A Joy Dare (June)

1. Gifts Orange
    -Orange trees loaded with oranges
    -Orange sweater on a friend
    -Orange colors in a sunset
2. Gifts Funny
    -Morgan
    -Birds in the yard
    -Video clip
3. Gifts from today's conversations
    -A friend asking if I'm doing ok
    -Emails with offers to pay for DH's trip
    -Learning of rose names from the plant lady
4. Gifts Found In Christ
    -Peace
    -Salvation
    Protection
5. Gifts Of Peace, Hope, Love
    -Knowing I'm cared for by Him
    -Knowing that He will do what He has promised
    -Knowing that He loves me even if I fail
6. Gifts "Ugly-Beautiful"
    -Our dog, Morgan (ha!)
    -My hair
    -Thorns on a rose bush
7. Gifts In What I Am Reading
    -Strength for the day from Scripture
    -Messages of love in emails
    -Learning information online
8.Gifts Empty
    -My hands open for Him to fill
    -My home when DH is traveling
    -Food containers
9-Gifts That Made Me Really Smile
    -Baby smiling in response to my talking to him
    -Reading that God thinks about me
    -Hearing my DH's voice on the phone
10-Gifts At 8, At 12, At 2
    -8: birds in the yard
    -12: hunger pains :)
    -2: naptime
11. Gifts Painted
    -Light green exterior walls on our house
    -painted pictures hanging on hall walls, reminders of a course I took
    -my DH's painted drawings, to teach Bible lessons
12. Gifts Full
    -My tummy, of food
    -My cup, of blessings
    -My eyes, of tears
13. Gifts Smelled
    -A rose
    -New laundry detergent
    -Bathroom after I've showered
14. Gifts Unexpected, Unwanted, Unlikely
    -Monetary
    -Phone call
    -Errand
15. Gifts in His Word
    -Comfort
    -Instruction
    -Reprimand
16. Gifts Moving
    -Seeing my DH after 16 days
    -Christmas in June
    -Beauty of a rose
17. Gifts In My Dad
    -Strength-in every way
    -Dedication to Christ
    -Faithfulness to Mom
18. Gifts From My Heavenly Father
    -Love
    -Salvation
    -Protection
19. Gifts I Became In Serving
    -Encouragement
    -Help
    -Friend
20. Gifts Bent, Beautiful, Loved
    -Elbows
    -Sunrise
    -Quiet Time
21. Gifts Found In Light
    -Helps us see
    -Beautiful photos
    -Warmth
22. Gifts That Are Difficult
    -Time (I have time but sometimes use it poorly)
    -Heart (it feels joy but also pain)
    -Energy (I can exercise but...)
23. Gifts Found Around A Table
    -Beloved people
    -Good food
    -Beautiful dishes
24. Gifts In Water, In Words, In White
    -Reflections
    -Bible verse
    -Sweater
25. Gifts In Someone Older Than You
    -Wisdom
    -Experience
    -Patience
26. Gifts In Fabric
    -Brocade design on my Bible cover
    -Pink rose quilt
    -New blue/purple material for skirt
27. Gifts Framed By A Frame
    -My 5 children
    -Lady w/ rose painting
    -Old poem
28. Gifts Eaten
    -Bread
    -Disappearing Cookies (really!)
    -Dark chocolate w/ orange (from a daughter)
29. Gifts Small, Big Just Right
    -Detail on flower
    -Warmth under the blankets
30. Gifts I Gave Today
    -A smile
    -An email
    -A prayer 

I Weep With You

In memory of a brother-in-law and in grief for my husband and his family, I wear these teardrops today...

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (Romans 12:15)

Love-Gifts

Have you ever thought about the many gifts that love brings?

Of course, GOD's love brings gifts beyond measure but I'm speaking of HUMAN love. When we let love reign in our actions, words, thoughts and attitudes, many wonderful and beautiful things happen...




...like patience, humbleness and forgiveness. Like kindness, gentleness and mercy. Some of these, in and of themselves, are often difficult things to practice. But graced with the oil of love they become easy and even pleasureable. Why do we shy away from them?

There are no limits nor barriers to the many-faceted graces of love. Love is given AND received by the unloved and unlovely, makes both parties more beautiful in each other's eyes and is NEVER a wasted act. Do I need to repeat that?

What is love, anyway?? Simply put, it is "a concern for the well-being of others". My husband gave
me that definition many years ago when we were dating and I must say that it about wraps it up in one neat and beautiful package, don't you?

So go out there and practice the divine act of love to your fellow human being. No one deserves it but everyone needs it. It isn't as difficult as you think and the rewards are priceless.

        This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

Drunk With Beauty

My heart is drunk with the beauty around me.

Every day my eyes search God's creation

for the beautiful, the amazing, the incredible.

Every morning I am motivated by the thought

of what beauty I will see that day.

The intoxicating wine of the stunning loveliness

of color and form with light and shadow

is overwhelming at times...

 

Thankfully, I have a camera to capture

some of those moments!

 

 

There are times when I catch an intoxicating glimpse

of the beauty of the Lord-

His holiness and power, His love and gentleness.

Oh, that I would search for that every day

as I do in His creation around me.

