Author: princessleah

It’s it amazing that we use the same word in so many different ways. You can love chocolate ice cream, love you bike, love your I phone, love pizza and you love your spouse. We also use that same word when we talk about God. We love God. God loves us. God is Love (I John 4:16). You can see that not only is love a noun, it is also a verb. (I bet you noticed that!) Because love can be a noun, it is something that we want to attain. But because love is a verb, it is an action word. That means that if you really love someone, you get to prove it by your actions. (That can definitely be taken the wrong way, because a carnal person can say if you love me, you will do this or that for me, and it may be something that you know is wrong, or don’t want to do. But in the right context, it is totally godly.) If you love your husband, you will tell him, but you’ll also show him by how you act. That means doing what she asks you to do with a willing and obedient heart. (With a smile too – that will make her happy – and she might faint in disbelief!) If you want to show love to your friends (phileo love is friendship love), you can be kind, and not talk behind their back, and make a choice to help them and encourage them . If you love God, you will obey His commandments (I John 5:3). If you need a reminder of what God’s Commandment’s are, they are really simply summed up in two things and encompass all of life. Love God with all your heart, mind and strength, and love your neighbor (everybody else) as yourself. Our goal now is to be a doer, of what we know!
James 1;22-27 says this:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
So this week love God with all you are, and love someone around you through your actions! Be a doer.

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We can make love a way of life at home. The two characteristics of love that I want to conclude this week with are courtesy and forgiveness. Let’s begin with courtesy. America rates high on the courtesy level, when looking throughout the world, In the south, you see courtesy one an even higher level than for the rest of the US. A southerner can ball you out, and sound courteous as can be! For most of us, I do believe we can do better about being courteous. Thank you and please are not outdated or obsolete words. Courtesy really should begin at home. Parents, it is up to us to demonstrate courtesy to our spouses, and on the phone, at the dinner table, really everywhere, because there are little eyes watching you. Kids don’t do what you tell them to do, they do what you do. They are in training, and they will more than likely turn out like you are. So be courteous to your wife, to the waiter at the restaurant, and with your words. Be complimentary, believe the best and look for ways to bring out the best in every situation. The other biggy is forgiveness. A great way for a child to learn how to forgive is to see mom and dad ask for forgiveness. We do mess up. We can act unbecomingly. Let’s be quick to forgive. Let’s let our heart be pure, and not harbor unforgiveness. When we have a home where children learn to forgive, and to ask for forgiveness, we will have a home that demonstrates love as a way of life. Too many families live hanging on to past hurts, and it causes damage that sometimes takes years to recover from. Let’s be authentic lovers. Let’s love like Jesus does. Let’s start at home and show love to our children, to our spouses, to those we work with. Surely others will know we are Christians by the authentic love with live out before them. II Cor 5:14-15 tells us that we look past the flesh, and see with the eye of the spirit. Living this way makes loving so much easier!
II Cor 5:14-16 says this:
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

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How can we make love a way of life in marriage? Is it really possible to have that heaven on earth type of relationship? I really believe that it is. We have so many tools that God has given us to have fantastic marriages as believers, and putting into operation the seven characteristics of love, and letting them flow back and forth from husband to wife is one of the ways. Three additional things we have a believers to enhance our marriages are these:
1)`The Love of God has been shed abroad in our heart – Romans 5:5 The God of the universe has placed the infinite power of love in us, to operate in our relationships.
2) We have the power of forgiveness – We are told to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us as it says in Eph 4:32. There are times when we do hurt each other, and forgiveness is available. Let’s use that tool liberally.
3) We are given the ministry of reconciliation as it says in II Cor 5:18. When we need to compromise, and even agree to disagree about non eternal issues, we can be flexible. We have the power to reconcile.
So as believers, let’s put those tools into operation in our marriage. We want our marriage to demonstrate authentic love, the power of forgiveness, and the ministry of reconciliation. It is possible and as we learn to love authentically! We have the opportunity to experience a depth of relationship that is more satisfying than any temporary euphoria. Marriage was not designed to make people miserable! It was designed to be an expression of love, service and joy! When love becomes a way of life, marriage reaches its highest potential. Be kind, patient, forgiving, courteous, humble, generous, and honest toward your spouse. Even if these are not reciprocated immediately, your actions will reap benefits in the long run. Before long, you will enjoy the benefits of choosing love. So have a fantastic marriage! Let your family see love and forgiveness demonstrated in your home.

