What is Love?

The world’s view of love is an emotional attachment for someone else. It is based solely on one persons feeling for another. It is romance, affection, and longing, a desire to find that one certain person who can fulfill all our needs and desires.

When we express love, we develop a strong emotional attachment, anticipating our love to be returned. We ask, “What do I receive out of this relationship? What’s makes me content in this relationship?” Our feelings focus upon discovering that one individual who satisfies all our heart’s desires. Sadly, what nourished and warmed our heart for someone for a short time often withers and grows cold. Yet, the course of true love never runs totally smooth, nor does it give up when things get tough.

Real love demands sacrifices that can’t be found in self-centeredness. You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. Sacrificial love requires that we give of the things we value most: our hearts, minds, souls, our strength and time. Real love does not always follow our fleshly nature.  It is not just a feel good feeling.

Love can only be understood from the actions of giving to one another. When we are willing to bear with the failings and weaknesses of others, divine love reveals itself (Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”). At all costs, true love compels us to give so that we relieve the suffering of others. Instead of seeking to fulfill our own emotional and physical needs (receiving), we humbly give of ourselves (1 Peter 3:8–9 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”).

We should always desire to have the love nature of God, for Godly love is perfect love. God’s nature is love and true love is of God.” God created love. He deliberately chose to express His love to us thereby revealing the very nature of God Himself.

God’s Love Is Sacrificial – God initiated an eternal love relationship with us before we loved Him (1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”).

God’s Love Is Merciful – God extended the wealth of His kindness even when we were undeserving of His love (Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved);”).

God’s Love Is Faithful – Even in the most extreme circumstances, God’s love for us remains secure (Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”).

God is love and He created love in us. God created us a certain way to experience all that perfect love was meant to be (1 John 4:7-12 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”).

Dear friends, the greatest gift we can give is the true love of God to others, so let us love one another as Christ has loved us being willing to sacrifice ourselves, having mercy, and being faithful, first to Christ, who first love us, and then to others from our closest family to all those around us just as Christ did when He gave His life for us.

Happy Valentine’s Day and May God Richly Bless Each of You With His Love and Peace! ~Jeanette

Finally At Home

Oh precious loved one my soul does run free

Across the meadows of emerald green

Over the highland my eyes see afar

Finally at home its beauty I enjoy.

 

The worries and trial of the world no longer I feel

Only peace and joy are mine up here

I walk and talk with my Savior through endless days

While sweet music on harps forever play

 

I hear their sound so sweet and clear

Their notes so peaceful to my ear

They ring out across the green valley low

Whispering sweet peace to my soul

 

For the peace of this Heaven I now call home

Is beyond anything I have ever known

Here with my sweet Lord I rest each day

Knowing I will forever in His presence stay

 

So don’t weep for me that my days on earth are gone

For the beauty of Heaven I now have been shown

Just look each day into the Heavenly blue

There you will find me where I have been made new

Written by Jeanette

2/6/2017

Copyrighted by Jeanette Kelley

Music by  Reta Ceol Celtic Hymns

Share this:

True Hope

 The riches of this world shall all cease one day

The things we possess shall quickly all fade away

True hope is not found in great riches or worldly fame

For faith in worldly things will only bring us shame

 

True hope comes from living in the Heavenly Light

The Light of a Glorious Savior who shines ever bright

Our peaces comes from walking with Him day by day

Surrounded in His wondrous Grace all along our way

 

When our earthly walk here is finally done

This race we call life has been completely run

 Finally we’ll reached our heavenly home above

 Where we’ll receive a crown of life and a robe white as doves

 

Written By

Jeanette  Kelley

January 25^th 2017

Copyrighted By Jeanette Kelley

God’s Grace

 

Throughout my life,
I have found a place
where I can escape . . .
from the rat race.

It’s a perfect spot,
to let it all go . . .
a space to unwind
so peace can flow.

It’s not very far,
it’s easy to get to
shutting my eyes . . .
is all I have to do.

In my mind I envision,
till my heart can see
my Lord and Savior
right here, next to me.

Before too long,
His presence is real
and His calmness
I begin to feel.

