February is the month of Valentine's Day and the month we often think about love. There isn't a February that goes by that I don't think of the love passage in the Bible. I truly think it is one of the most beautiful passages of scripture. Every single time I hear it or read it, I am amazed at its words.

1 Corinthians 13 Love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love!

We could have faith that moves MOUNTAINS and give all we have to the poor but if we are not loving it would mean nothing! These are some powerful words and should not be taken lightly!

Are we loving people? Are we loving the unlovable? Are we in cliques that leave people out, do we hurt others with our words? Do we wound other women in our lives?

Do our children feel our love or mostly our wrath? Do our husbands know we put them above all except God himself?

Love is talked about SO much in the Bible.. The Bible is clear that it is important for us to love others, (spouses, our children, even our enemies) It tells us of God’s love for us,( For God So Loved the World He sent his son) and its clear that HE wants us to love HIM with everything we have(the greatest commandment is to love our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind).

Love is IMPORTANT! Don't miss the opportunity to love others this year! If there is someone you are struggling to love, pray every day that God helps you love them, because sometimes in your own flesh you can not. But nothing is impossible with God.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Blessings,

Angela Richter