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Eph 5:1 and 2 tells us, Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Walking in love as a parent really is a full time job. One of the things that helped me become a better mom was having a greater understanding of each of my children. You hear it said all the time, that each child can be so different than the others, and how true that is. Gary Chapman who wrote Love as a Way of Life, has also written about the Five Love Languages. After reading that book, and pinpointed each of the love languages of my kids, I have learned the different ways to express my authentic love to them. If you have read any of Gary Chapman’s books on Love Languages (I think there are 4 or 5) you probably recognized that most of us demonstrate love from our own love language. Those 5 languages are quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving of gifts, and physical touch. My main love language is acts of service, so my natural inclination would be to love others that way. Only one of my children has the same love language as I have, so all 4 others have to be loved in another way. It may sound complicated, but really it brings freedom. It even makes chore time easier, and rewards are different for the different love languages. So where do your kids fit in the love languages. Can you pinpoint if they are most into quality time, speaking encouraging words over them, doing something together, receiving rewards, or your loving touch? Knowing what their love language is really does help when it comes to parenting. My kids who aren’t my same love language (acts of service) try to tell me that they don’t have to serve like the one child who has my natural bent, but they quickly find that we can all develop each of those love languages into our life. The child who cares little about being hugged, still needs to be hugged and touched. The one who really likes encouraging words, needs to learn to say them to others too. The one who just likes hanging around with you, needs to realize that actions do speak loudly! I know parenting is challenging, but finding tools like these really can make you the most authentic, loving parent you can be.

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We’re talking about making our homes a more loving environment, and showing authentic, genuine love to our spouses, but can we do this with our kids too? How can we parent with the principles of love? The most fundamental thing that parents can do for children is to love them and to teach their child to love others. They are watching you to see how well you are doing at loving, every day. Many of you probably know that we have 4 daughters and one son. Shortly after having Carson come live at our house, we became his parents when he was 2, I was asked to teach at a large conference on parenting. Our girls were all older, and my speaking date was 1 month after Carson came to live at our house. My parenting skills were turned upside down very quickly. I went from a confident parent, to a parent who wasn’t sure what to do with this little human who was now living under our roof. We have had him now for over 10 years, and thankfully, many of the discipline issues are nearly perfected – I say that in faith!!!! – but my confidence as a parent really did get rattled. When I got up to speak about parenting, my first words were, I thought I was a good parent, but after parenting a little boy for just a month now, I know nothing! Of course everyone laughed, but they didn’t know how serious I was. Parenting really is about loving authentically. It is thinking not about yourself, but about how can I teach this little human to receive love, and then to give that love to others. Parenting is much about modeling a loving attitude and loving actions. Of all of the attributes of love, while parenting, patience gets to be tested overtime! Will we demonstrate a loving attitude by being patient. Patience is the cardinal virtue of a parent and patience in parenting takes much of our time.
James 1:2-5 says this:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
We assign responsibility, praise the child’s effort, and teach the child how to move to the next level of maturity. Children learn bit by bit that good behavior brings benefits, and poor behavior makes life difficult. The parent who is patient with this process is expressing authentic love. Let patience have its perfect work, and keep on asking daily for the wisdom of God.

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I love talking about the basics of love! I hope there have been some positive changes in you as you are putting these foundational aspects of love into your life. As we authentically love people, these loving like Jesus will become a part of who we are. Even if you are not naturally bent to operate in love, you can develop the habits and characteristics of a loving person. We can change! The main advantage we have going for us is that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts, and we can show that to others. We aren’t powerless. We have the power of God on the inside of us. How wonderful and amazing is that. As we take off selfishness, and lay it at the feet of Jesus, we can truly make love a way of life. It can become so natural to us, that the selfish way we used to act is just a dim and distant memory. These characteristics will not just be something that we have to do to be more loving, they will be a part of who we are. Others around you might even begin to comment on what a patient person you are, or how kind or generous your actions are. In that process, we are not patting ourselves on the back, but we are glorifying God. He gets the praise and the glory for the amazing things He is doing in us.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Why not today, just take a moment and thank God for what He is doing in you. His works really are magnificent! Bless Him today.

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We need to get back to the basics of love! The Bible says that the world will know we are Christians by our love. (John 13:35) God’s love toward us, gives us the capacity to love others. In fact, since God is love, when we receive Christ as our Savior, we have a totally new avenue of love that goes beyond human love for one another. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your daily eword. If you’ve heard the phrase start where you are, it’s your only choice, you know how true it is! I want you to begin showing intentional love to those in your world. That’s where we are, so let’s start with love at home this week!

