Love, Love, Love

How many Bible translations do you have? Before you start reading this post or when you are completed, go and read all the Bible translations you have of 1 Corinthians 13. Yes, I will do it, too! :) Last night at youth group we talked about verse five-love isn't rude, it isn't self seeking, not angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.

First, love isn't a feeling-it's a verb, or an action. We do not have to have feelings to love others. Love is the the mark of a mature follower of Jesus! God tells us to love others as yourself but that doesn't mean thinking less or yourself. Love has good manners-isn't rude. Love looks out for others first. It put their needs and desires before yours. Love is not ever truly angered. Remember, these are beauitful people and God loves them and they are made in His image.

Love has a memory that stinks! It doesn't hold other people's wrongs against them but let's go and forgives.

Youth group times...

Matching shirts!
Justin, me, and Keegan

Tough Love

I am going to write more about this but here's a review of it! Last week in Reality Check, we talked about Tough Love. Tough love is confronting someone when they are messing up because you care about them. It's not about what you can get out of the deal or to make them feel bad. You are telling me their misktake (gently!) because you really do love them. If you have friends who are making poor choices, please do talk to them about it. Just 1. don't condemn them! 2. tell them gently 3. be honest 4. do it because you want their best!!

Love-Notes from Reality Check

My youth group just started a series about love from the love chapter in the Bible. So one of the things I am going do do weekly on my blog, is to post notes from the lessons and change them some. So, I hope you guys enjoy this series because it's already started off great for me!
First, read 1 Corinthians 13.
-Only speak loving about people and don't gossip! Don't gossip but also don't let people gossip to you (gossip is speaking mean of other's or spreading something that's not true. Sometimes it's hard to know if something is gossip or not!). The people you want to talk mean about or punch in the face, they are made in God's image and God loves them just as much as He loves you!
Why Love is So Important:
1. More than noise (resounding gong or claning cymbal-not very pleasant!)
-You have to do everything in love or else it doesn't matter! Love is what makes a picture whole, complete. If you don't have love, your actions are worthless.
2. Don't be immature
You can always grow up and mature more. And don't justify your actions. Love with no excuses! Don't judge someone by their talents and weaknesses. If your pastor isn't a good speaker, it doesn't really matter. What matters more is what he's saying!
3. We see poorly (vs. 12)
We don't understand everything that happens were on earth and we never will. We might not "get it" when someone is hates us or ingnores us but God's going to make every wrong right. We don't have to do it here on earth. Instead, we just need to love other's. God's going to make it straight, no one slips past him.
A final couple things for you! Check out Galatians 5:6 and the last verse in 1 Corthians 13-love is the most important!