I am reading another book, since I finished "Shadow Of The Almighty", called "Young Lady's Guide To The Harmonious Development Of Christian Character" by Harvey Newcomb. And although I do not agree 100% on everything he has to say, there are many, many things I have gathered that I would love to share with you. As I said, I do not agree with everything, but I will quote from his book and then explain what I don't agree with, if the need be. :) This quote is taken from a part in the book going through the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
"Love is something that can be felt. It is an outgoing of heart towards the object loved, and a feeling of union with it. When we have a strong affection for a friend, it is because we see in him something that is lovely. We love his society, and delight to think of him when he is absent. Our minds are continually upon the lovely traits of his character. So ought we to love God. The ground of this love should be the infinite purity, excellence, and beauty of his moral perfections. He is infinite loveliness in himself. There is such a thing as feeling this love in exercise. In the Son of Solomon, love is said to be "strong as death." Surely this is no faint imagery. Is it possible for a person to exercise a feeling "as strong as death," and yet not be sensible of it? Love takes hold of every faculty of soul and body. It must, then, be no very dull feeling. Again, the warmth and the settled and abiding nature of love are represented by such strong language as this: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Surely this can be no fitful feeling, which comes and goes at extraordinary seasons. It must be a settled and abiding principle of the soul, though it may not always be accompanied with strong emotion. We may sometimes be destitute of emotion towards the friends we love most. But the settled principle of esteem and preference is abiding; and our attention needs only to be called to the lovely traits in our friend's character to call forth emotion."
Now here I would have to say, although love can be a feeling, it is a choice one must make. We choose to love our enemies, obviously we do not love them because of their beauty. :) Love is not just a feeling, it is a choice and as we choose to love something, or someone, the feelings will follow. :) So we can apply this paragraph but we must remember love is not always a feeling, at first. :) Hope your Sunday was filling with joy in the Lord and worshiping Him wholeheartedly!!
"Love is something that can be felt. It is an outgoing of heart towards the object loved, and a feeling of union with it. When we have a strong affection for a friend, it is because we see in him something that is lovely. We love his society, and delight to think of him when he is absent. Our minds are continually upon the lovely traits of his character. So ought we to love God. The ground of this love should be the infinite purity, excellence, and beauty of his moral perfections. He is infinite loveliness in himself. There is such a thing as feeling this love in exercise. In the Son of Solomon, love is said to be "strong as death." Surely this is no faint imagery. Is it possible for a person to exercise a feeling "as strong as death," and yet not be sensible of it? Love takes hold of every faculty of soul and body. It must, then, be no very dull feeling. Again, the warmth and the settled and abiding nature of love are represented by such strong language as this: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Surely this can be no fitful feeling, which comes and goes at extraordinary seasons. It must be a settled and abiding principle of the soul, though it may not always be accompanied with strong emotion. We may sometimes be destitute of emotion towards the friends we love most. But the settled principle of esteem and preference is abiding; and our attention needs only to be called to the lovely traits in our friend's character to call forth emotion."
Now here I would have to say, although love can be a feeling, it is a choice one must make. We choose to love our enemies, obviously we do not love them because of their beauty. :) Love is not just a feeling, it is a choice and as we choose to love something, or someone, the feelings will follow. :) So we can apply this paragraph but we must remember love is not always a feeling, at first. :) Hope your Sunday was filling with joy in the Lord and worshiping Him wholeheartedly!!
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