The Source of Love

Cliche' as it sounds, love is indeed a choice - an ongoing series of actions we choose when it comes to relating with others. It isn't always easy to love, but with the help of a loving God, there is hope and help to love others. I believe we cannot do it on our own. I believe the source is God himself, and if we love anyone, we do it because he enables us to do so.
Our family has seen some adversity. But we've found that when you take the time to chisel things down enough to search your heart for the love that's there, often times that can uphold you through adversity and beyond. Finding love for "self" and then others begins when we acknowledge the deep love that God has for us - His creation.

1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us."

Today we're sharing a SHORT daily devotion (below) which we receive through a church friend. It's a realistic word about love and commitment through adversity.

We wish all our friends and family a happy Valentine's Day. May you know God in a personal way and realize the love He has for you!

Enduring Love
READ: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 [Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. —1 Corinthians 13:7

Like many people, I enjoy the Google homepage artwork that appears on special days and holidays. Last Valentine’s Day, the artistic logo showed an older couple—a man with a cane and a white-haired woman—walking hand in hand as the woman held two heart-shaped balloons. It was a beautiful reminder that while our culture glorifies youthful romance, true love has many stages during our journey through life.
Paul’s great essay in 1 Corinthians 13 celebrates the depth and tenacity of the love that carries us beyond self-interest and mere affection. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (vv.4-8).

Brian Wren has captured this reality in his moving hymn,
“When Love Is Found”:
When love is tried as loved ones change,
Hold still to hope though all seems strange,
Till ease returns, and love grows wise
Through listening ears and opened eyes. © Hope Publishing Co.

When our commitments are tested in the fires of life, no matter what difficulties we face, may God grant us a greater experience of His enduring love and the grace to demonstrate it each day. — David C. McCasland

God’s love is a fabric that never fades, no matter how often it is washed in the waters of adversity.