Grown with Love

“Nothing Says ‘I Love You’ more than an Orchid. Give your Valentine a gift that is as unique as they are. With graceful, arching branches, and exotic flowers. Orchids are easy to care for with blooms that last!” Those were the words and this is the image that Calloway’s Nursery sent to me in their email a couple of days ago. Really? “Nothing says ‘I Love You’ more than an Orchid?” Oh, contraire! Yes, maybe as a token of love but nothing says “I love you” more than actions that speak louder than words AND orchids.

That nursery got the title right “Grown with Love”. Because love – real sacrificial, all-in love and devotion and holding true to vows we’ve made, preferring each other above ourselves, serving one another, cherishing the most precious gift given to us……is grown. Day-by-day, year-after-year. And, I promise you – love WILL grow daily when God is the CENTER of the love we share with each other. He’s the sunshine, the rain, the fertilizer AND the tender-loving-care that makes that “first love” last forever.

Of course, I’m referring, first, to married love, but I’m also referring to the love we have for ourselves and others. Did you know that loving ourselves is such an honor to our Creator? He was meticulous in handcrafting us and giving us those freckles on our noses and those lanky or chubby legs? He designed us with His absolute plan – from our mother’s wombs and His love has only grown for us. I’m still growing in my love for myself – which is a work of art – when yet another wrinkle pops out and another ache comes in this young body. But, love it is – it is the gift of life that God gave me so I’m expressing gratitude for every day I can use this jar of clay for Him.

Of course, Valentine’s generates thoughts to lovers and romantic relationships. But why don’t we take it up a notch and determine that Valentine’s is about love for everyone we encounter? Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines, we forget to let those close to us know how much we love and appreciate them and thereby, growing that love.

Love is as simple as smiling at someone walking toward us, someone in front or behind us in the checkout line or someone standing next to us in an elevator. Sounds innocent enough, but what we really can be doing is secretly telling them “I love you” with that smile. It may be the difference maker in their life. “What the world needs now is love sweet love” -- thanks, Dionne Warwick, for that reminder, but thanks be to God for His example of LOVE: “For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten son…” John 3:16.

How about we make a commitment to “grow our love for others and then give it away” -- maybe in a love letter to those people in our life who inspire us, support us, assist us, feed us, nurture us, care for us, pray for us, protect us, laugh with us and cry with us? They have shared the magnificent journey of our life with us. So, to put an exclamation point at the end of the title “Grown with Love” -- let's purpose to grow the love in our corner of the world. Let me start by saying "I LOVE YOU”, my FB friends and family. You mean the world to me! You make my world such a sweet place to live and love. You put a smile on my face and you give me so many joys! May you know God's love in tangible and beautiful ways....not just Valentine’s Day, but ALWAYS!"

1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

What Matters Most is Walking in Love

The Love Month is well underway, love is in the air, and today is my children's 22nd wedding anniversary (see my separate post that honors their love story). I'm on purpose to awaken our senses to not just "talk the talk" but "walk the walk of love".

God IS LOVE and the lesson He wants us to learn on earth is how to love. To say “I love you” can sound like a cliché if our actions don’t measure up to those words. We say “I love you” in the same sentence that we say “I love chocolate cake” and there are times when it seems the one saying those words loves chocolate cake more than us. We say “I love my neighbor” in the same thought as “I wish my neighbor would keep his kids off my lawn”. Rick Warren says: “Learning to love unselfishly is certainly not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That’s why we’re given a lifetime to learn it."

Of course, God wants us to love everyone, but He’s particularly concerned that we learn to love others in His family. Paul wrote: “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10) That’s why it’s so awesome to be in the Family of God. Not because we are a “click” or “club unto ourselves”. It’s because we resemble our Father. We act like Him, talk like Him, walk like Him, forgive like Him and LOVE like Him. That’s why our character, being in His likeness, should speak volumes over those who are outside the Family of God.

