LOVE....what is LOVE...Calvary's Love...

If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love...

If I take offense easily, if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love....

"If I have not compassion on my fellow-servant even as my Lord had pity on me, then I know nothing of Calvary love"....Amy Carmichael

If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love....

If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.....

If I do not feel far more for the grieved Savior than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can rebuke without a pang, then I know nothing of Calvary love

If my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who has disappointed me; if I say, "Just what I expected" if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love....

If I am soft to myself and slide comfortably into self-pity and self-sympathy; If I do not by the grace of God practice fortitude, then I know nothing of Calvary love.....

If in the fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous (to myself, for myself), then I know nothing of Calvary love.



If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve round myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love.....


....Amy Carmichael....a very wise woman....what an EXAMPLE TO US ALL!

Creative Cash...

I have been thinking about doing something creative (which I haven't done in a LONG time) and make $$$ while enjoying the creativity...

I have been wondering what I could make that people would want to buy....I am working on a few projects and trying them out on my grandkids first, to see what they like and don't like. So....that's a beginning....

I see this is going to take longer than ever anticipated. I first started thinking about it almost a year ago. I am thankful to my daughter, Kristyn, for giving me the nudge to get going AND ideas on how to pursue this idea!

If any of you have thoughts for me...please post them! I welcome all input!

From Ash....Ash wanted to start a study of the 1 Cor 13 verse....here is what he said...and I am beginning the challenge tomorrow Feb 1...won't you join me?

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"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." ( John 13:34-35)
But what is it to love one another?

Love is perhaps the most overused word in the English language and to me its meaning is easily lost in the noise. So what is Jesus asking of us? That we love everyone in the way we love our partners? That we love each other like we love our new Christmas presents? That we love each other like we love our favourite hobbies?

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes what it is to love. 1 Corinthians 13 will be familiar to many as a verse they have heard recited at wedding ceremonies, but the love Paul describes in this passage is not reserved for romantic endeavors. Instead the attributes of love Paul shares are universal, explaining what it is to love another person, in the truest sense.

“Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude,
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)

Easy right?

I for one find that list to be pretty daunting. But each one in itself seems like something I could do. I can try to be patient, I can try to be kind, I can even try not to be self-seeking! It’s just a lot to take in all at once. It is this which brought about the 1C13 project. We intend to tackle each of the thirteen attributes Paul describes, one each week for thirteen weeks, living intentionally loving. Each week we will be focusing on another attribute, but not forgetting the weeks that have gone by, building up our ability to truly love those around us.

I said there were thirteen weeks, and thirteen attributes, but you may have noticed that there are, in fact, fourteen. The final challenge is perseverance. Whether that means starting the cycle again from week one and being patient, or just going about the rest of your life with the added experience of having focused on love in your life, perseverance is up to you.

So what is 1C13.org? Well, a journey is as much about the company you travel with and meet along the way as it is about the places you go. Throughout the next 13 weeks we will all come across problems and experience triumphs, this is a place for us to share our experiences with each other and help each other through the sticking points. Whether you want to share the photos of your neighbor’s face after you mowed his garden, or the story of your struggle with envying his beautifully mown lawn, we are all in this together.

Ready and raring to go,

Ash

Check out his website to see what how God is using this LOVE CHALLENGE in others lives.....http://www.1c13.org/?CategoryID=1

My Favorite Poem...The Dash By: Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end


He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following days with tears

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years


For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth


For it matters not, how much we own

The cars, the house, the cash

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash


So think about this long and hard

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know what time is left

That can still be rearranged


If we could just slow down enough

To consider what is true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel


And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before


If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while


So when your eulogy is being read

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

And how you spent your dash?