Love Stories

We love because he first loved us.  

1 John 4:19 NIV

A Love Story

"That's so cute." Not exactly the words I expected to hear from my seventeen year old daughter as she read through the funeral bulletin while we stood in line at the wake. My eyes widened as I asked her, "What is so cute?" She held the memorial bulletin out for me to see. (And I promptly moved it about six more inches away from my face so I could indeed read it--teenagers just do not get it!)

Our Love Story

Bob and Shirley met at the Illinois State Fair, August 15, 1953. She was 17 and he was 20. Bob bought Shirley a lemonade and asked her to ride the ferris wheel. They lived happily ever after.

Bob carried this photo (of their first date) in his wallet every day since 1953.

My great aunt and uncle's love story is cute, and sweet, and the fairy tale romance every little girl dreams will come true for her. Bob and Shirley came from truly impoverished backgrounds, but for fifty-nine years, together they developed a rich, treasured life in Monroe, Wisconsin, parenting four beautiful children and creating a legacy of kindness and charity in their community. Their humble, giving spirit shaped them as individuals and as a couple. They will always be remembered as a blessing to the youth of that rural town, and I will always have the honor of calling them my godparents.

Your Love Story

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. Genesis 29:20 NAS

Girlfriends, maybe you have a sweet love story too. Perhaps your Prince Charming swept you off your feet from the first moment you met, just as Bob did Shirley. Or maybe you were the one to initiate the first date like someone I know! Possibly your husband has carried a photo, or letter, or some other memento in his wallet over the years. Or maybe, like Uncle Bob's brother-in-law, your husband has never once removed his wedding in sixty years of marriage. (The hospital threatened to cut it off when he recently had surgery and refused to remove it. As a result, he held his ring fingertip next to his wife's ring fingertip and slid the ring onto her hand until after the surgery when he slid it back in the same manner. Another "how cute" story for my daughter!)

Ladies, I do not know your circumstances, but I do know that some of you are reading this and weeping. You have longed for a sweet love story but the inkwell has been dry. Your pages are still blank. Or maybe your beautiful love story did not have a happy ending, or it is presently falling to pieces. While you are smiling at the sweetness of Bob and Shirley's tale, you are hurting or longing deep inside. Take heart, my darlings, and continue reading...

Your True Love Story

On whichever end of the spectrum you find yourself, I want you to know that you have another love story to tell--one perhaps you know very well, or one you are not even aware is happening. Either way, I promise each one of you possesses this story because it is the story of God's perfect love for you. 

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NIV

My friend, even before you were conceived in your mother's womb, you were loved by God. He knew everything about you, and He cherished each detail: from your hair color to the shape of your face, from your personality to your special talents. He has always carried an image of you in His heart. He wrote you beautiful poems and stories; He fashioned the skies, the stars, the flowers, the fields, and the heavens for you; Girlfriends, He even came to earth as a Man and died for you because He loved you so much and wants you to be with Him eternally. No other love compares to this one--it is perfect love. And every love you have here in earth, as today's key verse states, exists because you were first loved by God.

My dears, Jesus is seeking you, pursuing you, desiring you to know His love and to return His love. All you have to do, if you have not already, is say yes. Your love story is exclusively penned by the author of love, the Creator of love, the one Who IS love. I pray you will embrace it--no fairy tale, not even the most romantic earthly love, can replace the depth and completeness of your Savior's love for you. 

You Love Because You Were First Loved

My Aunt Shirley and Uncle Bob knew the love of Jesus, and they lived it out both in their own marriage and individually in their lives of service to others. Girlfriends, live in the light of the greatest love of all, knowing this story is yours too, and if you accept it, the ending is always happy!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are...1 John 3:1 NIV

Have a blessed weekend, and let your loved ones know how much they mean to you!

A Song in Honor of Bob and Shirley: God Gave Me You by Dave Barnes 

How May I Serve You?

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, 

watching over them—not because you must, 

but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; 

not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 

Not domineering over those in your charge, 

but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2-3 ESV

How may I serve you today, my dear girlfriends? Scrub your floors? Clean your toilets? Wipe down the sinks?