Rick Warren asks: "Why does God insist that we give special love and attention to other believers? Why do they get priority in loving? Because God wants His family to be known for its love more than anything else. Jesus said our love for each other – not our doctrinal beliefs – is our greatest witness to the world. He said, 'Your strong love for each other will PROVE TO THE WORLD that you are My disciples.” (John 13:35)

Love isn’t learned from hiding out. We must be around people, even those cranky, grumpy and even frustrating people around us because God's LIGHT of LOVE in us is what the world needs NOW. Walking in love is really what life is all about. It matters most. It takes top priority. So, let’s be LOVE show-offs and go spread some of God's love today.

Welcome February -- It's the LOVE Month!

It’s the LOVE month and I’m especially in my heaven-to-earth love mindset as I’m back in Austin and getting to have a lovefest with my boys. Twelve year-old Bryson, who is the outdoors guy and I spend a lot of time outside. It’s my joy to be his assistant when feeding his many animals. I asked him if he was getting tired of seeing after them. His response “NEVER!” Yesterday we went for a hike through the trails of the acreage and then watched him show my his bow and arrow efficiency in the back acres shooting thrown-out pumpkins. We hung out by the creek while doing his schoolwork in a cozy place out there and at break time – he showed me his skills using his daddy’s BB gun that we bought him when he was Bryson’s age. Be still my heart! Bryson’s daddy still holds onto a childhood memory.

Brennan is my sports guy – baseball and basketball. What a blessing it is to be so close to them to watch many of his games. They won their basketball game last night and my Brennan scored 12 of the winning points. Love is definitely in the air when I get to hang out with them, as with all of my grandchildren.

Of course, when February rolls around, it’s automatic to think of Valentine’s Day and the opportunity to share our love to the one or ones we hold near and dear to our hearts. I’m sending out that love to you, my FB and Blog friends and family. My sister and brother-in-law were married on February 14th. I am always nostalgic during this month because on February 14th, 1961, my boyfriend (and 5 years later, my groom) and I went on our first real boy-girl date, chauffeured by his dad and mom to my church’s youth Valentine's banquet. This month has always been the "Love Month" to me, and though my sweetheart celebrates it in heaven, I still celebrate it here with those I hold dear.

Of course, this month is dedicated to lovers and romantic relationships. But why don’t we take it up a notch and determine that February is a LOVE month for all those around us? Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines, we forget to let those close to us know how much we love and appreciate them. There’s nothing more important than letting people know how much they mean to us.

So, why not let this be a LOVE month with everyone we encounter? Love is as simple as smiling at someone walking toward us, someone in front or behind us in the checkout line or someone standing next to us in an elevator. Sounds innocent enough, but what we really can be doing is secretly telling them “I love you” with that smile. And, if they smile back at us, let’s imagine them saying “I love you” back to us. That silent exchange may cause feelings to emerge that could transform their day AND our day.

So, since February is the month for love, how about we make a commitment to “give our love away” – maybe in a love letter to those people in our life who inspire us, support us, assist us, feed us, nurture us, care for us, love us, pray for us, protect us, laugh with us and cry with us? They have shared the magnificent journey of our life with us. Let's purpose to pour on the love this month....and let me start by saying "I LOVE YOU.....my FB friends and family. You mean the world to me! You make my world a better place. You put a smile on my face and you give me so many joys! May you know God's love in tangible and beautiful ways....not just this month, but ALWAYS!"
1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."





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2 YEARS AGO TODAY

A Love-Fest Day With Jesus

My word for today is "Love-Fest" -- when two or more people indulge in expressing their love for each other in such a way that it never ends. It is the ultimate expression of deep, true love and respect for each other, usually manifested by an outburst of love expressions that make all involved feel warm, acknowledged and cared for.

Last Saturday, precious women from my church headed to Bowie, TX for a one day “get-away-with-God” retreat before we serve 40 women at our ACTS Retreat, March 15-18 and it turned out more glorious than could have been expected. There’s just something about women getting together for time away with God that sets the mood to be vulnerable and open to receive an outpouring of His love to His girls. The wonderful presenters of the retreat called the day "A LOVE-FEST Day With Jesus". Indeed, the definition above was proven to be true! Notice our "doo-rags"? We were heart-cleaning!

