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Love is Kind

Pursuing Love

Click on the above button to join in on Marsha’s 14-week series on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7…

This week Marsha is challenging us to share our thoughts on kindness. “Love is patient and kind…~ 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV – emphasis mine). I really had to think about the questions Marsha was posting about kindness. At a first glance I have to answer all questions with “Yes”. I do believe that I am kind, respectful. I am kind in my home, I have a heart for the less fortunate …

But than it hit me this morning as I was driving. Am I really kind to all? Kind to the ones that are unkind to me? You know what Scripture passages came to mind? In Luke 6 Jesus talks about loving the enemy…

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” ~ Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)

Ouch!!! Do I do good to those who hate me? Sometimes. Do I bless who curse me? Hm…I don’t remember that I ever did. Do I pray for those who abuse me? Rarely…That is something the Lord has to work out in me. This certainly does not come natural to me — yes, I am a work in progress.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for showing me that I am not “all that”. Yes, it is easy to be kind to people who are kind back. It is easy to love family and friends and show them kindness. I even show kindness to people I have never met…But You asking more — loving on my enemies. Lord to do that, I need Your help. Please let Your light shine through me. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.

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Pursuing Love ~ Love is Patient

Pursuing Love

Click on the link above to take you directly to the hostess of the series, Marsha at Marsha’s Musings.

“Love is patient…” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)

PATIENCE: An active endurance of opposition, not a passive resignation… Patience is endurance, steadfastness, long-suffering, and forbearance. ~ Holman Dictionary (emphasis mine)

My husband and I are absolute opposites when it comes to sleep. I am totally a morning person – always have been. My dad used to wake us up with a cheery call “rise and shine”. I guess it is just ingrained in me – I still “rise and shine” (except my bones take a little longer to get in gear these days 😉 )…My husband is the total opposite. He comes to life when the sun sets…and likes to stay up late — really late.

There was a time in our marriage when we went to bed at different times. Believe me when I tell you – that was not good. Some nights my husband didn’t get to bed until 2am. There were nights when I waited and waited (not very patiently)…Looking back, it still pains me (just a little).

What do you do in a marriage when you are not on the same page? It took me a very long time to get where I am today.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
~ Psalm 40:1 (ESV)

Through praying and staying in His word, God heard my cry; not changing my husband — but working on my heart first. You see love, patience, respect all go hand-in-hand. I have learned that I can not change my husband (and should not). But I can ask God to make things clear to me, to change me, to help me see others like God sees them.

Working through the process in my marriage, helped me to also become more patient with others outside my marriage/family. I do still have impatient days, but they become less and less. Being patient brings peace and things seem to work smoother.

As for bed-time? We have compromised…we go to bed between my husbands and my time. I still rise early (I need a little quiet time in the morning before my day starts), but I wouldn’t want to give up the cuddle time before falling asleep for anything in the world…I just sleep less 😉 …

Thank you for stopping by today. Make sure to stop at Marsha’s blog “Marsha’s Musing” to link up and read other posts about “Love is Patient”. Remember: ask God to change your heart first before you ask God to change someone else.