Monday, February 8, 2016

Thoughts on Love...



Loving others is something we all struggle with at some point…these last few months the Lord has been showing me how little grace and love I extend to others…particularly to those whom I don’t quite feel like loving…

As Believers in Christ Jesus, we are called to love others as He first loved us this includes those people who are challenging to love as well as those whom we hold dear to us such as our immediate family…


Whilst I struggle inwardly against what I know to be true, I fail miserably in the Lord’s will for my life…I realise that I need to submit to His plan, embrace those He has brought along my path and pray that His love, mercy and grace would flow through me…


Love is not just a feeling…more often than not it is a choice.  Oh, such a humbling, painful choice it can be!

Thoughts such as, “Why Lord…?  Why do I have to love this person?  I don’t want to!” run through my mind, and yet His still small voice rings loud and clear…love.  Love covers a multitude of sins.

Love is it what makes everything you do worthwhile.


I have subsequently begun reading only the Old King James Bible, and I was surprised to read in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 that no mention of love is made…merely the beautiful, meaningful word, ‘Charity’.

What does charity mean?  I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out…I was secretly hoping that it perhaps didn’t mention 'love' anywhere…but here is the definition I found and the true message was quite clear...
Charity:  1.  The giving of help such as money or food, to those in need.  2.  an organization set up to provide help to those in need.  3.  help given to the need; alms.  4.  a kindly attitude towards people.  5.  love of one's fellow human beings.


I know I cannot love without God…He IS love, and from Him comes love – the pure, true, self-sacrificing love that is almost non-existent in our world. 

It is the love that is unselfish and blind.  I don’t possess such a love, but I do know the source of such a love…I am in search of it; daily crying out to the Lord for Him to give me what I long for…

Realising my weaknesses, I also realise my absolute need for Jesus and how trivial my good works are when love, or rather, charity, is absent.


Such have been my ponderings of late, and they have drawn me closer to the Lord, and continue to humble me greatly…I am nothing in my own right, nor do I have the power to love as He first loved us. 

I am a work in progress, a sinner saved by grace and in awe at Christ’s redeeming love for me…I am determined to seek Him further, and oh!  Why does it hurt so much to be pruned?


The truth is we require frequent pruning…our hearts need to be purged, and we daily need to admit our failings and acknowledge how imperfect we are, and how great the Love of Christ is!


Dear friends, I write this today not to discourage you…but rather to encourage you, as I do myself.  I write this so that I may remember when I am tempted to fall prey to Satan’s lies that I do not need to love anyone that I don’t wish to…


This is not what the Bible clearly instructs us to do as Believers in Christ!

True, it is a daily act of submission, and oh, how disheartening it can be at times! 

But may we not become weary in doing good, nor may we ever become self-righteous which we are often apt to do…


Take heart, be of good courage and love…love with no ulterior motive.

Love is not about what we will gain from it, it is about being obedient to the Lord and becoming the beautiful work of art He intended us to be...
..."But the greatest of these is love..."  ~ Corinthians 13:13


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I end with ever so much love in Jesus!  Have a blessed week, dear readers!
 

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 Oh, and before I forget...my little ''love'' giveaway is still open to all readers across the globe...if this is your first time visiting Beautiful Girlhood, please don't let that hinder you...the more the merrier, and you are most welcome here!  I happily invite you to stop by this post to join in the giveaway delights, sweet friends...{{smiles}}
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Painting by:  Frederick Morgan

20 comments:

Visits With Mary said...

A LOVEly post by a LOVEly young woman. Beautifully written Kelley-Anne! Sending you love across the miles!

Anonymous said...

Good words. 1 Corinthians 13 is a good one to have posted up in your home. You are very artistic, you could write it out in fancy letters and frame it. I did one for our home! It also makes a great wedding gift. Thank you for the encouragement. ~Lisa <3

Daniela said...

How I love the way you use to share your love, my dearest one, blessed be !
May your week be filled with joy,
thinking of you with so much love
Dany

Debby Ray said...

Your words pierce my heart sweet friend. I struggle with this as well. I know that you are not a child...in fact you are wise beyond your years...but compared to me at my age, you could very well be one by comparison, considering the number of years you have been on this earth. You are such a blessing to me Kelly-Anne. I am printing out this post and putting it in my Bible :) Much love and hugs to you!

Danielle Carlson said...

