But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head – Christ. – (Ephesians 4:15, HCSB)
No, we will speak the truth with love. We will grow to be like Christ in every way. He is the head. – (Ephesians 4:15, ERV)
Instead, by truth spoken in love, we are to grow in every way into Him – the Anointed One, the head. – (Ephesians 4:15, VOICE)
To be like Christ, we are called to speak the truth in love. The more we grow in Him, the more natural this becomes a part of who we are. Truth is necessary, but delivery matters. If we speak the truth without love, it can come across as harsh or mean, but when it is spoken in love, it is better received as it has no intent to harm. Correction, redirection, encouragement and more are all things that either fall on deaf ears or are received out of fear, rather than received and taken to heart when love is absent. The more we spend time with Christ, the more we grow to be like Him, and reflect His goodness and grace through love to those around us. May we ever seek the Lord to grow us more like Him, and listen to His leading so that we best know how to speak the truth with love.
Lord, help us speak truth,
that’s guided by love;
only good intent,
reflect God above.
Show us Lord Jesus,
Your love and Your grace;
so we give likewise,
throughout all our days.
In all that we do,
and all that we say;
let Your love guide us,
so in You, we stay.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to speak the truth in love. Thank You that as we do, we grow more like You and can more clearly reflect Your heart to the world. Forgive us for the times that we have withheld love in what we have said, or have not spoken truth in Your loving ways. Teach us to seek You before we speak, and to listen to Your leading in what we say. Show us how to speak the truth in love in ways that make Your heart known to those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us how to speak the truth in love in all things and at all times. Amen.
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. – (Galatians 5:6b, NIV)
The important thing is faith – the kind of faith that works through love. – (Galatians 5:6b, ERV)
What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. – (Galatians 5:6b, MSG)
We are called to love God and love people. When we do so, we are living out our faith as God intended. No religious ritual, good deed, or righteous act captures God’s heart in the way that loving well does. Love gives without expectation in return. Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy nor boast. Love is not proud nor self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Faith is made evident by love. The more we walk out our faith in love, the more God’s heart is made known. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love, as we walk by faith that is filled and fueled by His heart for us all.
To live without faith,
makes impossible;
to please our Father,
who fiercely loves all.
Yet when we choose love,
we honor the Lord;
our faith visible,
as love is outpoured.
Let’s rise up in love,
and choose to love well;
let each choice to love,
of His glory tell.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us with an everlasting love. Thank You that You call and command us to love. Forgive us for every ritual, act, and action that was not motivated by love. Teach us to trust in You and Your heart for us all. Show us how to live out our faith by loving You and loving people well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your goodness and love, and seek You to lead us to love as You do. Amen.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – (James 1:4, NIV)
If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be. – (James 1:4, ERV)
So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete. – (James 1:4, TLB)
This is such an important reminder when we are in a trying season, or are walking through a difficult situation. God uses all things to grow us and show us more of Himself, and the lessons we learn as we press on in Him, teach us of His unending faithfulness. Incredibly, when we get through the season or circumstance, we discover that we are closer to God and are better able to reflect His love and faithfulness to those around us. Character grows as we walk through struggles, not in the seasons of status quo. May we ever persevere with the Lord through challenging seasons, for He is faithful to use all things to grow us and make us more complete in Him.
No matter what comes,
Choose to persevere;
Not in our own strength,
But through Him who’s near.
Trust in His goodness,
On His strength, rely;
Keep moving forward,
His love is our “why”.
It’s easy to see,
From the other side;
How God got us through,
Our help from inside.
Always He’s near us,
With strength and His grace;
Our help and our hope,
Throughout all our days.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we persevere through all that comes our way, You grow us to more clearly reflect Your light to the world. Thank You that You are always faithful to be present as we navigate all things. Forgive us for the times that we want to sit down and quit instead of trusting You. Teach us to keep moving in the direction to which we are called, and show us how to trust You to be our strength and our help throughout every day. Lead us in Your love to bless, encourage, and strengthen those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to walk beside us and strengthen us to persevere in all things and at all times. Amen.
