Our Program

LOVE — THE HARD WAY

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels,
And even though I have prophetic power,
And though no knowledge from my mind be hidden,
And my faith moves the mountains every hour –
Though of earthly goods I hold back nothing,
And even though I give my life to die,
Deep inside, I know I will do nothing.
Without Your love, all the rest is just a lie.”

Love holds foremost in her heart the other,
is bearing and believing, strong and kind,
somehow presents a challenge, yet is patient,
isn't critical, yet isn't blind,
gives in, unless resistance is what's needed,
satisfies desires, when they are right,
is vulnerable enough to need the other,
yet trusts in God for utmost strength and light.

Love has sworn both to be true and to be honest,
is open, yet opens up appropriately;
sets the other free to still love others,
to love God most,
and, sometimes, just to be;
pushes toward ideals, yet is realistic,
knowing only God can guide the way;
knowing only God's love can effect ours,
often ceases embracing, just to pray.

Love never tries to fill the God-shaped vacuum.
It won’t presume to love as well as He,
Yet trusts that He somehow will make the copy
as much like Him as lives in Christ can be.

"Since in Christ there is such consolation,
encouragement, and incentive to love,
empathy, communion, and affection,
Let our lives be like Christ, our God above,
Who stripped Himself, to be to us a servant,
humbled Himself, even to the Cross,"
Knowing, though the way He loves is the Hard Way,
His way of Love is the only Way for us.

But – how can we do this kind of loving?
It's not something Man Alone can do.
But I wasn't made to walk this road alone.
I was meant to be indwelt and taught by You.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels,
And even though I have prophetic power,
And though no knowledge from my mind be hidden,
And my faith moves the mountains every hour –

Though of earthly goods I hold back nothing,
And even though I give my life to die,
Deep inside, I know I will do nothing.”
Unless You love through me, I can but sigh.

(Originally written by Jeannette Frank for Ann Blair Watt for her wedding shower.)
Words in quotes paraphrased from 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 & Phillipians 2: 1-8 by Jeannette Frank