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May-June 2013
1 Corinthians 13:7
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May God use this letter to encourage you not only to forgive others, but to receive His forgiveness when you have not loved as He A while back I had a falling out with a has loved you. If youre in a broken relationdear sister. She had had a birthday party for ship I encourage you to go to them, confess a mutual friend and didnt invite me. My your failure of love, and ask for their forfeelings were beyond hurt, I was crushed. I giveness. In doing so you will be filled with was ready to end the relationship. I comgreat joy! The joy comes because we know pletely ignored her whenever I saw her and God delights in us when we are doing right. I didnt return her phone calls. Ill show her, I hope you will be able to say when you stand thought, who needs her anyway. Well the before Christ, I have loved others because You first loved me. Thank-you Jesus for truth was I did, I missed her terribly. One evening, about 10:00 I heard a knock your gift of love. at my door. Thats odd, I thought, who Max Lucado, in his commentary on 1 would be coming over at this hour. I anCor. 13 gives the following illustration. Picswered my door and there stood my friend ture a giant dump truck full of love. There with tears flowing down her face. I was im- you are standing behind it. God lifts the bed mediately broken by her humbleness and the until the love starts to slide. Slowly at first tears began to flow down my face. We then down, down, down until you are hidhugged and she asked me to forgive her, she den, buried and completely covered in His love. Hey, where are you? someone asks. said she never meant to hurt me. At that moment (And many times since) I In here, you reply, covered in love. The was reminded of 1Peter 4:8 which says And lesson is obvious, let his love totally and completely cover you in all circumstances. above all things have fervent love for one Do it for His sake, to the glory of His name. another, for love will cover a multitude of Do it for your sake, for the peace of your sins. If you truly love someone the love you have for them should blind you to their heart. And do it for their sake, for the people in your life. Let His love fall on you, so your sin. I didnt see the mean girl who hurt me when I answered the door I saw my hurting love can fall on them. friend and my love for her moved me to forgive. That knock on the door happened over
Love, Sandie
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S e p t e m b e r 29 , 2 0 1 3
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A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word [spoken] in due season, how good [is it]! Proverbs 15:23
A while ago my dear friend came to visit. Not long afSpeaking Words of Love ter we were seated around I love you! poured out of my mouth as I looked the kitchen table, out of down at my little grandson. Pudgy little fingers her mouth came words I hadnt expected. explored my face and he gazed up into my eyes. Eyes-Eyes! he said. Yes, baby! Eyes! Our quiet time together lasted as we be- I cant tell you what I want to say. I so desperately gan labeling all the parts of the face. Nose, ears, mouth He couldnt quite pronounce the need to talk about it, but cant share my pain, beword, mouth but his little fingers touched my cause it would hurt others. Her distress shown lips and he giggled. across her face as she tried to seek comfort and encouragement. I wanted her to tell me why her My grandson is 15 months old, and we have heart was so heavy, but I didnt encourage her been waiting for his words to come. Different to share what she kept so deep and protected tones in the word, DA mean different things. by her love for others. Such as DA could mean, dog, grandpa, or daddy. Cook is cookie and Kitty is absolutely What bit of encouragement could I offer her? perfect! Babys words are blooming! My heart prayed as I listened; trying to hold back my need to solve her heartache. I knew Ive been thinking a lot about words lately and how words can bring joy to others. We can use God would take care of her. He would offer her words to sow seeds of faith by sharing the good the solution. news of Jesus Christ. We can inspire, boost confidence, bring cheer and encourage our spouses, children and friends. Proverbs 15:28 says, The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. As I grow older, I am finding that it is much more important to extend grace and love to others instead of my self imposed rules about life. I have begun to see my sin nature much more clearly and I am daily learning to appreciate the love and forgiveness that Jesus Christ has given to me.
