Jan. 24, 2009 - The Most Excellent Way
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountians, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 13
...If I could speak every language in the world - not only of there, but even the languages of heaven, the ones the angels speak - but I did not speak in love... a real genuine love for the ones I was speaking to...I would only be making a lot of noise. If I really knew as much as I think I do, and I could understand the mysteries that surround the world, and if I had a faith - that real faith that Jesus said could move mountains - but I don't act in love or exercise it in how I used that knowledge, I would be no greater than I was before. If I gave away all I have to the poor and saved the starving children in Africa, or if I was martyred for what I believe in, but I didn't give in love and I didn't die in love...I would not gain anything. ...Love...unconditional, selfless love...love that Jesus pours down upon us and wants to fill us with so we can fill others...that love...
That love is patient with the most annoying person or in the most difficult situation. That love is kind to the mean girl. That love isn't jealous when someone else gets the position you wanted, gets to go to the place you didn't, or gets to spend time with who you wanted to spend time with. That love doesn't brag when you know you did better than someone else and it doesn't rationalize away the wrong you did. That love is humble. That love doesn't backtalk the parents or snap at the little brother or ignore someone trying to talk to you. That love doesn't always look for how you can come out on top in a situation. That love doesn't blow up everytime something in your plans get changed or when someone messes up again. And it doesn't bring up the mess-up over and over again, it forgives. Even when it's hard. That love doesn't get happy when that jerk at school gets in big trouble, it prays for him. It doesn't go behind that person's back to get what it wants. It doesn't break the rules to please it's own desires. That love is so excited when someone else receives a blessing! It feels joy when it hears of someone's salvation or repentence. It loves hearing other peoples' stories. That love protects others' integrity, purity, faith, and innocence. It doesn't cause any brother to stumble. That loves trusts. That loves hopes for the promised salvation and always looks forward, knowing that even when times get complicated and hard, that there is a better way and a better place. That loves never, ever, ever gives up.
That love will never stop, or be replaced, or fail. I can talk and preach and teach and learn but eventually everything will pass away to the next discovery, the next scientific breakthrough. We only know a little. But when perfection, completion, comes into the picture, everything we thought we knew before...just kinda fades away. When I was little, I thought pretty simply. I made decisions based on what color the toy was, how high that shelf was, and if that door was unlocked or locked. But when I got older, I made decisions based on bigger variables and I understood more. Now, we're only kids. We don't know that the reason the green ball bounces higher than the blue is because the green ball is made of rubber and the blue ball is actually a ball of yarn! We see a reflection in the mirror, but when we get older...when our great God reveals His glory to us...if we are actually able to even try to look at it!...We will see all we need to know face to face. We will understand. We will know to the boundaries of our created capabilities, just like God knows us fully.
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Danya <><
start.a.fire.
Comments
Jan. 24, 2009 - analyze.
Posted by Anonymous
This is the analyzing you need to continue:) ........... like the whole car wreck thing...the more you analyze a bad situation..the worse it becomes. now when you turn around and start analyzing scripture....talk about being on fire! i love it:) and you do this often:) you are so a leader at heart:) you never stop amazing me with your true passion for Chirst. love you. keep shining Bright Danielle:)
btw, i think you should do a blog on pure worship. what it means, and what it means to you. Encounter is going to be a night to remember:) later:)
Jan. 28, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by carabara
Great post:) and nice to see you back!
Feb. 4, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by funkyleo
Here's a couple videos that I'm sending to you because I thought you might like them.......you may want to just open another window or something and just listen to the music, because they're a little boring.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mdf7AiuKCYY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lvJbjF3AbOQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eq4GKJtXzs0
Hope I'm not bothering you by sending all these videos.
Kelsey
Mar. 5, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SeaChel
Danya! Where are you?? I miss you!
~SeaChel
Mar. 10, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lovelyrose
I love that whole chapter.. It's one of my favorites. I just went to a confrence not more then two weeks ago called Live Love. (I would advise you to look it up) Anyways it kinda goes with what you were just saying and they had this amazing drama that pretty much brought that verse into a better light.
Danya you are such an amazing young woman of the Lord. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you in this ministry of yours and that you will always do His will. He is doing great things through you! You are a vessel of the light. God is using you for big things!
Continue to Shine!!!!!
In Christ,
Hannah
