When I was a child, I spoke like a child…

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.”  I Corinthians 13:11

1 Corinthians is known as the “love” chapter. This instructional scripture is also part of that chapter and I find that interesting.

Since I have grandchildren, and one of them is just a little older than a year, she is a baby. I also have one that is 3 1/2 years old. She is a child. I see their childish ways…They are sweet but typical children. They want instant gratification of their own senses, take very little responsibility for their actions, very self-oriented, self-centered, don’t have a long range vision, throw temper tantrums and don’t care who they hurt. That is childish ways.

True or real love causes us to outgrow this behavior–it causes us to take responsibility for our actions, in other words grow up or man-up to our responsibility. True love causes us to think of others, how our actions and decisions will affect them and ourselves. We can choose!

In children we expect this behavior and it is tolerable. In adults it becomes reprehensible and ugly. There are not many people who does not have some kind of childish (or selfish) trait or characteristic but a real woman or real man with true love works at putting that kind of behavior behind them.

Let us all work at becoming “beautiful” people expressing a true love in the adult or responsible way that God calls to. Living a life that rises to a higher plane instead of sinking to a mediocre life or below.

My goal is to press to a higher plane and a higher calling–the goal that puts God first, others ahead of my own needs, and myself last. I haven’t achieved it but am striving toward it.

Forever Friend

Years ago, before there was the big hype and the popularity of the phrase “Forever Friend”, God gave a good friend of mine and me that phrase about ourselves. God gave it to us on the day that was probably one of the lowest days in our lives. God bonded us together forever on that day! It was a supernatural work of the Lord.

We were probably not the only ones to use it but I know it was probably about 10 years before it came into common use after God gave my friend and I the phrase “Forever Friend”. We are Forever Friends! That means for all eternity even past death into our heavenly life!

Forever Friends is a work done through the Holy Spirit’s direction and  the power of God’s love through the strength of his kindness and the mercy of His forgiveness. God will send special people into your lives. They will encourage you, uphold you, laugh with you, cry with you. God wants us to bond with like-minded friends. He wants us to mentor and each other into the deeper things of God.

Do you have a Forever Friend? With the mind and the eyes of the Spirit I believe God has put people in my life that are my Forever Friends. They may even be unlikely in the sight of everyone else but God knows the future, the past, the present. He knows who sees the very worst in you and still wants to know you and to love you–to forgive you and be forgiven by you.  Forever Friends cause you to be successful in life. Pray that God gives you some Forever Friends.

I encourage you to pray for your Forever Friends. They need it. Cherish them and uphold them before God and man. May God bless and keep you!