My Word (or two) – Building Up

Someone has to be last in line, and I probably win the honor as being the last blogger to pick a word for 2015. And, I’ve chosen not one, but two words…..

 Building Up!

The condition of our heart matters, so I’ve chosen two words that define a heart in action. As an RN I understand that muscles become healthy and grow when they are exercised, and the heart is one very important muscle, our very lifeline to nourishment, both physically and emotionally.

“Knowledge puffs up, while love builds up” (I Corinthians 8:1)

Heart health maintains life, and I think our inner spirit, the heart of us, too must be nourished, and built up. Sometimes I focus my energies on building myself up– enlarging myself, enlarging my stuff, enlarging my importance. Just becoming ‘big’. Remember the taunts on the elementary school playground of ‘My dad is bigger than your dad’? As we grow older, we often continue in our desire to want the biggest, we just direct it differently. Now we compare bank accounts, house size, number of Facebook friends. Still wanting the biggest. So, when I speak of ‘building up’ I need to clarify I mean

 building up………

                                     others!

God understands our heart nature, our tendencies to build ourselves up. God offers us “a more excellent way”:

 I Corinthians 13 (excerpts…you know the list!)

“Love is patient…kind…not envious…It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails…prophecies…will cease….where there is knowledge it will pass away. For we know in part…but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears…”

“We know in part” and according to this verse “what is in part disappears”. Knowledge disappears. It isn’t the real thing. It’s a part. Not the whole. Love is the complete real thing. The clearest reflection of our purpose, our calling, our God whose very nature and magnificent plans define love itself.

Love endures. Love builds something lasting. Complete. Love doesn’t fail. It may not look as big but, love will last for eternity. And, you may notice, the sheen and shine on those around you who’ve been polished in the process.

What do I want for this coming year….

**Lord, help me to build up those around me, this day.