Congratulations...

 If you are reading this post - congratulations! Today is the last of Love 40 days.

Thank you for sharing this journey. Thank you for giving the time and the effort to stretch yourself to obey the commandment of John 13:34: Love one another.

We hope that while maybe not always easy, you have found this Lent challenge worthwhile. We hope that you have found something new in this application of God's word that has allowed God to work in your life. We hope that you have made a new connection, deepened an existing connection or re-established an old connection with somebody who needs to be loved by you. We hope that you have been challenged and inspired during the past forty days.

It would be great to hear from you in the comments below if you made it to the end - even if you missed some days! Don't forget you can share any of your favourite experiences, stories or verses in the comments, even today.

It has been a great 40 days. But let's not leave it there. While you might not be pulling out names next week, let's all continue to be on the lookout for the people that God is placing in our path as we continue to live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ...

Be blessed. See you next year!!



Day 40: He lives...

Tomorrow we celebrate Easter Sunday - the day that changed the world forever.

The story of the resurrection is the most wonderful ending to the greatest love story ever told. You can find it in John 20. The Son of God, slaughtered like a common criminal, fulfils the prophecies of old and the words from his own mouth and rises again - claiming the victory over sin forever for everyone who believes in him.

In Romans 5:6-11, Paul summarised this amazing truth as follows:

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people woudl not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship was God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

We are friends of God. Let us live life as friends of God today - and love others with everything that we have.

Day 39: Forgiven...

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish by have eternal life. (John 3:16) This is love. Today we remember the greatest act of love that anyone will ever show.

Try to take time today to read the story of Jesus's arrest, trials and crucifixion. It never makes easy reading, but let it speak to your heart today. A good place to find the story is John 18-19.

Jesus helps us to know how to respond to the enormity of the sacrifice that he made for us in Luke 18:13-14: But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

We all have a list of things that we wish we hadn't done. Other people might think our list might be short, but we know that it is too long to write. Our list is covered by the love of God - we do not need to be condemned by it. But we should remember the words of Jesus in Luke 7:47: "I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love."

We know that are sins are many. We know we have been forgiven much. Let us show Jesus much love today. And let us allow him to fill us so that we might show the people on our name slips much love too - so that they might understand the love and forgiveness that we celebrate today.

Day 38: Passover...

Today is Maundy Thursday, the day that we remember Jesus sharing the Passover Meal with his friends. We remember Jesus breaking bread and sharing wine with his friends and encouraging them to continue doing so in remembrance of his sacrifice. You can find the story of the Last Supper in Luke 22:7-30. There are also two other parts of the story of Jesus' Passover evening to challenge us as we seek to finish up our 40 days of living a life filled with love, following the example of Christ...

Firstly, take a look at John 13:1-17. Before the disciples sat down to eat together, Jesus washed their feet. This was the job of the lowliest of servants, which was why Peter was initially adamant that Jesus should not wash his feet. But Jesus was demonstrating that he came to serve - and we are seeking to follow his example. Jesus says in John 13:14-17: Since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them. You know these things - now do them! That is the path of blessing.

Washing feet was a cultural tradition - it would be up to you whether or not this is how you would choose to love the person on your name slip today. But the action of serving another person in the lowliest of ways, truly serving their needs in a way that they don't expect, laying yourself on the line - that is the way that we are called to love today.

Secondly, take a look at John 17, Jesus' prayer following the Passover meal. This is the prayer that Jesus prays for us: all who will ever believe in [Jesus] because of their testimony. There is so much to take from this chapter. John 17:22-26 says this: I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are - I in them and you in me, all perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began! O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.

Let us pray that we may be united with Jesus and with each other in love. Let us pray that through this unity the world - our person on the name slip - will know that Jesus was sent for them. Let us pray that we - and our loved ones - would understand that God loves us as much as God loves Jesus.

Any other thoughts on these passages - please put them in the comments...

Day 37: The rest of the week...

On Monday we looked at the story of the triumphal entry. Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, and then we have Good Friday and Easter Sunday only days away now. But Jesus wasn't just hanging around, chatting over with his disciples about how great it was when he came into town on the donkey, while he waited for the soldiers to come and get him. Let's remind ourselves of Jesus' actions in Jerusalem leading up to Passover.

- Jesus wept over Jerusalem
- Jesus cursed the fig tree
- Jesus cleared the Temple, driving out the merchants and their stalls
- Jesus taught in the Temple every day, using parables and scriptures to help people understand
- Jesus gave answers to the priests and teachers who tried to trap him with questions
- Jesus referred to himself as the cornerstone
- Jesus taught his disciples about giving using the example of the widow's offering
- Jesus was anointed with perfume at Bethany
- Jesus talked about his death and resurrection to prepare his followers for what was to come

You can find these events, and more, in Matthew 21-26, Mark 11-14, and Luke 20-22. If you can, choose one of the gospels and read the chapters through, allowing the words to speak to your heart today. Please share any thoughts or revelations that you may have as you journey through Holy Week with Jesus, by using the comments section below.

Day 36: Food and fellowship...

Is a picture of a dinner plate a little odd for Holy Week? Maybe not...

One of the many things we can notice about Jesus on a reading of the Gospels is that he shared his life, light and love with people while they shared a meal together. Jesus ate with Zacchaeus, he was eating at Simon's house when the woman anointed him with expensive perfume, he was due to eat with Martha, Mary and Lazarus and their friends, since we know that Martha was preoccupied with dinner plans. While he was preaching to the crowds out on the hills, he knew they needed to eat and take time to be physically refreshed while they were also being spiritually refreshed by the words of his preaching - and provided a meal for over five thousand of them.

