And God Said…….

I thought I had exhausted God’s early morning wonders, but not so yesterday. As I snapped this view of the sun’s rays, I thought: “And God said…..” Oh, if ever we needed God's "saids" with clarity, it is in these times. I sensed He was "saying" and we only need to lend an ear. A neighbor walked by me and remarked “Isn’t that the most beautiful sunrise?” And I replied with gusto: “And God said...” The man said “I think so, too!”

So this blog today is straight from Heaven Central to us earthlings! No doubt, God is wanting to get through to His rebellious, disobedient, contrary, and ornery kids because He loves us way too much to let us go on like this. I’m one of those who needs to be reminded of His words from way before this day and time. He probably – no, surely – had us in mind when He spoke them the first time. Let's listen to what our Father is saying. I, with you, want to hear Him and purpose to obey Him with my words AND actions:

🎚And God said,
"Let there be light," and there was light.” Genesis 1:3
🎚And God said,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3
🎚 And God said,
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” John 15:17
🎚 And God said,
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
🎚 And God said,
“I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
🎚 And God said,
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” Isaiah 54:10
🎚 And God said,
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
🎚And God said,
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
🎚And God said,
“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
🎚And God said,
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
🎚And God said,
“Come to Me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
🎚 And God said,
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Thanks for the Memories, Kenny!

So what’s a girl to do on a day when she hears that a dear friend has passed away – especially when she’s in quarantine because of the C-virus? And, when she gets many text messages from friends and family who offer her condolences. She remembers. And, she recalls the love she shared with her lover listening to this man's love songs. SHE recommends that you lovers out there listen to those songs while you're in quarantine!

Last Friday, Kenny Rogers passed away. As a devoted fan of his for so many years, I couldn’t help but shed some big old crocodile tears as I let my mind go back to his many concerts that my husband and I attended. We felt like we knew him personally because his songs were so much a part of our lives. Any time he was within a couple of hours distance from us, we’d make sure we were at his concert.

I’m strong, resilient, determined and I live life to its fullest. I don’t often spend time just reminiscing the past. Looking in the rearview mirror and dwelling there gets us no place. But there are times when it’s okay to remember. I did that on Sunday after I had watched, via livestream, two church services and two masses – all four giving me so much gratitude and deeper love for my Lord. I took notes and journaled what I heard.

Then I called five friends to check on them and to spread some love and encouragement. But once I cozied down in my chair, I listened to some of our Kenny Rogers’ favorites: “She Believes in Me”, “Lady”, “You Decorated My Life” and our absolute favorite in our later years: “Through the Years”. I had me some big old melt down as I remembered my sweetheart’s arms around me and holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes as we heard those songs.

I remembered, when living in Canada, us following Kenny’s entourage to Morden, Manitoba. A white limousine led the way for several white Cadillacs. We had a white Cadillac, so we felt welcomed to follow right in line with them and into the private parking area as the guard waved us through. Kenny and his entourage walked in through the stage doors. We owned it and made our way in with them and into the best seats in the house. Kenny always said from the stage: “Lady, why do you have binoculars when you’re sitting on the front row?” That wasn’t me, because it wasn’t the man we admired as much as we did his songs and his beautiful vibrato voice.

True love didn’t quit through life’s ups and downs.“Through the Years” spoke volumes about two determined people willing to never give up. That song described us perfectly!

To love and be loved is life's sweetest treasure. But even more than the earthly love we enjoy, the most beloved relationship we could ever hope to have, is our relationship with God. What a beautiful romance I have had with Him through the years. He yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure with us. He says:“I have loved you with an everlasting love”. (Jeremiah 31:3) This world was made for romance -- the rivers, the meadows, the mountains and the beaches. Flowers, music, a kiss, a sunrise, a sunset, a touch.

Shhh! I hear Him singing a love song to me: "The LORD your God among you is powerful -- He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you". Zephaniah 3:17

Perhaps, as a jealous God for our affection, one of the reasons for the incubation and isolation we’re experiencing right now, is because He wants us to turn our attention to Him. We’ve got the time and we’re in just the right place to do that today!