Thank you so much for sharing this today, Kelly-Anne! I needed to be reminded of this. It's difficult to love people who I do not feel like loving. If it is difficult to love those who I believe do not deserve my love. It is hard to love people who have hurt me. However, this is God's desire and will for our lives.

I am so thankful that even when we are stubborn to love, God is faithful to work in our hearts and cut away the selfishness and resentment. As you said, it hurts to be humbled, but at the same time the pain is a beautiful reminder that God will not simply let us go.

Happy Valentine's Day!!
Dani xoxo
a vapor in the wind

Vicky Hunt said...

Such a heartfelt and thought provoking post Kelly-Anne. You are truly wise beyond your years. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. You are such a sweet blessing to all of us. May you have a lovely Tuesday. I'm off to enter your lovely giveaway! I missed it I think.

Hugs, Vicky

Anonymous said...

Great thoughts Kelly-Anne! So often we are inclined, I think, to look at the pretty, easy side of love rather than the more realistic and incredibly hard side. Thanks so much for sharing!

Cecilia said...

Ah to have had such wisdom when I was your age! You have a tender and teachable spirit. Thank you for the encouragement to seek Him so that we can love as we should.
Blessings and hugs,
Cecilia

Alex said...

A new day every day gives us an opportunity to begin to love where we did not love before, thank heaven! In Jesus we are renewed over and over - therefore we can aim high!
This was a very honest post,thank you four sharing your heart...it is a very compassionate heart!

Anonymous said...

Kelly-Anne,

This was absolutely beautiful and such a much-needed reminder written with such grace and love. I have often wondered in the past why the word "charity" would be used in place of love in the KJV and I LOVE the definition you gave...I'm going to write that out in my Bible as a little reminder of that simple yet meaningful word.

Thank you for sharing this lovely post- I so enjoyed reading it! I, too, have times of struggle with loving the people that are placed in my life everyday, but those are the people we are called to love. I often remind myself that if I can be nice and compassionate toward someone I don't even know, then how much more should I be that way towards my own family and friends...the people I share life with.

Wishing you a lovely rest of the week and a beautiful Valentine's Day! Hope your dear mother has a wonderful birthday...I'll be thinking of her and of you all as you celebrate!

Much love always,
Libby

living from glory to glory said...

Hello, This was a very wise word and it is spot on! We are called to love even our enemies! But what a joy when we really do enjoy others!
Hugs, Roxy

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a lovely heart felt post. And I popped over to enter the sweet giveaway too. Thank you so much! Hugs, Diane

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

Kelly Anne, so beautifully written, and so much to ponder. xoxo Su

Cheryl said...

I dearly love all of your posts, sweet Kelly-Anne, but, honestly, this has to be my favorite post of all, so far. God really spoke through you straight to my heart, so I thank you for being willing and obedient to do what He is calling you to do. I feel so bad that it is taking me so long to return your precious email, but I will do that as soon as I possibly can. Sending you much love from across the many miles!

Stephanie said...

Dearest Kelly-Anne, I am always so blessed and refreshed by your heartfelt posts. This post was simply lovely and just what I needed!

Thanks for sharing with Roses of Inspriation. Have a lovely Valentine's Day! Hugs to you and so much love!

Paige said...

Also, I just want to let you know that I nominated you for the Infinity Dreams Award on my blog. If you should choose to participate, here's the link :) :http://todaylibertyordeath.blogspot.com/

Ana said...

Congratulations to the lucky winner! Oh and aren't those cute little heart garlands so much fun to make? Just love them. Wishing you a lovely Valentine's Weekend my sweet friend.

Blessings,
❤️Ana

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

An incredibly powerful genuine heartfelt sharing about love, dear Kelly-Anne. It is easy to love someone who loves you back... but those who are difficult to love who cross our life's pathways, that indeed is where the challenge lies. You wrote about it so beautifully, and truly the love of Christ shines through your heart as you write. May we all remember in this season of "love" that loving as Christ did is not all roses and glamour, instead it can be hard work where rubber meets the road... but there is a joy in doing it that comes from the dear Lord to help us. Beautiful thoughts dear Kelly-Anne, you are such a dear blessing to all of us in blog-land! Much LOVE to you today :)

Vee said...

Debby sent me here and I am so glad that she did. One of the most difficult things in any Christian's life is loving the unlovable. You are a very good writer and I enjoyed reading your thoughts on these tough matters.

Cindy Lou said...

I sure neede to hear this beautiful post today as such a reminder of the big picture! Thank you sooo much for an amazing post! God bless and Happy Valentines Day !