The long Easter weekend is coming up. You may have lots of plans to see friends or family, you may not. This week, particularly with the extra days away from work, you may have extra opportunities to be hospitable and to open up your home or your diary to share a meal with one of your people to love. When you share food, you have the opportunity to share fellowship. As you share fellowship you can deepen friendship. As friendship deepens, new opportunities to love arise and it becomes easier for people to understand that hope that lives within you.

Think about it. Pray about it. And invite somebody to share food and fellowship with you this week.

Day 35: The triumphal entry...

Yesterday was the day in our remembrance of the first Easter that we know as Palm Sunday. Our name for this day comes from the reference in Mark 11:8 which mentions that Jesus' followers cut down leaves to wave in celebration as he entered Jerusalem. Our versions of the Bible probably head the telling of the "Palm Sunday" story as "The triumphal entry." You can find the full story in Mark 11:1-11 and in Luke 19:28-40.

The name "Palm Sunday" is fine and easy to remember, but if we read these two Bible passages in full today, we will see that the leaf-waving is only part of the story. If you have been following Jesus for a while you will probably have read this story many, many times, but take the time to read the story afresh today.

Imagine how the disciples who were asked to go and take the colt felt - were they nervous at taking someone else's donkey? Were they amazed when things happened exactly as Jesus told them it would?

Imagine how they felt when the crowds started to gather around the man they had been following for three years - the man they knew to be the Messiah. We read this story knowing how their week will end, but they hadn't understood Jesus' warnings. Were they thinking that finally the world had realised what they had known for a while? Were they imagining ahead at their nation embracing their Saviour and maybe seeing the Romans overthrown?

Imagine what the praise sounded like on the streets of Jerusalem. If you have ever been part of a large gathering of Christians praising God (at a stadium or Bible camp, for example), recall the memories you may have of that large number of voices singing in praise. And as Luke 19:40 reminds us, had the people not declared the praise of God for the arrival of Jesus "the stones along the road would burst into cheers."

This was a day of triumph - a day where people cried out: "Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"

Today, you may have a chance, like those crowds gathered on the streets of Jerusalem, to declare Jesus' name to somebody that you are trying to love. You may have a chance to share the story of how you found your Messiah and how you know the King who comes in the name of the Lord. If you have that chance please take it - and take it with boldness and celebration, like those singing as they waved their leaves. If you don't have the chance to use words to shout and declare the truth, then use your loving to speak the same truth. Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord by serving the person he puts into your life today - by appreciating them, or helping them, or listening to them, or feeding them, or encouraging them, or giving them a hug, or smiling.


Day 34: The bridegroom's friend...

Next week is Holy Week - the week leading up to Easter.  We are going to spend time every day thinking about the events of the week that changed the world forever.  Today, we are going to remember the part that John the Baptist had to play, as an example for us to follow...

John the Baptist came to Israel, fulfilling the words of one of the ancient prophets - Isaiah 40:3: He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: 'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming! Make a straight road for him!' John himself confusesd people, as we find in John 1:19-23. People wanted to know if he was the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. People found God through him, and repented, and sought to change their lives. And when Jesus started his ministry, people started to follow Jesus instead, as John's disciples noticed: Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptising people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us. (John 3:26)

But John knew who he was in God - who he was supposed to be and what he was supposed to do - and he was secure in his Lord. Taking John as our example today, let us read and dwell upon his response to his confused followers, found in John 3:27-36:

God in heaven appoints each person's work. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him - that is all. The bride will go where the bridegroom is. A bridegroom's friend rejoices with him. I am the bridegroom's friend, and I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth, and my understanding is limited to the things of earth, but he has come from heaven. He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Those who believe him discover that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit. The Father loves his Son, and he has given him authority over everything. And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life. Those who don't obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.

There is so much that we can take from this passage to help us as we seek to love one another. We can use it as a basis of our prayers today - however you feel most led. Here are some starting ideas...
- Thank God in heaven that He has appointed your work today...
- Ask God to help you as you seek to prepare the way for Jesus in the lives of those you love...
- Offer your life to the Lord that he would must become greater as you become less...
- Thank God that our loved ones believe in Jesus they will discover that God is true...
- Ask God for His Spirit to fill you without measure or limit...
- Rejoice that God gave the Son authority over everything - and Jesus passed this authority on to us...
- Intercede for your loved ones who don't know God, and ask for His grace and mercy to be upon them so that they may experience eternal life...

Day 33: Show joy, shine bright, dream big...

As Love 40 days starts drawing to a close, can you think back over the journey you have taken so far?  Has God taken you to places you never thought you would go?

Philippians 4:13 says: I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.  This does not say, I can do some things, ot the things I like, or the things I know I am good at - it says everything!

In the last week of Love 40 days it could be time to let God take you that bit further...

Where can you make a loving difference today?  It will look different for each one of us.  It might be a little display of love, it might be a big one...

It could be that the thought of connecting with a stranger terrifies you - maybe God is encouraging you to smile at someone you don't know or start a conversation with someone who isn't a friend yet - commuters, shop assistants, other parents in the park...

It could be that you have acquaintances who don't know that you know Jesus - maybe an opportunity to offer to pray for a situation might come up today and you can be on the lookout...

It could be that God has placed a dream of love in your heart, a passion for his children in this broken world and an idea of how you could help him bring hope - a big dream that can only work if God turns up - maybe you could share this with someone today so that you can be held accountable for praying it into reality...

Jesus will give you strength for everything - all the challenges, conversations, changes...

What is God placing on your heart?  Show joy, shine bright, dream big...

Day 32: Journey to love...

