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I just had to post this today.
Beautiful song.
God is speaking to you.
Sounds like a good sentiment.
Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself.
And we love ourselves, don’t we?
We feed ourselves. Clothe ourselves. We meet our needs, because we are selfish.
But something beautiful happens when we transcend the selfish love and move on to love others as much as we love ourselves.
We make sure that the hurting (physically and emotionally) are comforted.
We make sure that children are protected from harm.
We make sure that the hungry are fed.
But unfortunately, there are those who love themselves more than others.
The pedophile who puts his wants above the tender heart of a child.
The woman who shouts her abortion.
The person who steals from the vulnerable.
The pimp who uses women with mental illnesses or emotional pains for his/her own financial gain.
The drug pusher who doesn’t care about the individuals whose lives will be forever ruined by an addictive substance.
I could go on and on.
Maybe instead of loving ourselves so much, we should strive to live like the greatest example of love. The sacrificial kind.
Philippians 2:3-11Christian Standard Bible
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.[a]
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
빌립보서 2:3-11 Korean Living Bible
3 무슨 일이든지 다툼이나 허영으로 하지 말고 겸손한 마음으로 자기보다 남을 낫게 여기며
4 자기 이익만 생각하지 말고 남의 이익도 생각하십시오.
5 여러분은 그리스도 예수님과 같은 마음을 가지십시오.
6 그분은 원래 [a]하나님의 모습을 지니고 계셨지만 하나님과 동등하게 되려고 생각하지 않으시고
7 오히려 [b]자기의 모든 특권을 버리시고 종의 모습으로 사람들과 같이 되어
8 사람의 모양으로 나타나셨으며 자기를 낮추시고 십자가에 달려 죽기까지 순종하셨습니다.
9 그러므로 하나님은 그분을 최고로 높여 모든 이름 위에 뛰어난 이름을 주셔서
10 하늘과 땅과 땅 아래 있는 자들이 모두 예수님의 이름에 무릎을 꿇게 하시고
11 모든 사람이 예수 그리스도를 주님이라고 고백하여 하나님 아버지께 영광을 돌리게 하셨습니다.
Matthew 22:36-40 Christian Standard Version
36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.[a] 38 This is the greatest and most important[b] command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.[c] 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend[d] on these two commands.”
마태복음 22:36-40 Korean Living Bible
36 “선생님, 모세의 법 중에 가장 큰 계명은 어느 계명입니까?” 하고 물었다.
37 그래서 예수님은 이렇게 대답하셨다. “[a]‘네 마음을 다하고 정성을 다하고 뜻을 다하여 주 너의 하나님을 사랑하라.’
38 “이것이 제일 중요한 계명이다.
39 그 다음은 [b]‘네 이웃을 네 몸과 같이 사랑하라’ 는 계명이다.
40 모든 율법과 예언자들의 가르침은 이 두 계명에서 나온 것이다.”
1 John 4:7-21 Christian Standard Bible
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us[a] in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice[b] for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in[c] us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment.[d] So the one who fears is not complete in love. 19 We love[e] because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.[f] 21 And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.
요한일서 4:7-21 Korean Living Bible
7 사랑하는 여러분, 서로 사랑합시다. 사랑은 하나님에게서 왔습니다. 사랑하는 사람은 모두 하나님에게서 나서 하나님을 알지만
8 사랑하지 않는 사람은 하나님을 모릅니다. 이것은 하나님이 사랑이시기 때문입니다.
9 하나님은 외아들을 세상에 보내셔서 우리가 그를 통해 살 수 있게 하심으로 우리에게 자기의 사랑을 나타내셨습니다.
10 그러므로 우리가 하나님을 사랑한 것이 아니라 하나님께서 우리를 사랑하셔서 자기 아들을 보내 우리를 죄에서 구원하는 제물로 삼아 주셨습니다.
11 사랑하는 여러분, 하나님께서 이토록 우리를 사랑해 주셨으니 우리도 서로 사랑해야 합니다.
12 지금까지 하나님을 본 사람은 없습니다. 그러나 우리가 서로 사랑하면 하나님이 우리 안에 계시고 그분의 사랑이 우리 안에서 완성될 것입니다.
13 하나님이 우리에게 성령을 주셨으므로 우리가 하나님 안에서 살고 하나님이 우리 안에 계신다는 것을 우리는 압니다.
