What Love Looks Like in My House

Love will work for hours on the car to save our bank account.

Love will bring home dinner when the other half is hurting with headache.

Love will go into the unknown because the other half has a calling.

Love will sit in an emergency waiting room for three hours straight from work so other half can sit with former homeless, male friend in the patient room.

Love never whines or complains or frets or argues.

Love is very patient.

Love is kind and caring.

Love is very knowledgeable.

Love can see what others don’t through the lens.

Love will clean the carpets.

Love will come home from work on lunch hour when other half cannot get the lawnmower started.

Love will fix the broken blinds.

Love will comfort the other half when her heart is broken.

Love will get on knees with other half to bow the head and pray.

Love will make tough decisions when needed.

Love is a hard, faithful worker.

Love has worn the gold band on his ring finger for the past 40 years.

Love will love unconditionally.

Love is full of grace.

Love is very forgiving.

Love gives and gives and gives.

Love is strong.

Love is gentle.

Love is a blessing.

I'm not sure and yet feel quite certain the following might just have been written about the Love in my house:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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.

First Corinthians 13:4-7

Oh yes! This is the love in my house. How did the other half become so blessed? I don't know. I just know her other love looked down on her and on him and said "These two shall be one."

All I can do is be grateful, thankful, and love back.

What does love look like at my house?

Song of Songs 8:6-7
Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave,
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away...
Song of Songs 2:16
My lover is mine and I am his...


~Happy Valentines Day to the love of my life,
my sweet husband~

and to all of you out there. . .

 

For you believers who think you don't have a Valentine, think again. . .this ones for you. . .

 

 

And for the ones who have not believed on Jesus' name, this one's for you. . .

 

John 3:16

 

The most beautiful and powerful and life changing words right there!

Yep! God loves you that much.

 

~May all your hearts be filled with HIM and with eternal love~

 



 

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Go Into All The World. . .

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Mark: 16:15

There once was a little four year old boy who heard his daddy talking to big brother about taking a camping, fishing trip for the weekend.  His daddy did not think his very young son was quite old enough and ready for such a big trip. But the young son assumed he would be going too.

On the morning of the big trip, Dad and older brother arose early and left. Hours later when little brother woke up and went looking for daddy and brother and realized they had left, his eyes grew big and cried out, 'They went without me, they left me!'

He cried hard for what seemed like an eternity.  Momma felt so bad for him. She wanted to cry too. She tried to explain to him that he was told he couldn't go on this trip because he wasn't big enough but that he would go with them somewhere later. She told him he and she could do something fun.  That did not help. Momma shed tears with him and told him she was sorry and just consoled him until he felt better.

When daddy was told about this later, he felt awful!  So he planned another camping trip, this time just an overnight one and the three of them left for their adventure together. Young son was SO happy.

Forward ahead to twelve years later, this boy left the country on a mission trip to Costa Rica.  Momma was so happy for him, she cried.

Forward ahead two more years, and same boy traveled further on a mission trip to Scotland and Momma was so happy she cried.

Forward two more years and same son is now preparing to go on another mission trip in the summer to Niger, Africa, the furthest away yet. And the papers say he will be doing remote camping!

That little boy who didn't get to go on the big camping trip with Daddy and big brother is now called to travel the world for Jesus. He doesn't cry anymore.
His momma now sits around and cries but only because she is so happy for him and so proud!

Jesus has taken my son from camping at the lake down the road from our home, to clear across the country to camp in Niger, Africa and share His Word.

An African proverb says this:
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

My son has learned to stand for what he believes in and that is Jesus Christ and God's Word.
He fought through a depression 5 years ago by standing on the Word.  He was willing to fail a college Hinduism class because he stood up for the Word.
He can travel to far away places because He believes what and WHO he stands for.

Go into all the world my son. . .You have our blessing, you have our love, and God has you.

The little boy has grown up and will be walking the Karma Road in August.
Will you join me in prayer for Christopher, for provisions, for good health, for all details to go smoothly and for safety?

Thank you!
(Now I have to go put tissues on the list.)

 

Whipping Cream on the Narrow Path

MONTHS ago, my pastor preached a message titled,

When We Know Where We're Going, Our Steps Are Sure

 

I still had my notes from this sermon, so I'll share them with you. . .

 

The narrow path is not made for our comfort,

the narrow path is made for His glory.

 

The Narrow Path will take us places where we seem out of place.

 

Will lead us to love people who reject us.

 

Will require us to humble ourselves and respond with kindness and compassion.

 

Will demand flexibility and faith on our part.

 

God will give us strength to go where He asks us.

 

The goal of the Narrow Path is living out the pure heart given in the Gospel as much as it is in getting to the destination.

 

Call me crazy, but I feel I saw this sermon played out tonight at the bridge with whipped cream and one of the volunteers.

 

 

Linda is a good friend of mine and a volunteer with the Bridge Ministry for the Homeless.

Louie is one of our bridge guests, a great Italian guy who rides his bike down to see us every week and enjoys his hot chocolate with a meal.  Louie smiles and is good natured and asked one time, "Where's the whipping cream'?  Linda told him if it was cold enough the next week, she would bring it.  Well, wouldn't you know, after weeks of wearing 5 layers of clothing, this week warmed up to just a one layer.

 

But Linda's pure and good natured heart thought of Louie and went out to the store to buy whipping cream just for him.