We all know that we are on a journey - that someday God has promised to complete the work He started in us - but that we are not there yet.  Helppfully for us, we have an outline of some of the stages of the journey in the Bible - found in 2 Peter 1:5-8:

Make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-contral with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You can find other ways of looking at this in other versions of the Bible.  There's a lot to think about in this list and we aren't going to get it all straight away. But God will help us build little on little and grow more and more. Even during Love 40 days, you will have grown in this way. Be encouraged to begin this week continuing to grow - and ask God for each of these qualities as you seek to have His love for everyone today.



Day 31: Recap...

To help us remember what it is that we are doing here with Love 40 days, here is a quote from C.S. Lewis from The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses:

If you asked 20 good [persons] today what they thought the highest of the virtues, 19 of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you had asked almost any of the great Christians of old [they] would have replied, Love. You see what has happened? A negative term has been substituted for a positive, and this is of more than philological importance. The negative ideal of Unselfishness carries with it the suggestion not primarily of securing good things for others, but of going without them ourselves, as if our abstinence and not their happiness was the important point. I do not think this is the Christian virtue of Love. The New Testament has a lot to say about self-denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself.

We are drawing towards the end of Lent now - on the final stretch - and hopefully the opportunity to practice loving one another has helped us draw closer to God in a new way. Lent is traditionally the remembrance of Jesus spending forty days in the wilderness, fasting, praying and withstanding temptation. It is all about sacrifice. Love 40 days will have been a sacrifice for you in some way - the sacrifice of freedom, of putting yourself first, of giving time to pray and read this blog! But you are also seeking to put something of Jesus in where you are seeking to put something of yourself out...

We have spent a great deal of time over the past weeks thinking about what Lewis terms the Christian virtue of Love - try to spend time today praying about whatever it is that God is speaking to you about from Lewis's challenge.  If you spent time thinking about the virtues of 1 Corinthians 13 at the beginning of this challenge, maybe revisit some of the words today to remind you of the calling that God has given you...

30 days done...

We are now into the school Easter break - only 10 days of Lent left and your box is probably starting to look a little empty.  Hopefully you have learnt something about God, yourself or love during the past month and are getting ready to celebrate the greatest love of all in a week and a half's time.

Can you take a few minutes today to share the love with others on the Love 40 days journey by posting an encouraging verse or story from your experience of the past few weeks.  It is always good to know we are in this together!  Even if it is a note to say you're still going!

Day 30: Fishing in unexpected places...

Take a moment and put yourself in the shoes of the person whose name is written on your slip of paper today.  They are going about their daily lives as usual, not knowing that God is using you to send some love their way today.  They don't know that God has a plan for them.  They don't know that God put their name in your head while you were writing your name slips.  They have no idea that their journey might move a step closer to God today...

Throughout the New Testament we find stories of people who thought that they were going about their business, or thought they were encountering God on their own terms, but God had plans to blow their minds.

Think about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-11. We read that he wanted to get a look at Jesus. He thought that he was just following his own curiosity and checking out the local celebrity of the hour. Little did he know that Jesus would stop at his treetop viewing post, invite himself for dinner, and change Zacchaeus' life, relationships and work ethic forever.

Think about the beggar at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3:1-11. He thought at best he might get a coin from Peter and John, and would have seen a financial donation as a win. He wasn't thinking that these men would call upon the name of Jesus to bring healing to his legs, meaning that he would be able to live life in a way that he had never experienced or imagined would be possible.

The person on your name slip is not expecting an encounter with God today. But God is wanting an encounter with them. And that is where you come in.

Are you expecting to be part of the unexpected? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with love, anticipation and faith today. Keep your eyes and ears open and be ready to be guided by His promptings. And don't be afraid to ask God for big, unexpected things...



Day 29: Extreme fishing...

When the disciples really got down to fishing, they really got down to fishing.  And we are called to do the same.

When we read the book of Acts, we find that this group of men, transformed by the love of Jesus, went out and transformed the world by loving like he did.  In Acts 2 we see the disciples filled with the Spirit preaching the love of Jesus to people in the streets of Jerusalem, seeing thousands come to salvation.  In Acts 3 we see Peter love the crippled man outside the Beautiful Gate by praying for him in the street rather than offering him a short-term fix of a coin or two.  In Acts 4 we see the believers coming together as a community, sharing possessions and finances with neighbours and friends in true generosity.

The disciples were extreme fishermen.  They took the words of Jesus and lived them.  They didn't take any half measures.  They heard the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and put them into practice.  Extreme generosity, extreme faith, extreme forgiveness, extreme service - extreme love.

And the results are still evident today.  We are followers of Jesus because these original followers of Jesus loved with extreme love and did some extreme fishing.

How can you do some extreme fishing today?  If you can take some time, read some of the book of Acts today.  Be challenged by the response of the disciples and apostles and ask God to show you what extreme love looks like for you today!

Day 28: Gone fishing together...

When Jesus called the disciples to become fishers of men they already knew a fair amount about fishing, being fishermen and all...

The image that might pop into our minds when we think of fishing is of a solitary guy stood on the side of a lake with a fishing rod and crazy tall wellies, catching one fish at a time.  This is not the image that Peter and Andrew would have had...

These guys were used to fishing together, throwing out huge nets and pulling them in as a team, heavy with full catches.  And so when Jesus sent out the twelve or seventy-two in teams to catch people with the love of Jesus they had experienced, going out together was second nature to them.  No boats or nets, but a corporate, working-together approach to bringing in the catch nevertheless.