When we spend time in our Bible learning Gods God loves you with an everlasting love and truth, we will find our words reflecting Gods goodness; His character. We will then be able nothing can separate you from it! to ask ourselves if our words are pouring forth Gods love, or if the words we speak are hurtful, Love, Kelly
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Titus 2
Love Isnt a FeelingIts a Decision
by Kelly Gardner
Things will never change. My spouse doesnt really love me or consider me.
Maybe I didnt really hear Gods voice when I deLove is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or cided to marry. boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being We both believed those lies. I was angry! He was wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but reangry! joices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures So what changed? through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Before my husband and I married, God gave both of th My husband and I will be celebrating our 10 anniver- us the verse, Romans 8:28 And we know that all sary this year. Both of us care deeply for one another things work together for good to those who love God, and love serving the Lord together in ministries within to those who are the called according to His purpose. our church body. BUTit hasnt always been this This verse became the foundation of our marriage. We way. both made a decision to stay! We decided to walk in
The first seven years of our marriage were exasperating to say the least. When we married we both brought children to the marriage ranging in ages from 11-15 years old. Our home was filled with hormones, attitudes and anger! Six people all headstrong and demanding to have their own needs met was enough to cause the family dog to escape to the closet whenever voices were raised. If you have ever seen the 2005 version of the movie, Yours, Mine and Ours
faith that God was going to work our marriage out for the good! As I made the decision to pray and read my bible, the Lord taught me that my love needed to be: kind, patient, polite, giving, peaceful, faithful, hopeful and enduring. My love for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and desire to surrender self was transforming me into being a wife who loves and respects her husband.
with the uptight military father and the free spirit fashIf you are in a place where your marriage is strugion designing mother, you will have a clear undergling, you feel like you want to give up, quit or run standing of what our home was like! Chaos! away, stop and make the decision to LOVE! There was yelling. There were silent treatments. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not Doors were slammed and there were many moments on your own understanding In all your ways of wanting to call it quits! acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Both of us began hearing the lies of: Proverbs 3:5-6
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There is little in life that could not benefit From a little love, a little time And a stick of butter
Coconut Shortbread
1 lb. Butter or margarine, softened 1 cup of Granulated Sugar 2 tsp. Vanilla 2 cups Flaked Coconut 4 cups All Purpose Flour Mix all ingredients. Divide dough into 2 rolls and refrigerate overnight. Slice rolls 1/4 inch thick. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool 10 minutes and then cut into 2 inch squares. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. OR, Half the recipe and press into a cookie sheet and bake as above. Recipe from the kitchen of Beverly Chong
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Devotional
The Greatest of These is Love
by Rhonda Lippert
confidence in, to rest upon with faith. Websters defines hope as to trust with confident expectation of good. And lastly, the definition of endure is to continue, to bear without opposition or sinking under the pressure. How do we exhibit the kind of love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things? It sounds kind of hard to do! The only way is to let Jesus Christ live it through us, for He is the embodiment of these characteristics. As we walk with the Lord, talk to the Lord (through
Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7
1 Corinthians chapter 13 prayer!), and learn about the Lord (through the is sometimes known as the love chapter. There are reading of His Word!), His Spirit produces this four types of love: storgi (means affection); eros (refers to sexual, physical love); phileo (brotherly love); and agape (unconditional love, loving for the sake of giving). Agape love is the kind of love 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is about. Paul, in his writings to the church at Corinth, first tells the believcharacter in us ever so slowly, but ever so surely. John 15:5 states, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Wait, without Me you can do what?? Nothing!!
Without Christ as our Savior and without His ers about spiritual gifts in chapter 12. Then he be- help in all things, we cannot do a single thing. gins chapter 13 with an explanation that any spirWere helpless, like little babies. And is that a itual gift without love means nothing (v.1-3). He love is.and what love is not. Lets start breaking apart this verse bit-bybit.and begin with a few definitions. According to Websters 1828 Dictionary, the word bear is defined as to support; to sustain; as to bear a weight or burden. Believe means to trust, to place full then goes on to explain to them in verses 4-7 what good place to be? You bet. Its exactly where we need to bedependent on God for everything. So, my dear sisters in Christ, this kind of love will come when you continue abiding in the vine, daily depending on Him. As you stay attached to Him, more and more of His agape love will seep through you.
