faith hope and love – watercress words by Dr Aletha

On love from the Bible

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13 – NIV

Love based on truth

“To love another is to will what is really good for him. Such love must be based on truth.
A love that sees no distinction between good and evil, but loves blindly merely for the sake of loving, is hatred, rather than love.
To love blindly is to love selfishly, because the goal of such love is not the real advantage of the beloved but only the exercise of love in our own souls.”
Thomas Merton , author of No Man Is an Island (affiliate link)

Making love, not war

My friend Bob Peragallo, a retired pastor and Marine Vietnam veteran, shared his take on love this way-

We all believe in love, but often we love the idea of love, when it needs to be our job description.
God declares Himself to be “Love” and He is, but it doesn’t always run in the family. Far too often, our lives become a poor substitute for the Jesus that the world is looking to see. If I lose my focus, I may give a poor substitute for this kind of love.
As someone who has received this love from my heavenly Father, I should always err on the side of loving people.

Bob serves on the Board of Directors of Vets with a Mission (VWAM) , a 501c3 organization providing humanitarian aid to Vietnam and opportunities for Vietnam veterans, their families, and friends to experience healing from the emotional wounds of war.

VWAM sponsors life-saving heart surgery for children through its Children’s Heart Surgery Program. Donations are needed and welcome.

Children's Heart Surgery Project — I examined a child while on a volunteer trip with VWAM, to identify children needing heart surgery and other medical treatments.

sharing the HEART of health with love

These three remian, FAITH, HOPE, and love-the greatest of these is LOVE 1 Corinthians 13:13

Dr. Aletha

graphic by Althea Solomons at LIGHTSTOCK.COM, affiliate link

Lightstock-quality photos and graphics site- here.

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Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2: 17-22, NIV

San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, Texas; photo by Dr Aletha

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a large ornate church, San Fernando cathedral

SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL -SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

photographed by Dr. Aletha

“San Fernando Cathedral was founded on March 9, 1731 by a group of 15 families who came from the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Phillip V of Spain and is the oldest, continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas.

This church was planned to be at the center of the life of this city. The Cathedral building has the added distinction of being the oldest standing church building in Texas, and for all of its more than 281 years, has been serving the people of the Archdiocese and San Antonio.

San Fernando has become more than the geographic center; it has become an ecumenical, cultural, civic, and service center of unity and harmony for all the God-loving people of San Antonio and beyond. San Fernando serves as a refuge for many of the poor in this area who come for help and trust their needs will be met. “

If you have a chance to visit San Antonio, be sure and see this beautiful historic church.

How can we safely worship at church in a pandemic?

Many types of gatherings are important for civic and economic well-being; religious worship has particularly profound significance to communities and individuals, including as a right protected by the First Amendment.

August 9, 2020November 30, 2020