We can learn from this approach too.  We need to be working together whenever we can.  Is there a way you could introduce a non-believing friend to another believer so that their circle of Christian friends increases?  Is there somebody on another person's Love 40 days slip today that you could be praying for in addition to your own name? Are their friends or colleagues of your family members who you could be loving, to widen the net and make it easier to pull them in?

Team fishing - see who God lays on your heart today... 

 

Day 27: Gone fishing...

When Jesus called his disciples in Matthew 4:18-20 his invitation to them was not that they follow him to learn the truths of the universe, although they did.  It was not that they follow him to learn godly wisdom or a new way of living, although they did. It was that they follow him to become "fishers of men." In the New Living Version we read: "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" In The Message this is translated: "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass."

Jesus' initial call to Peter and Andrew was that if they followed him they would learn how to love others - to bring others into his Kingdom. They might not have understood exactly what he was saying to them, but we know that they dropped their nets straight away, no questions asked, and followed him. And then saw the world change as people came to know salvation through Jesus Christ.

We too are called to this mission. We might not see netfuls of people affected by our love today as those early net-fishing disciples did, but we can and should expect that as we love the person we pull out today with the love that God gives us, that they will be changed. Jesus will show us how to fish for people too. Even if we just take our rod and go after the one "fish". Because God's net is quite big enough to cast over our town, our city, our nation and gather in His catch. We just have to be willing to go fishing...

So be encouraged - get your net or rod and go fishing with Jesus today...


Day 26: Thinking...

Have you ever played a word association game where you have to say the first word that comes into your head when your hear another word?  When you first started Love 40 days, what word might you have thought about when you heard the word "love"?  Would that word be different now?  Has this journey changed your thinking about love at all?  If it has please do share that in the comments below.

Our thinking about love should be changing.  Our old thinking might associate love with romance, selfish love, love given to get our own way, or feelings-based love.  Hopefully our new thinking can see the love shaped by the word of God.  In Romans 12:2 it says: Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 

Ask God to continue to transform the way that you think about love - from the flawed human experience you may have had to the way that he loves you (see the earlier posts for a reminder!).  Allow him to continue to grow your mind and your heart to love with his love today.

Day 25: Take my life...

Over the past few days we have been seeking to be obedient to God's commandments, to follow Jesus and love one another, to be humble and walk in his ways - to have Love 40 days play a part in our personal journey to offer our lives as worship to Almighty God, for his glory.  This song by Tim Hughes can help us convey our heart's cry in response to our recent readings.  If you are able to use the song as part of your personal devotions today, you can hear it here.  Otherwise you can use the lyrics below as a prayer of surrender and thanks to God:

What good is it to gain the whole world but lose your soul?
What good is it to make a sweet sound but remain proud?
In view of God's mercy, I offer my all

 

And take my life, let it be everything, all of me
Here I am, use me for Your glory
In everything I say and do, let my life honour You
Here I am living for Your glory

 

The road I'm on that leads nowhere without You
And the life I live that finds meaning and surrender
In view of God's mercy, I offer my all

 

And take my life, let it be everything, all of me
Here I am, use me for Your glory
In everything I say and do, let my life honour You
Here I am living for Your glory

 

Seeking first the Kingdom
Seeking first the Kingdom
Of my Lord

 

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Day 24: Motive check...

Today it is time for a little motive check...

It may seem silly to think that trying to obey Jesus' commandment to love others could be a temptation to us but it can be so easy to slip into pride, self-righteousness and thinking that we can do great things by ourselves.  Are we really trying to serve the person on our name slip today purely to show them love, or is there part of us that enjoys feeling good about ourselves and wants to draw attention to our good deeds? 

Can we be really honest with ourselves today?

Let's use the words from Philippians 2:3-4 to help us stay pure of heart as we love others:

Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

When we ask him, God will give us the humility we need to love the way that Jesus - the Servant King - loved.  Take time to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your heart today.

Day 23: To love and obey...

In the card shop, we might find that love is all about hearts and flowers.  In the Bible, we often find that a call to love is coupled with a call to obedience.

We can find this in the Old Testament.  For example, in Deuteronomy 10:12: And now Israel (or put in your own name), what does the LORD require of you?  He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 

We also find this in Daniel 9:4: O Lord, you are a great and awesome God!  You always fulfil your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.

If we want to see the same thing in the New Testament, we need look no further than the words of Jesus in John 14:15: If you love me, obey my commandments.  This is reiterated in the letters of Paul, for example in Romans 13:8: Owe nothing to anyone - except for your obligation to love one another.  If you love your neighbour, you will fulfil the requirements of God's law.

The Bible tells us that there is no option to pay lip service to God about loving him or loving others - we actually have to be committed to doing it.

How can you do just that today?

Day 22: Every day...

Now we are over half way through the Love 40 days journey, it could be that you are starting to feel a little weary of loving.  Pulling out another name, thinking of another loving action, reading another blog post...  The novelty can wear off quickly.

But living a life of love following the example of Christ is a daily commitment.  We cannot just decide "from here on I am loving" and then be loving forever more.  But we can offer ourselves to God on a daily basis (not just through these forty days)m and know that he will help us, guide us, love us and give us enough love to share with others.

Here are some lyrics from Hillsong's Every Day to help us reaffirm our commitment to following God's way for our life, today and tomorrow, and daily going onwards...

What to say Lord, it's You who gave me life and I can't explain just how much You mean to me now that You have saved me, Lord, I give all that I am to You, that every day I could be a light that shines Your name.

Every day Lord, I'll learn how to stand upon Your word, and I pray that I might come to know You more, that You would guide me in every single step I take, that every day I can be Your light unto the world.

Every day, it's You I live for
Every day, I'll follow after You
Every day, I'll walk with You my Lord

It's You I live for every day...