No wonder those gals in the Bible wanted to hang out with Jesus. He always seemed to have a little band of women with Him, and He embraced it. In so many places in this world, women are marginalized and ostracized – simply because they are women. If only our world used Jesus' example of how He loved and respected us. He "upset the apple cart" in His culture in the way He related to women. In Luke 8 we see there were women followers who traveled with Jesus and His 12 disciples as He ministered all around Galilee. Those women came from all walks of life, they were single, married, and some had questionable backgrounds, but here’s the common thread – each of them experienced healing through their encounter with Christ. He loved them, taught them and could have cared less about what the pious religious folk thought.

The women that Jesus touched and loved is a mighty indicator of His love for us. The women at the foot of the cross and at the tomb held a tiny flame of faith that He would rise as He promised. That flame never went out, and their faith was rewarded.

That's the way we felt, when, after a sweet time of unbridled openness to each other in small groups, we resumed altogether with candid moments of sharing, giving, encouraging and building each other up in the awareness of God's love for us.

Each of us felt that compassion and love from Jesus and we expressed our love back to him as we each wrote Him a love letter. We all poured our love out to Him -- He Who loves us unconditionally, without judgment or condemnation, and like the woman in the Bible who was caught in the act of adultery, He lovingly wraps His arms around us and says….”You can do better. Go sin no more.” No wonder our innermost love for Him poured out in our love letters.

I know it's absurd of me to think God ordered this LOVE-FEST day just for me, but I did. I like to think that I'm so special to Him, that He orders up special gifts and treats.....just for me. The Apostle John thought the same thing. Remember how he kept referring to himself as the "one that Jesus loved"? Those words are found six times in the Gospel of John. Sounds a little cocky, but, NO, he knew he was tight with his Master. Each and and every one of us can say that. "I am the one that Jesus loves," because He does. Today is another day when duty will call and this team will regroup and finish up our preparations for our upcoming big retreat and 80 women will come together for a weekend of encounters with Christ, but for this day, there was a special, loving, devoted group of servant-women that it was all about the "want to's," Our LOVE-FEST with Jesus will continue.

At the end of the retreat and we were saying our good-byes, I went to my car to load up to go home with my passengers and couldn’t find my keys. I realized, in my haste to get out of the down-pouring rain earlier in the morning, I must have dropped them on the floorboard when I was getting my umbrella. Fortunately, I carry AAA auto insurance and was able to call a locksmith. While waiting for him, I had one on one time with the hosts who, I learned that we have so much in common that pertains to our faith walk and we had mutual time of encouraging each other in the Lord. When I made it home, one of my gals that was a passenger going out called to check on me, and she, too, felt the same about the “interruption” as she had never been able to get to know her driver very well and she did on that trip home. Of course God would “work things for our good” because, after all, we had spent the day talking about His Son, writing love letters to His Son, and celebrating His goodness to us.

When I returned home and while I was basking in His love for me, I realized that daily, Jesus writes a love letters to me telling me “You’re my girl. I’m with you. I’m for you. I love you.” He gave us so many love letters in the Bible, and with each sunrise, each raindrop, each sweet smile and "I love you" from others to us, and even, each morning -- just waking up -- is His love letter to us. He says "I love you. I love you. I love you." When we make our Lord our highest priority, then EVERYDAY becomes a LOVE-FEST with Him.

You Bear a Striking Resemblance of Your Father

People often say my daughter resembles me and my granddaughter resembles her, and I resemble my mother. It’s undeniable – we were all cast from the same mold. My son is undeniably, His dad’s son. They RESEMBLE each other.

My word for today is, obviously, RESEMBLE: to have qualities or features, especially those of appearance, in common with (someone or something); look or seem like.

While I love that compliment “You look just like your mother” or “Your daughter and granddaughter certainly look like you” – most importantly I want for them and me to RESEMBLE our Heavenly Father – and to RESEMBLE Him is to resemble His nature and His ways. Ever heard someone say, “The more we live together, the more we finish each other’s sentences and we’re even starting to look alike?” That’s what I pray for in my relationship with God. And the more time I spend with Him, the more I know His plans and purposes for me, and the more I (like to think), that I start to RESEMBLE Him. His nature is LOVE. This is the month of love and what better time to become LOVERS of God and RESEMBLE Him in His love for others.

