Love Defined by God - Lesson 4

Lesson 4:  I Corinthians 13:4 - Love does not boast (brag).  Love subdues pride and vain-glory; It vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, is not bloated with self-conceit, does not swell upon its acquisitions, nor arrogate to itself that honor  or power, or respect, which does not belong to it. It is not insolent, apt to despise others, or trample on them, or treat them with contempt and scorn. Those who are animated with a principle of true brotherly love will in honor prefer one another, Romans 12:10. They will do nothing out of a spirit of contention or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind will esteem others better than themselves, Philippians 2:3.

True love will give us an esteem of our brethren, and raise our value for them; and this will limit our esteem of ourselves, and prevent the tumors of self-conceit and arrogance. These ill qualities can never grow out of tender affection for the brethren, nor a diffusive benevolence. 

The word rendered in our translation vaunteth itself bears other significations; nor is the proper meaning, as I can find, settled; but in every sense and meaning true charity stands in opposition to it. The Syriac renders it, non tumultuatur - does not raise tumults and disturbances. Charity calms the angry passions, instead of raising them. Others render it, Non perper et pervers agit - It does not act insidiously with any, seek to ensnare them, nor tease them with needless importunities and addresses. It is not froward, nor stubborn and untractable, nor apt to be cross and contradictory. 

Some understand it of dissembling and flattery, when a fair face is put on, and fine words are said, without any regard to truth, or intention of good. Charity abhors such falsehood and flattery. Nothing is commonly more pernicious, nor more apt to cross the purposes of true love and good will.

Written by Matthew Henry

Love Defined by God--Lesson 3

Lesson 3:  I Corinthians 13:4 --Love suppresses envy: It envieth not; it is not grieved at the good of others; neither at their gifts nor at their good qualities, their honours nor their estates.

If we love our neighbour we shall be so far from envying his welfare, or being displeased with it, that we shall share in it and rejoice at it. His bliss and sanctification will be an addition to ours, instead of impairing or lessening it. This is the proper effect of kindness and benevolence: envy is the effect of ill-will. 

The prosperity of those to whom we wish well can never grieve us; and the mind which is bent on doing good to all can never will ill to any.

Written by Matthew Henry

Love Defined by God--Lesson 2

Lesson 2:  I Corinthians 13:4 - Love is kind - chrēsteuetai. It is benign, bountiful; it is courteous and obliging. The 
law of kindness is in her lips; her heart is large, and her hand open. She is ready to show favours and to do good. She seeks to be useful; and not only seizes on opportunities of 
doing good, but searches for them.

This is her general character. She is patient under injuries, and apt and inclined to do all the good offices in her power. And under these two generals all the particulars of the character may be reduced.

Written by Matthew Henry

Love Defined by GOD

My, my, it has been a while since I posted to my blog--over a year!  I hope to do a better job, starting today.

So what has been on my mind lately?  Well, I can always depend on God to put on my mind what HE thinks is important--  and his method is most often through my experiences.

True love has been on my mind the last couple of days, but I have come to realize that it is not always present in my heart.  I believe that God has signed me up for a new class that he is teaching and it is called, REAL LOVE 101.  My first lesson starts in I Corinthians 13:4.  I will not add any of my own thoughts because I am just the student; but instead over the next ten days or so, I will share my reading assignment from Matthew Henry's commentary.  This Scripture interpretation by him, has shown me that I truly know nothing much about what True Love from God's perspective is.  My goal is to learn and try to exhibit it more every day.  I guess if I pass the course, I will look a little more like Jesus.

Lesson 1:  1 Corinthians 13:4- Love is patient (long suffering)...

The apostle gives us in these verses some of the properties and effects of charity, both to describe and commend it, that we may know whether we have this grace and that if we have not we may fall in love with what is so exceedingly amiable, and not rest till we have obtained it. It is an excellent grace, and has a world of good properties belonging to it. As,
I. It is long suffering - makrothumei. It can endure evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with resentment, indignation, or revenge. It makes the mind firm, gives it power over the angry passions, and furnishes it with a persevering patience, that shall rather wait and wish for the reformation of a brother than fly out in resentment of his conduct. It will put up with many slights and neglects from the person it loves, and wait long to see the kindly effects of such patience on him.