Day 21: Show me...

Today we are going to use a Psalm as a prayer to guide our thoughts as we seek to love others - for as we know, we cannot do this without God's help.  The scripture below from Psalm 25:4-9 is from the NIV, but you might also want to read it in other versions - The Message is also a good one to try...

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
For you are God my Saviour and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
According to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in His ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way

Try to take time to ask God to show you and teach you his ways in how to love today - not only the person on your name slip but also others who you meet today, and see what God can do!

Half way...



20 days done, 20 left to do.  We are officially half way!  How has it been going? 

If you have time, why not take the time to review your Love 40 days journey so far?

 

What have you found the easiest to do as you seek to love one another?  What have you found the hardest?  Have you found it easier to serve someone through an act of appreciation or kindness, or easier to pray for them?  Is it easier to love people we don't know and may never meet again, or to love those closest to us?

 

How do you think you have changed so far?  How would you like to change in the next 20 days?

 

What Bible verse or inspiration that you have found here has challenged or encouraged you the most?

 

Please feel free to use these questions as a personal review - or feel free to share anything you have found in the comments below.  It would also be great if anyone would like to post encouragements for their fellow Love 40 days journeyers - to keep us all seeking to live a life filled with love following the example of Christ.

Day 20: Love languages: acts of service...

How many times have you heard the phrase "actions speak louder than words"?  While we looked at the importance of words for some people on Monday this week, for others, they will more easily receive our love if we do something to show them.

A helping hand can make the world of difference to some people.  The fact that you have taken the time to notice a need that they have and eliminate a task that they need to get done can really show that you care.  Jesus spoke regularly about meeting needs and the early church would pool resources and skills to make sure that everyone had what they needed and was well cared for.

There are plenty of ways we can serve each other in love.  We can help children with a chore they find it difficult or take time to teach them a new skill.  We can offer to babysit at a particular time of day so a parent can run an errand or have some time to themselves.  We can help parents by doing a household chore without being asked.  We can help a colleague with a task they find difficult or dull.  We can fix something that is broken, or make a meal, or help with a large DIY project. 

We all have skills we can offer to serve someone to show that we care about them.  Take time to evaluate your God-given giftings and think about the needs that the people on your slips have, and see how you might be able to serve in love today.

If you have any stories of acts of service where you felt loved or showed love, please do share them - we can all use the inspiration!

Day 19: Love languages: quality time...

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

In today's busy world, the love language that can be most forgotten is quality time.  The distractions of life can take us away from truly connecting with the people we love.  Smartphones, while incredible pieces of technology, can take us away from giving our attention to the people who may be crying out for it.  How often do we find ourselves telling somebody who is asking for us: "in a minute....." and then that minute becomes half an hour, and the moment is gone?

Jesus was amazing at speaking the language of quality time.  He allowed his "schedule" to be hijacked by people calling his name, he sat down at dinner and gave his full attention to those around the table, he answered questions when they were asked, he went out on fishing boats spending time with those disciples for whom that was their comfortable place.  We can learn so much from his example.

Who needs your quality time today?

If you have any stories about how you have spent quality time loving or being loved, please do share it to encourage us all today.

Day 18: Love languages: gifts and physical touch...

Today we are looking at two ways we can show love: giving gifts and physical touch.

These are both physically concrete things that we can give to show how we feel.

For some people receiving a gift is really important.  It not only pleases them to receive something but it reminds them that they have been thought about and that another person valued them enough to take time to think about something that would make them happy.  Gifts do not always have to be grand or extravagant - although they can be - homemade and budget conscious gifts still convey the message that you care for and appreciate the recipient.  At this time of year gifts of spring flowers or small Easter eggs could be wallet-friendly and well received!  A giftcard for a favourite restaurant, store or coffee shop, their favourite baked good or hot drink, a small token or trinket to remind them of a happy memory...  The list is endless.  Don't forget you can even give gifts anonymously to random strangers to really make people think!

Just remember it is important to be a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)!

We can also give the gift of appropriate physical touch.  With those with whom we have an existing and trusted relationship, a hug can be a great way to show that we care.  With those with whom we are not so close, a smile can make a difference to a day.  What are we communicating with our body language?  Can we make people feel welcomed and appreciated without saying a word?

There are appropriate and less appropriate ways to love with both of these languages, but praying for God's wisdom as you seek to show love is a great place to start anyway!

Do you have any stories of receiving or giving gifts or hugs that you would like to share to encourage somebody today?

Day 17: Love languages: words...

After thinking about who we are called to love we are going to think a little about the ways we can show love.  This week we are going to start by thinking about Gary Chapman's five "love languages" and how we might use each of these to bless those people we are pulling out every day for Love 40 days.  The love languages give us different ways to show love to people, with the premise that people tend to receive love best via one or two "languages".  We will look at all if them this week - it may be that you can easily identify a particular language as being useful for a specific person.  If not, don't worry - all five languages are important to be received by everybody, so maybe you will just find some inspiration day by day...

Let's begin with words of affirmation.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the tongue can bring life or death  - our words are important.  We only need to read the book of James to be reminded of the power that our words can have when used carelessly, but this verse in Proverbs reminds us that our words also make a huge difference when used wisely and with love.

Telling people that they matter to us should not be underestimated.  How often have you heard people remark about a parent or partner: "they never told me they loved me"?  Even if love is shown in action the words: "I love you" - when genuine - make a difference to how we feel.  Words do not have to be spoken, they can be written, texted, even tweeted!  An encouraging chat or conversation can make somebody feel valued.  A thank you note listing ways that somebody has impacted your life can be treasured and reread and transform how people see themselves.

