us His son because of His love for us, His children. (John 3:16) This deed, chosen by the Father, reminds believers even in the 21st Century of the greatness of God’s love for us.

As small children, we learned a song called, “Jesus Loves Me.” The words tell us of Jesus’ love for even the small weak children in our midst.

We also learned another song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children-All the Children of the World”. The phrases in this song remind us that Jesus’ love extends to every child, no matter his or her age or race.

We teach these scriptures and these songs to children and to new believers because we want people to know the love of God through Christ. As Christian believers,

we model His love for those less fortunate, those going through a season of hardship, and those in need of God’s healing.

How can we model the Love of God better?

Faith, Hope and. . . .

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13a (NIV)



Paul writes to the Corinthian believers to explain the foundational elements in living a life for Christ. He states this very simply.

The first element, faith, grows as we learn to trust God for the outcomes of issues in our lives. We nourish or faith through prayer and Bible reading. Spurgeon calls faith the root grace.

It is because of our faith that we become grounded in our relationship with Christ. Fellowship with like-minded believers adds to the process of strengthening our faith.

Element number two, hope-defined as reliance on God’s blessing, becomes greater for us as we learn to depend on Him. A dear friend had a surgical procedure done the beginning of Christmas week. The first study produced inconclusive results. A second study-what I consider an old school approach- caused her to wait an extra week to find out she did not have Cancer. She and her family relied on God to get through the extended time of uncertainty.

Faith and hope both play important parts in our lives in times of hardship-unemployment, health crises, inter personal issues, when we have been victimized.

Faith becomes real during times of strife. Hope stands like a beacon on a coastline. Its light draws us to safety as we travel through rough waters while we await the arrival of outcomes and results.



Two updates on the situations I mentioned above-my friend got back the best news she could receive; she has no Cancer. Our son, unemployed for almost two years has found a job.

The Lord Will Help Me

“Thought I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your right hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand will save me.” Psalm 138:7 (NIV)



We, as a people, have been facing troublesome times. Everyone knows the upheaval of our world’s economics. Issues families face almost daily were almost unheard of a generation or two ago.

God’s people believe the Lord will care for the needs they have and for those they see around them. They know He will restore their strength and their spirits, so they can withstand the pressures that they face.

These people understand God will put his hand between the issues and themselves, and create a barrier of safety for them.

He will help each of us through whatever we face now or in the future. This passage of scripture has always given me hope when I have a trial.

An Outcome of Hope

they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)




“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.


They will soar on wing like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,



As God’s children, we know we sometimes have to wait for an answer to a prayer. We place our request with Him and we believe He will answer as He sees fit. This belief is a form of hope. Our reliance on Him guides us through until God acts.

We have the Lord to help us through those dry spells, when we aren’t as strong as we’d like. Some people deal with chronic disorders the many forms of arthritis, diabetes, various muscular problems. Some of us have difficulty going from sitting to standing. It is then that I have a quick chat with the Lord. “ Please, Lord, on the count of three: one, two, three.”

When God hears us ask and sees us wait on Him, He is pleased. He smiles down on us and we feel His presence. The Lord gives us the courage and strength we need to continue on with our endeavors.

We should always wait patiently and thank Him for what he has done for us.

Way To Brighten Our Spirits

“Why are you so downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed in me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11



The sons of Korah give us a way to brighten our spirits when we are down. Their advice is to “Put (y)our hope in God.”

We have times when we have no alternative but to trust God for the outcome. These events are tests for each of us.

When tribulation comes upon us, we have to fix our eyes on Jesus and allow Him to guide us through. We need to intentionally deposit our trust in the Lord each time. If we yield to the Lord, we will grow spiritually as well as gain victory over the issue and the enemy.

After God undertakes and brings us through our trials, we get to praise Him for being there for us.

Our praise might be for the fact that He guided us through the circumstance. Our praise may be for someone who helped us with a need while we dealt with the issue. Our praise could be for God intervening in a way that only He could.

Reflecting God

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,


faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.


If anyone speaks, he should do it as speaking the very words of God.


If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides,


so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.


To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” I Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)




When God’s people face difficulties in life, it is their brothers and sisters in Christ who stand with them. As Christians, we are called to minister to those in need-physical and spiritual.

We listen to those who hurt. We pray with them. We write cards of encouragement or comfort. We might even take food into their home. According to Peter, we are to do this as if we were Jesus’ voice, His hands, or His feet.

What we have to remember is Jesus gave us the assignment. He is our overseer. Jesus Christ chooses to whom certain gifts are given and He expects them to be used for His glory and praise.

 As I write this, I have a set of friends who are facing grave difficulties . The parents and the older daughter are going through individual health crises. All we as a faith community can do is keep them before the Lord. Some of us can listen to them-others will do what they can to help them through this time.

We are His hands and His feet. He appoints us to do certain tasks. He instructs us on the course we take in order to perform the job He needs done. When we are fully committed to serving Him, He gives us the strength and the words we need as we bring hope to those who need it..

Hope Builds Us Up

“And hope doesn’t disappoint us

because God has poured out his love

into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5 (NIV)



Have we ever gone through a ‘dry spell’ and came out of it reinvigorated, ready to work on a project in ways we couldn’t imagine?
In trying to find a topic for my blog for January I didn’t know what I was to do. I felt listless and knew I needed a project on which to work.

God led me to explore the word ‘hope’.

I consulted two concordances and compiled a list from the Old Testament. The next day, in my devotional reading I found this verse in Romans. It spoke to me.

Paul speaks to the citizens of Rome. He shares from his heart. Our reliance on God and his provision for us keeps us going, and makes us stronger. God does this by placing his love in our hearts by way of His Holy Spirit whom he stations in our hearts when we accept the Father into our hearts.

Let’s all look at this new year with the hope we have in God, and rely upon His provision and His blessing for us in what lay ahead for us individually, as His people and as nations.