Please come back tomorrow for Lesson 2.

My Missy Crissy Business

Last year around Thanksgiving I began getting orders for custom made cheerleader and cheer competition outfits for American Girl dolls.  This is a blessing that I had been waiting for; and in God's timing it came.  Little did I imagine, though, that I would get so many orders that I had to turn some down and put a hold on taking orders until May, 2012.  Wow!  I am so excited about being able to use my talent that God blessed me with--designing, pattern-making, and sewing little American Girl doll clothes.  It is so much fun that I spend most of the day every day sewing in my Missy Crissy shop. The greatest blessing, however, is that God can use the money that I make to help two families that I sponsor in the Philippines. Just recently one family lost everything due to a typhoon; the sewing orders that I received timed perfectly with this tragic event. Here is a gallery of some of the outfits that I have made since November, 2011.

Christmas is right around the corner and I bet your little girl's American Girl doll will love one of these outfits.

Check them out in my Missy Crissy shop on Etsy.  Click on each picture to view details.

Every Cell is IMPORTANT to God--He decides its fate!

Today as I walked in my garden I proclaim, " how wonderful is our God!"  All that he does is so intricate and beautiful.  Each little ruffle in these rose petals shows how he pays attention to every detail.  I can't help but think about each human life and  how precious each little cell is to God.  It just blows my mind to think that someone would ever consider destroying a little human life--no matter how many cells big it is or how it was conceived in the first place.

 God said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  Can we not assume from this scripture that every human life is conceived in the heart of God before it is ever conceived and planted in the womb of a woman?

Our hearts would probably fail us if we could see what God sees--millions of lives destroyed before they ever had a chance to achieve the purpose and the plans he had for each of them.   May God help us and forgive us for "they know not what they do." (Jesus)

How Great, How Great is Our God

Take time to see how much God really loves and cares for you.  This beautiful rose and butterfly that  reside around my house are living proof that God doesn't neglect the least of these--his creation.  How much more does he love and care for each one of us who are made in his image.  His greatest proof, though, is in the giving of his life for us.  Let's praise him today.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of precious Kyle Dunkerson.  Kyle lost his life this past week in a car wreck and will be so missed by his family and friends.  This awful tragedy reminds us of the fragility of life--life that is in God's hands.  Let's stay close to the Father today and always be ready when he calls. 

A Really Big Change

A lot has been happening in my life since I last posted.  My mom who has been living next door to me for almost seven years has begun to relocate to a new city (Florence, MS) with my brother.  For many baby boomers, like myself, taking care of elderly parents is a reality that is tempting to ignore.  When my mom first came to live next door to me, things were really nice.  I got to bond with her for the first time, because initial bonding when I was young was prevented because of our large family and because she worked full time during my entire time while living at home.

Things gradually changed, however, as she continued to age and develop dementia.  She became afraid to stay by herself at night, and then gradually became irritable when I would leave for a few hours during the day.  We both developed frustration with this situation over the last few years until we  realized a change needed to occur.  After much "talking"my siblings and I worked it out, and I have a good feeling that our plan is going to be a positive one for all of us--especially our mom.

Something that I learned from my dentist today, who had a similar experience with his mother, was to always agree with whatever your aging (memory deficient) parent says.  Dementia zaps their ability to reason, so it is most often futile to try and change their mind about something.  In other words don't argue with them--you won't win and your blood pressure with rise. As my dentist said, "when my mom commented on the beautiful, bright moon at 2:00 in the afternoon, I told her that it, indeed, is a beautiful moon, and I believe that it is a full moon!"

A sweater named Perseverance

YEA! I succeeded. It took me five times, but I finally completed the little doll sweater. I almost gave up today, but the Lord answered my prayer and I finished it. It probably is not the best job in town, but it's my best, and that's all that matters. Now for any of you who need to purchase a new outfit for someones American Girl doll, you can do so by clicking into my Etsy shop--http://www.etsy.com/listing/82154121/hand-knitted-pink-sweater-and-corduroy. This outfit is named Perseverance; so you will be purchasing something that represents "true grit."