This life we live is truly all about love. Of course it is, because God IS LOVE and the most important lesson He wants us to learn on earth is how to love. To say “I love you” can sound like a cliché if our actions (or our RESEMBLANCE of God) don’t measure up to those words. We say “I love you” in the same sentence that we say “I love chocolate cake” and there are times when it seems the one saying those words, loves chocolate cake more than us.

Learning to love unselfishly is certainly not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That’s why we’re given a lifetime to learn it. God continues to demonstrate His love to us each and every day. And that’s why He is our role model and why those who spend time with Him will start to RESEMBLE Him and His ways. Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

God wants His family to RESEMBLE Him and to be known for love more than anything else. Jesus said our love for each other – not our doctrinal beliefs – is our greatest witness to the world. He said, “Your strong love for each other will PROVE TO THE WORLD that you are my disciples.” John 13:35. He proved to the world His love – and now as we love and serve, we take on His character and RESEMBLE Him.

It’s admirable that we could RESEMBLE our Father within our four walls and in our own families, but love isn’t learned from hiding out with our four, and no more. We must be around people, even those cranky, grumpy and even frustrating people around us, because God's LIGHT of LOVE in us is what the world needs NOW. In Acts 10:38 we see how Jesus RESEMBLED His Father everywhere He went: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good.”

Resembling our Father is to LOVE. It matters most. It takes top priority. So, let’s be LOVE show-offs and RESEMBLE our Dad today!

FEBRUARY – The Love Month

My Word of the Day is FEBRUARY – defined in Webster’s dictionary as the second month of the year – ordinarily containing 28 days, but with 29 days in leap years. No big deal. How did FEBRUARY make my Word of the Day list? Because I’m adding a definition from Donna’s dictionary – it’s the month of LOVE!

Oh, I know for so many this is just another month of the calendar and, quite frankly, all the hoopla about Valentine’s Day and all that mushy stuff is just not on your radar – but just maybe – it can become the month of love for you, as it is for me.

There are several reasons I don't take this month lightly. On February 14th, 1961, my boy friend (and 5 years later, my groom) and I went on our first real boy-girl date, chauffeured by his dad and mom to my church’s Valentine's Banquet. At long last, at the age of twelve years old, I, OFFICIALLY, had a boy friend! LOL! This month has always been the "Love Month" to me, and though my sweetheart celebrates it in heaven, I still celebrate it here....with those I know and hold dear.

My dear sis-in-law and her husband will celebrate their 43rd wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day on February 14th. Another love-match made in heaven.

Then on February 14th, 2004, my precious mama got to go to heaven and celebrate Valentine’s Day with my daddy.

Of course this month generates thoughts to lovers and romantic relationships. But why don’t we take it up a notch and determine that February is a LOVE month for EVERYONE we encounter? Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines, we forget to let those close to us know how much we love and appreciate them.

Love is as simple as smiling at someone walking toward us, someone in front or behind us in the checkout line or someone standing next to us in an elevator. Sounds innocent enough, but what we really can be doing is secretly telling them “I love you” with that smile. And, if they smile back at us, let’s imagine them saying “I love you” back to us. That silent exchange may cause feelings to emerge that could transform their day AND our day.
“What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love” – thanks, Dionne Warwick, for that reminder, but thanks be to God for His example of LOVE: “For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten son…” John 3:16.

Since February is the month for love, how about we make a commitment to “give our love away” – maybe in a love letter to those people in our life who inspire us, support us, assist us, feed us, nurture us, care for us, pray for us, protect us, laugh with us and cry with us? They have shared the magnificent journey of our life with us. Let's purpose to pour on the love this month....and let me start by saying "I LOVE YOU.....my FB friends and family. You mean the world to me! You make my world such a sweet place to love. You put a smile on my face and you give me so many joys! May you know God's love in tangible and beautiful ways....not just this month, but ALWAYS!"

1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

What Matters Most is Love

Yesterday, I posted about it being the “The Love Month”, sincerely hoping to awaken our senses to being people that love from the heart this month.

It was like getting a high-5 from God when later in the day, I opened one of my resource books, Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Drive Life”, to the chapter I was about to read next. Imagine the “Atta’ Girl” I sensed when I saw that the title of this chapter was “What Matters Most” is that we "walk in love".

