Love songs and clanging symbols–following a difficult year, the Lord has laid some thoughts on my heart about attitude adjustments needed before the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas begin. Our world is in tumult, and in many ways, so are our lives. I hope the encouragement of scripture will lead to a blessed and happy season in your life and bring 2016 to a peaceful end with the promise of a joyful New Year. I would love your comments! Also, please go to the Rafflecopter at the bottom for a chance to win a 7″ Kindle Fire I will be giving away on Black Friday!
2MefromHim Devotionals
Love Songs and Clanging Cymbals
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and with truth. 1 John 3:18
As this holiday season approaches, the world, society, life in general, seems to have gone mad. The peaceful neighborhoods and churches of my childhood exist no more. Things that once elicited friendly rivalries and good-natured pacts to “agree to disagree” have turned into anger and shouting matches. Instead of accepting individual rights to differing views and opinions, relationships end up on the evening news because of minor disagreements.
Christians are to be different.
Americans and Christians alike, used to accept one other as a melting pot of ideologies and opinions without name-calling. It has become passé to accept personal decisions based on prayer, conscience, and experience without going on the attack.
Paul faced increasing differences in the rapidly growing community of new believers. As a Christian who was formerly a respected Jew and persecutor of the new faith in Jesus Christ, he spoke repeatedly about dealing with disagreements in a different way than the world. Paul admonished the Ephesians to speak the truth in love, thus maturing into accurate representations of Christ. He called Christians a “body” that “builds itself up in love”.
We have forgotten the words of First Corinthians 13: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” Too many gongs and cymbals clamor in the name of Christ and I suspect it hurts God’s ears. What He longs to hear from His children is a love song.
As we approach the holidays and gather with friends and family, let us remember the rest of that powerful chapter on love. Let us make deliberate decisions to be patient and kind, rather than boastful or proud. We must determine to display attitudes that honor rather than dishonor, to speak thoughtful words rather than those that are self-seeking and angry. Before holiday gatherings, let us wipe perceived wrongs and disagreements from our memories. As we gather with our loved ones, choose to be examples of the Christ-like love that protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres through everything.
This holiday season, let us concentrate on what will outlast everything earthly and temporal—faith, hope, and love. Let us join in love songs and leave the clanging cymbals behind. If we do, then thanksgiving, peace, and goodwill toward all men will delight the heart of our Lord and bring peace to our land and our homes once again.
© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, November 19, 2016
About the author:
Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma:
Website: www.normagail.org
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2
Book Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170
Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173
24 Comments
Lovely blog post, dear Norma. I also desire to be sing a “love song” rather than “clanging cymbals”.
Blessings & happy Thanksgiving ~ Wendy
Thank you, Wendy! I pray for a joyous and peaceful holiday season for your family!
Great giveaway
I’m glad you stopped by! I have three giveaways going on right now on different posts. Check them out!
I agree! Thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome! Thanks for taking time to stop by!
Wow Norma, you must be reading my mail! God has been laying on my heart 1 Corinthians 13:4, especially love is not self seeking (or insist on it’s own way as one version puts it). I’ve been trying to live that out better (especially when driving????). Thanks for the encouraging words.
Thank you for sharing with me, Mallory! Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
I strive to be a love song rather than a clanging cymbal!
So would I, Joan! Happy Thanksgiving!
thank you for this great giveaway!
You are welcome! God bless you!
Wonderful post.
Thank you, Ann! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
thank you for this great giveaway,Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
& may your New Year be blessed!
God bless you!
Good Golly Miss Molly. omg. . Wow, prize KINDLE is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂
You’re welcome!
I commented on Post: https://www.normagail.org/broken-and-spilled-out
Thanks for commenting.
More peace and love in the world is a good thing. I think we cal all do our part and try and be kind and bless others 😉
I agree, Debbie!