“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1Corinthians 13:13

A diamond possesses a strength far surpassing that of any other known substance in nature, a durable gem that also has a high degree of transparency. A diamond’s fiery brilliance makes it cherished above all other gemstones by most people — in fact diamonds occupy a position of incomparable marketplace demand.

I ask you to look closely at love. Maybe you will see what Henry Drummond showed me, that it is very similar to a diamond. Love has nine “facets” — each of the elements may seem common enough, and any one of these can be practiced by anyone, any-where, in any situation or time. Yet together they are brilliant, cherished, and in a position of incomparable demand in every human life. That if continually and devotedly practiced a person will possess a strength of character that will far surpass the strengths of any other.

Facet #1, Patience — Love is patient, not in a hurry, but waits to do it’s work when the time comes. In this push button, drive thru, instantaneously gratifying world we live in, patience is generally seen with disdain. Can we be so meek and loving as to wait on someone else?

Facet #2, Kindness — Love is kind, and active. Jesus showed us how to love with simple kindnesses. Henry Drummond encourages us to “lavish love on the poor, where it is very easy, and especially upon the rich, who often need it most. But most of all lavish love upon our equals, where it is very difficult, and for whom perhaps we each do least of all.”

Facet #3, Generosity — Love is not jealous, and does not envy. We live in a highly competitive world, even among “Christian do-gooders” we find ourselves often in competition. If you look around to see what others are doing, you will likely find many doing it better than you. If you can learn from them, or better yet, collaborate with them, it is less likely you will envy them. Whatever the case, generously love them all and thank the Lord for them.

Facet #4, Humility — Love does not brag and is not arrogant. In Henry’s day he said to “put a seal upon your lips and forget what you have done,” today I see this as “super glue your lips shut and have a senior moment.” But more than that, let go of even the “self-satisfaction” of whatever love deed you have done. Let the deed be treasure stored up with God in heaven for your eternity, rather than treasure for you to revel in and count on here.

Facet #5, Courtesy — Love does not act unbecomingly. The true secret to being polite, courteous or considerate is to love. “Love in the “little things.” Have we forgotten the meaning of a “gentleman?” A man who behaves, gently, with love. That is the whole art and mystery of it.

Facet #6, Unselfishness — Love does not seek its own. In this country and progressive society we have been taught to be greatly concerned with our “rights.” However, there comes a time when we should exercise an even greater right — not to seek our rights at all. Christ teaches us that anyone who wants to be great must be the servant. It is summed up in Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Facet #7, Good temper — Love is not provoked. Oh this is a remarkable facet! As James Clayton put it “If religion has done nothing for your temper, then it has done nothing for your soul.” Scripture condemns ill temper over and over again; one example is the older brother of the Prodigal son. Henry Drummond speaks of bad temper as an intermittent fever or disease deep within, that an occasional bubble escapes to the surface that betrays some rottenness underneath … jealousy, anger, pride, stinginess, cruelty, self-righteousness, touchiness, sullenness, or bitterness. Willpower does not change people, time does not change people — only Jesus Christ changes people. The Spirit of Christ is the only one who can truly purify and sweeten a person. Only Christ can regenerate a person and transform them into a person of good temper — as they die to themselves and live only for Him.

Facet #8, Grace Giving — Love does not take into account a wrong suffered. “Keeping score” breeds bitterness and suspicion, and in this type of precarious environment people shrivel up. Yet if we are willing to see the bright side, think no evil and impute no ugly motive to the actions of others, this acceptance and belief of the best in them will be an encouragement and enlightening fellowship. Very simply put, forgive others and respect them.

Facet #9, Sincerity — Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. Sincerely seek truth, see things as they plainly are, and then allow that sincerity to be joyful. Henry goes on to teach that this includes self-restraint which refuses to make a big deal of others faults, not exposing their weaknesses but rather that love covers their wrongs.

When the light of the Holy Spirit passes through these facets of love, it is a magnificent transparent prism — a spectrum of love reflected that is more brilliant than the rarest of diamonds, and more cherished than any worldly possession. In this study I was humbled again to recognize that my love is not even as good as a cubic zirconia’s! But I thank God as He continual changes me and stretches me to grow me into something better than before. Henry Drummond also encourages me as he says, “Let those love now who never loved before. Let those who always loved, now love the more.”