Love is a way of life. We have found that this really is the best way to live. I hope you are discovering that not only is this way a great way to live, it is the only way we should want to live. Can we live this way everyday? Can we put the basic principles of love into operation in our life 24/7? I believe that we can and that it can affect our homes, from our marriages, to our parenting abilities and beyond. We will look at each of these areas this week, and let the rubber meet the road, and the nitty meet the gritty! Let’s start in the home. If we want to enjoy satisfying relationship and a loving and peaceful home environment, we must discover that the only way to find that in our homes is to love others well. It must be intentional and deliberate. The only way to make loving people a habit that flows naturally from your soul is through God’s power. To become more loving in the home, we need to acknowledge that we often fall into unloving habits that can be changed. Paul declares that we can do all things though Christ who empowers us in our inner man. It is not about will power, it is Christ in your who offers you the strength you need to love others. So how can we be more kind, more patient, more forgiving, more courteous, more humble, more generous, and more honest in our homes? One way that affects all of those characteristics is in the words we speak. When we put a guard on our mouth, we will think before we say anything unkind, or be polite words instead of going first, or letting others shine instead of one upping their story, or giving a compliment or encouragement instead of holding back, or speaking words of love from your heart, instead of being silent. So use your words today, to show that you love. I love HG TV decorating and gardening shows, and one of their mottos is, start at home…..why not try that today. Start at home. Put these principles to work….right where you live. You can do it through Christ’s power at work in you. Phil 4:11-13 says this:
1 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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If you love me, do what I ask. I don’t know if any or you parents have used that scripture on your kids, but it sure works with mine! It is found in John 14:15 and it is the best way I know how to get chores done quickly! God is telling us some very specific things that are very important for our life. If we really do love God, we aren’t going to be checking to see how close to the edge we can walk when it comes to sin. We are going to be staying close to Him, listening to His voice and ignoring the voice of a stranger as it says in John 10. We do need to be sensitive to the Spirit of God, and because we live in a fallen world, there are lots of opportunities to walk into the snare of the enemy totally innocently. We can guarantee our demise when we follow the wrong path on purpose. God loves you enough to ask you to obey Him. We love our kids enough to ask them to obey us. Raising kids in this crazy world is hard, but it becomes easier as we as parents follow God’s law, and our kids make the choice to obey. So you want to show God that you really love Him? Do what He asks of you. Obey his Book! Obey His voice! Maybe even with a happy attitude. Wouldn’t it be a blessing if we all acted that way? Kids obeying parents, spouses being considerate to each other, demonstrating God’s love, by being willing to do what is asked of them! Maybe your kids will blow you away by saying, sure mom or dad, I’d love to whatever you ask, just because I love you!

John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

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Greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends. That scripture is from John 15:13 and really is proof of God’s great love for us. Seed time and harvest have always been, and will always be. Jesus laid His life down as a seed so that we could be a part of the harvest. He was crucified and buried, laying His life down, so that we could know Him. Not as a distant acquaintance, but as a close intimate friend. He calls us His friends, not servants or subjects, but the very friends of God. The love God has for us is the greatest love that the world has ever known. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son that who so ever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. We become part of His family by accepting Him as our personal Savior. Then we choose daily to lay down our own life down in obedience to Him. That’s the greatest love being reciprocated, and quite an excellent harvest for seed sown!

Here is John 15:9-13
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

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Friday 14 Love is the Greatest I Cor 13:9-13
Did you do something sweet for your sweetheart this today? Being the day that we celebrate romantic love, there is great pressure to get the right card, the right gift, plan the right date, order the right flowers and to “do” the right thing. Well, according to Dr. Warren Clark, (MR. Eharmony.com) romantic love isn’t so much about doing as it is about being. Most mates really aren’t all that concerned about the big prizes on a special day as much as they enjoy spending time in the company of the one they love. They like how good being around the one they love makes them feel. It is really true if both mates feel listened to and respected for their opinions and ideas. So, take some pressure off of yourselves today in the gift department. Make it natural to show love 24/7 by listening to each other, and respecting each other. Make love who you are. Since we are created in the image of God, we can emulate love, because God not only has given us His love, but He lives within us. Now the fun part is just to demonstrate love everyday! It’s not so much about doing as being. Although we say that love is a verb, and requires action, most mates would rather experience daily whispers of love, than one big present on Valentines Day each year. We don’t have to do anything to gain God’s love, it is just His nature to love you. His love is in us, so it’s your nature too! So just “be” your best you and love lavishly! I Cor 13:9-13 says this:

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

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