10 WAYS TO LOVE

Happy New Year!  Yes, the 2018 New Year is upon us. 

Since God is clear in His command to love our neighbor as our selves and to love Him with all of our hearts, I thought I’d share with you something I read the other day on Pinterest.  I love Pinterest!  I could look at pictures for hours—it’s the artist in me.  I could also get addicted to it, so I must exercise restraint and not be mastered by anyone or anything other than the LORD.

With that said, I love what I found on Pinterest, or should I say, what found me while grazing on Pinterest, “Ten Ways to Love:” 

1. Listen without interrupting.
   Proverbs 18:13 – To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.
2. Speak without accusing.
   James 1:19 – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
3. Give without sparing.
   Proverbs 21:26 – All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
4. Pray without ceasing.
   Colossians 1:9 – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.
5. Answer without arguing.
   Proverbs 17:1 – Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
6. Share without pretending.
   Ephesians 4:15 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
7. Enjoy without complaint.
   Philippians 2:14 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing
8. Trust without wavering.
   Corinthians 13:7 – Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
9. Forgive without punishing.
   Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
10. Promise without forgetting.
    Proverbs 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Good advise any time of the year, but especially good when we kick off a New Year with new resolutions. 

Have a happy and prosperous New Year!

In Jesus,

PB

Loyalty is a man’s best friend. Josh1:9&Heb13:5/JBS 

PHOTO: Reflections on the Carol & Candlelight portion of the 10:15am Christmas Eve service (second largest service).  One of my favorite moments in any Worship Service.