How many people do we know who play a soundtrack in their minds of the negative things they believe about themselves?  A great way to show love to somebody is to change their soundtrack and give them some true affirmation to play to themselves instead.

And if we worry that we are no good with words, then we needn't - Matthew 10:19-20 addresses this very concern: don't worry about how to respond or what to say.  God will give you the right words at the right time.  For it is not you who will be speaking - it will be he Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

If you have any stories to share about how words of affirmation have impacted your life or how you have used them to bless others, please do share them in the comments below.

Day 16: Who to love? Strangers...

Do you have any "nameless" slips in your box?  Any "random strangers"?
We don't always know who God is going to put in our path.  We don't know his plans or the good works that he prepared in advance for us today!

But there are people all around us, if we open our eyes, to whom we can shine a light.  Maybe it is giving out a smile!  Maybe it is acknowledging the barista who made your coffee or being appreciative to the person who served us at the checkout.  Maybe it is noticing our fellow commuters or the bus driver.  Maybe you could buy a bunch of flowers and give out a flower to every person who looks like they need a reason to smmile today.  Maybe there are material needs that you could meet right in front of you.  We just don't know who might be part of our mission of loving today.  So we need to be ready!  Why?  Check out these verses from Matthew 25:34-40:

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or maked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

So be on the lookout today and see where there are needs that you could meet - loving them and loving God as you Love40days.

Day 15: Who to love? Enemies...

Today we are going to start with another statement we know that Jesus said, but maybe would rather just know that he said it and not have to deal with it:

You have heard the law that says 'love your neighbour' and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:43)

We might not know persecution like Christians elsewhere in the world, but we do have people who have wounded us, and some who continue to hurt us.  Maybe they make us feel bad about ourselves - stupid, unattractive, worthless - by the way that the treat us or speak to us.  Maybe they spread lies about us.  Maybe they belittle our faith and ridicule our beliefs in some way.  Maybe they remind us of all the things we regret or feel that we failed in.

We are still called to love these people.  Not to be doormats or victims of abuse, but to love them.  There will always be people it is easy to love and people it is hard to love, but we are just called to love.  This is not easy, nor is it intended to be - but God can help you to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you.  Here's some more from Matthew 5:

You have heard the law that says, 'love your neighbour' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Pray that God would help you love your enemies today and please share any encouragements from this passage in the comments below.  If you are struggling because of past hurt or abuse, or struggling with unforgiveness for any reason, please find a trusted friend who can pray with you today.

Day 14: Who to love? Neighbours...

We all know that Jesus commanded us to love your neighbour as yourself. (Mark 12:31)  It is one of those verses that we learn and hear and can attribute to Jesus, but maybe leave it there...

When Jesus was asked to elaborate upon who our neighbours are, he answered with the story of the Good Samaritan - the one we all know about the man who got robbed on the dangerous road to Jericho and the religious types passed him by and ignored him but the Good Samaritan popped him on a donkey and looked after him.  To us this story is not nearly as controversial as it would have been to Jesus' original listeners.  To them the word "Samaritan" was not a word they wanted associated with the word "neighbour".  They viewed Samaritans as "other" - they were not the chosen nation, didn't worship right and weren't to be touched or spoken to.  Kind of like telling racist white supremacists that the only person to stop on the road and offer help was a black man...

Jesus was telling his listeners that they had to love the people they found in their world as well as just the people they chose to include in it.  And the message is still the same today.

God put us in our homes and lined up the people he wanted us to live beside.  He set us in our jobs and put the colleague in the desk next door.  He sent us to the school he picked out to become a part of that community.  He chose this town, this place for us to live for a reason - that he would be found by the people there when we start to let him use us in our neighbourhoods.

We may not have overt prejudices like the Jews had towards the Samaritans or a white supremacist has towards people of other races but there may be people within our neighbourhoods - our streets, workplaces, wider community - that we find it difficult to love.  And yet we need to not pass by on the other side...

Try to take time to read the story of the Good Samaritan today (you can find it in Luke 10:25-37).  What is God saying to you about your neighbours?  Where is your road to Jericho and do you hurry past because you feel afraid to engage?  Who are the Samaritans in your world, the people whose lifestyle choices make you feel uncomfortable and that you could never share your life or God's love with them?  Who in your street or block or estate have you never had the chance to greet with a smile?  Who do you stand nearby every day but never acknowledge or look in the eye? How can you love your neighbour as yourself?

If God is encouraging you though this story today, please do share this in the comments below...

Day 13: Who to love? Friends and Family...

We are going to spend a couple of days thinking about who we are called love.  You may have all sorts of different people in your pot, box or jar, so let's think about them all...

We'll start with the "easy" ones - friends and family.  For those of us following Jesus, we are blessed with two families, our biological and our church families.  Both family just established thanks to different blood.  Often these relationships happen so naturally that we know these people well, they know us, and it is not too difficult to think of ways to show that you love them.  But how about those family members who don't know Jesus?  Is there an opportunity during Love40days to show that not only do we love them but that God does too?  And how about those extended family members who we don't see so often, is there a way we can deepen relationship or let them know they are not forgotten?  A way to have patience with those with whom we don't click in the same way?  A way to include others in our friendship circles at church or make an effort with somebody we don't know or understand so well?

What about our friends?  Do we have people outside of the church with whom we are regularly sharing our lives?  Do we have lots of facebook friends and online followers to whom we can share photographs of perfect moments but not so many face-to-face friends who see us at our less-than-polished-best and can be counted upon in a crisis?  Are we making friends in the "now" season to which God has called us or only sticking with an old safer circle?