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. – (Romans 13:9-10, NIV)
The law says, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder anyone, you must not steal, you must not want what belongs to someone else.” All these commands and all the other commands are really only one rule: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law. – (Romans 13:9-10, ERV)
The commands given to you in the Scriptures – do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not take what is not yours, do not covet – and any other command you have heard are summarized in God’s instruction: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Does love hurt anyone? Absolutely not. In fact, love achieves everything the law requires. – (Romans 13:9-10, VOICE)
If we truly love as God intended, we are fulfilling the law. How we treat others is a direct reflection of either love, or a lack thereof. The “shall nots” lead us directly to what love should be. Love is patient and kind, it rejoices with truth, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. It does not fail. (1 Corinthians 13) Our charge is to love. When we love the Lord, we seek to do His will. His will is to love one another as He loves us. Through Him, we are equipped and empowered to love as He intended. Jesus grants us patience and kindness, hope and perseverance, trust and an ongoing desire to walk in truth. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love, so that we might love in a way that fulfills the law in every way.
The commands we’re given,
All point back to one;
Love one another,
And His will is done.
For love does no harm,
Instead, it protects;
It won’t separate,
But rather, connects.
Love brings together,
With kindness and grace;
It forgives, fulfills,
And walks in God’s ways.
His ways are loving,
Always He is good;
As we choose love too,
His heart’s understood.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love. Thank You that Your commands are fulfilled when we love our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us for the times that we have not loved as You intended. Teach us to be patient and kind, so that we model truth, hope, trust, protection and perseverance. Show us how to best love those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to love all around us as You intended. Amen.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It aways protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, NIV)
Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, ERV)
Love doesn’t celebrate injustice; but truth – yes, truth – is love’s delight! Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, VOICE)
These descriptors of love are referring to how God’s love is and how our love ought to be. If we love God, He teaches and equips us to love people too. His love protects, is trustworthy, grants hope, and never quits. With real love, truth is the delight and injustice brings forth sorrow. May we ever seek the Lord to continue to reveal His love for us and to instruct us so that we might love all like Him.
O Lord, make it clear,
Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤
When things are unjust;
And help us rejoice,
In truth we can trust.
Please grant us a heart,
That mirrors Your own;
For real love protects,
And makes Your hope known.
Love does not give up,
By grace perseveres;
It keeps keeping on,
Despite honest fears.
Lead us, Lord Jesus,
In Your love that’s true;
May we in all things,
Look and love like You.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our model of what love means. Thank You that You protect and provide, grant hope and help, celebrate truth, and never stop loving us, Your children. Forgive us for the times that we have fallen short of loving as You intended for us. Teach us to seek You and trust You to lead us so that we love You and those around us in ways that convey the goodness and grace that are granted through Your perfect love. Show us tangible ways to make love known, so that hope, protection, provision and truth are extended to all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us to love as You love us. Amen.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – (1 John 3:18, NIV)
My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do. – (1 John 3:18, ERV)
My little children, don’t just talk about love as an idea or theory. Make it your true way of life, and live in the pattern of gracious love. – (1 John 3:18, VOICE)
The old adage that actions speak louder than words is true. When we are shown love over and over again, we are secure and confident in that love far more than from those who speak love or about love, but do not have actions that align. Some of the best ways to show love are displayed through living out the fruit of the Spirit. Love is patient and kind, it is humble, it honors others, it looks out for others, it is gentle and forgiving. Love celebrates the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. (See 1 Corinthians 13) It is the people that surround me and show me these things that assure my heart that I am loved, seen and known. This weekend alone, I have had several friends reach out with messages and texts to check in and encourage me as I wait on a surgical date. It is the small acts of kindness, the reaching out that remind my heart of God’s goodness and love. May we ever seek to pattern our lives after Jesus, and may love be our true way of life.
