I Love a Good Love Story

One of our favorite movies was the blockbuster, "Love Story", with Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw! While I love a good on-screen love-story movie, there is nothing like real life ones.

The first chapter of my own love story began when I was a little girl seeing the adoring love that my mom and dad had for each other. I witnessed their sweet affection for each other. In fact, my dad couldn’t keep his hands off my mom. “Roscoe, QUIT!” she’d cry out when he was waaay too affectionate in public for her very prim and proper ways. They were my first example of true love. I think that’s why I’m a hugger today! Be forewarned!

The next love chapter was the love of my boyfriend who became my precious husband a few years later. What a wild and crazy adventure we took on by marrying when we hardly knew anything about life, but we kept practicing and before long, we had learned many trial-and-error lessons. Actually, we never did stop learning about life and each other.

I love to hear real-life love stories. If you and I were together for just a short while, you'd be answering my plea: "Please tell me your love story with your husband/wife!" Since I know my own love story, I get a thrill of hearing other people's romance stories. Now you know why I love me some Hallmark movies! Happy ever-after endings every time!

But, better than our personal love stories, there is one that doesn't even compare. It is the LOVE STORY about God’s Son Who left the portals of heaven to become one of us, first, as a little baby, then grow up and set the pattern for loving, living and serving others. Then to ultimately, die for us so that our Love Stories live on forever. The Bible tells us to "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" Psalm 136:1. "Steadfast love" describes a love that is unconditional and unchanging.

So right here in the middle of this holiest of seasons when we hear that Love Story over and over again, how should we respond? We can respond like the shepherds did on that first Christmas night, and like the Wise Men when they arrived at their home. They worshiped Him. We can rekindle this romance every day as we lean in closer to Jesus and bow our lives to Him in adoration for Who He is and all He has done for us. We can fall in love with Him again and determine to keep the “flames” of that first love we had for Him burning as brightly as the star that announced His coming 2,019 years ago. Indeed, it is the "Greatest Love Story Ever Told"!

The Chapters of My Love Story

The first chapter of my love story began when I was a little girl seeing the adoring love that my mom and dad had for each other. I witnessed their sweet affection for each other. In fact, my dad couldn’t keep his hands off my mom. “Roscoe, QUIT!” she’d cry out when he was waaay too affectionate in public for her very prim and proper ways. They were my first example of true love. I think that’s why I’m a hugger today! Be forewarned!

The next love chapter was the love of my boyfriend who became my precious husband a few years later. What a wild and crazy adventure we took on by marrying when we hardly knew anything about life, but we kept practicing and before long, we had learned many trial-and-error lessons. Actually, we never did stop learning about life and each other.

Then, turn the pages to the love chapter of starting our family -- 3 months into marriage. Love took on a whole new meaning when it produced our most treasured possessions – our two beloved children. We hardly knew how to take care of ourselves, never mind two children. I apologized to them many times for my mistakes along the way. In remorse, I'd say: “Please forgive me! I’m new at this!”

We wrote many chapters in our many years that followed: the right things to do to show love; things NOT to do that takes love tokens out of our “love” bank; setting a good love example for others to follow, and loving each other for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health until death parted us.

I began a new love chapter yesterday when I witnessed God's love in human form. As I arrived at Children’s Hospital for my volunteer work, this precious, beaming boy, in for new x-rays, came to me with this Valentine. I teared up as I told his mom that she was doing such a great job in guiding her boy into being kind to others. A radiologist came by and loved on me with words and action. My sweet girl took me for lunch and gave me these beautiful yellow roses. She knows her daddy and my love story so well. Our wedding included yellow roses and we have had yellow rose bushes planted at every home we’ve lived in. Later at home, my doorbell rang and this gorgeous floral arrangement, that could easily fit at the front of a church, arrived from my son with words “You will always be my first sweetheart!”