These are a few of the many questions we can ask ourselves today as we think about how God is calling us to love our friends and family.  Perhaps we can use Love40days as an oppotunity to review whether there are any close relationships that we have taken for granted or neglected especially in this social media age. Is there something specific God is calling you up to do amongst those who are closest to you in your world?  Why not ask him and see what he can do through you today?

Day 12: Don't be afraid...

How has Love 40 days been for you so far?  Has it been easy to put yourself out there every day, risking people thinking you are a bit weird, or a complete Bible-basher?  Sometimes people don't respond to loving actions the way we think they will, or we don't get anything back when we thought we might.

Often it seems easier to love from a distance and not risk it.  To choose to pray for someone, or text them, rather than actually speak to them or do something face to face where you could feel uncomfortable.  In this social media age doing relationship via computer seems far less risky...

However, this is not "following the example of Christ" from Ephesians 5:2.  Jesus got right in the mess of real relationship and loved in every situation.  And while it is great to pray for every single name you pull out, it is also great to get out there and see what happens when you take a leap of faith and share yourself, not fearing what the other person might think...

1 John 4:18 tells us that: perfect love expels all fear.

God loves you with perfect love.  His love in you will drive your fears of how others perceive you far, far away.  If this is something with which you struggle (and if we are being honest, we all struggle with it to some degree) you could spend time offering your fears to God today, maybe read the whole of 1 John 4 to be encouraged, maybe share a symbolic action as a family where you write or draw your fears on papers that you then throw away in the bin as you thank God for hus perfect love.

And then get out there and do those good things that we read about yesterday!

Day 11: Do the good things...

Hopefully over the past few days you will have had a chance to think about how much God loves you - how he is generous and sacrificial and how he believes in you.  Hopefully you understand that Jesus gave us a role model to follow as we seek to show love to others.  Hopefully you have had time to offer your praise to God for loving you so much...

But what about you?  Where do you fit in this process?  God is love and Jesus lived a life of love - as his followers how do we become part of this love team?

Here are some thoughts from Ephesians 2:4-10:

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.  (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  God saved you by his grace when you believed.  And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God's masterpiece.  He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God planned your day today.  He knows who you are going to pick out, why they need loving today and how you are going to love them.  These are the good things he planned for you.

Your loving is not going to save you - your salvation is a gift from God, given and received.  But in doing these loving acts you are walking in God's purposes for you - joining with him as he loves the world around you.

Let that truth speak to your heart today - and be encouraged!

10 days done...

Well done, we're ten days in and a quarter of the way there!

What have you learned so far, about love, about God, about yourself?  Which loving acts have you tried that worked really well?  What would you like to share with your fellow Love 40 days-ers today?  It could be that your story helps others in their loving today!

Leave your comments below - we'd all love to hear from you...

Day 10: Hosanna...

Here are some lyrics from Hillsong's Hosanna to encourage you as you seek to love the person you pulled out today.  Perhaps you could sing them or use them as a prayer in your personal devotions...

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity


Day 9: Reciprocating...

We have been spending time thinking about how God loves us and how Jesus showed the world what love looks like.  As well as encouraging us, this also shows us how we can love others during our Love 40 days challenge.  But as we do this, we must remember to love God back!  We will never be effective in loving if we aren't spending time with the God who is love.

In response to the question about the greatest commandment of Moses Jesus did tell us to love others, but first Jesus replied: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37)

Taking time to concentrate on loving God today will make us more effective in loving others, including the person whose name you pick today.  You could spend time praising to music, reading a psalm, or writing a letter of thanks and gratitude.

You can even share your thoughts below if that would encourage others...

Day 8: Following the example of Christ...

One of the verses which gives us a foundation for the Love 40 days challenge is Ephesians 5:2 which tells us to: live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. 

It is our prayer that over these forty days each one of us becomes more Christlike - following him as he loves the world.  To follow his example we need to know what he did and how he did it - so here are some stories from the book of  Matthew to help us...

• Matthew 8:1-4 -Jesus is always ready and willing to help people - healing a man from leprosy
• Matthew 9:1-8 - Jesus forgives and meets needs - healing the paralysed man
• Matthew 9:20-22 - Jesus reaches to the unclean, ends suffering, brings hope and encouragement - healing the woman with constant bleeding
• Matthew 12:9-13 - Jesus puts people over tradition, schedule or being in a religious club - healing the man with a deformed hand on the Sabbath
• Matthew 14:13-15 - Jesus' compassion for the lost overrides his own grief and emotions - following the death of John the Baptist
• Matthew 15:21-28 - Jesus loves and serves indiscriminately - the story of the faith of the Gentile woman
• Matthew 19:13-15 - Jesus loves the little ones - blessing the children

You may have another favourite story about the way in which Jesus showed his great love - if so please share it in the comments below and be encouraged and inspired to love today, following Jesus...

Day 7: Our God is love...

While we are thinking about love it is always worth remembering that everything we know about love comes from God, because God is love (1 John 4:8).

If you have time today, listen to this song by Hillsong that reminds us of this great truth about God.

We have looked at four characteristics of God's love for us to remind us of how loved we are and to encourage us to love with a love like God's.  Of course, there are many more characteristics of his love.  We could look at a characteristic every day for the whole forty days and still have so much more to learn...

As you listen to the song today, ask God to fill your heart with his love, or as you read the Bible today, ask God to show you a specific truth about how he loves you.  If you would like to encourage others with stories or scriptures please use the comments below.


Day 6: Believing love...

God loves you with a believing love.