Throughout my life,
I have found a place
where I can escape . . .
into the arms of grace!

~~~~~~~~~~

Matthew 11:28

“Come unto me, all ye that labour
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.”

King James Version

 

Peace, Be Still

There is something so pure and peaceful about falling snow. When I see this picture it brings back such sweet memories of my dad and I when I was a child. He would hold me high upon his shoulders as we watched the falling snow and I would feel the quiet and peace in the world around me. When it snows now I often take a walk up the lane into woods behind my home and feel that same peace and quiet. As I walk in the pure white snow everything is still, still as though the Lord as spoken into the air and said Peace, Be Still.

Mark 4:39 Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Have a blessed day my friends. ~Jeanette

The Littlest Christmas Tree

The littlest Christmas tree
lived in a meadow of green,
among a family,
of tall evergreens.
He learned how to whisper
the evergreen song,
with the slightest of wind,
that came gently along.

He watched as the birds
made a home out of twigs,
and couldn’t wait till
he, too, was big.
For all of the trees
offered a home,
the maple, the pine, and the oak,
who’s so strong.

“I hate being little,”
the little tree said,
“I can’t even turn colors
like the maple turns red.
I can’t help the animals
like the mighty old oak.
He shelters them all
in his wide mighty cloak.”

The older tree said,
“Why, little tree, you don’t know?
The story of a mighty king
from the land with no snow?”
Little tree questioned,
“A land with no snow?”
“Yes!” said old tree,
“A very old story,
from so long ago”.

“A star appeared,
giving great light
over a manger,
on long winter’s night.
A baby was born,
a king of all kings,
and with him comes love,
over all things.”

“He lived in a country
all covered in sand,
and laid down his life
to save all of man.”

Little tree thought of the gift
given by him,
then the big tree said with the
happiest grin,
“We’re not just trees,
but a reminder of that day
There’s a much bigger part,
of a role that we play!”

“For on Christmas eve,
my life I’ll lay down,
in exchange for a happier,
loving ground.
And as I stand dying,
they’ll adorn me in trim.
This all will be done,
in memory of him.”

“Among a warm fire,
with family and friends,
in the sweet songs of Christmas,
I’ll find my great end.
then ever so gently,
He’ll come down to see
and take me to heaven,
Jesus and me.”

“So you see, little tree,
we are not like the oak
who shelters all things
beneath his great cloak.
Nor are we like the maple
in fall,
who’s colors leave many
standing in awe.”

“The gift that we give
is ourselves, limb for limb,
the greatest of honor,
in memory of him.”

The little tree bowed,
his head down and cried,
and thought of the king
who willingly died.
For what kind of gift
can anyone give?
Than to lay down your life
when you wanted to live?

A swelling of pride
came over the tree.
Can all of this happen
Because of just me?
Can I really bring honor?
By adorning a home?
By reminding mankind
that he’s never alone?

With this thought, little tree
began singing with glee.
Happy and proud
to be a true Christmas tree.

You can still hear them singing
even the smallest in height,
singing of Christmas
and that one holy night.
© Amy Peterson

Our Faith Will Carry Us Through

It seems our hearts are so very heavy lately with the killings, the protesting, and the hate that we see in our world. Then we watch the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and other areas around our beautiful country being destroyed by fires, most of which were arson. It is no wonder we feel a sense of despair.

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Yet in the mist of all these things we still need to have faith, faith in the goodness of people but mostly faith in our God, our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. If we look into God’s Holy Word we find that many who loved the Lord have had to face hardships and trials in life.

Go with me to Hebrews Chapter 11 and let us read of some great examples of faith and how they overcame through their faith.

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

² For by it the elders obtained a good report.

³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

⁴ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

⁵ By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (What an awesome testimony to know we have pleased God)

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

⁷ By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (We to should always be looking for this city whose builder and maker is God)

¹¹ Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

¹² Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises (Jesus Christ is that promise), but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (This world is not home but just a place for us to get ready to go home to be with our Lord.)

¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

(John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.)

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (God, the Father)

²⁸ Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

³² And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

³⁶ And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

³⁸ (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (For it was not yet time for Christ to be born but they still believed)

⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Genuine faith perseveres to the end. True faith continues to believe the truth. God saved this better thing, or the fulfillment of the promise, for this age. Without the new covenant, Jesus Christ,  even the mightiest champion of faith from the Old Testament could not be made perfect. Yet through Christ we all can be made perfect.

Just as all these held their faith in God we also in these trying times need to cling to God and His promises for us. For it is through our faith that we are made perfect in Jesus Christ and will one day receive our Heavenly Home.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds but this one thing I am assured of I know who holds tomorrow, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Him we can always trust.

Snow From God

Snow falls lightly
from the sky up above
softly falling down
like the feather of a dove

each snow flake is different
like each one of us
falling to the ground
like snow often does

it’s steals away breath
this brilliant thing
so pure and refreshing
like the songs angels sing

they sing for remembrance
of God and his Son
throwing down these white tokens
to say winter has begun

white is for birth
the birth of baby Christ
white is for hope
that things are alright

each flake that falls
from the sky up above
is a gift from God
telling us we are loved

Snowflakes

Circ’ling down in brilliant whiteness,

Sett’ling here upon the ground;

Blowing now about the bushes,

Making patterns straight and round.

 

Perfect beauty, perfect whiteness

Now assails my clouded sight;

Spread unbroken o’er the mountains,

Sparkling brightly in the light.

 

Microscopic detailed order;

No two flakes were e’re the same:

All designed in sep’rate order;

Who this wondrous tho’t can frame?

Who decreed this awesome order,

Who these details tho’t and planned?

Who made clouds to grace the heavens,

Spread the snowflakes with His hand?

 

Jesus Christ and God the Father,

And the Spirit, three in one,

Planned and formed, decreed and ordered,

Till this blessed deed was done.

“Winter’s Rest”.

Matthew 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.