Perseverance--sweater progress report

For those of you who are following my "do or die" effort to make a doll sweater on my Ultimate Sweater Machine here is a progress report. Referring to the picture, you can see that my progress is a negative 4 at this point! Those little wads of knitting are my attempts to complete the knitting project. I am now on my fifth sweater. Remember what I said about perseverance? Well, I am certainly being put to the test, and I can assure you that it has become very personal!! At first I had planned on two attempts not five or six. I am discovering some things about myself, though; and that gives me a personal sense of satisfaction. I have decided to commit this project to prayer today, and claim the verse, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13) So for those of you who are thinking about giving up on some project, some person, or some situation--don't. Commit it to prayer and then relax; because you, like I, will feel so GOOD when it's complete and successful.

I will not be defeated

Back from Bulldog land, I am more determined than ever to complete a project that I have been messing around with for a week. I started knitting a doll sweater on my Ultimate Sweater Machine (I can't handknit) and have had a heck of a time getting it right. I finally got the back and front knitted, but threw it in a drawer when I couldn't get the two pieces seamed at the shoulders. Today, I woke up at 5 a.m. thinking about how I should not give up so soon --if ever. So today I will start completely over with knitting it. For those of you who like to give up, I want to share this story that has inspired me to persevere when I feel like giving up.

One day on a beautiful Saturday morning Jim and I were at his mom and dad's home in Maben, Mississippi. Jim's precious mom, Matty Vell White, had been putting the finishing touches on a gorgeous strawberry shortcake. Before I continue let me say that she was a wonderful cook. I have never seen a more photo perfect, ready for the cooking magazine cake. The strawberries were brilliant red, the cake layers had been carefully slit into thin little layers, and homemade frosting oozed out between the layers, and sweet strawberry juice trickling down the sides. Oh, my! I could not wait until lunch to eat some of that.

Well, things suddenly changed. All of a sudden, Ms. Matty Vell dipped her finger in the bowl of strawberries, tasted the juice, and with only a slight sigh, picked up that beautiful cake, and walked outside with it. Now, since I had taken a very personal interest in the cake, I had to see where she was going with it. I got up and looked out the kitchen window, and lo and behold, she threw the cake over the fence. I was reluctant to say anything when she returned, so merely chose to watch her next move. This is where I was awed with her composure and perseverance. She got out a mixing bowl and started making another cake--WITHOUT SAYING A WORD--Now, you may be wondering, like I was, what happened. So, I got up enough nerve to ask and she said simply, "I put salt in the strawberries instead of sugar."

Ever since I observed this event I have used her tenacity to begin again rather than give up on something that I know that I can get right if I just give it another try. She was an awesome woman, and I might add that her son, my husband, has inherited her gene in this regard.

Tune in later for my second try on the little doll sweater!

Fall is in the air

Oh! Wow! Fall is in the air. Of course, yesterday in Mississippi it was muggy and hot, but today it is wonderful. I sat on the front porch covered up in a blanket and read my Bible and my Matthew Henry complete and concise commentary. I have been reading through the MH commentary for 3 years, but I am just now in 1 Samuel:
17. It is such a wonderful book to read for those of you who want to find out how Scripture applies to your daily walk with the Lord.

Now back to the weather. Not only is fall in the air, but so is football. Tonight my favorite college team, the Mississippi State bulldogs play the Louisiana State tigers. This is the third game in a row that the Bulldogs have played Tigers. First it was the Memphis State tigers, then the Auburn tigers, now the LSU tigers. Last week we should have won, but an INCH lost the game.

My mom and I are going up to Starkville tonight and babysit so that my daughter, her husband, and little first grader can go to the game. Looking forward to seeing the game on TV. GO BULLDOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, I sell handmade cheerleader uniforms for 18 inch dolls. Check out my listing in my blog and also in my Etsy store. Etsy.com/shop/MissyCrissy2

Today

I choose not to be discouraged when the sun won't break through; I know that my heart is in your hand, and my life is a part of your greater plan. Thank you, Lord.

Blue Medallion Necklace and Earring Set (SE0003)

This beautiful hand-beaded necklace and earring set took many hours to make, so you can wear this piece of art with pride knowing that no one else has one like it. The 19 inch, princess style necklace is made of blue Delica seed beads and clear Swarovski crystals delicately weaved into a spiral rope. It features a royal blue crystal-cut medallion surrounded by a hand-beaded bezel.

$65.00 with free shipping