Ride My Bicycle

I love the four seasons ... the beautiful white snow of winter, colorful balmy days of autumn, big blue sky days of summer and explosion of color in spring. Here we are at the end of winter and every part of me is gearing up for bicycle season! I am SO ready to feel the sun on my face, the wind in my hair and roll down the paved paths around town with my Father. How blessed I am!

Yellow Gum Balls

We have a gum ball machine. My little bear's great joy is to find out what your favorite color gum ball is. Once she has this very important information she makes her way to the kitchen to play the machine as if she was working the slots in Vegas. Her "pay day" and ultimate satisfaction is to be awarded your color! Then off running she goes around the house giving away most of her winnings. Chomping, smiling and every once in awhile screaming .... "Mommy I got you a yellow one!"

wait... have we seen this tree before?

Christian (w)Rap … Don’t Believe Everything You Hear

“Don't let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with Him. Don't even hang around people like that.” (Eph 5:5-7, Mess.)

I sometimes hear “oh, I hate rap” and usually the person is referring to R&B or Hip Hop rap music. I also despise rap, however, I don’t mean the bass pounding rhymes of poetic recording artists. No, what I am referring to is religious sales talk. I have found it in at least two “varieties”…

“Rap” …
I have encountered people who have heard or read some great “Christian Rap.” Words that hit their heart or sound super spiritual to them and then they begin sharing it with others. Appropriating the thoughts or teaching of others as if this is their own experience or understanding from God. Painting “color by number word pictures” of how to be a Christian… unfortunately, and often, the picture is not an accurate reflection of God’s word, but rather the word of some other “well-meaning” Christian, that may or may not have it right. In the end just a regurgitation of a filtered message that turns into a conversation of bumper sticker slogans. “For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (2Peter 2:18-19, NIV.)

Often this “rap” leaves the person who heard it with the feeling or sense of shame or failure. That somehow their experience or feelings are inferior compared to other “more spiritual” Christians, or maybe they are just not trying “hard enough.” Radically different from spiritual conviction, which brings about sorrowful repentance, instead this rap only discourages, confuses, and alienates people.

Lyrics from a Minneapolis Rap Quartet, Junkyard Prophet cuts right to it, describing it like this “Playin’ the game … Blasphemin’ His name … For the gain and fame … Your claim is vain … Your walk is lame.”

God’s words through Paul describe it like this “For there are a lot of rebels out there, full of loose, confusing, and deceiving talk. Those who were brought up religious and ought to know better are the worst. They've got to be shut up. They're disrupting entire families with their teaching, and all for the sake of a fast buck.” (Titus 1:10, Mess.) Paul strongly says in Romans 2 “I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching, "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and His law.” (Rom 2:21-23, Mess.)

Each of us who attempts to teach or encourage with words or with deed, may we remember sincerely the strong admonishments in Proverbs 30 …”Every word of God is tested… Do not add to His words, or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.” (Prov 30:5a-6, NASB) If we are truly interested in encouraging or teaching others, consider Paul’s way “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Rom12:15, NASB) When I enter into the experiences of others and stand with them, with Christ there is powerful encouragement, however “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1Cor13:1, NASB) “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that.” (Eph 5:1-4, Mess.)

Then there is “Wrap” …
Wrapping one’s actions with poignant justifications using god-marketing slogans, often in an attempt to control others into desired behaviors or to cover up their own sin. In my experience this “pretty talk” all comes back to the same places … pride and coveting. Yet, in the delivery it sounds so “holy.”

Jesus revealed it this way, “They talk a good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish veneer. Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help.” (Mat 23:3-4, Mess.)

Obviously God’s tolerance of this matter is infinitively greater than mine. Whew, what a relief since I along with all of mankind struggle with a form of hypocrisy, and double-mindedness so the word clearly teaches in Romans 7:14-25 and my life experience, sad to say, definitely demonstrates. “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:24&25a, NASB)

So I encourage you “my dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God….” (1John 4:1, Mess.)

Jesus doesn’t need marketing…
Instead of killing time with religious sales talk, I encourage us to fill up our lives connecting one to one with Jesus. “ I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:16-19,NIV)

May we both be so full of the intimate personal knowledge of Jesus that we are actually bursting at the seams with overwhelming love so that out of our mouths flows the refreshing poetic awe of our adventures with our loving Father! (Now that is the kind of rap, I definitely want to hear, how about you?)