What Money Cannot Buy

"To be rich in admiration and free from envy, to rejoice greatly in the good of others, to love with such generosity of heart that your love is still a dear possession in absence or unkindness - these are the gifts which money cannot buy."
-Robert Louis Stevenson

What will you be remembered for?

"The best portion of a good man's life; his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

-William Wordsworth

How to Always Make A Difference

"Love and kindness are never wasted.
They always make a difference."
~Helen James

The Art of Loving

Vincent Van Gogh, known more for his art than love, said:

"I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."

Chesed Anyone?

While I was reading Chuck Swindoll's book, Living the Psalms, he said that one word:  chesed  is "perhaps the most important word in the entire Old Testament because it effectively sums up the character of God."  (page 188)

So, I started researching chesed.  It turns out chesed and hesed can be used interchangeably.  I had heard of hesed from the loyal love depicted in the Book of Ruth.  From my research on line, I found this quote:

"Love is the single most powerful and necessary component in life.  Love is the origin and foundation of all human interactions.  It is both giving and receiving.  It allows us to reach above and beyond ourselves.  To experience another person and to allow that person to experience us.  It is the tool by which we learn to experience the highest reality - God.  In a single word:  love is transcendence."
(http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/276673/Jewish/Omer-1.htm)

It goes on to say:  "Everyone has the capacity to love in their hearts.  The question is if and how we actualize and express it."  They go on to ask you to ask yourself:  "What is my capacity to love another person?"

I asked a Rabbi friend to tell me the difference between chesed and hesed.  He said hesed conveys covenantal loyalty (remember Ruth in the Bible), whereas chesed shows deeds of kindness.  This is the kind of kindness God shows us, a love that comes from no where to give to people who do not deserve His kindness, with no prospect of reward for Himself.  He explained that the way you show loyal love is to show kindness to each other.  He reminded me the first 5 Laws are about Covenantal Loyalty, where the last commandments are about kindness.  I never realized how they blended together and depended on each other.

One Rabbi (Shimon Leiberman) even said it is "properly described as an act that has no 'cause.'"  He describes chesed as "proactive - it is the initiator of interaction."  He concluded it is "something for nothing."  (http://www.aish.com/sp/k/Kabbala_10__Chesed_-_The_World_is-Built_on_Kindness.html)

If Swindoll thinks it could be the most important term in the Old Testament, I think it would behove us to know more about it.  

Real or Dream?

Control Factors

Second Corinthians 5:14 starts by saying:  "FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTROLS US..."

I had to stop and ponder:  Does the Love of Christ control me?

It's a great question.   It's  a great measuring tool.  It's a great reprimand.  It's a great motivator.
Something controls you.  What is it?  At least, think about it.

Hitching up to Love

Charles Swindoll in studying Psalm 91 in his book, Living the Psalm (p. 178), says "The Hebrew term used for love is unusual and rare.  Most often it is used with reference to 'attaching something to something.'  The Hebrew term includes the idea of attaching a saddle to a horse."  He says, "It would be acceptable to render Psalm 91:14:  "Because He clings affectionately to Me."

Because He has set His love upon Me....

Something interesting to think about.  It puts new understanding to the old saying, "Getting Hitched."

Hitch your wagon to something worthy of pulling you in the right direction, and that you'll enjoy their company along the way.

What do you believe in?

I believe in the sun, even though it doesn't shine.
I believe in love, even when it isn't shown.
I believe in God, even He doesn't speak.

Some prisoner in a concentration etched these words.
What words are we muttering or etching into lives, and others', today?