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56 Meaningful Lines From The Book of Psalm

What are Psalms?

The Psalms are a collection of songs and poetry that construct the original hymnbook of the Old Testament Jews. 

They are songs of worship, blessings, praise, and lament. Often, they recount history, and some even provide insight into Christ’s coming. 

Who Wrote the Psalms?

There were several different authors who contributed to The Book of Psalm. 100 out of the 150 note their author. Out of those 100 named authors, King David takes the lead. 

+King David penned at least 73 Psalms. 

+David’s successor, his son Solomon, composed Psalm 72 and Psalm 127. 

+Moses wrote Psalm 90. 

+Asaph, one of King David’s head musicians, supplied 12 of the Psalms. 

+1 Kings 4:31 says: He (Solomon) was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. The aforementioned Ethan provided Psalm 89, and Heman wrote Psalm 88. 

+The sons of Korah are credited with writing 11 Psalms. 

+The remaining Psalms were penned by unknown authors, although there is speculation that King David could have written some of them. 

Christ Loved the Psalms

Jesus quotes various Psalms throughout His ministry on Earth. These quotes directly connect the Old Testament to the New Testament. There are several verses in the New Testament where Jesus echoes the Psalms, so we will only share a handful.

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

Luke 24:44

Jesus references Psalm 41:9:

“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’

John 13:18

Psalm 8:2 is quoted here:

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?

Matthew 21:16

Psalm 118:26 is referred to by Jesus:

For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’

Matthew 23:39

Jesus refers to Psalm 35:19 and 69:4 here:

But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

John 15:25

Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1 on the cross:

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Matthew 27:46

And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Mark 15:34

Just Psalm More Facts 

Did you catch the play on words? Here are some more facts about The Book of Psalm. 

+The authors of the Psalms are called Psalmists. 

+There are 150 Psalms which are divided into 5 sections:

• Section 1 contains: Psalms 1-41
• Section 2 contains: Psalms 42-72
• Section 3 contains: Psalms 73- 89
• Section 4 contains: Psalms 90- 106
• Section 5 contains: Psalms 107- 150 

+The Book of Psalms is the third largest book in the Bible. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the entire Bible. It is comprised of only 2 verses.  On the flip side, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, consisting of 176 verses. 

+The word praise is written 211 times throughout the Book. 

Meaningful Lines from Psalms

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Psalm 73:16-17

Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.

Psalm 30:2

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 96:11-13

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:12-14

But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence, I bow down toward your holy temple.

Psalm 5:7

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Psalm 46:4-5

My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

Psalm 119:120

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:9

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children-with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:15-18

In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

Psalm 72:7

Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty-he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24:10

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalm 112:5

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 33:20

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

Psalm 65:9-13

Your faithfulness continues through all generations;  you established the earth, and it endures.

Psalm 119:90

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible like gold refined seven times.

Psalm 12:6

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp, and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

Psalm 57:7-8

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

Psalm 25:3

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:8

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Psalm 14:1

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 30:11-12

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

Psalm 16:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

Psalm 77:16-19

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Psalm 48:14

Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

Psalm 115:2-8

In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.

Psalm 75:8

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.

Psalm 25:21

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150:1-6

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:7

I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.

Psalm 119:32

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30

Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.

Psalm 31:23

Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.

Psalm 125:4

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

Psalm 50:2

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 84:2

Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 21:13

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 33:6

The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

Psalm 116:6

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

Psalm 40:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.

Psalm 52:8

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Psalm 32:1

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Psalm 17:6-7

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Psalm 128:2

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.

Psalm 19:7-9

Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98:7

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14

To Conclude

We hope you enjoyed reading this list of verses of Psalms and were able to discover profound significance and wisdom within the words. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

Messages Embedded Within the Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat

The Parable of the Weeds is one of many parables Jesus used to teach the Gospel. It is also known as The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. The Parable of the Weeds can be found in Matthew 13:24-30 and Matthew 13:36-43. This is one of the several parables relating to the Kingdom of God. 

Summary

Jesus is sitting with his disciples and told them a story about a man who had planted good seeds in his fields. However, when everyone was sleeping, an enemy came to ruin the man’s field by planting weeds among the wheat. Nobody knew this had happened until the weeds began to sprout alongside the wheat. Feeling dismayed, the man's servants came to him and asked where the weeds had come from. The man told his servants that an enemy had come and sowed the bad seeds. The servants asked the man if they should pull up the weeds. The man told them no, as that would also pull up the wheat. He insisted they wait until the harvest at which point they would burn the weeds and bring the wheat into his barn. 

