It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:7-8 (NIV)

Everything in life seems to have limits. Take two pills four times a day. When you speed you pay a fine, and after too many tickets you lose your license. Food has expiration dates. Even when we do our best, we will never achieve perfection. Every pursuit in life will fade away at some time. Our Christian walk is limited by our sin. We will never fully understand God's Word or His ways. However, there is one thing that endures forever; love.

There is no maximum capacity for love. Love will never expire. Love exists on such a higher level than any other achievement. Love is never a vain pursuit. Love will never be out of fashion or unnecessary. In eternity we will never cease to love. Love is the greatest!

Today, our society probably confuses love and lust. Unlike love, lust is based on selfish desires and unnatural inclinations. It requires something in return and leaves a vacuum of unfulfilled wishes. Love is directed toward others and allows us to set aside our own desires so that we can give without expecting anything in return. The only way to experience this kind of love is with God's help. The more we become like Christ, the more love we can show to others. There is no limit when we love.

When we examine our ways in our homes, our workplace, and our churches, the most important characteristic of our service should be how we love. Does our love protect? Do we believe well of others unless convinced otherwise? Are we positive and hopeful, or negative and critical? When under assault do we persevere in righteousness and love? Love is the ingredient that is not bound by time and it is never outdated. Love never fails; God is love.

We have never been unloved. This truth is larger than life, yet it is ours when we put our faith in Christ. And, because of His love, we can love. We can never give too much love or grow weary of loving.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us perfect love. Help us to pursue love and remember that love never fails.

Janet Stutzman

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Praise the Lord O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. Psalms103:1-5

God is: How do we picture God? As we were recording a radio program for Circle of Friends the subject of our personal perception of God as a child. It amazed me that we all had different ideas of what we thought of God, and why.

Our backgrounds had such a major effect of our views. One had the thoughts of God shaking His finger at her, one thought that God was expecting perfection, another had a drill sergeant view, yet I felt that I needed to hide in the corner, and keep quiet then I would not get into trouble.

What is your view of God? Do you see Him as someone to big to approach? Or someone that doesn't really care?

God is here, we are not waiting for Him, we are waiting for something, an answer, a leading, a direction.But God is always here! He never leaves or sleeps, or even turns his back. He is and we are a part of Him. We can be used by God, we can be His feet or his hands.

This is truth! Going from who we thought God was to who we think God is now!

So who do you think God is? What is in your heart? Are you struggling? Are you believing lies? You need to stand firm on His promises!

Lord, open the eyes of my heart so that I may see You and all that You are! Amen

Becki Reiser

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5

I turned 50 on Monday, and it got me to thinking about why I am not particularly thrilled with celebrating my birthdays. I have come to the conclusion that each time a birthday comes around I am not happy with the status of where I am in life. I know that sounds rather strange, until my friend and I began to talk about it.

For some reason I am never satisfied with my relationship with God, or other personal issues. My friend said that she thinks that God is able to use us right where we are, whether we are where God intends us to be or not. Sort of like when God speaks something to our heart, to go in a certain direction, and we may start out doing that thing, but for some reason, we take a detour and go in another direction.

That got me thinking about the Garman GPS that I bought for Jeff for Christmas. While using it, it tells you to "turn here or go there". If you by-pass what it tells you, it will actually say "RECALCULATING" Then it tells you the best way to get to the desired destination via another route. Our relationship with God is somewhat like that. We may have a certain "place" where we intend to go, but we take a different route to get there than originally charted. God does not get disgusted and give up on us. No, He will "recalculate" how to help us to get to our goal, by another turn, or exit.

I may not be satisfied with where I am, I may not be satisfied with my weight, or my current accomplishments, but that does not mean that I cannot achieve my original goal, it just means that I will get there by other means! This does not mean that it is OK to be disobedient, it just means that if we miss a turn, God doesn't give up on us, He just helps us get there another way.

Lord, thanks for helping me go in the direction that will lead me to You. Whether it is by the original path charted or not. You will be with me showing me the way to turn, and the best possible route. Amen

Becki Reiser

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"I ask Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And, I ask you, my faithful friend to help these women." Philippians 4:2-3a (NCV)

What a blessing it is to have faithful and Godly friends and family. It is encouraging to take the hand of a struggling friend and understand together how God can use tough times to grow us in our faith. There is joy when we share in ministry together. We find strength in the example of others who walk steadfast in the Lord.