Before you think I have gone completely crazy, or am soliciting business for Merry Maids, let me tell you a story. I have a friend whose son is in his early 20's. This young man took an entry level position at a company. In a short amount of time, his hard work was acknowledged and resulted in a promotion to a supervisor. As one of his first acts as a manager, this young man cleaned the nasty bathrooms at his place of employment. Can you imagine his new subordinates observing this act? Perhaps at first they were resentful that this new guy had gotten a promotion so quickly, or that this youngster was going to be bossing them around? Just when their righteous indignation was fully in flames, the guy goes and cleans the toilets. Really? What's up with that?

Well, as a manager, my friend's son took the example of Christ to heart and decided to truly model the servant leader. He saw a problem: disgusting restroom facilities. He knew the solution: daily cleaning and maintenance. He humbled himself and placed his name at the top of the rotation for this sanitizing schedule. Then, he informed his subordinates that they would each be assigned a day of the week, including himself, for maintaining the conditions of the restrooms. Impressive!

Jesus was really on to something when he told us in Luke 22:26 "Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves."  I am fascinated that my friend's son enacted this principle in such a humbling and base manner. Not many young people lower themselves to such tasks. Pondering the consequences and potential results, I believe that his workers will follow him as a leader into large battles now that they have seen his faithfulness to them in the small, menial tasks. Showing them firsthand that he is willing to enter the trenches as their leader, or urinals as the case may have it, speaks volumes about this man's dedication to his workers and employer.

Was this also the result Jesus desired? If the disciples observed Him washing feet--one of the lowest acts performed by servants in His day--would they definitely not follow Him to the death as their leader and Messiah in the larger task of spreading the Gospel to the lost world? And how much more were they bound to one another through the washing of each others' feet as well?

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45

Living to serve...Serving as a way of life...leading by example...giving upyour life for the many...not lording authority over others...a slave to all. Powerful words, compelling us to examine our ways. Ladies, I pray the Lord's example will touch you in some special way today as you determine the direction of your leadership life--and make no mistake, you are all leading someone, somehow.

Servant leadership...how can I assist you today? I am here, toilet wand and Lysol in hand...just a phone call or email away!

I love you, my dear friends! Be blessed.

Happy Father's Day Weekend

  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Happy Father's Day weekend, Girlfriends!

Whether your earthly father is living or passed on, I pray you will honor his life before the Lord this Sunday. 

Fathers seem to battle for recognition behind the mamas of the world! History proves my claim: After hearing a sermon about Mother's Day in 1909, a young woman from Spokane, who was being raised along with five other siblings by her widowed, Civil War veteran father, decided that he too should have a day of honor. She spoke to her pastor about the idea and began promoting Father's Day; however, the road to official recognition was long and tumultuous, culminating in 1972 when President Nixon signed the law recognizing the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.

Why is it so difficult for many people to adore and celebrate their father? I mean, picking out that card takes forever compared to the one for mom: every card seems like it was written just for mom, but I have to read ten times as many Hallmarks to find the one that fits dad. And then I settle on the "funny" vs. the "sentimental" and I am not even sure why. 

I asked my daughter the question I just posed above. Her response provided some insight from a teen perspective, yet I believe has universal truth in it. Basically, her answer included today's key verse. Dad is the one who is a continuous source of strength, emboldening children to show courage and to conquer fear. He is the hidden force behind each battle fought, and as a child, we look to dad expecting not only to find him present but also rock solid and prepared to charge forward should we need back-up. In contrast, we look to mom for arms to hold us and a shoulder upon which to weep, for comfort and care, even when she includes encouragement, inspiration, or advice into her nurturing. 

Leaning on dad and expecting his presence should not diminish our ability nor desire to thank and praise him. Yet somehow we often interpret dad's strength as a wall against weakness, and we associate weakness with passion and emotional expression. Hence the difficulty in choosing that appropriate and meaningful Hallmark card over the humorous or light-hearted sentimental one.