Lord, help us to make,
Love our way of life;
Kindness extended,
An end brought to strife.
Grant us Your patience,
So love’s what we choose;
For one another,
As Your love is proved.
Help us see the ways,
Where we can show love;
May our actions point,
To how Your heart loves.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to show us that love is an active way of living, not a theory or mere words. Forgive us for the times that our words and actions have not been in alignment with what we know love to be. Teach us how to rely on You to show us how to truly love those around us. Lead us to live a life of love that chooses to reach out and make love tangible for those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us how to make love a way of life. Amen.
Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, HCSB)
Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, ERV)
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, NIV)
This can be the challenge in love. To bear all things does not mean to just attempt to deal with trials on our own, but rather it is in God’s strength that we are able to still stand when the storms sweep through. Believing all things is to trust in the truth, no matter how things appear; to hope all things is the confidence in knowing Who is ultimately in control. Lastly, to endure all things is to seek Jesus to hold us up and continue, even when circumstances feel impossible. It is Christ in us who will always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere. When Christ is within us, we delight in what is true. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in love, for He is love, always.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Thank You that You always protect, we can always trust You, in You we forever have hope, and You provide what we need to persevere. Forgive us for attempting to weather the storms on our own. Teach us to trust and rely on You to provide all that we need to press on. Lead us in Your goodness and strength to do all that You set before us. Show us how to love like You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to lead us in the light of Your love so that we can extend the same love that You give us to all. Amen.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6
Let brotherly love continue. – (Hebrews 13:1, HCSB)
Continue to love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. – (Hebrews 13:1, ERV)
Let love continue among you. – (Hebrews 13:1, VOICE)
We are called to love one another. This love ought to be as sisters and brothers, for such love is patient and kind and does not end. I love how God shows us examples and illustrations of what He desires for us through everyday experiences around us. In our home, we have two dogs that are still in the puppy phase. They are three months apart and have gone through some growing pains as they have learned to get along. The two of them are rough and tumble and love to wrestle and play chase. At times, it sounds like they are going to throttle each other, but then moments later they are laying side by side or nose-to-nose, completely content in each other’s presence. They are fiercely protective of one another, and are unsettled when the other is not nearby. When on walks, Thor, our 95-pound Lab, moves to the outside so that Tali, our 70-pound Pittie who is fearful and reactive to cars, feels safe and will keep walking. How this translates as humans is the recognition of one another’s needs and the desire to care for and protect each other. Love is made tangible through the little things that we do to show one another that we are seen, known, and cared for. May we ever seek the Lord to equip us and direct us in how to love one another best, as we are called to do.
Lord, show us Your love,
So we use it well;
Lead us and guide us,
Let our actions tell.
Tell of Your goodness,
In love, extend grace;
Brothers and sisters,
With care choose embrace.
God show us today,
How to love like You;
All those around us,
So Your love rings true.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love each other as brothers and sisters. Thank You that such love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Forgive us for the times that our attitude or actions toward one another have been lacking love. Teach us to turn to You in trust, for You are our Source and Supply that knows no end. Show us how to love those around us as You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to love one another with a love that knows no end. Amen.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud… Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4, 7
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. – (Colossians 4:5, NIV)
Be wise in the way you act with those who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. – (Colossians 4:5, ERV)
Be wise when you engage with those outside the faith community; make the most of every moment and every encounter. – (Colossians 4:5, VOICE)
If there is no difference between believers and those who do not, what is the possible appeal in following Christ? We are called to love God and love people. If we seek to do these things with all of our heart, our actions will be a reflection of our Father’s love. However, if we allow the things of the world to suck us in, and allow popular culture to shape our views, rather than our Redeemer, we are not making the most of our opportunities to love as Christ loves us. May we seek the Lord to lead us in His love so that we go forth loving others as God intended. God grants wisdom and grace so that we may love like Christ throughout all our days, if only we turn to Him to lead us.
May wisdom and grace,
Be what’s clearly seen;
As we seek to love,
And know what God means.
