Kisses -- Sweeter Than Wine

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth — for your love is more delightful than wine.” How’s that for a Valentine’s Day opener? Sounds like something out of a romance novel, doesn’t it? It is way more. It is straight from God’s Holy Word, the Song of Solomon 1:2. God intended us to know romance so He showed us love in all dimensions – from Solomon’s wife’s love for her husband to His unrelenting love in giving His own Son’s sacrifice of love for us.

But what happens to that first love and those times of longing for being together and not being able to keep our eyes and our thoughts off of each other? Complacency happens. The fire we had at first becomes a flicker. We've lost our "first love".

Of course, today, I think of my first “puppy” love story. He was all of 13 years old and I was 12. It was a “by telephone” courtship. Eventually, we were strategizing for our first kiss. The only time we saw each other was at the church his dad pastored on an occasional Sunday night. On the phone, he asked, “When can I kiss you?" Me, being shy and senseless of romance in any way gave little input, but he already had a plan of action. “How about after church next Sunday night, behind the church?" Oh, my! I couldn’t sleep or think straight, especially when Sunday night came. After service, we headed outside to the darkness in the back of the church. He took me in his arms, threw me back like an old movie scene and planted a big one on my lips while his breath mint slipped into my mouth as we almost lost our balance. We heard his dad call out for us and, he ran one way around to the front of the church and I ran the other way. We were proud of our inconspicuous scheme. ;-)

That led to many years of loving to kiss, holding hands, and snuggling close – until the day of his graduation to heaven. I know that after many years in a relationship, the fire of first love tends to grow dim. I’d like you to think that our marriage was all marital bliss, but there were many times it faltered. It happens in marriage, and it happens in our relationship with God. In Revelation 2:1-7, John the Apostle wrote to the Ephesian church that had been faithful and hardworking, but he warned them to “remember their first love for God".

In the middle of this Valentine’s Day when love is up front and center, and whether we’re single or married, we are wise to go back to our first loves -- with our spouses AND our first love with Jesus. We can return to those first words of love and affection, service and obedience, amazement and appreciation. Oh, that we would still hunger and thirst again to be in God’s presence like we couldn’t get enough of our sweethearts in the beginning – when we were first in love. We can lose the passion and fervor in our marriages and in the same way, for God. We can accept the status quo and let the fires that once intensely burned, die.

Believe me, now that my sweetheart is up there and not here, I’ve thought about the times I was too busy or preoccupied or uninterested in my husband’s affection. My sweet married friends, don’t lose that first love for each other. Cherish your moments together. Rekindle your first love. Go on dates and remember what it felt like in the beginning. And, the same is true for rekindling our first love and our relationship with God.
May we remember how God went the distance to restore us, redeem our life and for being our forever love.
Happy Valentine’s Day!

What Are You Passionate About?

After our Walk for Life yesterday morning, I made it home in time to hear the announcement that Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as Supreme Court Justice. I thought about the passion that had been displayed during this process by the opposing sides, the media, the senators, the activists that pounded their way into the chambers; incredibly emotional and convinced people on both sides. Then I saw emotions rise even higher as angry protesters passionately chanted on the steps of the supreme court. One thing’s for sure: They ARE passionate. I’ll be honest with you – I sensed my passion needed a pick-me-up in comparison to those highly passionate men and women I saw standing up for what they believe in – right or wrong.

Yesterday morning, some of our EMwomen joined other passionate people in the Walk/Hike for Life in McKinney, TX. There were booths set up with passionate representatives from homes for pregnant, homeless women that provide hope and help to them. Centers were represented for women who need healing after choosing abortion and for helping women to choose life. There are many people who are passionate about “choosing life” and who devote themselves to many volunteer hours to help make a difference. What is it that drives these people to give of their time to causes like this? What drove our little band of women and one strong man to raise funds and to show up to walk for life? It was the passion to make a difference.

It's time we all become passionate people -- to be those who put our lives on the line for a cause that radically changes the face of our country. Nothing great is ever accomplished in life without passion. Nothing great is ever sustained in life without passion. Passion is what energizes revolutions and mobilizes armies into action. Passion is what causes explorers to boldly go where no man's gone before. Passion is what causes scientists to spend late night hours trying to find the cure to a dreaded disease. Passion makes the impossible possible. Passion gives us a reason to get up in the morning and say, "I’m going to do something with my life today." Who wants a boring, monotonous, routine life? God created us with the emotions to have passion in our lives and He wants us to live a passionate life.

Today, I ask, “What are you passionate about?” Are you passionate enough to give your all to a cause that could change the world? That kind of passion changed the U.S. when the Roe vs Wade decision was made 45 years ago. Since 1973, as of 5 am today, there have been 60,780,461 abortions; murders of precious babies (the ticker went up one by one as I watched online). What kind of passion drove prayer out of our schools and the 10 commandments from public spaces? What kind of passion was changed the definition of marriage between a man and a woman? My fellow believers in God’s Word, IT IS TIME to wake up and be heard with our passion for life, for morality, for righteousness and the truth of God’s Word. We must not be silent and nonchalant any longer. It's time we stir up our passion and register to vote in the November 6th election.