The Sound of a Rushing Mighty Wind

As I made my way home from church, the skies began to darken and the wind started blowing hard. I was thankful to get inside before the torrential rain began. I thought that my trees might break because they were bent over so far. I started saying “Peace. Be still. In the name of Jesus”, over and over again. I decided to take a nap and when I awoke 45 minutes later, the sun was shining brightly and all was calm.

I saw that my neighbor’s patio chair had been knocked over and some tree limbs broke off and many clumps of leaves laying all over. On my FB timeline, I saw a friend’s post (pictured here): “A gust of quick wind came down and ripped out trees on the golf course, tore branches off the trees on the course into our yard and pool. Amazing how quickly it happened!”

Immediately I remembered, “Today is Pentecost Sunday, and these winds and their sounds hold no comparison to the winds that day!” Acts 2:1-2 says "And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting." This was a noise LIKE a violent rushing wind. This “wind” is not violent that tears apart trees and patio furniture and shingles from a roof. It is better likened to a refreshing, cool breeze of the Holy Spirit.

When we were fishing at Beaver’s Bend, the temperature escalated on a couple of the days. It was warm but we were refreshed when all of a sudden we would feel a very cool, almost cold, breeze circle around us.

Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to a gentle breeze that blows through one’s life and changes everything. He first mentioned the Holy Spirit in a conversation with a spiritual leader named Nicodemus who had always tried to please God by following Him with precise scores of rules and laws. Jesus described a spiritual experience far more personal than that. “You can’t get to know God by anything you do yourself.”

Later, when Jesus was about to leave this earth to return to heaven, His disciples were sad and wondered how they could live without Him. He promised them: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of Truth. He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16–18).
In other words, Jesus knew that a human body could be in only one place at one time. But through His Spirit, He could be with us all the time. And not just with us. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will, if we will let Him, live within us. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” asked the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 3:16).

I just had to write another blog today about the Holy Spirit Who has been my mainstay. It is surely the most wonderful and most mysterious blessing of all! If you’ve ever prayed in grief or discouragement and suddenly felt comfort or if you’ve asked God for help in making a decision and felt a dawning awareness of what the right choice should be, then you’ve already met the Holy Spirit. The Spirit does the very things that Jesus Himself did while He was with us: He comforts us, helps us to understand truth, provides direction and healing, helps us to admit when we’ve sinned, and reassures us of God’s love. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the lives of those who love Him. What makes all the difference is knowing that the Holy Spirit is always here, always watching, always encouraging, and always ready to help us when we really need Him.

Perhaps, today, you’re feeling the soft, gentle breezes of the Holy Spirit drawing you into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Scripture says “I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you”. Jeremiah 31:3 He’s nudging you to commit your life to God. If you are already a Christian, the Spirit may be calling you to a more devoted life to Christ and even to a life of greater service to others. Whatever He might be saying to you, God asks you to believe that His Spirit is there, near you, watching you, giving you the power to overcome, be more faith-filled and drawing you closer into Himself. Go ahead. Lean in. Experience those cool, gentle breezes of Holy Spirit right now, this very day!

Love Shows Up in Whole Foods

Loving and Singing Through the Years
It seems I'm still caught up in this “Love Month”. I was at Whole Foods and over the sound system I heard Kenny Rogers singing "our" song, “Through the Years”. I was somewhat jolted and teared up a little! Of all places to be reminded of my sweetheart was Whole Foods. We had special songs that were “ours” in our earlier years, but when true love didn’t quit through all of life’s ups and downs, this song spoke volumes about two determined people willing to stick it out and realize how sweet the love grows when we don't give up. This song describes us perfectly! I can imagine, for those of you who have been together through thick and thin for many years, can relate to it, too.

I can't remember when you weren't there,
When I didn't care for anyone but you.
I swear we've been through everything there is,
Can't imagine anything we've missed.
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do.

