Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine's day!

The Way of Love
1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2 If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

11 When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

12 We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.


1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)

16 comments:

Terry said...

So beautiful Saija!!

It is Valentines Day and MY poor sweetheart is out shovelling the driveway and side walks while I sit inside in the warm computer room!!
Nice and cozy!!

Happy Valentines Day to you and YOUR aweetheart who don't let a shovel OR a computer come between you!! Ha!!!.... Love Terry


Did I mention that I DID allow that Bernie to buy a snow blower a couple of years ago??
Of course HIS money paid for it but that's beside the point!]

Michael said...

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Take Care
Michael

Anonymous said...

Beautiful words and beautiful photo!
Happy Valentines Day!
Julie

Anonymous said...

Tis true...and I am back. Computers all died very good and another had to be purchased...we do miss our modern contraptions, don't we? Blessings on your day and do stay warm!!

Saija said...

terry ... i hear that you guys got a "valentine's blizzard"! stay cozy!

michael ... same to you!

julie ... yes, the Lord certainly gave us wonderful words to live by ... :o)

elizabeth ... awww, sorry about the computer woes, but glad to see you back on line!

Rodney Olsen said...

A wonderful reminder of what true love is all about on a day when a lot of people are celebrating a counterfeit.

I really enjoy Valentine's Day but it saddens me when, for so many people, it becomes a celebration of lust rather than love.

Sista Cala said...

I haven't read much of The Message version, but this passage is beautiful. And the swans....ooooo
aaahhhh

Saija said...

rodney ... well said ... thanks for sharing ...

sista cala ... i read the NT in the Message and really enjoyed the translation ... though KJV will always be The Book for me ...

Maggie Ann said...

Happy Valentine's Day Saija...its almost over..=). What a good thing that love is eternal. I'm loving that thought! *hugs*

Mindy said...

Beautiful post!! Happy Valentines Day to you and yours...

Saija said...

maggie ann ... yes, and i'm glad that forgiveness through Christ is eternal too ... once we seek it out ... what a gift of love! *hugs* backatcha ...

mindy ... same wishes sent your way!

Anonymous said...
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Mrs. Mac said...

What a lovely version (The Message) of that Bible passage. Hope your day was warm and cozy.

Saija said...

mrs.mac ... i found it quite poetic too ... :o) ... it has been a busy time for me lately ... which is just fine ... many folks to visit, i like it! blessings!

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

Such a beautiful, peaceful picture! Love the scripture too!

Saija said...

shelley ... i thought so too !