Love: a Creative Power, part 3

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 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”-- Romans 5:5 (KJV)

Love: a Creative Power, part 2

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“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”--1 John 4: 7-9  (KJV)

Love: a Creative Power

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"Let all your things be done with charity."--1 Corinthians 16:14 (KJV)

“…never having to say you’re sorry.” (from Love Story) It’s been almost five decades since the novel and movie, Love Story, exploded onto the U.S. pop- culture scene. The tragic drama of star-crossed young lovers starring All Macgraw and Ryan O’Neal kept us crying for decades. The beautiful theme song, “Where do I Begin?” enchants us even today.

Truthfully, that saying, the “meme” of those low-tech times, had some of us scratching our heads. Could love really be that that uncomplicated? Aren’t accepting responsibility and apologizing essential aspects of any healthy relationship? Yes, we need to accept each other as we are, but there’s more to love than that…right?

Valentine’s Day will arrive before we know it.  That’s a celebration of romantic love. The next few articles will explore various aspects of this important, complicated topic.

We have one word for love in English. That’s not always the case with other languages.

Greek is the original language of New Testament. It includes about seven words for love. Totescute.com lists the four main types of this emotion:

• Eros—sexual passion
• Philia—deep friendship; warm and tender platonic love
• Storge—family (parent/child); friendship
• Agape—(unconditional; Godlike) self-sacrificing love for everyone

Developgoodhabits.com lists some quotes that clarify the divine emotion. I have grouped them into categories:

Life-giving

“Where there is love there is life.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Active, not Passive

 “Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.” – David Wilkerson

Focused

 “The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention.”– Richard Warren

Felt with the Heart

"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard but must be felt with the heart.”– Helen Keller

​Selfless

“In order to be happy oneself, it is necessary to make at least one other person happy.”– Theodor Reik“

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Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” – Robert Heinlein

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“Love does not dominate; it cultivates.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

​Persistent

 “The art of love is largely the art of persistence.”– Albert Ellis

Essential to Happiness

 “Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

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“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. That word is love.” – Sophocles

Stronger than Death

“It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death.” – Thomas Mann

Mutually Beneficial

“This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love; the more they give, the more they possess.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

Inspiring

“Love in its essence is spiritual fire.” – Seneca

My Conclusion

Love is meek, yet powerful. It is a resource for living right. 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, probes deeply into the characteristics of charity/love/agape. Please enjoy this slide show set to instrumental music by Keith Washo:

New Year’s Day: Resolving to Move Forward

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“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”-- Isaiah 43:19 (KJV)

Christmas: a Season of Brightness and Joy

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“! am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”-- John 12:46 (KJV)

Reaching out to Hurting People

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Grief: Dealing with Life Changes

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“Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.”-- Luke 6:21 (KJV)

Letting go: a Tension Reliever

"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"--Matthew 6:27 (KJV)

The Healing Power of Christ

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“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”--Malachi 4:2 (KJV)

Joy in the Journey, Guaranteed

 “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”- Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

What is a Warrior?

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“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”—Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)

Balance: a Key to Success

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”-- 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (KJV) (italics added)

Compassion and Awareness Work Together

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“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”--Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

Strength Through Change

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“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”--

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

11 Tips for Overcoming Spiritual Weariness

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"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."--Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Rejoicing in Hope

 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”-- Romans 15:13 (KJV)

Trust in Self and God

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 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”-- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV) (italics added)

The Power of Prayer

 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”-- Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV)

Rebirth: Moving Beyond the Old Self

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 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”-- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

When Struggle Leads to Beauty

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“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”-- James 1:2-4 (KJV)

How to Make Weaknesses into Strengths

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Thank you for reading!

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 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”-- Psalm 73:26 (KJV)

Love: Why is it Important?

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 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”-- 1 John 4:7  (KJV)

How we all Contribute to Society

Bravery to Overcome Fears

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“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”-- Hebrews 13:5-6 (KJV)

Conquering Feelings of Inadequacy, part 2

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But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”—1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV)

Conquering Feelings of Inadquacy

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“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”-- Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)

Faith: How does it Work?

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The Voice of Inspiration

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 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”-- John 10:27-28 (KJV)

Hope: a Powerful Force

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”-Habbukuk 3: 17-19 (KJV)

The Power of Encouraging Words

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“This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”-- Psalm 119:50 (KJV)

The Power of Grace

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“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”—2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

We are all Exceptional, part 3

 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”-- Psalm 19:14 (KJV) 

We are all Exceptional, part 2

“Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee...”-- Isaiah 43:4 (KJV)

We are all Exceptional.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7: 7-11(KJV)

5 Reasons to Stamp out Worry

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” -- Matthew 6:30 (KJV)

How Perseverance Pays off: 3 Examples

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”-- Romans 8:17-18 (KJV)

"Mother": the Badge of Highest Honor

 “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”-- Proverbs 31:28-31 (KJV)

Acceptance--one Cute Example

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“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”--1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)

How Pessimistic Thinking Drains our Energy

 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”--Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Hope: the Message of the Resurrection

 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”-- John 11:25-26 (KJV)

Hope: the Power to Move Forward

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“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”-- Romans 15:13 (KJV)

Finding Power Beyond our Own

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”--Isaiah 40:29 (KJV) 

4 Lessons From "The Ugly Ducklng"

How Integrity Moves us Forward

“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”—Proverbs 11:3 (KJV)

From Trouble to Triumph, part 4

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”—Matthew 10: 29-31 (KJV)

From Trouble to Triumpth, part 3

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.”-- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (KJV)

From Trouble to Triumph, part 2

 “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”-- Psalm 138:7 (KJV)

From Trouble to Triumph

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”--Jeremiah 32:27 (KJV)

Divine Love: the Gift of Healing and Acceptance

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”-- 1 John 4:16 (KJV)