Euodia and Syntyche are two woman who must have been close friends. Paul states that they had labored with him in the gospel. It is likely they were faithful and capable leaders in the church and, as women, they probably had a special ministry reaching women and children for Christ. But like us, they were human. At some point there must have been a quarrel. They stopped pulling together and were equally at fault. Their example in leadership was damaged.

Unfortunately, this is still a problem in our churches today. Ministry demands working with people. In our human flesh, we are incapable of constant peace and unity. Therein lays the opportunity for discord and broken relationships. Godly people can lose perspective and become involved in a personal dispute. Also, it is important to remember the rest of the church is threatened when there is unresolved conflict between members.

Euodia and Syntyche had a disagreement, and Paul heard about it while he was in prison. He did not get involved in the dilemma or take sides with either one of the women. He simply asked them to agree in the Lord. Conflict between believers is not consistent with God's Word. Usually it is a product of stubborn pride and selfish ambition. By asking others to help the women, he obstructed gossip and encouraged forgiveness and unity. Christians should be able to resolve differences and preserve peace and unity in a natural way. It should be uncomplicated when we are willing to give up our self-interest and personal recognition.

Paul has a simple remedy for us in his letter to the Philippians. Joy. He tells us in verse 4 to be full of joy always. When things are going badly, when we feel like complaining, when we think we are alone, we have to remember Christ still reigns. When we know him, we can rejoice. Joy does not come from outward conditions, it comes from inward strength. Our joy can be so deep within us no person or circumstance can reach that far to grasp it from us.

Joy in the Lord can be our foundation for agreement and unity. Our dispute should never be with fellow believers but only against the enemy, Satan. When we are unified in love, the strength of Christ is abundant. Teamwork, consideration of others, and unselfishness should be our goals and the outcome will be joy, love, and kindness.

Are you in a dispute with a friend or Christian co-worker? Are you seeking forgiveness and reconciliation, or are you allowing Satan to feed the quarrel? Are you contributing to a conflict between others, or are you helping them to reconcile?

Give up your right-to-be-right and agree with each other in the Lord.

Lord, forgive us when we give in to self and demand our own way. Help us to remember it brings conflict and we dishonor You. Thank you for forgiveness and joy, and may we have a heart to serve with others in agreement.

Janet Stutzman

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Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! Romans 5:18 (MSG)

I saw the invitation on my Facebook page. "You are invited to hear Dave Barker and Josh Starner share about 'Dealing with Divorce'.." The announcement went on to include details of time and place. I knew Dave and without hesitation, I texted him. I'm not usually that forward but helping others with the effects of divorce is something that is near and dear to my heart as I was a child of divorce. I offered to help if they ever needed a women's perspective, especially to the girls and ladies who would be there.

Dave was excited and invited me to join them. It was later he told me that my text should have never reached him. He was in a region where there was no cell service. God had a plan.

Everyone has a story. If we are human, we have endured difficult days. We live in a fallen world because of "one person". Whether it has been trauma, tragedy, divorce, walking in the consequences of poor choices, financial devastation, or ongoing battles with our thoughts, we know what it is to hurt and what it is to feel hopeless. However, because of "another person", and One far more powerful, we have been saved from being conquered by all these things! Jesus Christ has not only rescued us from being overcome and destroyed, but by His conquering of death, sin and Satan's hell, He has brought us to His side and turns evil on its head. When we give ourselves and our painful trials to Him, He will use them for His glory-perhaps we will see it tomorrow, next year, or not until we see Him face to face. But we can be sure that in submission to Him, He is able to weave together something beautiful. There is redemption!

In the meantime, we have an incredible opportunity to be available for others who are experiencing hardship. To be available doesn't mean we have all the answers, or that we have finished the journey of our experience. To be available means to walk with someone else-to listen, to share where we have been and what God has shown us, to simply be present. When others can see that we have walked the valley and have emerged with a renewed faith in a good God, that there is a hope and a future, then God has already begun to redeem our adversity. God has a plan to use our pain to encourage others, to show others His heart of faithfulness, goodness and redemption, to grow us, and to emphatically declare that He is God and He will prevail. Will we give Him our pain and let Him use it for His glory? Let's pray for opportunities to share with others what God is doing. Lord, thank You that You are victorious and that the wake of my hardship will not destroy me. Lord, take my pain and use it to bring life and encouragement to others. You are an amazing God that You, and only You, can turn loss into life. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

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