In Philippians 4:13 we find a well-known verse which tells us: for I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

How are you feeling today?  Are you feeling ready to take on the world?  Are you feeling like a fisher of men?  Do you feel like getting out there and loving someone with a massive, sacrificial, generous love, showing them the love of God?

Or do you feel small, insignificant, unable to make a difference?  Do you feel that although you have been trying for a week, that the task of Love 40 days is going to be a little too much?

The truth is, however you feel, that you can do everything through Christ, who gives you strength.

God believes in you.  God has a purpose for you.  He has good works that he prepared in advance for you to do.  Many times we discount ourselves because we know ourselves so well.  But God knows you even better than you know yourself, and he still believes in you.  Not because of anything you bring to the table, but because with his strength, and the gifts he has given you, he can do mighty things.  We just have to choose to let him use us.

So today, be encouraged by God's believing love and know that, as Jesus promised at the end of the Great Commission - the mission he gives to each one of us - (Matthew 28:20), he is with you always, even to the end of the age.
And maybe there is someone in your world who needs to know that somebody believes in them too...

Day 5: Generous love...

God loves you with a generous love.

When we think about the coming celebration of Easter, God's lavish generosity is in every aspect.  In his gift of Jesus, he gave us a model to follow, a truth to set us free, a grace that brings us life, a peace that passes understanding, a forgiveness that removes our sins as far as east is from west.  The list of gifts is endless.  And we did not deserve even one of them.

Here are two verses to consider as you get dressed for the working week today - whether it is back to work wear or your school uniform - that speak of the generosity of your God:

Isaiah 61:10 says: I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!  For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.

Psalm 30:11 says: You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.

In each passage we read of clothing that God has given to us - salvation, righteousness, joy.  We have so much for which to be grateful whether physically, materially or spiritually.  Today, as the week begins, why not take some time to think about how God has blessed your life with the generosity of his love, and how he might be calling you to express that generosity as you Love 40 days today?

Please do share anything that God is showing you about his generosity in the comments below.

Day 4: Sacrificial love...

God loves you with a sacrifical love.

In John 15:12-14, we read Jesus saying this: This is my commandment, love each other as I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  We know that Jesus' sacrifice of his life on the cross came directly as a result of the love that God has for each one of us: for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. (John 3:16) and God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)

Jesus gave of himself throughout his life before making the ultimate sacrifice, following his Father's plan and laying down his life - giving up himself that we might be part of God's family.

Lent is traditionally a time when followers of Jesus give something up - or sacrifice something that they enjoy - as they prepare for Easter and remember Jesus' time in the wilderness.  We are choosing to Love 40 days rather than give up a favourite treat or pastime, but loving can be sacrifical too, as the example of Jesus shows us.  What might we need to sacrifice to do what Jesus commands and love each other as he loved us?

 

Is God bringing anything to your mind - a word, a thought, a Bible passage - as you think about the sacrifice that he made for you today?  If it would encourage others, please do share it in the comments below.

 

Don't forget there is no post tomorrow and no name to be drawn as the period of Lent does not include Sundays!

Day 3: Massive love...

God loves you with a massive love.

Today let's spend time thinking about big God's love for you is.  This will probably make your brain hurt, but don't worry because it is supposed to!  In 1 Corinthians 2:9 we read scriptures that say: no eye has seen, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.  God's love is so big that we cannot comprehend it.

Psalm 139 is another passage that is helpful in helping us to try to understand - and realise that we can't understand - how big God's love for us really is.  Because we often comprehend things through our previous experiences, it is sometimes easy to underestimate God's love because we equate it with the love we receive from other people.

God's love for you is bigger than you can imagine.

Perhaps it would be good for you today to think of some of the biggest things you can.  Maybe even Google images of really big things to remind yourself that God's love for you is bigger than that!  If you are looking at this as a family, you might want to sing the classic children's song Jesus love is very wonderful together, just to remind yourselves...

If you have any verses from the Bible that remind you how big God's love is, please do post a comment below to encourage others today.

Day 2: Give me a reason...

From yesterday's reading, we already know that being loving is a challenge - we don't always want to be kind, it's not always easy to be patient, and sometimes we do want to give up.

So how can we Love 40 days?  Why should we Love 40 days?

There are lots of reasons, as we will see over the coming weeks, but we are going to start with this one, from 1 John 4:19:

We love each other because he loved us first.

Over the next few days we are going to take some time to focus on how God loves us.  As John writes, it is when we understand how loved we are by our Heavenly Father that we are inspired, encouraged and unable to stop loving others.

Try to take time to ask God to open your eyes, ears and hearts to His amazing love today.

Day 1: Love is...

Welcome to Love 40 days!  If you joined us last year, welcome back, and if you're new here we are so pleased you are joining us...

As we get going with Love 40 days, the best place for us to start - again - is taking a look at what the Bible has to say about love.  Probably the best known passage from the Bible about love is 1 Corinthians 13.  You may have heard this read at a wedding, although it is not just intended to describe the love shared between husband and wife.  Paul wrote this letter to the whole church, because this is the love that Jesus was talking about when he commanded us to: love one another (John 13:34).

When we look at the words Paul uses we see that showing love is not just about extravagant displays or the warm and fuzzies, roses, chocolates or feeling on a high.  Love is a challenge...

Today, as we start the Love 40 days journey, why don't you take time to read 1 Corinthians 13 below and pick out some words that might help you as an individual, couple or family to be truly loving?  Why not try putting them somewhere you are going to see them every day to be a constant reminder - and see if God's word changes your heart over the next few weeks?

If I could speak all the languages of earth and angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.  If I gave everything I have to thr poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind.  Love is not boastful, or proud, or rude.  It does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless.  But love will last forever! [...]  Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.