14 하나님 아버지께서 자기 아들을 세상의 구주로 보내신 것을 우리가 보았고 또 증거하였습니다.
15 누구든지 예수님을 하나님의 아들이라고 인정하면 하나님이 그 사람 안에 계시고 그도 하나님 안에서 살게 됩니다.
16 우리는 하나님이 우리를 사랑하시는 그 사랑을 알고 믿고 있습니다. 참으로 하나님은 사랑이십니다. 그 사랑 안에 사는 사람은 하나님 안에서 살고 하나님도 그 사람 안에 계십니다.
17 이것으로 사랑이 우리 가운데서 완성되어 우리가 떳떳하게 심판 날을 맞이할 수 있게 될 것입니다. 이것은 우리도 이 세상에서 예수님과 같아지기 때문입니다.
18 사랑에는 두려움이 없습니다. 완전한 사랑은 오히려 두려움을 내쫓습니다. 두려움은 벌받을 일을 생각할 때 생기는 것입니다. 그러므로 두려워하는 것은 아직 사랑을 완성하지 못한 증거입니다.
19 우리가 사랑하는 것은 하나님께서 먼저 우리를 사랑해 주셨기 때문입니다.
20 하나님을 사랑한다고 하면서 형제를 미워하는 사람은 거짓말쟁이입니다. 눈에 보이는 형제를 사랑하지 못하는 사람이 보이지 않는 하나님을 사랑할 수는 없습니다.
21 하나님을 사랑하는 사람은 형제도 사랑해야 합니다. 우리는 이 계명을 예수님에게서 받았습니다.
Home is my happy place.
I told one of my bosses that he needed to make sure there were tissues on my desk when I return to the physical office, ’cause I’m gonna cry.
I love being at home.
I’m never bored there.
It’s nothing fancy. Yet I’m comfortable.
Years ago I started praying, not to get wealthy, but to have enough.
Enough to pay the bills. To eat. To go on a nice beach vacation once a year. .
But other than that, I don’t need a lot.
Having a family that I love and that loves me back makes me rich.
And God has always provided. Even when my husband’s company moved to a different part of the country, and he had to look for another job.
The Bible reminds me that . . .
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 19)
빌립보서 4:19 Korean Living Bible
19 나의 하나님이 그리스도 예수님을 통해 영광 가운데서 그의 풍성함으로 여러분에게 필요한 모든 것을 넘치게 채워 주실 것입니다.
BTS has a cute song called Home.
BUT
My Favorite song called HOME is sung by another South Korean band, Levistance. (I’m sorry ARMY, but it’s true)
I’m so thankful I have the Father’s loving arms to run home to. (Read the Prodigal Son Story here or here for the Korean Version)
1 Timothy 6:6-12 Christian Standard Bible
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and[a] we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing,[b] we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root[c] of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Fight the Good Fight
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
디모데전서 6:6-12Korean Living Bible
6 그러나 만족하는 마음으로 경건하게 사는 사람에게 신앙은 큰 유익이 됩니다.
7 우리가 세상에 아무것도 가지고 오지 않았으므로 아무것도 가지고 가지 못합니다.
8 우리는 먹을 것과 입을 것이 있으면 그것으로 만족해야 합니다.
9 부자가 되려고 애쓰는 사람은 시험과 함정에 빠지고 사람을 파멸시키는 여러 가지 어리석고 해로운 욕망에 떨어집니다.
10 돈을 사랑하는 것이 온갖 악의 뿌리가 됩니다. 이것을 가지려고 열망하는 사람들이 믿음에서 떠나 방황하다가 많은 고통을 당하고 마음의 상처를 입습니다.
11 그러나 하나님의 사람인 그대는 이런 것들을 피하고 의와 경건과 믿음과 사랑과 인내와 온유함을 추구하시오.
12 믿음의 선한 싸움을 싸우고 영원한 생명을 굳게 잡으시오. 이것을 위해 그대가 부르심을 받았고 많은 증인 앞에서 그대의 신앙을 고백하였습니다.
Matthew 19:23-26 Christian Standard Bible
Possessions and the Kingdom
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
There is hope for the rich man. Jesus said so.
