So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
When the pressures of life seem unbearable, it is natural to want to escape. The church has a rich history of religious who chose to leave worldly concerns and turn their attention to God. Their choice was not to escape but to change their focus. The same change can happen to us when we focus on the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Faith allows us to believe and give ourselves totally to God; hope gives us the assurance that God's way will be done; and love frees us to give ourselves completely to others. Faith, hope, and love are the gifts poured out on us by the Holy Spirit.
How would my life be different if I lived by faith, hope, and charity?Do I ever let my timetable or expectations cloud my ability to be hopeful? How can I encourage others to be aware of the work of the Holy Spirit that conveys each of these gifts?
Lord, you know the stresses and issues that cloud my mind and heart. Send forth your Spirit that I may with greater clarity embrace and act upon the gifts of faith, hope, and love. Amen.
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful fall pictures and your ponderings on sharing the Holy Spirit led me to contemplate these verses:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galations 6:9)
9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."(Psalm 112:9) 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:9-11
Thank you for sharing your bounty and for being so generous on every occasion!
In Him,
Karen, Basel