You can read the whole passage here:

In just six short verses, Jesus unearths a powerful message about the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The Breakdown of the Parable 

There are a few concepts that derive from this parable. Let’s begin with the symbolism.

 The Owner and His Field

The man who owns the field is God, therefore the field is Earth. 

 The Owner’s Seeds

The good seeds that were sown represent us, God’s children, and the Gospel and teachings He gives us.

 The Enemy

The enemy is Satan. 

 The Enemy’s Seeds

In contrast to the good seeds, the enemy’s seeds represent the seeds of evil; people who give into Satan’s lies, temptations, selfishness, anger, resentment, jealousy, you name it. The enemy's seeds encompass everything Christ is not. 

The Servants

The servants represent God’s servants. 

 Harvest Season

The time to harvest represents the end times. 

The Harvesters

The harvesters are God’s angels. 

The Wheat

The wheat are the revealed Sons of God.

The Weeds

The weeds are the revealed followers of Satan. 

The Barn

The barn is the Kingdom of God. 

Diving Deeper

Let’s take a look at the servants. The servants in this parable were completely unaware that the enemy planted bad seeds among the good ones until the seeds began to sprout. Up to that point, they assumed all of the seeds had been from the owner. This brings us to the question, “Why were the servants unaware?” The answer is simple, they fell asleep. There was a lack of diligence on their part. The underlying message here is that it can be difficult to discern good from evil. You won't necessarily know if something is bad until it is too late; until Satan has a tight grip on you. This is especially so if you are not always watchful and doing everything you can to steer clear of evil. 

Immediately, they ran to the owner to tell him of the weeds. They asked the owner if they should pull up the weeds. The owner replied no. He told them that they might pull up some of the wheat with the weeds. Here, we encounter another example of the difficulty to discern good from evil. The servants are trying to help the owner. They want to rid the world of bad and make sure only the Word of God and His teachings are able to grow. Often, we think we know a person, but in all reality, we can’t see their hearts as God can. Like the servants, we should do our best to help people who are making poor choices and spread His word, but it is not up to us to cast judgment on anyone. Because we are unable to see the hearts of man fully and truly, it is the responsibility of the harvesters to determine what plant needs to be pulled. Additionally, the servants running to tell the owner that weeds were in his field shows us that despite falling asleep, the servants have good intentions. This just drives home the point even more. We might believe we are on the right path, but we are human, we are weak. Satan preys on our weaknesses. We must examine ourselves and search for any areas we have let Satan slip in. 

The owner tells his servants to let the weeds grow alongside the wheat. That means that evil is continuously growing. The good news is, so is the strength of the Lord and His disciples. This nearby growth of evil means that we need to actively work to distinguish between the presence of good and evil in our own lives. We need to be assertive and stand up to anyone or anything that is luring us away from God. However, being assertive does not mean it is okay to be intolerant. Growing among weeds allows for the perfect opportunity to practice tolerance with others. Being tolerant does not mean you agree with someone, quite the opposite. It just means that you allow someone to be themselves, no matter how much you may not agree with them. Remember, it is not up to us to judge. 

The owner tells his servants that when it is time for the harvest, he will have the harvesters collect the weeds and have them burnt. The harvesters will gather the wheat, and keep it safely in the barn. This reiterates the message that it is not up to us to scrutinize others. This is the job of God and His angels.  Those who are the wheat will make it safely into the barn. For us to be gathered and kept safely in God’s Kingdom, we must be aware of our own actions. We need to examine our hearts, thoughts, and actions and make sure they align with Christ’s example. 

Here you can read Jesus’s explanation to his disciples:

A Bit of Agricultural Background

It is believed that the weed Jesus is referring to is darnel ryegrass. 

The words “Tares” and “Weeds” are used interchangeably. Various versions of the Bible use either one. 

Darnel mimics wheat. They are indistinguishable until the plants begin to mature. Darnel has infamously earned the nickname The Evil Twin of Wheat. 

Darnel is toxic. Much like Satan’s ploys, darnel is harmful to our health. 

This further implicates the difficulty in determining good and evil. Someone or something in your life could, by all appearances, be living a life worthy of Heaven. Satan is the leader of deception. He attracts good people by impersonating good. The weeds are among us, even infiltrating our churches. This is why it is critical you stay awake and enveloped in God’s Word. 