마태복음 19:23-26 Korean Living Bible
23 그때 예수님이 제자들에게 이렇게 말씀하셨다. “내가 분명히 너희에게 말한다. 부자는 하늘 나라에 들어가기가 매우 어렵다.
24 내가 다시 말하지만 부자가 하나님의 나라에 들어가는 것보다 낙타가 바늘귀로 통과하는 것이 더 쉽다.”
25 제자들이 이 말씀을 듣고 몹시 놀라 “그렇다면 누가 구원받을 수 있겠습니까?” 하고 물었다.
26 예수님은 제자들을 바라보시며 “사람의 힘으로는 할 수 없지만 하나님께서는 다 하실 수 있다” 하고 대답하셨다.
The pandemic brought music back into my life.
Years ago I used to attend Winter Jam concerts hosted by New Song.
One particular year, Leeland performed.
I wondered what he was doing and found him singing the cover to a beautiful song called Way Maker by the Nigerian Gospel singer, Sinach. The song is a global success having reached well over 100M views.
Leeland says at the end of his performance,
His name is above Depression
His name is above lonliness
His name is above disease
His name is above Cancer
His name is above everything.
The Newsboys song “He Reigns” points out the beauty of Christians from around the world singing to the One True God.
They sing,
The song of Asian Believers filled with God’s Holy fire.
It’s every tribe
Every tongue
Every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir.
In Africa
In America
In South Korea
Romans 14:11 Christian Standard Bible
11 For it is written,
As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to me,
and every tongue will give praise to God.[a]
로마서 14:11Korean Living Bible
11 성경에도 [a]“주께서 말씀하신다. ‘내가 살아 있으니 모든 사람이 내 앞에 무릎을 꿇을 것이며 모든 사람이 나에게 자백할 것이다’ ” 라는 말씀이 있습니다.
It is generally assumed that as you age you start to forget things.
That may be why the most important dates in my life also coincide with special dates on the calendar.
My husband and I celebrated 32 years of marriage on New Year’s Eve. I didn’t want to hear the excuse “I forgot our anniversary”.
My sweet boy was born on Halloween. I can’t forget that date either. He’s my little pumpkin. (He got his height from me–I was saving it all for him).
My youngest niece (on the right) was born on my wedding anniversary/New Year’s Eve. She was the best anniversary gift my sister ever gave me.
Forgetfulness in a relationship can be a good thing.
Don’t keep a record of wrongs. Forgive them. Forget them. — Please watch the youtube video below for a beautiful story and a beautiful song.
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Christian Standard Bible
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
고린도전서 13:4-6 Korean Living Bible
4 사랑은 오래 참고 친절하며 질투하지 않고 자랑하지 않으며 잘난 체하지 않습니다.
5 사랑은 버릇없이 행동하지 않고 이기적이거나 성내지 않으며 악한 것을 생각하지 않습니다.
6 사랑은 불의를 기뻐하지 않고 진리와 함께 기뻐합니다.
Matthew 18:21-22 Christian Standard Bible
21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”
22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.[a]
마태복음 18:21-22 Korean Living Bible
21 그때 베드로가 예수님께 와서 “주님, 형제가 내게 죄를 지었을 때 몇 번이나 용서해야 합니까? 일곱 번까지면 되겠습니까?” 하고 묻자
22 예수님은 이렇게 말씀하셨다. “일곱 번만 아니라 [a]일흔 번씩 일곱 번이라도 용서하여라.
Psalm 25:7 Christian Standard Bible
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
or my acts of rebellion;
in keeping with your faithful love, remember me
because of your goodness, Lord.
시편 25:7 Korean Living Bible
7 내 어릴 때의 죄와 허물을
기억하지 마시고
주의 한결같은 사랑과
선하심을 따라 나를 기억하소서.
John 16:21 Christian Standard Bible
21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world.
요한복음 16:21 Korean Living Bible
21 해산할 날이 가까워진 여자는 겪어야 할 진통 때문에 근심한다. 그러나 아기를 낳으면 세상에 사람이 태어났다는 기쁨에 그 고통을 잊게 된다.
Hebrews 8:12Christian Standard Bible
12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins.
히브리서 8:12 Korean Living Bible
12 내가 그들의 잘못을 용서하고 다시는 그들의 죄를 기억하지 않을 것이다.
A beautiful story. A beautiful song.
(2274) Matthew West – Forgiveness (Live) – YouTube
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