Each interaction,
Let it be quite clear;
that love is our charge,
To all who are near.
May each moment count,
Let love be expressed;
Through grace and kindness,
For the Lord leads best.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You, You lovingly grant us wisdom and grace to love others the way that You intended. Thank You that You call us to love those around us in the same way that You love. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to love like You. Teach us to seek You and trust You to lead us well, as Your love is perfect and You grace cleanses and covers us, setting us free from our own ideas of how to love. Show us, O God, how to love all as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to make the most of every opportunity to choose to love. Amen.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. – (Luke 11:10, NIV)
Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them. – (Luke 11:10, ERV)
All who keep asking will receive, all who keep seeking will find, and doors will open to those who keep knocking. – (Luke 11:10, VOICE)
Now happily home…
When we ask the Lord, He answers. Friday evening, we were in communication with the trainers who were caring for our dogs during their board and train program. By the end of the back and forth conversation, I could not shake the gnawing feeling that had formed in my gut. As I prayed and sought the Lord, I knew that we needed to bring our dogs home the next day as we were scheduled for a private lesson to work on what the dogs had been doing throughout their training thus far. Yesterday, after having run an errand, we returned home to take care of some projects around the house, prior to heading to our meet up location at a park. Out of the blue, I received a phone call that I would never have expected. An animal control officer contacted me to let me know that there was a case involving our pup, Thor. Shock and disbelief overwhelmed me as I listened to the officer unpack what had transpired. A kind citizen had called animal control and submitted video footage of Thor being continually mistreated and harmed for somewhere between thirty and sixty minutes. The officer let me know that the initial officer who took the case had to hand it over to him, as she could not watch the footage due to the horror it portrayed. By this time, I was shaking and could not fathom the sort of people who would do such things. Prior to leaving for the park, we messaged the trainers and asked that they please bring our dogs belongings with them. Upon arrival at the park, we restlessly watched and waited. I knew that I was not to even speak to the trainers, for God had prepared me to focus only on my dogs, and have my husband speak to them. Thankfully, the kind animal control officer arrived prior to our pups, so we were able to speak more with him about what had taken place and what would happen next. He remained with us when the trainers arrived, and I immediately went to the back door of the car and took Thor’s leash to get him out. He joyfully came to me, and could not get away from the car fast enough. Once my husband had Tali, our other precious pup, he calmly took our belongings to load in the car, and then matter-of-factly informed the trainers that they would be granting us a full refund and covering the vet bill we would incur as our next stop was to be a wellness check with our vet for both dogs, to be certain there were no lasting injuries, or, we would be seeing them in civil court. With looks of fear and horror, they simply shook their heads in the recognition that we knew what had taken place. Thankfully, both pups were uninjured, but both had lost a dramatic amount of weight. Thor was down ten pounds, and Tali, six, after nine days in their “care”. Both horrified and tremendously grateful, we brought our babies home and have been loving them ever since. Though this has been a traumatic ordeal, I can see God’s faithfulness, protection and provision, despite the evil intent of the trainers. From the good citizen who reported and submitted what they saw, to the animal control officer who went out of his way to help us and be certain that our dogs were safely returned to our care, God was with us as He provided and protected, and showed us the way to deal with this horrific situation. Both pups are happily home, and have returned to their normal sweet and mischievous ways. God is good, and He is forever faithful to answer as we ask and seek Him.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You, You hear us and answer our cries. Thank You that You open doors that we knock upon, and make Your heart and plan evident as we ask. Thank You for returning our fur babies safely. Forgive us for the fear and anger that arose as we discovered what had taken place. Continue to teach us how to trust You more, as You are always with us and working on our behalf. Show us how to love all those around us, even when we think others are undeserving of love. Please work in the hearts of the trainers so that they may come to understand Your love and kindness that heals hurts and changes hearts. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we continue to ask, seek and knock all of our days. Amen.
Revelations In Writing 