Also linking with Bonnie Gray at http://www.faithbarista.com/2013/12/my-real-birthday-gift-giving-myself-permission-to-receive/
I am desiring to let the truth of what God says completely reorient and transform from the inside so I can receive freely from him and others. And then share what God has given to me without clinging to what I want in return. "Freely you have received, freely give"
Linking also with Emily Wierenga at: http://www.emilywierenga.com/2013/12/the-day-jesus-gave-me-new-name-and.html Her post is wonderful on this same idea. :)
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
New International Version (NIV)
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Footnotes:
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
- 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames
1 Corinthians 13:1-7
The Message (MSG)
The Way of Love
13 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
2 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
A life of significance
What makes a life meaningful and significant?
What is time well spent?
How do I leave a lasting and meaningful legacy
for when my life is over and done?
for when my life is over and done?
Thank you Lord, thank you
I hear you in this passage
Yes, you tell me plainly, even painfully
all my so called great accomplishments
acts of devotion and service
sharing of wisdom and experience
are nothing
without you and your love
no matter what I say
without love it is nothing
without love it is nothing
worse than nothing
a harsh, grating sound
bringing no pleasure to anyone
not helpful at all
no matter what gifts I have
or how much faith I have
without love
I am nothing at all
it will leave nothing lasting behind
bring no deep transformative change to anyone
no matter how sacrificial I try to be
no matter what I try to give up
no matter what I try to endure
for the sake of others
without your love in it
I have accomplished nothing of true lasting value
without your love in it
these verses seem so harsh,
cutting down so much of what I look to to feel good about myself
and what I have done,
what gifts God has given,
what actions or sacrifices I have tried to make
cutting down so much of what I look to to feel good about myself
and what I have done,
what gifts God has given,
what actions or sacrifices I have tried to make
but there is something so incredibly beautiful and powerful here
If this is true...
then the the other side of the coin must also be true...
then the the other side of the coin must also be true...
When I speak, haltingly, in simple words that could easily be despised by anyone,
including myself
for their lack of eloquence, grace, wisdom etc.
If I speak or act in love, whether impressive or knowledgeable
by anyone's estimation or not
If I am filled with your love
and it moves me to speak or act
what I believe to be your words or actions
your thoughts and way
instead of mine
this is significant
whether it seems so to me
or to whom I am speaking
or to any one at all
whether I feel good or bad about it
whether it seems to make any difference or not
The measure you give us:
is it done in love?
your love
that does not run out
that does not get irritated
or envious
that is not motivated by the object at all
or what kind of response I may or may not
get in return
because love is your essential nature
it defines who you are
and everything you do or say
You cause the sun to shine and
the rain to fall
on the evil and the good
because that is who you are
"This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty." Matthew 5:45 The Message
You do not love because you will be loved in return
or someone will understand you
or someone will appreciate you
or you believe you will get desirable results
You can enable me to love
anyone
anywhere
anyhow
no matter what I think,
you count this as lasting and significant
So, as I sit here struggling
I couldn't impress anyone if I tried
Whether those closest to me understand or appreciate me
whether my children rise up to respect
love and appreciate me
or they don't
whether anyone in my neighborhood
or at my church
thinks I am _____________ :)
or thinks I am____________ :(
or thinks I am____________ :(
You
are saying:
this is significant
this is lasting
this is meaningful
this will bear lasting fruit
whether you see it
or understand it
or not
right now
because you have done it
unto me
"The King will reply, 'Truly, I tell you,
whatever you did
for one
of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.'"
Matthew 25:40NIV
"His master said to him,
'Well done good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little;
I will set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your Master.'"
Matthew 25:23 ESV
whatever you did
for one
of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.'"
Matthew 25:40NIV
"His master said to him,
'Well done good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little;
I will set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your Master.'"
Matthew 25:23 ESV
"...The LORD does not look at
the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance,
but the LORD
looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance,
but the LORD
looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
"For the eyes of the LORD run
to and fro
throughout the whole earth
to show himself strong
on behalf of those
whose heart is loyal
to Him..."
II Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
none of us have this heart...
Renew a loyal spirit
within me."
Psalm 51:10
The Living Bible
but we can cry out to God to do His work within
to do and give us what we cannot
to give us Joy In You
whether we feel meaningful, significant,
beloved, helpful
or otherwise
"Though the fig tree
should not blossom,
And there be no fruit on the vines
Though the yield of the olive shall fail
And the fields produce no food
Though the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet, I will exult in the LORD.
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength.
And he has made my feet like hinds feet.
and makes me walk in my high places."
Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV
a gentle pushing back...
for some of us right now
who truly do not have the strength, time or energy to
do what most wouldconsider beautiful and meaningful
I would love to
bake with my children
prepare gifts for others
travel to _________
give _________ to ____________
but really am not able to at this time...
but really am not able to at this time...
For those who are looking for work
not because the are looking for a career
that is meaningful and significant
but because the family needs to eat
who may truly need to take a job they do not even like
because the family needs to eat
some of the wonderful and beautiful encouragements
to find your passion
to those whom there is no one else to hand the baby off to,
to go and ___________
some of these encouragements can, without meaning to
place a burden on the heart
undermine
without meaning to
the value God places
in the hidden, unseen, mundane,
even the trivial and tedious
done in love for Him
the value God places
in the hidden, unseen, mundane,
even the trivial and tedious
done in love for Him
for those who cannot do beautiful craft projects
who can barely keep the children clean and well - fed
whose passion is to have just one night of undisturbed sleep
God sees you
God values you
God can make what you are doing so significant
For those who are shut in caring for the shut in
For those whose health has boxed them in
and put so much out of reach
For those for whom the care of family
takes nearly all available resource
God sees you
God values you
God knows what you are doing
out of love for Him
For those who experience severe limitation
in body, soul, mind, spirit
God is not limited to work in you
and through you
to shine His Glory
to fill you
and use you
for unspeakable
unimaginable
good
You who have experienced all we do
you who are not a high priest who
cannot be touched with all the feelings of our infirmity
you know severe pain, loss, grief,
limitation
death
You who Paul, could say with confidence
I know how to abound and I know how to suffer
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Help us to not close our hearts to whatever you call us to
whether it be our wildest dreams come true
or the hardest challenge we have ever faced.
Help us to find our joy in you
and remain there through
the heights and depths this life
has to offer
Help us to live in your love
to fully believe and receive your love
in the midst of our exhilarations
our joys, our sorrows
our depletion
our confusion
our disappointment
Help me to love you
more than all else
and know your love
that
abides
through all else
"we love you because you have first loved us"
I John 4 :10