I love to give love, and I’ve learned to receive love. I’ve learned that compassion sowed, is compassion reaped; kindness given is kindness received. Through God's great LOVE example of the gift of His Son to us, you and I can be that someone to someone else. We are chips off the ole' block -- and our BLOCK gave to us BIG TIME. Yesterday I was the recipient of God’s love through others. Tomorrow, I plan on planting love and compassion and kindness – not to receive, but to give. I assure you, however, God just can’t help Himself. When He sees His kids taking after Him, He just pours it on for us even more. Every chapter of my love story is interweaved with God’s great love for me. BTW -- yours is too!

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

I love the way my friend, Melissa Ascarino Silvestro, Director of Adult and Family Life at my church, talks and leads those in faith formation to falling in love with Jesus. First it’s getting acquainted with Him and His Church. It’s all about a Love Story. Please allow me to give you her perspective of that love story. (I’ve embellished her words with my words -- just a little!)

First you hear about this "guy" from a friend. She tells you she wants you to meet him because he’d be perfect for you. You’re hesitant about meeting another guy who could let you down and disappoint you. But, she goes on to tell you that the two of you have so much common with each other because he knows disappointment and rejection too. He is kind and generous and forgiving. You agree to meet him, but you’re not quite sure so you remain cautious. The encounter is planned and the day comes when you get to meet him. He’s everything that your friend said he would be. But you’re not about to commit to someone you just met. Your friend encourages you to hang in there, find out more about him, and just spend some one-on-one time with him. You agree to another “date”. This time, something starts happening inside you. You start to get some emotions you can’t explain. You really, really like him…..a lot. By now, you've met some of his family members -- and they are warm and welcoming and you like hanging around them, too. But, you’re just not a quick decision maker – especially when you think about a long term relationship. By now, you can’t stop thinking about him because he seems to be everything you hoped for, dreamed for, and waited for. You spend even more time with him and when you do, you see that he’s a friend that you can talk to about any and everything with. He “gets you”. He understands what you mean when you speak and he even knows what you’re thinking before you speak. Then, the day comes when he asks if you’ll be his forever and ever love, and there is no way you could say “no” – he has captured your mind, your heart and your soul. You say, “Yes – I believe in you. My life is in you. My hope is in you. You are my beloved and I am yours.” Honestly, this is MY Love Story. Jesus is my everything -- my hope for today and tomorrow. I assure you, that this could be your Love Story, too!

Indeed, the greatest story ever told is that LOVE STORY – the story about God’s Son who left the portals of heaven to become one of us, first, as a little baby, then grow up and set the pattern for loving and living and serving others, and then to ultimately, die for us so that our Love Story lives on forever. The Bible tells us to "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" Psalm 136:1. Twenty-five more times in the Psalm we are assured that God's "steadfast love endures forever." "Steadfast love" describes a love that is unconditional and unchanging, depending in no sense on us and in every sense on God.
So as we enter into this most holy of seasons that describes that LOVE STORY to us over and over, how should we respond to such a Love Story? We can respond like the shepherds did on that first Christmas night, and like the Wise Men when they arrived at their home. They worshiped Him. We can enter into that amazing LOVE STORY as we contemplate Him, lean in closer to Him and bow our lives to Him in adoration for who He is and all He has done for us. We can fall in love with him again and determine to keep the “flames of that first love we had for Him” burning as brightly as the star that announced His coming over 2,000 years ago.

One of my favorite authors, Max Lucado, also recommends this Love Story: "When we invite God into our world, he walks in. He brings a host of gifts: joy, patience, resilience. Anxieties come, but they don't stick. Fears surface and then depart. Regrets land on the windshield, but then comes the wiper of prayer. The devil still hands me stones of guilt, but I turn and give them to Christ."

Happy Birthday, Jesus, and Merry Christmas to All

Day 360 of Photo Inspirations -- Happy Birthday Jesus & Merry Christmas to All!
It's 4 am on Christmas morning, and I'll be heading to the airport for my flight, over the rivers and through the woods and mountains and prairies to get to Seattle.  After a beautiful week (in the 70s) with my Texas family, complete with Christmas parties, programs, shopping, playing games, having our traditional movie night (Star Wars rocked), caroling, and celebrating the night when Christ was born with a yummy meal with dear friends, and to cap it off was seeing Larry and Staci working so diligently in getting a Music Room made in the home to surprise Payton & Alexia.  This will be where their friends will bring their drums and guitars to jam and practice worship and praise songs for their band at church.