Through the years. You've never let me down.
You turned my life around.
The sweetest days I've found, I've found with you.
Through the years. I've never been afraid.
I've loved the life we've made.
And I'm so glad I've stayed, right here with you.
Through the years.

I can't remember what I used to do, who I trusted,
Whom I listened to before.
I swear you've taught me everything I know,
Can't imagine needing someone so.
But through the years it seems to me,
I need you more and more.

Through the years, through all the good and bad,
I knew how much we had.
I've always been so glad, to be with you.
Through the years. It's better every day.
You've kissed my tears away. As long as it's okay,
I'll stay with you. Through the years.

Through the years, when everything went wrong,
Together we were strong.
I know that I belonged, right here with you.
Through the years, I never had a doubt,
We'd always work things out
I've learned what love's about, by loving you, through the years.

To love and be loved is life's sweetest treasure. But even more than the earthly love we enjoy, the most beloved relationship we could ever hope to have is our relationship with God. What a beautiful romance I have had with Him…..through the years.

This romance, beyond my Sweetheart’s “great escape to heaven” is the life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure I have with God. In Jeremiah 31:3, He says “I have loved you with an everlasting love”. Talk about a romantic lover. He’s given us the whole world for romance -- the rivers and the meadows, the mountains and the beaches. Flowers, music, a kiss, a sunrise, a sunset, a touch.

There's no "earthly" love like His love. Shhh! I hear Him singing a love song to me.....Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God among you is powerful -- He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you".

Of Course, We Have Great Love for Our Children – We’re Just Like Our Father

I was thrilled when I recently saw the Facebook post of a precious young woman that I and many others had been praying for. You see….her greatest desire and prayer was to be able to conceive a baby. It took years, but now she holds that precious baby girl in her arms and you can sense her gratitude to God for this precious miracle. I quote her from her Facebook page “I get to be her mom every day for the rest of my life! Somebody pinch me. #bestjobever I will never be able to tell God thank you enough for this miracle!”

I know THAT love. I looked at my own baby boy with those eyes of love and wondered “Could anyone in the world know this love and the capacity to love like this?” To me, he was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen and I wondered if my eyes were only the eyes of a love-struck mother. I thought “Do others see him as beautiful as I do?” He knew my voice and my heart beat before anyone else’s. He was my second love; I was his first (He reminds me of that on Valentine’s Day each year). We literally grew up together – I was a young, inexperienced mother that knew little of raising a baby to a boy to a man. And, I sure made a lot of mistakes along the way, but with God’s help and my precious husband’s (his dad’s) help, he made it to the beautiful man he is today. It seems like I blinked and no longer did I have a little boy. Now a strong and mighty man stands where that precious little man used to be. And I celebrate that man every day, but this day is his birthday. I love him with all my heart and I love his heart, his passion, his leadership, and his determination to make a positive difference in so many people's lives…including mine. (Check out his new company that is making that difference today! See in my post below!)

We wonder how could we have such capacity to love so indescribably, so unconditionally, and so profoundly. Of course, it’s because “we were made in our Father’s image” (Genesis 1:27) and in His image we love deeply. We beam with pride when one of our children achieves success. Just think about how God must feel about His kids -- especially when we bring Him pleasure. "He takes pleasure in those who honor Him, in those who trust in His constant love." Psalms 147:11.

I know that God sees us and loves us so passionately. Like we would say to our kids, He says to us….”You are a shining star. You are a picture of divine wonder. You make Me smile and you make heaven dance. You are so beautiful!” I love Max Lucado’s words: “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it! If He had a wallet, your picture would be in it. If He had a Facebook page, you would be His profile picture.” He is passionate, utterly relentless in His pursuit of you. And best of all, there is no earning of His love — God’s love is an absolutely free gift of His very self to us. God IS LOVE. Amazing, isn’t it? This all-surpassing love that God has for us calls for a response in us, as God invites us to share in the love that is God’s very self. He just simply asks us to reach out and accept His love....that is so rich and free.

