Words Of Love In Action

There was once a young man who sent a love letter to his sweetheart.

In his letter, he said, "My dear, I love you.  I love you so much

that I'd cross the widest desert to be able to sit in your presnce.  I love

you so much that I'd climb the highest mountain just to look into

your eyes.  I love you so much I'd even swim the deepest river to be

able to hold your hand."  But, in closing his love letter, he wrote this:

"P. S.  I'll come to your home tomorrow night, if it's not raining." :o)

 

People are much like this young man with their words.  Many times

words are not spoken from the heart, but are just words.  People may

say they love God, but if they don't obey His Word, they do

not really love Him.  The Bible says if we love Him, we'll keep

His commandments.

 

Some also take words lightly spoken to one another.

Years ago, our forefathers spoke their word and a handshake which

was just as good as a signed contract.  They would not break their word.

 

When our ancestors said "I do".....they  mean they would always be true. 

Their words were a vow taken before both God and man, to love, honor,

and cherish the one whose hand they took in marriage, until death

they vowed they would not part.

 

Today, in our modern society, we see from the statistics that

many marriages end in divorce, broken homes, and broken hearts.

Vows are broken and lives are changed forever, because words spoken

were not from the heart.  When the tough times come, many do not

go the extra mile to work out problems, but instead, they walk out

on the problems.  All things can be worked out for God's glory and

our good, if we let Jesus be the one to see us through the trials of life.

 

God intended for one man and one woman to be joined together, and

for no other to put them asunder.  Time cannot change the plan God had

for man, but we see how society has strayed from the way God intended

things to be.   Our choice must be to go with God, and not with the times.

 

People express their love in many ways.  Many think money can buy love

and thus lavish their mate with costly gifts, flowers, jewels, or other things

which will one day fade away.  The gift of love, which keeps on giving, is a

caring heart of compassion, that puts others before self.  Love is patient and

kind and will go the extra mile for another.  It overlooks faults and is not

boastful or proud.  Love is not just words spoken, but actions which  are

said to speak louder than words. 

 

We look around in the stores during holiday seasons, such as Valentine's Day,

and see all the expressions of love which are sold.  Cards, boxes of candy,

hearts and flowers.  The day has become commercialized, as has most other

holidays, to where it is as if love is bought and sold.  Years ago, an

expression of love was not just shown one day a year, but all through

the year.

 

True love will give of self to another, by sharing in all the burdens and

trials of life.  True love will have an understanding heart that can laugh

with another, or shed tears of understanding, as two hearts entwine to

be as one.  It has well been said that our actions speak louder than words.

This is so true, and little things mean a lot to others.   "I Love You"

are words which will not return void, when two hearts are united

with God as the center of their lives.

 

Many of the failures in marriages today could be overcome if

the Lord was allowed to be the focus in the home and the one

that all things centered around.  "What would Jesus do" is a way

of life, and not just a slogan.  Treating one another, as Jesus would

reach out in love, is how we are to react one to another. 

 

May we seek to see the importance of letting our love not just

be words spoken, but words of truth from the heart, and words of

action which shows forth the love spoken.  What the world needs

now really is love, sweet love.  It needs a love that comes from above,

the agape type love of the Savior.  For this type love will endure

forever. 

 

 Is the seal of God's love on your heart?  If so,  you'll want

to reach out to others with this same love.  May our prayers be for

God to bind us together with cords of love that cannot be broken,

for love is truly the greatest gift of all.  Thanks to our Lord for giving us

 His love, and revealing to us the true meaning of love which never fails.

May our love for one another always be "words of love in action."

 

*Young Man Illustration--Meditating With Matthew-Vol. 45

Michael A. Guido , D. D.

 

 

~WORDS OF LOVE~

 

In this world, we hear many different words

as their echos sound through the air

like bubbles which are floating

drifting here and there.

 

We hear words of kindess, words of truth

words of love and even hate,

words that express the heart of man

words spoken to one's true love and mate.

 

Words of love when spoken

must all come from the heart

words of love are lasting

whether near, or far apart.

 

When one loves another

with a love which will endure until the end

their words will be loving and kind

for they speak, as a faithful friend.

 

There are many things which can be given

as our love we seek to express

beautiful gifts wrapped with satin ribbons

flowers and cards, to the one we love best.

 

Earthly gifts  will one day all fade away

only their memories will remain

but words of love spoken from one's heart

will forever in one's heart be retained.

 

Without a true expression from the heart

the gifts one may give are all without meaning,

the gift of love from a heart that cares

speaks words which bring hope and healing.

 

A heart which speaks love in truth

is one which knows the Savior

for when we put Jesus first as our Lord,

we speak as one in His grace and favor.

 

True love thinks not of self

but of those a person loves most

words of love do not demand their own way

for love is patient and kind, it does not boast.

 

If you love someone from the heart

you'll be loyal to them, regardless of the cost

always believing and expecting the best

for love expressed in actions, will not be lost.

 

Loving others as Jesus loved us

is the key to a heart that shares true happiness

for when we love others with the love of God

we give from the heart, a love that will last.

 

 

God's Love--The greatest love of all!

 

QUOTES AND ONE-LINERS

 

The mind grows by what it feeds on.

 

Do not let what you cannot do, interfere with what you can do.

 

Is he alone who has courage on his right hand and faith on his left hand?