And then God steps in...our Father in heaven...our ultimate example of what it means to be a dad. And what does He have to say about all of this? Girlfriends, be encouraged, because the pinnacle source of strength, encouragement, guidance, defense, and rock-solid love says go ahead--glorify me! Honor me! Thank me! Remember me in all your days on earth! God is not embarrassed by our songs of praise and admiration; He is not diminished in His authority or power because we call out to be held by Him, to be loved by Jesus, or to be adored in His eyes. Actually, He instructs us to do so, and also makes statements about those who choose NOT to praise the Lord:

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Romans 1:21 NLT

Ladies, your heavenly Father wants your gratitutde and worship, and He wants you to extend the same to your earthly fathers. Do not hold back--strength does not preclude affection, adoration, or thanksgiving. Shower dad with love. And praise God as well.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 NIV

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 NIV

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22

So if you haven't yet, go ahead and send that sappy, sweet, sentimental card that pronounces your deepest emotions and love for your dad. Or buy both if you cannot resist a laugh as well! I think dad will appreciate either one. If your father is no longer with you, maybe buy him a card and write it all down anyhow. Finally, ladies, I know for some of you I am speaking Greek...your relationship with your father is so broken and unrelated to anything I have written today. I pray for you to come to Jesus with that pain. Lay your hurt at His feet and ask for healing and restoration. But also know that although sin has overtaken your earthly relationship, your Father in heaven is perfect, loving, and kind, and He waits with open arms for you. He loves you with every ounce of strength in His being, because God is love. Go to Him!

Have a blessed and beautiful weekend, wherever you are!

Sacrifice: Day In, Day Out

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends....I have called you friends.

John 15:13, 15 NIV

Greetings from Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.

Did you know that June 6, 2012, marked the 68th anniversary of D-Day? I had the honor of passing a portion of that day in a special place, the final earthly resting place to thousands of American heroes and heroines. And now today we celebrate both Flag Day in the USA and also the 237th birthday of the US Army. Praise God!

While visiting the St Louis area this past week, I walked through Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with several different girlfriends from our former hometown.. The setting is quiet, peaceful, and serene. Occasionally, a car will pass on the way to visit the marker of a beloved buried here. Deer gallop gracefully through the grave sites, unaware of the sacrifices and valiant deeds carried out by the persons named on either side of the homogenous, solid white stones. We even encountered a lone fawn curled up next to a headstone of a World War II veteran, as if keeping watch and company of the souls commemorated in this hallowed ground. 

Standing under a tree near the Civil War section of the cemetery, gazing out across the waves of white, cascading over the sloping and rolling terrain, I felt a chill under my skin. I stood in awe and utter amazement at the sheer number of lives laid down for the freedom and prosperity of our nation. I knew not everyone named on a headstone died during active service of this country, but I also had firsthand knowledge of the price otherwise paid by soldier, spouse, and children alike. I related in a special way to the day-to-day laying down of life, freedom, and choice in order to pursue a sense of duty. I felt honored to be among their numbers under the leadership of my husband as a soldier and patriot.

In the devotional My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes, "Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said--'I will lay down my life for Thy sake' and he meant it; his sense of heroic was magnificent. It would be a bad thing to be incapable of making such a declaration as Peter made; the sense of our duty is only realized by our sense of the heroic." (p.122, copyright 1963) Wow! I ask myself, can I stand in a place such as Jefferson Barracks, or any cemetery in America, and not feel the urge to make such a declaration? Can I gaze upon a flag flying today and not acknowledge and appreciate the heroism of my fellow Americans and desire to honor them by my own actions and sacrificial giving? Am I capable? Am I willing?

Oswald Chambers continues, " Has the Lord ever asked you--'Will you lay down your life for My sake?' It is far easier to die than to lay down life day in and day out with the sense of high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways." (p. 122) Girlfriends, can I say "wow" again? Day in...day out...laying down our own passions, pleasures, desires, and wishes for the greater good and glory, in honor of the one brilliant moment in all of history, the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our God, upon the Cross--a moment imitated by so many men and women in the over two thousand years since that day. Day in...day out...relinquishing our rights and our freedoms for the eternal glory of God, for the salvation of His children, and for the freedom to worship and glorify Him--or not. Praying for the "or nots."

Finally, Chambers states, "For thirty three years Jesus laid out His life to do the will of His Father, and, John says, 'we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' It is contrary to human nature to do so." (p. 122)  Yes, ladies, it is contrary to our nature to deny ourselves, but as mothers and wives, we understand the nature of sacrifice. I pray you will conquer your will and steady yourselves upon the path to righteousness that is paved with your willingness to forego your own comfort and pleasure for that of others as a result of your love of Christ.