This life we live is truly all about love. Of course it is, because God IS LOVE and the most important lesson He wants us to learn on earth is how to love. To say “I love you” can sound like a cliché if our actions don’t measure up to those words. We say “I love you” in the same sentence that we say “I love chocolate cake” and there are times when it seems the one saying those words loves chocolate cake more than us. We express our love in actions by giving someone a gift as a token of our love, while evaluating the size or cost of the gift based on “What did the gift THEY gave me cost – I don’t want to spend more than what they spent on me?” We say “I love my neighbor” in the same thought as “I wish my neighbor would keep his kids off my lawn”.

Rick Warren says: “Learning to love unselfishly is certainly not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That’s why we’re given a lifetime to learn it. Of course, God wants us to love everyone, but He’s particularly concerned that we learn to love others in His family. Paul wrote: “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10.

That’s why it’s so awesome to be in the Family of God. Not because we are a “click” or “club unto ourselves”. It’s because we resemble our Father. We act like Him. We talk like Him. We walk like Him. We forgive like Him. We LOVE like Him. That’s why our character, being in His likeness, should speak volumes over those who are outside the Family of God.

Back to Rick Warren’s words “Why does God insist that we give special love and attention to other believers? Why do they get priority in loving? Because God wants his family to be known for its love more than anything else. Jesus said our love for each other – not our doctrinal beliefs – is our greatest witness to the world. He said, “Your strong love for each other will PROVE TO THE WORLD that you are my disciples.” John 13:35.

Yesterday, my post encouraged us to reach out with love during this love month and beyond. Love isn’t learned from hiding out. We must be around people, even those cranky, grumpy and even frustrating people around us, because God's LIGHT of LOVE in us is what the world needs NOW.

Life really is all about love. It matters most. It takes top priority. So, let’s be LOVE show-offs and go spread some of the love today!!

Welcome February -- It's the LOVE Month!

Love is in the air!! I sure don't take this month lightly because on February 14th, 1961, my boy friend (and 5 years later, my groom) and I went on our first real boy-girl date, chauffeured by his dad and mom to a church Valentine's banquet. This month has always been the "Love Month" to me, and though my sweetheart celebrates it in heaven, I still celebrate it here....with all those I know and hold dear.

Of course this month is dedicated to lovers and romantic relationships. But why don’t we take it up a notch and determine that February is a LOVE month for all those around us?

Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines, we forget to let those close to us know how much we love and appreciate them. There’s nothing more important than letting people know how much they mean to us.

So, why not let this be a LOVE month with everyone we encounter? Love is as simple as smiling at someone walking toward us, someone in front or behind us in the checkout line or someone standing next to us in an elevator. Sounds innocent enough, but what we really can be doing is secretly telling them “I love you” with that smile. And, if they smile back at us, let’s imagine them saying “I love you” back to us. That silent exchange may cause feelings to emerge that could transform their day AND our day.

So, since February is the month for love, how about we make a commitment to “give our love away” – maybe in a love letter to those people in our life who inspire us, support us, assist us, feed us, nurture us, care for us, love us, pray for us, protect us, laugh with us and cry with us? They have shared the magnificent journey of our life with us. Let's purpose to pour on the love this month....and let me start by saying "I LOVE YOU.....my FB friends and family. You mean the world to me! You make my world a better place. You put a smile on my face and you give me so many joys! May you know God's love in tangible and beautiful ways....not just this month, but ALWAYS!"

1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

I Love ME!

Day 22 in this Month of Love -- I LOVE ME!

My post, today, was inspired by this photo on my Weight Watchers Magazine. (Yes, I'm a 30+ year veteran of WW!) The girl is hugging a heart full of red balloons and she's declaring "LOVE, ME!" Before I read the sub heading, I knew what it meant -- loving ourselves enough to take care of ourselves. But, if it weren't on a Weight Watchers magazine, those words "I love me" could just seem quite selfish and egotistical.