 

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

 

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

 

The difference between stumbling blocks and

stepping stones is the way a man uses them.

 

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

• A woman is beaten every nine seconds in the United States. Domestic violence is the most under-reported crime in the country, with the actual incidence 10 times higher than is reported.
• Eighty percent of children who live in homes where domestic violence occurs witness the abuse.
• On average, four women are murdered every day by their male partner in the U.S.

• Women in the U.S. are in nine times more danger in their own homes than they are in the street.
• According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 95 percent of reported spousal assaults are committed by men against women. Assaults committed by women against men occur in approximately 5 to 10 percent of domestic violence matters.
• About 17 percent of women report experiencing physical or sexual violence during pregnancy.
• Battering prior to pregnancy is the primary predictor that battering will occur during pregnancy.

  Domestic violence is one of the nation's best-kept secrets.

 

   Domestic violence is about one person getting and keeping power and control over another person in an intimate relationship. The abusive person might be your current or former spouse, live-in lover or dating partner. A psychologist and law school professor who is an expert in domestic violence has described it as "a pattern of behavior in which one intimate partner uses physical violence, coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation and emotional, sexual or economic abuse to control and change the behavior of the other partner." 

 

   Domestic violence happens to people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and religions. It occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. Economic or professional status does not indicate domestic violence - abusers and victims can be laborers or college professors, judges or janitors, doctors or orderlies, schoolteachers, truck drivers, homemakers or store clerks. Domestic violence occurs in the poorest ghettos, the fanciest mansions and white-picket-fence neighborhoods.

 

   About 95% of victims of domestic violence are women. Over 50% of all women will experience physical violence in an intimate relationship, and for 24-30% of those women, the battering will be regular and on-going. Every 15 seconds the crime of battering occurs.  Most abusers are men. They may seem gentle, mean, quiet or loud, and may be big or small. There is some evidence that shows boys who grow up with domestic violence often become abusers as adults, however, many abusers are from non-violent homes, and many boys from violent homes do not grow up to be abusive.

 

   The law defines domestic violence in very specific ways. Every state and U.S. territory has laws that allow its courts to issue protection orders, as do many Indian tribes. Each state, territory or tribe decides for itself how to define domestic violence and how its laws will help and protect victims, so the laws are different from one jurisdiction to another. Although you may be a victim of domestic violence, the laws in your jurisdiction may be written in a way that does not include or protect you. This does not mean that you are not a victim, and it does not mean that you should not seek help.

 

   The law is a useful and important tool for increasing safety and independence, but it is not the only tool. In addition to legal assistance, you might benefit from safety planning, medical care, counseling, economic assistance and planning, job placement, childcare, eldercare or pet care assistance, or many other types of practical help and advice. You can seek assistance from advocates, shelters, support groups, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and perhaps even your religious leader or doctor.

• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE is a pattern of abusive behavior which keeps one partner in a position of power over the other partner through the use of fear, intimidation and control.
• PHYSICAL ABUSE: Grabbing, pinching, shoving, slapping, hitting, hair pulling, biting, etc. Denying medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use.
• SEXUAL ABUSE: Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact without consent, e.g., marital rape, forcing sex after physical beating, attacks on sexual parts of the body or treating another in a sexually demeaning manner.
• ECONOMIC ABUSE: Making or attempting to make a person financially dependent, e.g., maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding access to money, forbidding attendance at school or employment.
• EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Undermining a person's sense of self-worth, e.g., constant criticism, belittling one's abilities, name calling, damaging a partner's relationship with the children.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: Causing fear by intimidation, threatening physical harm to self, partner or children, destruction of pets and property, mind games or forcing isolation from friends, family, school and/or work.

AM I BEING ABUSED?
CHECKLIST

Look over the following questions. Think about how you are being treated and how you treat your partner. Remember, when one person scares, hurts or continually puts down the other person, it's abuse.

 

Does your partner…
____ Embarrass or make fun of you in front of your friends or family?
____ Put down your accomplishments or goals?
____ Make you feel like you are unable to make decisions?
____ Use intimidation or threats to gain compliance?
____ Tell you that you are nothing without them?
____ Treat you roughly - grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you?
____ Call you several times a night or show up to make sure you are where you said you would be?
____ Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things or abusing you?
____ Blame you for how they feel or act?
____ Pressure you sexually for things you aren't ready for?
____ Make you feel like there "is no way out" of the relationship?
____ Prevent you from doing things you want - like spending time with your friends or family?
____ Try to keep you from leaving after a fight or leave you somewhere after a fight to "teach you a lesson"?

Do you…
____ Sometimes feel scared of how your partner will act?
____ Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner's behavior?
____ Believe that you can help your partner change if only you changed something about yourself?
____ Try not to do anything that would cause conflict or make your partner angry?
____ Always do what your partner wants you to do instead of what you want?
____ Stay with you partner because you are afraid of what your partner would do if you broke-up?

 

If any of these are happening in your relationship, talk to someone. Without some help, the abuse will continue.

 

National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or
(TTY) 1-800-787-3224

True love

This is what True Love is all about:


It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 a.m., when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
 


I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him look at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.


While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation.  I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.


I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer' s Disease .


As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.


I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are? "


He smiled as he patted my hand and said, " She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."  I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."


True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.  


With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there are some that come along that have an important message, and this is one of those kind. Just had to share it with you all.