Live and Love Out Loud

Welcome to those of you who have popped over due to my devotion running on Proverbs 31 Ministry’s encouragement for today. I’m glad you joined us! Feel free to poke around my site and leave a comment. For the rest of you wondering what the devotion is all about, you can read it here.

Since the devotion is on displaying the characteristics of love listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, let’s take a look at them and I’ll toss out a question. Of each of these characteristics, which is hardest for you to flesh out in your daily life with your family, friends and co-workers?

“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.”

I’ll start off by baring my soul and saying that becoming easily angered comes all too easily for me! But it seems to be only with the members of my own family. I can hold it together when the dry cleaners ruin my new sweater, someone cuts me off in traffic or a friend goofs up my latte order. But if my husband or one of the darlin’ little dependents does something that ruffles my feathers—watch out!! I often have to go before the Lord and ask for a second chance after blowing my stack with someone dwelling within my four walls. Then comes the hard part. Going to that person who was the object of my wrath to choke out the words….”I was wrrr…wrr…wrong. Will you forgive me?”

How about you? When you look at the above list of love’s many characteristics, in what ways is it hard for you to love out loud?

Living, loving and still learning,

Karen

7 Comments

  1. I am running behind a day on reading my daily devotionals. I am a mortgage professional and I work from home with 3 business lines, a cell phone and 4 emails. I talk to all kinds of people with all kinds of issues. I like to think that all day long I practice “Living Love Outloud” but I find that as the day goes on the harder it gets to not ‘keep a record of wrongs’ and it’s that ongoing record that feeds my anger and chips away at my trust, patients and everything else.

    My own personal love seems to run out, but taking time to read and think about what you wrote has reminded me of God’s unending love. When mine is used up I have to tap into His and live it. Thanks, I needed that.

  2. Your devotion pin-pointed the thing that the Lord had been tugging on my heart this week but did not want to ” be still” enough to find out. My son’s are 10 and 13. I home-school and things have been tough between us lately. The Lord wanted me to know that I am having a problem with my Impatient, Rude, Easily Angered heart that has not been very Persevering. Thanks to the message He spoke through the devotion I have confessed if my behavior. I so want the Lord to be glorified. I think that I am going to have to do the task introduced in the devotion and keep my mind glorifying the Lord. The teens are such a hard time that I just HOPE that I can survive it.. Grace and Peace to Him. Sincerely Julianne

  3. I would have to say that patience and anger are my biggest problems. I, as Karen, struggle mostly with my family. I can be so patient and nice to anyone outside of my 4 walls but when it comes to repeating the math homework for the 4th time I blow it! My husband actually confronted me on this when I had a bad day here and then on the phone I was sweet as pie! He said ” You are nicer to your customers and girlfriends than you are to us.” Ouch! That really hurt but it was truth. Speak the truth in Love and he did.
    I am still guilty of this but have tried to lay it at the Lord’s feet to break this pattern!

  4. Thanks for place to share true confessions. “Love is patient, love is kind.” These are the ones I am struggling with this week. I keep noticing (after the fact) that I’m being impatient with my boys and JJ, which leads to unkindness in my words – especially the tone of them. And you are so right, it’s those closest to me that see the ugly! I need to be still and let God remind me of how very patient and kind He is with me. He’s my only hope!

    Hugs,
    Renee

  5. the hardest part for me is the “never fails” part. seems I’m always failing. But God, my husband and children are full of grace.

  6. Karen,

    I was so moved by your devotion today I just had to let you know. This scripture (I Corn 13) is also my favorite. I recite it daily because I too struggle with showing love in my own home as aposed to people on the outside. I have endured a whole lot in my 36 yrs on this earth and the most I have had to endure just within the last 3 yrs.

    My current relationship has taken me through a whirlwind of ups and downs. Now I am at a place where I am really trying to love again. It’s nice to know that I am not alone in this and I thank you for sharing. Your words and advise are inspiring!!

    Thank you again and have a blessed day!!

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