"If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. It is difficult, and thank God it is difficult. Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult. God saves a man and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect--'Now work it out, be loyal to me, whilst the nature of things around you would make you disloyal.' 'I have called you friends.' Stand loyal to your Friend, and remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life." (p. 122)

Girlfriends, I could not sum up my emotions and thoughts on this patriotic day any better. I pray in whatever capacity you serve on this earth, that you will be loyal, act honorably, follow the Holy Spirit, acknowledge the sacrifices before you, from God and from your fellow man, and most of all, lay down your life...day in, day out...for your God. I thank you, and I am grateful to the service members, and their families, who rose to the challenge throughout history.

Be blessed today!

Prayer Changes Things

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  

Philippians 4:6

 "I have so much to do today that I shall never get through it with less than 3 hours of prayer."

-attributed to Martin Luther 

Summer is going to be a blogging challenge for me. I have an incredibly busy schedule with the kids, college registrations, vacation travel, and so on. We just completed graduation ceremonies in Chicagoland, and then down in St Louis, this past weekend. Now we are preparing for the parties and celebrations! I am in full cleaning and cooking mode this week. Busy, busy, busy. However, ladies, as the quote above states, I have so much to do that I have to spend some time in prayer.

"The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer."
F.B. Meyer

I want to talk about prayer today. Our prayer life is not only important but a reflection of our relationship with Christ. Prayer does not have to be the time spent on your knees next to your bedside. Prayer can take place anywhere, anytime you choose to speak to God. I pray while washing dishes, folding laundry, walking the dog, driving the car, and watering the flowers. That is the beauty of our relationship with God. He is always present with us and available for conversation. No topic is off-limits; no subject too touchy. I love that I can pour out my heart to the Lord without worry about my wording or tone or body language. He always understands, always hears, always believes in the best for me. 

"Prayer requires more of the heart than the tongue." Adam Clarke

Prayer for me can be silent conversation in my mind directed to my Father. At other times, I actually speak the words out loud. Many times the discourse takes place on paper in my journals. Throughout the day, I may also sing my prayer when the words of a song move me to cry out to the Lord. The beauty of prayer lies in variety and the fact we do not have to be ritualistic.

"Pray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everything depended upon man."
Francis J. Spellman

I have a sign on top of my refrigerator that states: Prayer Changes Things. When I bought this plaque many years ago, my thoughts were that God would alter the course of events if I prayed long and hard about it. Over time, the phrase took on new meaning, as I learned that God did not always intervene and give me my way. But He did change things...and the thing He changed the most was me. Through time spent in prayer, my attitude changed. My thought process changed. My relationships with others changed. My actions changed. Yes, prayer changed things in ways I never imagined possible even when the earthly, tangible results were not as I hoped. Not my will, but thine be done! That is how we pray.

"Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still." E.M. Bounds

Ladies, today I pray that all of us will exercise the privilege and power of prayer. Spend time with the Lord. You have too much to do not to take time and pray! Nothing in your schedule is more important or pressing. Your greatest provision for the people in your life is to pray for them, bring them before your heavenly Father in love and tenderness. Ask God for His blessing over them, for His power to be known in their lives, and for their hearts to accept His offer of grace and salvation. Pray, sisters, that Christ's sacrifice upon the cross would not be in vain, that we and our loved ones alike, would live like people worth dying for, because Christ thinks we are. He gave His life in exchange for ours that we may live everlasting in His presence and with one another. Believe. Pray. Accept the gift. Spread the Word. God loves you!

And so do I!

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

Wisdom and Understanding

Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.

Proverbs 3:13-14 

Hello Girlfriends!

My thoughts are fixed upon graduation as my youngest daughter wraps up her high school career today by taking her last final exam. I think about all the facts memorized, the grammar and spelling checked, and the mathematical equations solved. With twelve years of knowledge in her brain, my darling will embark upon life in the real world. She has high aspirations for a career in graphic design, one that will hopefully pay the student loans and provide enough leftovers for a roof, clothing, and food.

