Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Greatest of These is Love
Have you ever asked yourself what it truely means to Love thy neighbor? Your "neighbor" is not just the scarey guy who mows his lawn shirtless during the summer, or the one who lets his dog out to bark at 6:00 AM, or the one who cooks in her garage. Although it's a good place to start. But your neighbor extends to every person you come into contact with throughout your day. The strangers on the street. The elderly woman in the grocery store, the kids on the play ground, the guy who cuts you off on the freeway. What is love? The love you are encouraged to show is that of our Father in Heaven right?! Why is it so hard then? Mostly because we are so me centered. Do whatever makes you feel good, whatever works for you, whatever benefits you. I know for me prior to having children I was very me centered. It was all about getting me what I wanted. I wanted to watch my shows on tv, be first in line at family dinners etc etc. Then kids come and you have to think about others before yourself. What else does being a parent teach us? How to love in a whole new way. What would this world be like if we loved our "neighbor" like we love our children? The way Christ loves us? Our church is blessed to have a wonderful woman named Alice as our organist. She's the woman in red. Her favorite color she wears it everyday and even drives a red car. Alice is 93. Alice has had health problems lately including a possible stroke. Our church members have been making her meals, sitting with her at her house where she still lives all alone. Alice was at church today happy as a clam sitting at the organ and piano still playing. What a beautiful example of God's love.
“Pure love is a willingness to give without a thought of receiving anything in return.”
“Pure love is a willingness to give without a thought of receiving anything in return.”
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Inscription For A Garden Gate
Pause, friend, and read before you enter here. This vine-clad wall encloses holy ground.
Herein a mellowed garden dreams away the years, Stepped in serene, sweet light and muted sound. Herein tranquility and peace abide. For God walks here at cool of evening-tide.
Pause, friend, and strip from out your heart All vanity, all bitterness, all hate:
Quench, for this hour, the fever of your fears. Then, treading softly, pass within this gate.
There, where the ancient trees wait, bushed and dim.
May you find God, and walk awhile with Him.
Pearl Council Hiatt
I'm a reader and I have a book mark I picked up years ago at Brookgreen Gardens. If you've never been there next time your in the Myrtle Beach area you should go. Although you may have to drag your husbands, it's well worth it. Have you ever been at a place where you could feel God's presence. Someplace that's breath taking beauty gave you goosebumps as though He were standing beside you? Maybe it was Niagra Falls or the Grand Canyon, or maybe standing with your feet buried in the sand stareing at the sunset on the ocean. Have you ever felt that peace. It's in that moment that He touches your heart. It makes me think about the peace and joy that will be felt when I come face to face with Jesus some day. Imagine your first embrace by our Father. So, in essence PEACE.
“Peace holds within itself trust in the Lord, the trust that He governs all things and provides all things, and that He leads towards an end that is good. ”
Monday, January 10, 2011
Understanding Today's Youth Culture
Hi Everyone!
So just a quick post to let you all know about this seminar. Harvest is bringing Author Walt Mueller in for this seminar. If you have a tween or teen or work with them, or will have one this is a must! Join my blog for more info or ask me if you have questions and want more info.
How did you do today? Did you think about how you could pay it forward? It's as simple as opening a door for someone, letting someone over in traffic, giving someone a penny they need at the checkout, smiling at someone who looks sad. The simple acts of kindness can turn someones day around. Don't wait. In the famous words of the NIKE brand Just Do It!
Good Providence!
So just a quick post to let you all know about this seminar. Harvest is bringing Author Walt Mueller in for this seminar. If you have a tween or teen or work with them, or will have one this is a must! Join my blog for more info or ask me if you have questions and want more info.
How did you do today? Did you think about how you could pay it forward? It's as simple as opening a door for someone, letting someone over in traffic, giving someone a penny they need at the checkout, smiling at someone who looks sad. The simple acts of kindness can turn someones day around. Don't wait. In the famous words of the NIKE brand Just Do It!
Good Providence!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Why choose the fruits of the spirit for the header to this blog? I was raised as a Christian. So, my "values" growing up were those set forth by my parents growing up in a Christian enviornment. But I never thought of them as "Christian", but as the way decent people lived. Now as an adult in my personnal walk with Christ I see these "values" more clearly. I'm not an "intellectual". What I am is passionate about how I feel. I want to share and learn and grow. I want to live everyday of my life living out the fruits of the spirit. Do I succeed? Yeah, right! I fail miserably. But what I hope is that I grow each day learning from my mistakes. Did I hurt you today? Maybe. If I did I'm sorry. I pray that you approach me with a forgiving heart, knowing that is not my intent. My joy is found through love when my faith is lived out in a way that is patient and kind and good, and that my heart would be meek as I live a temperate life.
OK - so with that being said. These values are so much more. As neighbors on this planet I pray that we treat eachother with all of these and more. There is a website called values.com. You may not have realized it but there is a campaign of commercials encouraging each of us to pay it forward, so to speak. Check it out. If we each woke up every day looking for ways to reach out to our neighbor, what would the world look like? I have more words to share. More values that jumped off of the page at me which I will share later.
This is fun! I am a frustrated writer at heart. Share your thoughts on one or all of the FOTS. My life and mood moves to music. Right now I'm listening to Casting Crowns, If We Are The Body. Good Providence!
Why choose the fruits of the spirit for the header to this blog? I was raised as a Christian. So, my "values" growing up were those set forth by my parents growing up in a Christian enviornment. But I never thought of them as "Christian", but as the way decent people lived. Now as an adult in my personnal walk with Christ I see these "values" more clearly. I'm not an "intellectual". What I am is passionate about how I feel. I want to share and learn and grow. I want to live everyday of my life living out the fruits of the spirit. Do I succeed? Yeah, right! I fail miserably. But what I hope is that I grow each day learning from my mistakes. Did I hurt you today? Maybe. If I did I'm sorry. I pray that you approach me with a forgiving heart, knowing that is not my intent. My joy is found through love when my faith is lived out in a way that is patient and kind and good, and that my heart would be meek as I live a temperate life.
OK - so with that being said. These values are so much more. As neighbors on this planet I pray that we treat eachother with all of these and more. There is a website called values.com. You may not have realized it but there is a campaign of commercials encouraging each of us to pay it forward, so to speak. Check it out. If we each woke up every day looking for ways to reach out to our neighbor, what would the world look like? I have more words to share. More values that jumped off of the page at me which I will share later.
This is fun! I am a frustrated writer at heart. Share your thoughts on one or all of the FOTS. My life and mood moves to music. Right now I'm listening to Casting Crowns, If We Are The Body. Good Providence!
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