The truest measure of God's love is that He loves us WITHOUT MEASURE!
Psalm 33:18, 20 "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Now, just soak those thoughts and realize....you are His beloved child and you are always on His mind, and His arms are reaching out in love to you! He is deeply and profoundly in love with YOU! Just feel that love and sense that embrace. Now, doesn't that feel so good?

Happy Birthday to my precious son, Ryan Keith Wuerch! I’m celebrating you as I give you and Jesus to others today!

EVERLASTING is a Long, Long Time

My post today was inspired by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s 8-hour “Dreamer” speech which set a new House record….by quite a lot. She crushed the previous House record speech of 5 hours, 15 minutes. This post isn’t to suggest that her speech seemed to be EVERLASTING, though her fellow Democratic representative couldn’t OUTLAST the speech and fell asleep. Personal request here: Please remind me to not be in a seat behind a public speaker AND one who is being televised! After all, I have been known to nod off inadvertently myself. My post isn’t anti Pelosi, but it is “Thanks, Nancy, for inspiring me with the word EVERLASTING."

EVERLASTING: Love, live or last longer than; outlive, survive, withstand; forever

We think of that word when we’re at a sports game that seems EVERLASTING or having to endure a medical treatment that seems EVERLASTING. And, women, aren’t we so thrilled that labor and childbirth aren’t EVERLASTING, though it may feel like it? Thank God, a clear end (literally) is always in sight.

In our wedding vows, we said “I will love you forever.” That means EVERLASTING, but we are fallible and subject to change when those vows (promises) are broken. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce.

In its proper context, EVERLASTING is a word I embrace and count as one of my greatest reasons for my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Here’s the truth He promises AND He keeps His promises:

Isaiah 40:28 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the EVERLASTING God.”

Jeremiah 31:3 -- The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an EVERLASTING love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

Psalm 103:17 – “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him.”

Deuteronomy 33:27 – “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are His EVERLASTING arms.”

Isaiah 26:4 -- “Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an EVERLASTING Rock.”

Psalm 100:5 – “For the LORD is good; His loving-kindness is EVERLASTING and His faithfulness to all generations.”

Jeremiah 10:10 – “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the EVERLASTING King.”

Rest assured that our Father, God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and our Abba (Daddy) Father keeps His promises and when he says EVERLASTING love and kindness…..He means it. He’s a good, good Father. The question is are we good, good children? I hope so because, more than anything, we want to live EVERLASTING with Him for all eternity!

Sweet and Romantic Love Songs

When my then-boyfriend (later, my husband) and I were dating (young things that we were), we had a favorite "puppy love" song, Bobby Vee's "My Venus in Blue Jeans" -- LOL! As we continued dating, we crooned over "Hey Paula, I Wanna' Marry You" and then being avid musical theater fans, "our song" was The Music Man's "Till There Was You". My brother, with his exquisite baritone voice, sang it so beautifully at our wedding.

In later years, Kenny Rogers, with his amazing vibrato voice, became our most-loved singer who put to lyrics and music what we felt about each other. We swooned over "Lady", "She Believes in Me", and our absolute favorite was "Through the Years".

Love songs enhance romance, bring ambiance to an otherwise cold room, and add a few candles, then whoa la, you've got a set up for sweet long. Seriously, the everyday grind-of-life becomes beautiful and life changes so dramatically when romance comes into our lives. To love and be loved is life's sweetest treasure. But even more than earthly love, the most beloved relationship we could ever hope to experience is our relationship with God. That love changes dramatically when we discover the great romance we have with Him. God yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure with us. In Jeremiah 31:3, He says “I have loved you with an everlasting love”. This whole world was made for romance — the rivers and the meadows, the mountains and the beaches. Flowers, music, a kiss, a sunrise, a sunset, a touch. But we have a way of forgetting all that as we lose ourselves in work, stress, concern and worry.

“I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!” Exodus 20:5. WOW! He is jealous for our romance. When we put so much of life's stuff ahead of Him, we are sharing our affection with other gods. He longs for us to be tender and inviting, intimate and alluring, fiercely devoted to Him. Oh yes, our God has a passionate, romantic heart for us.