Last night was special for so many reasons.  Dez Duron (finalist on The Voice a few years ago) was a guest vocalist at the Christmas production that Payton and Alexia were in.  I loved it when Alexia called to tell her Mom "I'm screaming on the inside!  I just had my picture taken with Dez.  This was her instagram post "AHH! @dezduron has literally made it as the highlight of my year in the nick of time #ChristmasEve #yiss #ImInternalyScreaming"  LOL!  

But when Staci gave Larry his surprise, it was the icing on the cake.  Larry, an alumnus of Texas A&M, holds his university near and dear to his heart.  He lost his class ring years ago, but Staci and Payton surprised him with the exact replica of that ring last night.

It was heartwarming to say the least.  It's not often you see 6' 5", Big Larry cry, but I love his heart and sensitivity so much, because this time, he did cry.  Precious, precious times!  How blessed I am.    

Now, I'll see my WA family in just a few hours.  I loved it when Ryan texted me last night.  "We're on our way to church and Bryson just said, "It's a Christmas miracle. Nana is coming tomorrow!"  LOL!  I just might even pass Santa on my way to Seattle -- if he is behind schedule.  ;-)

Maybe, this Christmas morning you're having your traditional family breakfast and opening Santa's presents and seeing what he left everyone in their stockings.....no longer hung with care.  Now they're on the floor, stuffed full of goodies and treasures.  Santa's cookie plate only has a few crumbs left. After all, he gets quite hungry on his exhausting journey.

Oh, the joy of hearing the children's laughter and excitement today -- and the thrill of Christmas in their eyes. If your children are grown, enjoy the sweet memories of past Christmases. If you are missing children today, spend Christmas with God's Son. And if your loved one is in heaven, like mine is, we can know with certainty that he or she is having the most joyful Christmas possible.

Christmas is a day and the tangible gifts we received from friends and loved ones are temporary.  But the gifts that heaven brings us are eternal. Let's spend today celebrating the fact that the baby in the manger was God's perfect gift to us. I hope you will receive all that Jesus was born to give. May your Christmas be blessed with faith, hope and love.  God's greatest gift is love. "For God so loved you that He gave you and me His one and only son."

May God richly bless you and those you love, on this special day.

The PERFECT King Size Bed for Royalty

Celebrities can certainly make some hefty demands on the hotels they stay in.  I read that Jennifer Lopez asks for her hotel rooms to be completely white -- EVERYTHING -- walls, furniture, white candles -- so that she is properly rested.  The sheets must be Egyptian cotton, minimum 250 "thread count" and the room temperature must be a constant 77.9 degrees.   And, Madonna insisted that her room at Berlin's Soho House be given a $23K  makeover, which included a fresh coat of paint, new lights and a new bed - all for a one-night stay!   Apparently she doesn't like sleeping in beds that other people have slept in. And, indeed the hotel accommodated her.

Quite the contrast to the room and bed the greatest celebrity of all had when He came for a visit.  The Bible tells us that when God's Son came to earth, He made no demands for comfort of any kind. When it was time for Mary to give birth to Jesus in the small town of Bethlehem, there was no royal, red carpet reception, no soft bed or fine interior decor'.   In fact, there wasn't even a room left at the inn that Mary so desperately needed for her labor.  Instead, when her baby boy, Jesus, was born, He was put in a 'manger' (feed trough).  It was  hardly a place fit for the King of creation, the one who is: 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords' (Revelation 19:16).

When Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor who sentenced Jesus to death, was interviewing Jesus, he asked him whether he really was a King. Jesus replied: "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37).

Christ changed everything when He chose to leave his heavenly throne for a humble manger -- a KING size bed. May this be a season of worship and thanksgiving for us, because that baby in the manger in the nativity and creche scenes at this time of year, is no longer there -- He IS the King on His heavenly throne.
#KingSizeBed #GreatestCelebrity #KingofKings