Oh, that it would be a motivation in my life,

in my service for Him!

"The earth in summer is brimming with beauty, beauty of such magnificence and variety and unembarrassed lavishness, ripe beauty, lush beauty, beauty given to us with such generosity and abundance it is almost scandalous.

Nature is not primarily functional. It is primarily beautiful...Which is to say, beauty is in and of itself a great and glorious good, something we need in large and daily doses (for our God has seen fit to arrange for this). Nature at the height of its glory shouts, Beauty is essential! revealing that Beauty is the essence of God. The whole world is full of his glory."
                                                                               - John & Stasi Eldredge, “Captivating”

...The whole earth is full of His glory. (Isaiah 6:3b)



For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!...(Zacharias 9:17a)

 ...I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.(Jeremiah 23:9b)

For All Who Have Mothers

Honor your father and your mother,

 that your days may be long upon the land

 which the Lord your God is giving you.

(Exodus 20:12)

 

 

(Click here to see another Mother's Day post.)

A Joy Dare (May)

I have decided to take the "joy dare" as described here by Ann Voskamp. I fear that I will forget on some days to write them down or won't have time. But I am going to try.

So each night or the next morning I plan to write down my "3 joys" for that day. I will be adding them to this post so one has to scroll down to see the most recent ones:

MAY
1. Gifts Tasted
   -A juicy, just-right-amount-of-sweetness-and-
    tartness apple.
   -Cafe com leite at a lady's house
   -God's goodness ("oh taste and see...")
2. Gifts Flat
   -Smooth, thin pages of my Bible
   -Windowpane glass that I wipe clean so I can take a picture through it.
   -Blue glass plate from which I eat my lunch of baked potato
3. Gifts Found in Difficult People
   -Beautiful smile
   -Faithfulness to attend church
   -Determination
4. Gifts Before 9 A.M.
   -Birds fluttering around in my yard
   -Coffee to wake me up
   -My corner to sit and read and think and pray
5. A Gift in a Sign/Smile/Snack
   -Sign: a child with a white horse (on our way to church)
   -Smile: Straight, perfect teeth in most people!
   -Snack: peanuts
6. Gifts Found In Christ
   -Peace
   -Patience
   -Protection
7. Gifts About Your Home
   -Homemade bread
   -Piano
   -Pink rose blanket
8. Gifts Inside A Closet
   -Necklace with a harp pendant
   -Alabaster box
   -New thingies to wear
9. Gifts Found In The Dark
   -Birds singing before sunrise
   -Moon partially behind the clouds
   -Sleeping husband beside me
10. A Gift Outside, Inside, Upside Down
   -A loveseat for the yard my hubby
    bought for Valentine's Day
   -A new electric beater (M's Day gift)
   -China cups sitting on a wall shelf
11. Gifts About Your Parents
   -Six books written by them, some of which 
    has some family history.
   -Exemplary, dedicated Christian lives
   -Their prayers for us (I miss that!)
12. Gifts Held In Hand Today
   -My camera
   -My Bible
   -Gift (for mothers) from church
13. Gifts Found In Your Mother
   -Calmness
   -Inner strength
   -Music
14. A Gift Picked Up, Put Away, Put Back
   -Flower
   -Clean dishes
   -Portion of food (that I wanted but resisted)
15. Gifts About You
   -Calmness (so I'm told)
   -Content to follow
   -More like Mary than Martha
16. Gifts Found In His Word
   -Comfort (Is.41:10)
   -Eternal security (Acts 16:31)
   -Instruction (I Sam.12:24)
17. A Gift In A Box, A Bag, A Book
   -Christmas glassware
   -Groceries
   -Sentimental bookmarks
18. Gifts Unexpected
   -A colorful bird in a tree
   -Good attendance at church
   -One pound weight loss
19. Gifts From My Childhood
   -Good memories
   -Loving parents
   -Scripture memorization
20. Gifts Sweet, Sour, Salty
   -Homemade grape jelly
   -Swiss lemon-aid
   -Peanuts
21. Gifts Found In Little People
   -Smiles
   -Looking up to me
   -Cute photos
22. Gifts That Made Me Laugh
   -Conversation with friends
   -Animal antics
   -Husband's pun
23. Gifts Found In Community
   -Paved streets
   -Park
   -Flowers in front of houses
24. Gift In A Plate, Pot, Package
   -2 slices of pizza
   -Hot soup
   -Goodies from the USA
25. Gifts Hard Giving Thanks For
   -Physical pain
   -Emotional pain
   -Mental pain
26. Gifts Worn, White, Whispered
   -Warm wool socks
   -Washed sweater
   -I love you
27. Gifts Found In Church
   -Blue glass in windows
   -Verse projected on screen
   -Smile with handshake & hug
28. Gifts In Today's Work
   -Teaching
   -Serving
   -Promises of prayers
29. Gifts At 8AM, 12PM, 8PM
   -My corner
   -Food
   -Relaxing moments
30. Gifts Blue
   -Sky
   -Husband's shirt
   -Eyes
31. Gifts I Gave Today
   -Time
   -Smile
   -Thank you's



  


A Mother's Love

 

 It's that time of year again between my mother's birthday and Mother's Day. Although I think a day does not ever pass without thinking of my mother, I especially remember her at this time of year between April 29th and the 2nd Sunday in May. 