In the midst of preparations, this mother's mind focuses upon today's key verse. My hope for my daughter is that she has obtained more than just plain knowledge in these past twelve years. I pray that she sought the Spirit of the Lord for wisdom and also understanding, for as Proverbs 3 states, they are more profitable than silver, yield better returns than gold (even with today's market value for that precious metal.)

Head knowledge is terrific and especially useful for operating heavy machinery or designing detailed brochures. But heart knowledge is better. Many people know who Jesus is, believe He existed, and agree He was crucified for our sins. What is lacking is the wisdom and understanding of why God entered humanity, died, and resurrected on our behalf. Facts flourish but a relationship with Christ flounders. Unfortunately, without that rapport and without wisdom, knowledge alone can only lead to worldly success with disastrous eternal consequences.

Jesus alone saves us from ourselves, from Satan, from sin--knowing this point however is not enough. Understanding why, and wisely choosing to accept His sacrifice, are the true keys to future profit and prosperity.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

I pray for my child, and all of my loved ones, that God will give them insight, discernment, and wisdom when applying knowledge to life on this earth. Building a house is the easy part; choosing the foundation is the difficult and demanding decision. Society beckons us to settle for appearances, popularity, and its definition of success. God desires so much more for His children. His foundation is solid and steady in the storms as well as the sunny days, but requires sacrifice and slow, steady progress during the building phases. In today's age of instantaneous everything, will our children patiently wait upon stable construction or will they settle for flimsy and fast fabrication? What about us? What example have we provided our youth? Girlfriends, the time is never past for demolition of the old house and construction of the new with Jesus Christ as our cornerstone and concrete base. 


If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

Ladies, today let us join in prayer for our graduates, for our younger and older children, for our friends and family, and for ourselves. May God grant wisdom to all who ask so that the knowledge in our brains connects with the love in our hearts, the passion in our bones, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. May wisdom and understanding guide every free choice allowing each one of us to be a blessing to others and bring honor to our heavenly Father. 

Have a wonderful day!! 

PS Please pray for my daughter as she gives her speech tomorrow at graduation....another example of how God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. My non-public speaker child has been asked to present the senior class gift to a gym full of students and family members. Her comfort zone is designing the gift and the card to accompany it, NOT making a public presentation. God bless her for stepping out and accepting the challenge. 
 

Better Than A Hallelujah

Girlfriends, today is "one of those days" for me. I sat down thinking my blog title would be Doubting Days. As I began to write, the song  Better Than A Hallelujah by Amy Grant played on my radio. (video above)

I have heard this song many times. For some reason, today was the first time the lyrics sunk in and connected with my brain. God has a way of speaking to me in the absolute moment I need to hear from Him. This morning was that time. Let me explain.

My doubting day really began last night as I sat alone frosting cupcakes into the wee morning hours. Do you ever have those occasions where every nook and cranny of your existence is subject to scrutiny? That is where I am right now. Full of doubt and questions.

My to-do list looms larger than life. I doubt I will be prepared for today's bake sale or tomorrow's FCA picnic. I doubt these white cupcakes taste very good. I doubt my oven thermostat is functioning properly, which leads me to reflect upon all my appliances. I doubt my freezer door will ever work properly after three repair visits already.

Minor issues really. But you know how the isolated mind likes to wander deeper into the forest of fear. I begin to envision my life with no kids at home. No bake sales. No more making posters or submitting announcements. No FCA meetings, youth groups, or school functions. No sporting events. I doubt I will be very happy alone and wonder what I will do.

I think about having time to work out, but I doubt my hands and arms will ever stop hurting again. Naturally, that leads me to doubt I will lose the ten pounds that taunt me daily. I guess I can take walks, but then I wonder if people will think I am crazy, going around the block and talking to my dog the whole time. I doubt Oreo will care about any of this nonsense.

I wonder about a dog's life. I wonder why God created the world the way He did. I doubt I should be questioning God, but I wonder why Adam and Eve could not have just had a "time out" over in the corner of the Garden and rejoined God after they had time to "think about" their actions and motives. Could they not have written one hundred times, "I will not listen to the serpent, and I will not eat the fruit of the forbidden trees"? I wonder why we cannot all live in harmony--without pain, sickness, strife, or sadness--together with Our Father in the Garden where work and play are balanced, where we actually have time to spend enjoying one another. I wonder. I doubt I will know in this lifetime. I wonder if God is upset with me for all this doubting--which leads me to the song on KLOVE. Thank you, Amy, for picking me up!