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Expressions of Love
Tool Box
by Mary Jane Robinette Are you a woman like me who enjoys to hammer a nail in the wall to hang up one more piece of art, or use a tape measure to make sure your sofa will fit into that other spot across the room? If you are then you must have you own tool box. Mine is a small red plastic box, its contents include a small hammer, a container of nails, pliers, screw drivers and a tape measure. Plus all the odds and ends that might come in handy for something. I love to decorate and I love to rearrange furniture. I am so grateful to the person that invented furniture sliders to put under the heavy pieces. With little effort I can glide furniture around the room trusting in my decorating skills to find that perfect new placement. My tool box and I have a great relationship in making our home a dedicated work in progress. I love refreshing the look of our various pieces of eclectic furniture. I am now into my seventh decade of life, and as long as I can still hammer a nail and have the strength to move one piece of furniture I will not give up my tool box. I will keep it filled with the implements I need to lovingly make our house a home my husband and I enjoy sharing. that verse, it has much power in our marriages. Never hesitate to say, Im sorry, I forgive you, I love you. 1Corinthians 13:4-5 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. Prayers are our nails. They will secure us to foot of Gods throne and give us the strength, the hope, the courage, the odds and ends that we need to make our marriage succeed when all else is failing. Our faith and trust in the Lord enables us to focus on Gods plan for our future. Our Marriage Tool Box should be overflowing with loving prayers designed and prayed fervently for our spouse and our marriage every day. The years pass by far to quickly and before we know it we are grand parents and maybe even great grandparents. Our marriage should never grow old with age, it should be kept renewed with the power of His Word and prayer daily. Every night before I close my eyes for rest my last words of prayer are for my husband. My concerns, my requests, all my husbands needs are placed before the throne of God asking, praising and thanking Him for what He is about to do for him, in the ways only God can do them.
Our Marriage Tool Box contains all the necessary implements we need to keep our marriage alive and in the presThere is another tool box a wife should have a great relationship with and that is her Marriage Tool Box. This kind of ence and loving arms of the Lord.1Corinthians 13:7 Love tool box is huge. The contents of this tool box will help to never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and build and keep strong the framework of our marriage. We endures through every circumstance. Gods gracious love need to build our marriage on love, faith and trust in God. will carry us through all the trials, all those precarious God is love and there is no other foundation stronger. We need to be empowered by the same unconditional and un- events that so quickly can destroy our marriage. Only when selfish love for each other that God gave to us through His we renew, refresh and remember those words we spoke only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Gods presence in our life before God on our wedding day will we be able to have a is our hammer to keep us secured in our relationship with great relationship and have a marriage that remains a dediour husbands. cated work in progress. Our marriage vows are secure when we validate them often in our hearts and to each othCommunication is of vital importance in ever tool box. If er; but importantly, we need to remember, we are forever we want our relationship with our husband to be fresh and committed to living them. Our Marriage Tool Box should be new every day then we need to make the time to sit and labeled, until death do us part. share conversation with each other. Sometimes we make important decisions. Sometimes we need only to listen. Sometimes we may feel we arent being understood. We must share our feelings because if we dont take the time to communicate then we have torn down a corner of the framework in our marriage. Communication also has a secondary part called forgiveness. Never leave harsh words spoken against one another to fester. Forgive each other just as our Lord forgave us. Forgiveness is a binding factor in every marriage. Psalm 141:3 Set a guard O Lord over my mouth: Keep watch over the door of my lips. Memorize
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Womens Bible Study Joyful Books 9:30 am Womens Prayer 10 am Missions Prayer 12:30pm Widows Meeting 8:15 am Evening Prayer 6pm Moms In Prayer 12pm
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