Do You Have What it Takes??

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version): 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New King James Version):4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

As a little girl, like most, I dreamed of my prince charming coming in to swoop me off to Happily Ever After. We read all the fairy tales and dream of being grown where we can find that Prince who will make it all better. Imagine what a rude awakening it was that after I found my Prince Charming, after the Wedding, that the Happily Ever After doesn't just happen on it's own.

I was a little perturbed to say the least, more like distressed! Wondered what the hell I signed up for. I hate arguments, I hate disagreements.. I run from them. What do you mean we might not get along at times? I was like GOD what is going on?? I am praying, I am going to church, I am involved in Church and my community.. can't you just give this one thing.. Then I began to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 EVERY morning. This text perplexed me, and cut deep.. God's definition of Love is DEEP!

Love suffers long -

(it suffers?? that means that it's not always going to be a bed of roses)

Love is kind -

( that means I have to watch my behavior.. How am I treating my Husband? Am I nice? even when I don't want to be?);

love does not envy -

(This was hard for me because I found myself jealous of my husbands different talents things that I wish I possessed.. I had to let that go);

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up -

( To me it means that I don't need to profess my love like I am trying to convince someone because my actions will show it.. Also I need to realize one person is not better than the other but we all have something that we bring to the table that should be respected)

5 does not behave rudely -

(God was like Sharone quit the sarcasm.. I still struggle with this one.. but God is working with me on it) ,

does not seek its own -

(That means I am going to consider my beloved when making decisions.. because what I do does affect him),

is not provoked -

( yeah okay this is still a hard struggle but I cant take offense to everything that comes out his mouth.. I can be overly sensitive.. when what he is saying is coming from unconditional love and it also says to me that I can't allow what the other person does or says to make me react in way that is unlike Christ) ,

thinks no evil;-

( simply put give your spouse the benefit of the doubt. The Devil is a trickster he would have us believe the worst before we even talk to our spouse.. God would have us see the best in our spouses.. )

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth -

( Honesty is so important in a marriage.. transparency is a definite must.. the truth can be painful but it is a necessary pain to grow and become better in Christ) ;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things -

( This is where I have my beef with most people who give up on their marriages at the drop of hat.. You have to resist the sinful nature that causes us to just say forget it.. but God requires us to go beyond ourselves and have a faith that never waivers that what God has put together No man can put asunder and this applies to you and your spouse as well.. if God put this marriage together then it's not up to you to destroy it.)

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. -

( True Godly love is UNCONDITIONAL that even if you don't agree on something doesn't mean that you are not loved.. My husband always use to say.. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.. it's so true don't throw away everything because you couldn't agree on a decision)

God has taken us through some serious twist and turns and we are still together. We credit only God to that and having the type of love that is listed in Corinthians.. I have my happily ever after but I have it through blood sweat and tears...

To God be the Glory Great Things He has done... So do you have what it takes??