Love never ends…

 Love never ends…

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1Cor.13.4-8a, 13

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Heb.13.8

 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Rev.1.8

 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matt.28.19-20

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John.3.16-17

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John.13.34-35

Thank YOU…

Happy Valentine’s Day ….

This is Love…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnLlBk0Dp8M

Love…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv6pR8papxk

Jesus loves me this I know…

 Jesus loves me this I know….

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

1Cor.13.4-6

Jesus is kind and patient…He does not envy or boast; He is not arrogant or rude…He does not insist on His own way….He is not irritable or resentful…He does not rejoice in wrong doing….He rejoices in truth…

When I think of the love chapter of 1 Corinthians, I usually think of how I treat others or how we treat one another…but, Jesus is the real picture of love…

Thank YOU….

 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus .3.4-7

https://bibilium.com/jesus-loves-me-this-i-know-jesus-loves-me-song/

Jesus loves me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXBqIlvvdP8

 

When God created you…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jg4d7Gkbyc

Valentine’s Day is on the horizon…

 Valentine's Day is on the horizon …

Two days away…

We live in a world that needs love…not just the mushy, gushy love, but the real kind of love that comes from a loving father…we need it not just once a year, but every moment…the kind that saves, encourages, gives us breath, comforts, provides, holds us up when we are down, never wavers or leaves, speaks truth, prepares an eternal home, lights our world ….

 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,and the flame shall not consume you. 

Because you are precious in my eyes,and honored, and I love you,I give men in return for you,peoples in exchange for your life.

Isa.43.2,4

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude….

1Cor.13.4-5a

Thank YOU….

The Love of God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1vTPqN2rY8

Falling Love…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLlQOwnsexU

 

https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2

“Cute Valentine's Day Quotes 

Better than anything written on a Conversation Heart, these cute Valentine's Day quotes boast sentiments as sweet as sugar. 

• "We're all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when you find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love, true love." —Robert Fulghum
• 'You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." —Dr. Seuss
• "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." —When Harry Met Sally
• "Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be." —Robert Browning
• "You don't love someone because they're perfect; you love them in spite of the fact that they're not." —Jodi Picoult
• "When you're lucky enough to meet your one person, then life takes a turn for the best. It can't get better than that." —John Krasinski
• "Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." —Franklin P. Jones
• "I love you very much, probably more than anybody could love another person." —50 First Dates
• "Some people are worth melting for." —Frozen
• "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." —Charles M. Schulz
• "You are my greatest adventure." —The Incredibles”………From the Knot….

He would not be deterred….

 

He would not be deterred….

Super Bowl weekend…it inevitably comes around this time every year…foods are prepared, guests invited, sales include the postscript , plans are made…and game on…and oh, by the way, commercials are made…some are iconic, some are duds…but lots of hype for whole game….

I was reminded that this is Apple’s 40 anniversary of a 

Super Bowl ad…interesting…how the world has changed since …with computers, for good and ill…we can carry the whole Bible in our wristwatch…I can look up what kind of operating systems have looked at this blog and where in the world it goes….amazing…

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/why-apples-iconic-super-bowl-ad-still-resonates-4-decades-later-151027182.html

There are other iconic scenes as well…we don’t have pictures of the birth of Christ, not his death and resurrection, but we have the written 

Word…this, too, has changed the world…we have His eternal Word to show us how to live with him…how to be saved…

We don’t have pictures of Paul as he resolutely journeyed to Jerusalem to face certain imprisonment for his stand for Christ…his journeys in the known world changed  the world as well… he gave it all for His Lord…we have many letters of his in the Bible…showing how to live, day to day on our journey here on earth…and much more…

 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” 

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,

Acts 21.12-14,.21:17-20

From the beginning of time, the world has changed with new inventions…but the Word Still Stands, it hasn’t  changed…it changes us…

Thank YOU…

In Christ alone….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2ld1wI2hT8

A bit of leaven…

 A bit of leaven…

The other day I had some skin cancer removed from my face…just a typical yearly dermatologist appointment turned into a different day…and I wasn’t even asking about the place the doctor saw…

What was a tiny little spot grew and grew as they dug out the cancerous tissue…

My question was, “how can you tell what is good tissue versus the bad…?”

“The good is solid, like a cat’s tongue…the bad is like jello, giving away easily.” 

So there you have it…quick and concise…

We have heard the word, “cancer” several times in our family, melanoma, prostate, colon, skin, esophageal, brain, lung, liver…to name a few, not something you like to hear, but, it is part of this decaying world…

What I was thinking as the doctor was cutting, scraping and stitching on my face (you have to think of something besides all the needles and blood, the doctor tried some jokes, but you can’t laugh)was the story of leaven… 

 “When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 

And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 

But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 

Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matt.16.5-12

The “leaven “ of the Pharisees was their teaching …

“The corrupt principles and practices of the Pharisees and Sadducees are compared to leaven; they were souring, and swelling, and spreading, like leaven; they fermented wherever they came.”Matthew Henry’s Commentary 

A cancer,so-to-speak, of teaching…

We want the good teaching that produces growth and health…not the bad which leads to destruction…

Thank YOU…

Heal me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj-1SmPthQI

Matthew 6….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSxxvjcDxAI

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/basal-cell-carcinoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20354187

Signing off…

 Signing off…

Here are a few endings of letters in the New Testament…well wishes for the readers….giving glory to God….encouragements…descriptions of the power of God…grace…praise…locked into a few words finishing at the end…

We don’t do this much nowadays as we write…maybe we should…we need to be reminded that it is through Christ so much came to us…not just in the past but, everyday life…he strengthens, gives abundantly, keeps us from stumbling, presents us blameless, gives us peace, bestows grace, speaks to us through his Spirit…..and so much more….

Thank YOU….

Grace be to you….

 Now to him who is able to strengthen you 

according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, 

according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, 

according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Rom.16.25-27

 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 

according to the power at work within us, 

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Eph.3.20-21

 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude.1.24-25

 …..Grace be with you.

Col.4.18b

 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1Thess.5.28

 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

2Thess.3.16, 18

 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

2Tim.4.22

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Phlm.1.25

Doxology/amen….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J228TzlS9Co

May the God of…

 May the God of….

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Rom.15.5-7, 13, 33

Theses verses in Romans about endurance, encouragement, hope, peace…God was and is the maker/creator of these…He provides them to us…if we will but hold on to Him…in the times like we are living, we need them through Him…just as those to whom Paul was writing……

Thank YOU….

 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1Thess.5.23-24

 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Heb.13.20-21

The God of Peace….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC0qUAEw39E