Girlfriends, I truly believe we can have "one of those days," or two, or a week, month, year...you get the point...yet God's love remains steady and true. He will never give up on us. He does not condemn us or get offended. As Amy Grant says, "we pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody." So, today, I doubt God cares that I am questioning my life and purpose. I believe He is here with me, walking through the mess and holding out a hand to hold. I think we will go for a walk after the bake sale...and take Oreo with us!

Have a blessed day, ladies! Doubting, or secure in your place, God loves you. And so do I!

Better Than A Hallelujah
by Amy Grant

God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves a drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Guard Your Heart

Guard your heart above all else for it is the source of life.

Proverbs 4:23 HCSB

Good Morning, Girlfriends!

Today I am asking you for prayer for my mom-in-law as she undergoes a heart procedure. We trust in the Lord with all of our heart, which includes literally placing our physical heart in His hands when needed. This day is one of those times for her. 

As today's key verse tells us, ladies, we must guard our hearts at all times. Guarding means protecting, watching over, defending, and securing. Protect your heart with exercise, good food, and stress reduction. Watch over your heart with careful observation, allowing only "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...anything is excellent or praiseworthy" (Phil 4:8). 

Defend your heart against the enemy--physical and spiritual. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:12 Yes, we have to fight off the temptations of the world that contribute to heart disease, but the greater struggle is defending against the spirit of evil which tempts our hearts to harden against our fellow man. Loving God and loving one another is the greatest defense!

Secure your heart, Girlfriends! Let no one take it from you without your express consent. Give your heart knowingly and only to God. Share it with the rest as you discerningly choose to love. As Proverbs 4:23 tells us, the heart is the source of life. Live today from your source; love from a guarded heart!

I pray you will examine your heart and recognize the areas that need tending or mending. Ask God, the great Physician, to heal you. But more importantly, please ask Him to be the King of your heart, your Savior. Jesus gave his life for yours. As the song says, live like someone worth dying for, because my dears, you are! (See Song of the Day tab above.)

May your heart be full of love, mercy, grace, and kindness today! God bless you all, and God bless my mom-in-law!

Share the Memories--and the Jokes!

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

Genesis 9:16

Girlfriends, do you remember....?

Ahh, memories, and the emotions sparked by them, lighting fires that warm the night as we reminisce. Looking back, time often blurs the edges around the moments I recall. The details sometimes change but the heart of the matter remains. That is, until someone finds a video recording of "the moment," and I get to view my younger, immature self, frozen in time and electronic space. Suddenly the details are crystal clear and less romantic than I envisioned! Nonetheless, I treasure that footage of the roads we traveled, the homes we occupied, and the children we raised, inadequate and inexperienced as we were!

My children and their generation will carry the blessing and the curse of the camcorder age. Always in the spotlight, no event or activity goes unrecorded. Their memories are influenced by digital preservation. While viewing first steps, first words, and other firsts is exciting, our kids do not have the luxury of glamorizing the days gone by.  There will be no "I walked five miles to and from school every day, and up hill each way" because the video of the trip only lasts five minutes and contains no gasping for breath or complaining of aching legs!

On the flip side, viewing the vivid details, full length, and often including the happy faces of since departed relatives, can bring joy and comfort. I somewhat envy my kids. I would love to observe myself entering the world, discovering it as a toddler and preschooler, and attempting to conquer it as child and teenager! My physical memory is horrible. I treasure the videos I shot and often comment, "Hmmm, I don't remember the bedroom in that house looking like that," or "What was I thinking dressing you like that and feeding you tv dinners at 18 months old!"

This week as we celebrated Mother's Day together with some of the kids and my own mom, we sat in the kitchen watching a few of these home videos on the computer. I can honestly say the emotional roller coaster was up and running. I laughed. I cried. I laughed until I cried at times. Honestly, though, my fondest moment came a day before as the kids and I sat around a table eating with one another.

