1 Corinthians 13
Amplified Bible (AMP)
13 If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.
4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose, it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
9 For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).
10 But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.
12 For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood by God.
13 And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Love is also letting your child have wings to fly and to touch others with the love of Christ that you have taught them.
There is so much going on in my heart today. A young man has approached me with regards to his feelings for my Jessica. Having only conversed with him on line and through video chat, I'm not sure of anything yet. He does appear to be a strong Godly young man so far. With good character. But until I know him better I will with hold judgement. Currently meeting him face to face is out of the question since he is stationed in Va. with the Navy. But if he wants to court my daughter, meet him we must. Just like with Nick and Kelly, the standards are high and the young man that wins the heart of one of my daughters has a lot to measure up to.
My one question though is: Why do these young men not live close to this Mama? They come in here and just fly away with my daughters. These young men keep telling me they are impressed with my daughters and then they tell me that they love my daughter and then that they are moving close to their Mama and family. Funny but the marriage vows say something about the man leaving his Mother and Father and clinging to his wife. I don't remember hearing anything about the wife/daughter leaving her family.
Even Tony is telling me that soon he will be moving to SC. So it isn't just my daughters that leave.
Well, my vent is over. My hope is in Christ alone. At least my sweet hubby is by my side.
So with that said, Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet Hubby who asked me to marry him on this day 27 years ago. I love YOU!
Blessings to All ~ S