In Closing

We don’t know when the harvest will take place. But we do know that we need to be prepared and ready. It is up to us to nourish and promote our relationship with God. We have to determine if anything in our lives is hurting our sacred relationship with Him. We must submit ourselves fully to God so we can one day be reunited with Him in that special barn.

Read more about the Parables here

- Torrance Church of Christ

27 Bible Verses For Valentine's Day

Love is a prevailing theme throughout the Bible. The Bible teaches us that the most important approach to take in life is to approach it with love. We are commanded to respond to and interact with others and situations wearing love-lensed glasses. Jesus teaches us that loving one another is the greatest commandment. Furthermore, God’s love for us is felt throughout His doctrine. 

In observation of this upcoming Valentines Day, we thought it would not only be fun but also insightful to collect and share Bible verses that highlight His resounding message of love. As an added bonus, we’ve included quotes about love with respect to the Christian lifestyle. 

The Verses

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

-Ephesians 4:2

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Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

-1 Peter 4:8

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Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

-1 John 4:8

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 How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights!

-Song of Solomon 7:6

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Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

-Romans 12:9

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Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

-Proverbs 10:12

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How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!  Your eyes are doves.

-Song of Solomon 1:15

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Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

-Proverbs 3:3

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How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!

-Song of Solomon 4:10

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Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

-Mark 10:9

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Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

-Romans 13:10

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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.

-1 John 4:18

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves

-Philippians 2:3

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 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

-Psalm 85:10

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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.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

-Ephesians 5:33

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You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

-Song of Solomon 4:7

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Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

-Romans 12:10

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We love because He first loved us.

-1 John 4:19

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And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

-1 Corinthians 13:13

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 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth- for your love is more delightful than wine.

-Song of Solomon 1:2

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God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

-1 John 4:16

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A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

-Proverbs 31:10

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Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.

-Song of Solomon 8:7

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And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

-Colossians 3:14

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Do everything in love.

-1 Corinthians 16:14

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The Quotes

Never procrastinate in showing love. Don’t delay. Don’t put it off. Do it now. 

Rick Warren

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Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. 

Mother Teresa

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Being loved is life’s second greatest blessing; loving is the greatest. 

Jack Hyles

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Real love, the Bible says, instinctively desired permanence. 

Timothy Keller

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When you are filled with love, and you are busy loving, you have no time to fear. 

Michael Caputo

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When couples love God first, they love each other better. 

Brela Delahoussaye

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Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did. 

C.S. Lewis

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The measure of love is to live without measuring.

Saint Augustine

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When God brought the first man his spouse, He brought him not just a lover but the friend his heart has been seeking. 

Timothy Keller

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When God made a woman, He took her from the rib of the man. One function of the rib is to protect the heart. In the same way, women should protect her man’s heart, careful not to use words or do things to hurt it. 

Unknown

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The more we love, the more love we have to offer. So it is with God’s love for us. It is inexhaustible. 

Mary C. Neal

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If we claim to love God, but don’t love each other, our love is nothing and meaningless. 

David Alley

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Faith makes all things possible. Love makes all things easy. 

Dwight L. Moody

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The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now. 

Rick Warren

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The overriding character trait of Jesus is love, and the entire Gospel story is woven with love. Sometimes it’s not easy, and oftentimes it requires sacrifice, but it’s when we love that we are the most like Jesus. 

Steven Furtick

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As God by creation made two of the one, so again by marriage, He made one of the two. 

Thomas Adams

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Where love is, God is. 

Henry Drummond

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Think on these two powerful points: Lean on God in every situation and love others as unselfishly as you possibly can.

Joyce Meyer

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For instance, God teaches us to love by putting some unlovely people around us. It takes no character to love people who are lovely and loving you. 

Rick Warren

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Love is worthless unless it acts out, unless it’s expressed in deed and behavior. 

Dr. David Jeremiah

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Intense love does not measure, it just gives. 

Mother Teresa

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Love has a quality that it becomes stronger as the time passes. 

Adam Green

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To Love another person is to see the peace of God. 

Victor Hugo

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Love is the doorway through which the human soul passes from selfishness to service.

Jack Hyles

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Love pays attention. Love listens to the fears and the doubts of others and treats them with respect. Love accepts others the way Jesus accepts us. 

Rick Warren

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Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do. 

David Wilkerson

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To love someone means to see him as God intended him. 

Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Lastly

Spread His love by adding a verse or two to Valentine's cards for a special someone, a friend, or anyone else you feel inspired to uplift. Ruminate on the verses and their meanings. Let His word guide you and lead you down a path of unconditional love. 

- Torrance Church of Christ