Between bites, my son said something he thought was comical. My oldest daughter promptly informed him that what he said was the oldest grade school joke around and was not really even funny. Then my other daughter stated that she vividly remembered hearing one joke in grade school, and it was not the one my son just said. Naturally, we asked her to tell her joke, following which we busted a gut laughing for about ten minutes. (Unfortunately, grade school jokes are usually corny, inappropriate, and involve potty talk, so I will not print it here.)

Later, the girls shared the joke with Gramma Sharon, who found it only slightly amusing; however, the girls soaked another ten minutes of laughter out of round two! Once the giggling subsided, I asked my mom if she remembered any jokes from her childhood school days. Cocking her head to the side, searching her brain, she finally declared that indeed she could not recall a single one. "Odd," I thought. My mom has been telling us jokes for as long as I can remember. I wondered when she first found her sense of humor, and better yet, why could we not have video of that? I longed for my grandma or papa in that instant so that I could ask them about mom as a child.

Sharing stories and special memories with one another is such a vital part of family life. I wish I had recognized earlier in time the value of our history so I would have taken the time to listen, to ask, and even to record. Girlfriends, we are exceedingly important to one another. The fibers of our life are woven into a beautiful tapestry, intertwined with our loved ones. So how is that we can know so little about the people with whom we are bound? Perhaps we so often have trouble seeing the bigger picture because we ignore the fact that one exists and that it is comprised of the essence of the individuals surrounding us.

Today, I pray you will seek the bigger picture. Take time to share your memories with your family (and friends) but please also listen to their narrative as well. Watch video if you have it. Ask questions: What was your favorite joke when you were in school? How did you get to school? Did you bring lunch from home? What games did you play at recess? Who was your first boyfriend/girlfriend? Record the answers--maybe with a video camera, or possibly in writing--so that future generations will be blessed and informed.

Ladies, I also pray that you will seek (and share) God's story as well. Wouldn't we all love it if God had created the video camera when He was working out the details of the Garden of Eden? But, alas, He did not, and probably for good reason!  His Story, the Bible, is living and active today. The recorded history is from real people but the lessons from God's Word apply to us this very moment. Seeing the bigger picture means knowing our story--whether an hour ago, fifty years ago, or back to the first day when "God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning —the first day." Gen 1:3-5


Girlfriends, do you remember....? Ask. Listen. Share. Laugh. Cry. Learn. Love. Live!

Our Surprise Gift

Happy Monday, Girlfriends!

My Surprise

I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day Sunday. My day was terrific for many reasons, one of which was a surprise visit from my oldest daughter who lives five hours away! The older they get, the better kids are at keeping secrets. Working out of the details of presentation is another story, as us moms are pretty good at knowing when the kids are up to something fishy. Asking me to crawl inside a blanket fort in the basement because my Mother's Day gift from dad is too big to carry out was my first clue. That the gift is for my flower garden was the second clue. Dad already thinks I have too much "junk" in the yard, and he would never hide anything in the basement! "You guys are up to something," flew out of my mouth as I walked downstairs. Nonetheless I crawled in only to find my "too big to carry" daughter sitting with the beautiful cross pictured above that she made for me! A wonderful surprise!

Mary's Surprise

Another mother we all know once got the surprise of her life when an angel named Gabriel visited her.

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

But [Mary} was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  Luke 1:29-33 ESV

Now, Mary got that gut feeling I was talking about earlier, that one that says "something weird is going on here!" Can you imagine? You are a young, newly engaged woman just going along doing what is right and holy. You have no thoughts of kids or diapers or wiping runny noses anywhere in your head. Suddenly an angel shows up and basically informs you that 'hey, you are going to be celebrating Mother's Day next year."
I don't know about you, but if I were Mary my stress level would have just shot through the roof. Well, God certainly knew whom to pick, because this soon-to-be-mom already had mastered two qualities every mother needs: patience and acceptance.

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

 

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.  For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 

Luke 1:34-38

 

Our Surprise

Girlfriends, as you reflect upon Mother's Day, I pray you will give thanks to God for the greatest surprise gift of all: that He came to earth in the form of Man to live amongst us that we may be the benefactors of His life, death and resurrection. A gift is just a gift unless you unwrap it. So, ladies, I pray you will accept Jesus Christ in your heart and discover the joy and peace of unconditional love. 

Have a blessed week!