There's no "earthly" love like His love. God is so intimately concerned about every detail of our life that He even numbered the hairs of our head. He knows our thoughts and our deepest desires. Oh, how He loves you and me. Shouldn’t we treasure our loving God in the same way?

God's love for us is immeasurable and unfathomable and it transcends our human understanding. He pleads with us "Please let me be your God, your everything, your reason for breathing." Knowing this love so deeply and profoundly, I must stop here in this post for today. Excuse me. It's time for romance. It's time for a love song to the Lover of my Soul:

Psalms 59:16: “I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For You have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.”

Shhh! I hear Him singing a love song to me.....Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God among you is powerful -- He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you".

Sweet and Romantic Love Songs

Day 4 in this Month of Love -- Sweet and Romantic Love Songs
When my then-boyfriend (later, my husband) and I were dating (young things that we were), we had a favorite "puppy love" song, Bobby Vee's "My Venus in Blue Jeans" -- LOL! As we continued dating, we crooned over "Hey Paula, I Wanna' Marry You" and then being avid musical theater fans, "our song" was The Music Man's "Till There Was You". My brother, with his exquisite baritone voice, sang it so beautifully at our wedding.

In later years, Kenny Rogers, with his wonderful vibrato voice, became our best-loved singer who put to lyrics and music what we felt about each other. We swooned over "Lady", "She Believes in Me", and our absolute favorite was "Through the Years".

Love songs enhance romance, and life changes so dramatically when romance comes into our lives. To love and be loved is life's sweetest treasure. But even more than earthly love, the most beloved relationship we could ever hope to experience is our relationship with God. That love changes dramatically when we discover the great romance we have with Him. God yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure with us. In Jeremiah 31:3, He says “I have loved you with an everlasting love”. This whole world was made for romance — the rivers and the meadows, the mountains and the beaches. Flowers, music, a kiss, a sunrise, a sunset, a touch. But we have a way of forgetting all that as we lose ourselves in work, stress, concern and worry.

“I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!” Exodus 20:5. WOW! He is jealous for our romance. When we put so much of life's stuff ahead of Him, we are sharing our affection with other gods. He longs for us to be tender and inviting, intimate and alluring, fiercely devoted to Him. Oh yes, our God has a passionate, romantic heart for us.

There's no "earthly" love like His love. God is so intimately concerned about every detail of our life that He even numbered the hairs of our head. He knows our thoughts and our deepest desires. Oh, how He loves you and me. Shouldn’t we treasure our loving God in the same way?

God's love for us is immeasurable and unfathomable and it transcends our human understanding. He pleads to us "Please let me be your God, your everything, your reason for breathing." Knowing this love so deeply and profoundly, I must stop here in this post for today. It's time for romance. It's time for a love song to the lover of my soul:

Psalms 59:16: “I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.”

Shhh! I hear Him singing a love song to me.....Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God among you is powerful -- He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you".

God's Love Messenger

Day 3 in this Month of Love and I get to be God's "Love" Messenger today.

You are a shining star. You are a picture of divine wonder. You make God smile and you make heaven dance. You are so beautiful! If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it! If He had a wallet, your picture would be in it. If He had a Facebook page, you would be His profile picture.

Now, just soak that thought in and realize....you are His beloved child and you are always on His mind, and His arms are reaching out in love to you! He is deeply and profoundly in love with YOU! Just feel that love and sense that embrace. Now, doesn't that feel so good?

He is passionately, utterly relentless in His pursuit of you. And best of all, there is no earning of His love — God’s love is an absolutely free gift of His very self to us. For God there are no reasons for love — God loves us because God IS LOVE itself. Amazing, isn’t it? This all-surpassing love that God has for us calls forth a response in us, as God invites us to share in the love that is God’s very self. He just simply asks us to reach out and accept His love....that is so rich and free.

The truest measure of God's love is that He loves us WITHOUT MEASURE!

Psalm 33:18, 20 "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."

Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
#GodLovesYou #FullyDevotedToHim