Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! It was absolutely awesome having my kids home! Hubby was even home for the week! We had lots of fun family time, good laughs, and way too much food!

The Lord is good. I'm so thankful for all of the blessings in my life. I have so much to appreciate.

This is the last Fashion Over 40 for the year....

Being that I pigged out and ate way too much food and consequently gained 6-7 lbs. this week, I didn't really feel like getting dressed up. I squeezed into my jeans and wore a shirt that camouflaged those extra little presents I packed on. :P

I lost the 5lbs. I gained at Thanksgiving. So, now I've got to get to work this week on losing these little nuisances from Christmas.

Yep, I've worn this before, but this is the last one for the year. I figured you could indulge me.

Just so you know... Dark jeans and black cover a multitude of "sins", so to speak... :)

I realize that I really don't have too many more outfits to show you, but I think I might introduce some "re-fashions". I worked on a skirt that was way too big and tailored it to fit me. It came out really good! This is right up my "frugal" alley!

Love Is The Most Powerful Gift

This week one of our members shared the Word this morning. He started off by explaining how our previous pastor laid a great foundation for us, and our new pastor is focusing on being a family and to use the gifts God has given you. It's time to put what we've learned into action.

The church has been known to judge and point out people's sin. We need to see the world like God sees them. Now, we don't accept the sin, but we need to love the sinner. (Btw... We are all sinners, some have accepted the grace and mercy Christ has provided and have chosen to follow Him and some have not.) The world needs to see Christ's love.

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13(NKJV)

Mercy = Compassion = Love. So you could say, Love triumphs over judgement.

Where is our love? Do we show mercy and compassion?

I know I'm guilty of judging people, pointing out sin, comparing myself to others. Where is my love? Lord, forgive me. But there is hope!

I love how this next part was explained.

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT)

Okay, Jesus is talking here about the law and the commandments they had to live under. This next verse is where we are free from the law and living under the new covenant.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12(NKJV)

This is Christ's commandment. This kind of love is with the power of the Holy Spirit. Under the law, you are operating in the flesh. We can love our neighbor but we are limited by our humanity. We can only do so much. Even if we use our best abilities we are limited. I've been trying to love in the flesh, in my own abilities. That's not going to cut it.

Under the new covenant, we have the Holy Spirit. He gives us the power to love without limits, like Christ! We can love above our own abilities! We can love our neighbors more than how we love ourselves, we can love them like Jesus loves them. He sees their faults and problems but loves past all of that, He sees their need for Him.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13(NKJV)

Love is the most powerful gift God has given us. Read through 1 Corinthians 13. It's known as the love chapter. You can have all sorts of gifts, but if you don't have love it all means nothing.

I love that we aren't all on our own. God says He will give us what we need!

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

So, this is what we are striving towards, having all of the qualities of love.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7(NLT)

Uhhh....I seem to have a long way to go. Lord, help me grow in Your love.

Blessings to you.