How many of us love ourselves? I mean truly, honestly love ourselves? As a teenager, I remember saying "She sure loves herself" and that was meant as a criticism. SHE was one who pranced herself around in a boastful and arrogant way, always making others feel so much less than her. But there's a difference in THAT girl or guy, and the one that Jesus talked about when He said, "Love your neighbor, as you love yourself." Mark 12:31

I hear life coaches say "Look in the mirror and say to yourself....'I love you'! I agree with that philosophy, because, how can we truly love others if we don't love ourselves. But, it’s just not that easy to love ourselves sometimes, especially, as Christians, when we're taught the importance of humility. But, the fact is, only those who feel good about who they are, can really express humility. It takes someone who truly loves him/herself to acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers, that they may be wrong about something, or that they are not the greatest or best at everything. We can love ourself, and come across as loving, sincere, authentic and real, AND be humble. Rick Warren says "Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.” It doesn't mean we don’t care for ourself, but it does mean we think of others AS MUCH as we think of ourself.

humil

So, if loving others as much as we love ourselves is so important, I'm recommending that we start expressing how much we love ourselves so that we can elevate the love we have for others. I love getting compliments, but maybe I shouldn't desire that from others as much as I give them to myself. What do I most want to hear? Maybe you and I can start a love fest with ourselves and start by putting up some post it notes on our mirror that helps us out with the compliments: "I love YOU"......."I trust you"......"I am so proud of you"......"You are beautiful"....."I appreciate you"....."You are so strong"......"God loves you"....."You light up my life"......"Wow! You lost weight!"....."I love that color on you!"

Oh, by the way, your hair looks AWESOME!

So let's go ahead and love ourselves. We've been been given permission.

We Love So Much, We Give

Day 16 in this Month of Love -- We Love So Much, We Give

What would a Month of Love, with all the beautiful red hearts, chocolates, balloons, greeting cards and all kinds of things that say "I love you" be, without expressing our gratitude to the GREATEST Lover and Giver of them all -- our Father God -- for His GREATEST Gift -- His Son? "For GOD so loved the world (that's YOU and ME) that He gave His ONLY Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have EVERLASTING life." John 3:16. How's that for a LOVER who gave His best gift to you and me?

When I think about so great a love, I can't help but think, "How can we even with the slightest degree love like that? This scripture tells us how: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.” - 1 John 4:7. If we are in the family of God, we know Him, and knowing Him and spending time with Him, we start to take on His character. We start to look and act like Him. I believe that compassion for others is a real good place to start. It is a gentle stream of tenderness and concern for other people's needs. That love compelled Jesus to feed the hungry, comfort the sorrowing, heal the sick, teach the multitude, and raise the dead. I've experenced that flow of love toward someone, and I'll bet you have, too. You couldn't explain it, but your impulse was to do something special for that person. In fact, you just couldn't help yourself. You just HAD to give.

The first step to loving like God loves is to actually TAKE the first step. We start loving by faith and then we follow that flow. It's really becomes God's compassion flowing toward the one in need. The tug of love within us means that He is filling us with Godly compassion and He has chosen us to help that one. Then we simply ask God to flow His tender compassion through us in some way today. Maybe, as we pray, we should ask Him to lay someone on our heart. What if God wants us to be the answer to someone's prayer today? When God leads us to help someone, He will equip us to do it.

After church last Sunday, a friend told me she was led to start volunteering at Clarehouse. It's a loving home environment that provides end-of-life care. She told me that when she reaches out and touches those who are there, she knows they feel her love flowing from her to them. And, in turn, she leaves feeling so loved and blessed. Just think of it....the heart of compassion, the warmth of a touch. This hurting world is hungry for the touch of someone who cares -- who really cares! Through God's LOVE, you and I can be that someone. We are chips off the ole' block -- and our BLOCK gave to us BIG TIME. Let's reach out and touch someone and GIVE what He's given us....TODAY!

Happy February -- Love is in the Air!

My heart be still as I croon over Tom Jones singing "Love is in the air. Love is everywhere I look around! Love is in the air every sight and every sound. And I don't know if I'm being foolish. I don't know if I'm being wise, but it's something that I must believe in. And it's there when I look in your eyes. Love is in the air, in the whisper of the trees. Love is in the air in the thunder of the sea. And I don't know if I'm just dreaming. I don't know if I feel safe, but it's something that I must believe in and it's there when I call out your name. Love is in the air Love is in the air, in the rising of the sun. Love is in the air, when the day is nearly done. And I don't know if you are illusion. Don't know if I see truth, but you are something that I must believe in, and you are there when I reach out for you. Love is in the air......."