 

I went back to the notes up above. . .

 

Some people might feel out of place at the bridge. . .

but Linda does not. . .because she has a huge servant's heart! 

 

The bridge is not always a comfortable place to be, especially in the winter, but she is always there sporting one of her favorite team colors in her coat and headband.

 

She is flexible and has faith and God gives her the strength to go where He has led.

She has bad back pain, but still shows up every week and stands for a couple of hours on concrete ground. . .and never complains.

 

When the whipping cream came out and into Louis's hot chocolate, I smiled and thought to myself. . .

this is the Gospel being lived out with a pure heart.

This is living on the Narrow Path.
And God gets the glory for this simple and yet profound act

And who knows?
 

That whipping cream might just be a key into Louie reaching the great, Heavenly Destination someday.

 

Charles Stanley says this. . .
  There are only two options in life. We can either live for ourselves and produce “chaff which the wind drives away” (Ps. 1:4) or bear lasting fruit that glorifies God and benefits others.

I believe my friend bears lasting fruit and it's just been sweetened with whipped cream!

Linda and Louie

 

Are you ready to serve and love with the love of Christ with whatever the Lord gives you? 

:)

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The Prince and Snow White?

My mind tends to wander sometimes and it and it can be found out back at the pond. . .funny what God will bring to that wondering mind of mine. . .

 

 

 

 We had a snow fall this morning and it was so beautiful. I’m not a cold weather lover but I do admire the beauty of the snow.  I’ve heard every snow flake has its own pattern…just like people.  That’s just like God to be so creative. Only one verse came to my mind about snow, which you will read at the end of this, but I did think of the white horses at the end of the bible

In Revelation 6:2, John writes,

            “I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a white horse.  Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

            In Revelation 19:11 John describes this,

            “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True…then down to verse 14,

            “The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

            It sounds like a prince charging in on his white horse to save the damsel.  Actually, the rider called Faithful and True had written on his robe and on his thigh the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Even better!

            His entrance here signals the end of the false powers.  A great battle will ensue and we know the ending.  He will conquer, will take his bride and ascend to the New Earth.

            Revelations describes a perfect city with no evil.  Paradise is re-created in the New Jerusalem.  I bet there will be ponds there, but I’m not sure about the snow.

            Snow White had her prince.  But again, that was just a fairy tale.  She was not a real woman, but if she was, I think she would be in Heaven.  Any woman who could live with, work with, and clean up after seven men, and with names like Grumpy, and Dopey, and still whistle, has to be an angel. OK, all kidding aside, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords charging in on his white horse and taking his bride, the church, to a paradise like place is no fairy tale.  It’s the real deal, a true story, THE STORY. 

            The bible says our sins are as scarlet but Jesus makes them white as snow.  I smile as I look out at the clean, pure flakes draping the ground, thankful that I took that step of faith and knowing how He sees me, white as the pure driven snow. I don't have to be Snow White or any other princess, I'm a daughter of the King! Because of this I will be in paradise with Him someday.  And I do believe, when there, I will never be cold again, WOO-HOO!

            For us believers, I guess you could say,

            “And they lived happily ever after.

 

 

Love Letter to the Homeless

Dear One,

As you sit under that bridge, warming up by the fire you built,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

As you sleep under the stars,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

As you walk the streets, looking for cans and change,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

You may not feel loved, but you are.

He sees your every move

He knows your every thought,

Do you know Him?

 

He has been with you from the moment you were conceived.

He has always been with you, heard every word from you,

He has known your every thought. . .while waiting.

 

His Beloved Son paid the penalty for your sins because of Their great love for you.

Do you know this?

 

You say, “I’m bad, I’m filthy, I’ve done wrong things, I’ve made wrong choices.”

He knows dear one,

His love covers over a multitude of sins.

 

Sins as filthy as rags can be made white as snow.

Do you know this kind of love?

 

People have hurt you?

He can heal you.

 

Wherever you are, there He is also. . .

Waiting, because He loves you so.

 

You say, “I’ve never seen Him.”

When that man bought you lunch, He was there.

When the blanket lady handed you blankets and gave you a hug, He was there,

When that man led you to help, He was there,

When Salvation Army fed you, He was there,

When Red Cross gave you a cup of hot coffee, He was there,

When Hotel, Inc. gave you information you needed, He was there,

When you were given a good diagnosis, He was there.

When Hope House gave you a new pair of shoes, He was there.

When that young man witnessed to you, He was there.

When the nurse took your blood pressure, He was there.

 

When that lady handed you a Bible, He was there.

 

When that man handed you a coat and patted you on the back, He was there.

 

When you think you are alone, you are not, He is there.

 

Dear one,

The streets can be hard

They can make one weary.

Come to Him and He will give you rest.

 

When you open the door of your heart to Him

He will welcome you home.

 

Oh Dear One,

Do you hear the message?

Your Heavenly Father loves you!

Jesus Christ is waiting with His loving arms open to you.

Do you hear Him?  He is saying “Come.”

 

How do I know this? 

I went to him with my filthy rags and opened the door of my heart.

He came and cleansed me white as snow.

He sent me to you.

He says to us, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

 

Dear One,

There is no greater love than this,

That He layed down His life to save another. . .

You and me.

 

But death could not hold its sting

He was raised to win the victory.

 

Oh Dear One,

Do you hear Him?

 

“You are loved!”

“You are loved!”