But I'm pretty sure she isn't celebrating birthdays anymore!

 

In recent years I believe I have yearned for my mother's presence, love and counsel more than during the years that she was here. Is that possible?

 

I so long to say, "Mom, now I know some of what you went through..your lonely hours, your yearning heart, your joys and disappointments. The longer I live, the more I understand what you must have thought and felt and desired and prayed for. Forgive me for sometimes taking you for granted, for not realizing that you really did know my pains and understood my joys. Accept my sincere love and gratitude for all that you did for me. It was priceless."

 

Indeed, a mother's love is a fiercely strong and wonderfully strange thing. It follows her children the world over and knows no limits to its praise, love and defense of them. Although my mother was "the quiet type", it was a quiet strength that she had. And her strength was found in the Lord.

 

Thank you, Mom. I love you.   

A Mother's Love
A Mother's love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

-Helen Steiner Rice

"For love is as strong as death..." (Song of Solomon 8:6)

In Moments Like These

Every life, now and then, has moments of heartache. Of grief. Of pain. Of concern.

In moments like these, one can only ache and cry out to the Lord...

I cried out to You, O Lord;
And to the Lord I made supplication.

(Psalm 30:8)

 

Those Who Care

(Credit: Boston Globe)

 Since yesterday, April 15th, the hearts of those who have warm human blood flowing through their veins have grieved, ached and cried over the pain and loss of the many in Boston, Massachusetts who have even greater reason to grieve, ache and cry than we do.

Our minds are numb as we unsuccessfully try to understand the mentality of those who have not warm but cold blood in their veins and, seemingly, only desire to do evil. We do not comprehend such behavior other than that "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jer.17:9) 

When I was about five years old I had my first exposure to death. We used to stop by the house of a young couple with their baby girl to give them a ride to church. One day the young mother heated up a pot of water, preparing to give the baby a bath but the one-year-old pulled the pot of boiling water over onto herself and died. My parents thought it best that I go to the funeral. When I walked into the church for the service, I saw the young mother sitting on a bench in the back of the church, as far away from the tiny coffin as she could get. She of course was crying, her head bent over, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Amazing, the details that a five-year-old can remember.




(Credit: Reuters)

During this funeral, the song "Does Jesus Care?" was sung. It probably was not the first time I'd heard it but it is the first time I remember hearing it. Almost every time I hear it or think of the words I remember this incident, one of my very earliest memories.

Does Jesus care in the midst of this tragedy in Boston? Does God care that three lives were snuffed out and that many more are in acute physical pain while their loved ones are in acute emotional and mental pain? Do we care that they are in pain? Oh yes, Jesus does, God does and we do.

And we pray for them because there is little else that we can do and because we know that God answers prayer.

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (I Peter 5:7)

In His Hand

Going across town the past six weeks to our new place of ministry, we have about a half-hour drive each way. All of this is within the city so we are faced with the normal hectic, every-man-for-himself traffic, especially on Wednesday nights. Sometimes it is quite the challenge and gives us (as driver and passenger!) some tense moments. We have seen at least two accidents, one which happened right in front of us and the other had obviously taken place just moments before as the ambulance had not yet arrived.


These things have reminded us many times that we have been blessed to have the Lord's protecting hand, safely taking us back and forth through this city. It is not something that we take lightly, realizing that many people suffer daily with the results of traffic accidents.

 If He should see fit to end our earthly life, then we are ready for that. In the meantime, we must be busy for Him while we have opportunity. Our times, our lives, our souls are in His hands.

There is no more secure place to be than there.

"Our times are in Thy hand..." (Psalm 31:15)

 

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28)

 

First Corinthians Chapter Fifteen

 My attention was brought to I Corinthians chapter 15 this morning. This chapter always reminds me of my Dad, it is the sermon of his that I remember the most. I can hear his voice now, with such conviction and fervor, preaching about the resurrection! (I'd give anything to have a recording of that. No doubt it exists somewhere but I haven't been able to track it down yet.)

How sweet it is to have the hope and assurance-nay, the certainty!-of one day being resurrected to live with our Savior forever in heaven. This promise is ours because He lives, because the Bible says it and because we have believed in Him. 

Have a meaningful and blessed Easter Sunday!

The Lord of Life is risen indeed,
To death delivered in your stead;
His rise proclaims your sins forgiv’n,
And show the living way to Heav’n.

Haste then, ye souls that first believe,
Who dare the Gospel-Word receive,
Your faith with joyful hearts confess,
Be bold, be Jesus’ witnesses.

Go tell the followers of your Lord
Their Jesus is to life restored;
He lives, that they His life may find;
He lives, to quicken all mankind.

              -Charles Wesley 

              (from the hymn "All Ye That Seek The Lord Who Died")

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most                   miserable." (I Corinthians 15:19)

Sing To The Lord!

In making some new photo cards, I had fun today toying with this one. But I was also blessed in my heart to think that He enjoys the singing, the praise, the rejoicing of His children.