I know those words were written for a lover, but they could be talking about the Lover of ALL LOVERS, so I’m singing it to THE LOVER of my soul. Love is in the air – every sight and every sound, the whisper of the trees, the thunder of the sea, the rising of the sun, when the day is done – IT ALL speaks His beautiful, wonderful, indescribable name – the precious name of Jesus – truly the Lover of all Lovers. And to know that love is to share that love.
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Of course this month is dedicated to lovers and romantic relationships. But why don’t we let February be LOVE IS IN THE AIR for all those around us?

Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines, we forget to let those close to us know how much we love and appreciate them. There’s nothing more important than letting people know how much they mean to us.

Why not let this be a LOVE month with everyone we encounter? Love is as simple as smiling at someone walking toward us, someone in front or behind us in the checkout line or someone standing next to us in an elevator. Sounds innocent enough, but what we really can be doing is secretly telling them “I love you” with that smile. And, if they smile back at us, let’s imagine them saying “I love you” back to us. That silent exchange may cause feelings to emerge that could transform their day AND our day.

So, since February is the month for love, how about we make a commitment to “give our love away” – maybe in a love letter to those people in our life who inspire us, support us, assist us, feed us, nurture us, care for us, love us, pray for us, protect us, laugh with us and cry with us. They have shared the magnificent journey of our life with us. Let's purpose to pour on the love this month....and let me start by saying "I LOVE YOU.....my FB friends and family. You mean the world to me! You make my world a better place. You put a smile on my face and you give me so many joys! May you know God's love in tangible and beautiful ways....not just this month, but ALWAYS!"

A Day for Love Letters

Day 55 of Photo Inspirations -- A Day for Love Letters
Yesterday was a sweet home-bound day, when the snow continued to fall and give me every reason to stay in my comfy robe and househoes.  I love these days when it seems that God gives me a heavenly nudge to slow down and enjoy the stillness as long as I can and do something that isn't so easy on a "have to" day. I know it's absurd of me to think He ordered the day just for me, but I did.  I live inside the box of just God and me.  We've got a "thing" going on.   It's one of the perks of being a widow.  I like to think that I'm so special to Him, that He orders up special gifts and treats.....just for me.  The Apostle John thought the same thing.  Remember how he kept referring to himself as the "one that Jesus loved". Those words are found six times in the Gospel of John.  My goodness, that must have ticked off the other disciples, but I like to think that each and every one of us can say that.  "I am the one that Jesus loves," because He does.  So I like to think He ordered this day just for me, after all, I'm the one Jesus loves.  Tomorrow is another day when duty will call, but for this day, it was only doing the "want to's", with just a little "have to's".

While I was basking in His love for me, my "want to's" included writing "Love Letters" to some important people in my life -- to express my love, AND God's love for them.  And it felt so good to be in such a peaceful and quiet place where I could truly think about what they meant to me......and then expess those thoughts in a Love Letter.  Isn't that the pattern God gave us?  He gave us so many Love Letters in the Bible, but each sunrise, each snowflake, each sweet smile and "I love you" from others to us, and even, each morning -- just waking up -- is His love letter to us.  He says "I love you.  I love you.  I love you."
#ForGodSoLoved #ILoveYou #LoveLetters

Full Moon in the Morning

Day 37 of Photo Inspirations -- Full Moon in the Morning
This was the feast that greeted me this morning as I looked out of my living room window at 7 am.  A Full Moon going down in the Western Sky.  The Moon was a treat for my eyes. Seeing her was a much welcome start to my day, and I wanted to share the image with you.  Maybe you happened to catch her presence last night when she was full in the Eastern sky.  And, maybe you're like me and managed to say goodbye to her this morning.   I quickly Googled "moon in the morning" and this is what I found:  "At full moon, the moon is exactly opposite the sun. This means that the moon rises just as the sun is setting, and sets just as the sun is rising. Two things contribute to the moon being visible in daylight. First, it is bright enough that its light penetrates the scattered blue light of the sky. Secondly, the moon must be high enough in the sky to be visibleI

