Charlotte Gambill calls us back to the foundation of our faith—living in the love of God that drives out fear and shapes how we live. As we choose to slow down and embrace God’s love, we discover the rest and renewal our souls have been searching for!
Notes 📓✏️:
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:16–19 (NIV)
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates].
He says to you, “Eat and drink,” Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].”
Proverbs 23:7 (AMP)
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”
Proverbs 23:12 (NIV)
“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. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”1 Corinthians 13:1–8 (NIV)
● LOVE’S POSTURE IS PATIENT
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Galatians 5:22 (NLT)
● LOVE’S CADENCE IS KIND
● LOVE IS FLUENT IN FORGIVENESS
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:5–7 (NIV)
“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Luke 7:47 (NIV)
● LOVE IS CONSISTENT IN PERSEVERANCE
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
1 CORINTHIANS 13:7-8 NIV
“This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- Pastor Charlotte shared a story about finding brown plastic around her house and blaming everyone else before discovering it was coming from her own slippers. How does this story relate to the way we handle relationship problems?
- According to Jeremiah 6:16, what does it mean to “stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths”? How should this apply to our relationships?”
- What does biblical patience look like in relationships, and how is it different from just gritting your teeth and waiting?
- Why is it harmful to relationships when we keep detailed mental files of how others have hurt us?