Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””

Romans 1: 16-17

There is a sight to behold that is too wonderful to me. 

There are the mountains and the calm sea line. 

By the lake I saw water ripple around the birds, rocking gently on its surface.

Out of the window there is the moody evenness of the gray sky. 

In the town square there are the booths of those people who are desperate to sell merchandise. 

They unveil their white toothed smiles at passersby.

On a foggy morning my heart ached and I went to search out the glory of the Creation.

And then there is You. Far more than I could ever wish for or deserve. Yet you came to me.

-EMH

“But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 corinthians 14:31- 1 corinthians 13

I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love

““When Israel was a child, I loved him,

And out of Egypt I called My son.

As they called them,

So they went from them;

They sacrificed to the Baals,

And burned incense to carved images.

“I taught Ephraim to walk,

Taking them by their arms;

But they did not know that I healed them.

I drew them with gentle cords,

With bands of love,

And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.

I stooped and fed them.”

Hosea 11:1-4

With the conviction of a river meandering through the land

And the steadfastness of the ground that cradles the river flow

That is how I am in relation to you.

I stand in awe of you LORD God of Abraham.

-EMH

I have loved you with an everlasting love

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

Jeremiah 31:3

In the torrents of rain that soak me to the bone and drench my very being

In the terror of the raging sea which pulls me into its unsearchable depths

In the scorching rays of the desert sun that bleeds new colors into my skin

In the oppressive heat of the jungle where moist air clogs every pore of my skin

In the despairing skies of northern pastures where the howling wind offers me solace

In the trails of icy glaciers where the touch of winter and long nights leave me bereft

In the secret place of stillness where Your Spirit makes Your Name known to me 

I taste and see that the LORD is good. 

-EMH

This one is too old as well. I guess I was waiting around for divine inspiration to make it even wordier!?! But I guess this must be its fullness.

As many as the Lord our God will call

“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:39

You’re old brother Bear, and only YHWH’s left to care

Get it right sister Fox, who cares if you’re unorthodox

Taste and see aunt Lioness, truly YHWH has plenty left to bless

Roam free uncle Hound, He has freed you to a life unbound

Lay down your life grandma Gull, the murmur of the envious is such a sinful lull

So I had big plans with this one, it has been laying around for years. But I the words to continue it have dried up. Maybe one day I will also make the small illustrations that belong to it. God willing.

-EMH