I am loving this daily "photo inspiration" quest that I absolutely know that God assigned to me for this year.  I am noticing the beautiful world around me.  What was I thinking before now?   I know that "life" happens with all its busy-ness, all its appointments and schedules and itineraries and much more "to do's" than there are hours in the day,  I heard Sister Barbara Austin speak at a luncheon yesterday and she said this, "Soon you'll reach the season of life when you're able to slow down and sincerely find inner peace -- it's that place where you de-stress.  You are God's women and if we're God's women we listen to hear Him say, 'I love you. I love you. From the beginning of creation, I've been loving you."

And that resonated with me -- "from the beginning of creation"  when He was creating the skies and the sun and the moon and all of creation.....He was thinking about you and me.  What do we do with that?  We go the gratitude route -- thanking Him for all He has created.  Inner peace is finding Him in the midst of the busy-ness.....being consistently aware of this beautiful gift of life.   We can find that peace sooner than later if we purposefully make a point of looking for Him -- and finding Him -- in our day.  Perhaps it will be in the morning full moon, or seeing Him in our little children, or the precious loved one in a nursing home.  He's all around us.....and He awaits our noticing Him.

"When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you established—"   Psalm 8:3
#PhotoInspiration #MoonInTheMorning #GodCalling

Sweetest Treasures -- the Things Money Can't Buy!

Zig said, "Money isn't everything, but it ranks right up there with oxygen." We need money -- no question about it -- and, besides the necessities of life, I have to admit that I like the nice things that money will buy. I like to live in a nice house, drive a nice car, wear nice clothes, travel to nice places, going out to eat at nice restaurants...etc.

Though I really like all of those things, but, more importantly, the things that money can't buy is what I love the most -- my family, friends, joy, peace, comfort, freedom from doubt and worry, being able to forgive, saying, "I love you" -- and REALLY mean it, to sleep well at night with a clear conscience, and to know the gift of God's love and presence in my life.

I sleep really good at night; I love my home where I'm never lonely because of God's sweet presence that lives here with me, and I have lots and lots of friends. Yes -- how wealthy we are when we realize the people and things that really matter most.

And, I Think to Myself......What a Wonderful World!

I’m loving being in WA and back to my routine of taking my two youngest grandsons to school and picking them up in the afternoon! Yesterday morning, as we headed out of the driveway, we heard on the radio, Louis Armstrong singing “And I think to myself, “What a Wonderful World”. Suddenly, I had a sweet memory. As Louis’ song continued, it was the background as I told them this story:

“It was our first morning home from the hospital, and the doctors had just told us they had done all they could do to help Papa get well. Papa was lying in his bed. Do you remember how he could see the lake from the bed?" Both of the boys remembered. I went on, “I can’t even imagine all that must have been going on in Papa’s head as he looked out our bedroom windows that were open wide that morning. Wasn’t it so cool how Papa and Nana’s window faced the little lake (the accompanying picture is that view)? I’ll bet Papa was thinking about you guys and what fun he had fishing with you down there! It was such a beautiful morning. The water was smooth as glass, the fish were jumping, and the birds were chirping really loud. Then the doorbell rang. It was our new Social Worker, Melvin – a really sweet African American man, who was so happy and joyful. A social worker is someone who cheers you up if you might be sad. I think God picked him just for us. After he asked us lots of questions, I asked what he liked to do. He said he loves singing in his church’s choir, so I asked if he’d sing a song for us. He immediately began singing. He had a great voice, and he was singing this song that we’re listening to, right now. Just think about what Papa was thinking when he heard these words:

I see trees of green, red roses, too. I see them bloom for me and you.
And I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white, the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. And I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”.
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky. Are also on the faces of people going by, I see friends shaking hands, saying "How do you do?" They're really saying "I love you".
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more than I'll ever know. And I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”. Yes I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”.

Brennan said, “What did Papa do?” I said, “He smiled real big!” Brennan said, “That’s what I thought!” And I replied, "And he's still smiling real big, and he's probably singing "And I think to myself, what a wonderful HEAVEN!" We all laughed because we just KNEW that's what Papa is doing!