The passion of Jesus led to the redemption of man. We can model His passion. The Bible tells us that we’re to seek God passionately. We’re to love God passionately. The Bible says that we’re to serve and obey God passionately. We’re to trust God passionately. Then as if we didn’t get the message, in Colossians 3:23 He says "Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart as unto the Lord and not unto men." He says I want you to do everything passionately when it comes to loving Me, serving Me, living for Me.

Does PASSION Drive You?

My Word of the Day – PASSION: more than just enthusiasm or excitement, PASSION is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind, body and soul into something as is possible.

What is it that drives you, motivates you and causes you to jump out of bed each morning with exuberance? Is it your family, your spouse, your hobby, or your job that you really don’t even consider it a J.O.B., because you love it so much? Based on the definition of PASSION and the questions I just asked, maybe you can’t think of anything that you are PASSIONATE about.

My youngest grandson, though he knows little about having to make ends meet or being responsible for a spouse or family, I’ve seen such PASSION in him for what he is responsible for – his animals. I’ve shared it before that he provides daily care of his 3 donkeys, 5 goats, a longhorn, his cat and dog. His PASSION for his responsibility doesn’t even seem like a chore to him. These recent photos (I’m here caring for these two boys for the week.) show a little boy that adores his animals. He bounces out of bed and heads to the barn and calls out “Where’s my girls? Where’s my boys?” What a PASSIONATE dad he will be one day.

Thank you for driving my PASSION. I wake up with PASSION to provide yet another blog and FB post. I am relentless to seek God’s wisdom and words that might encourage someone each day. My PASSION for God tops everything else. There is nothing that takes the place of time with Him, knowing He was my FIRST love and will be my LAST love – pleasing Him drives my decisions and everything within my being.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in the act of living that we forget why we’re living. While it’s important to do what’s necessary; it’s also important to take time to reflect on the life we’re creating. When our last day arrives, don’t we want to look back and know our life mattered -- that it counted for something?

At the start of this new year, I want to close my eyes and feel my spirit excitingly begin its next journey without fear or regret. I want to live with a PASSIONATE heart. Here’s a few ways that remind me how to live with PASSION:

1. Take responsibility for my life and live every moment, every and every day like it could be my last.

2. Live every day with the expectancy, something good is going to happen in this day.

3. Turn negative thoughts and situations into gratitude by choosing to see what’s good in my life.

4. Love what I do. If I'm not PASSIONATE about what I'm doing, consider what I love to do and then start moving in that direction.

5. Take a honest look in the mirror. Michael Jackson’s lyrics to “Man in the Mirror” are a good way to start making changes that bring about PASSION for something other than myself: "I’m starting with the man in the mirror; I’m asking him to change his ways; And no message could have been any clearer; If you wanna make the world a better place; Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.” If what we see within our heart and attitude needs changing, then we start changing it right now.

6. Make time to follow my heart’s desire. Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

7. Share my love and what is burning inside my heart with others who can encourage and inspire me.

8. Seek God for my PASSION: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make direct your paths.”

Let's start today to live our lives with PASSION and when we do, then every day of 2018 will start out with overflowing joy for what each new day holds!

What Are You Passionate About?

Day 34 of Photo Inspirations -- What are YOU passionate about?
This is Super Bowl Sunday and if you're not a Seahawks or Patriots fan, you may not be inclined to feel "passionate" about today's game.  You probably don't care one way or the other who wins.  But if you are one of those teams' fans, you may be as passionate about the Seahawks as my Seattle family is. 

Not only do they have season tickets for the Seahawks, but their cars and homes bear Seahawks flags, they are decked out in full Seahawks apparel, they paint their faces, cut their hair (i.e., my youngest grandson's new "12th man" style), they promote it on social media and other public forums, and they have "watch" parties where you'd think they were at the live game.  I've been to a few Seattle Seahawks games, and it's true -- the "12th Man" are the loudest fans I've ever heard. 

And, to take it a step further, my son and his buddies rented one of the "Ride the Ducks", loaded it with Seahawks flags and banners, and rode through the City and Lake Washington screaming and hollering about their Seahawks.  Honestly, in my lifetime, they are the most relentless, passionate sports fans I've ever seen. 

Quite frankly, just about everything our family does -- whether it's a favorite football team, a business we believe in, a heart for missions, celebrating a birthday and/or a special event, remembering the sweet things about our past, and mostly, our faith --our heart for God and His Word.

What are you passionate about?  What gets you out of bed every morning?  When motivational speakers and vocational counselors ask this question, they're not looking for answers like "The baby was crying" or "My alarm rang."  They want to help you identify your "passion" -- something you love to be doing with your life, the purpose that fires you with energy.  Bottom line -- a personal encounter with God can be the X-Factor in your life.  Having Him at the center, causes life-at-large to become your passion.  Having Him as your greatest passion, will cause just about everything else in your life -- your job, your family, your hobby, your favorite team or favorite outreach to become your "Wake-Up-With-Passion" each and everyday!

Are You Living in the Zone?

Have you ever been inspired as you watched an athlete play HIS GAME and you'd see him at his best, doing his best and having remarkable results? Commentators would say..."He's sure in the zone, today!"

Being "in the zone" is when someone’s actions seem effortless, almost as if they could score at will -- just a sweet spot where their confidence, talent and abilities produce winning results.

Are you "living in your zone" -- that moment when you enjoy and love what you are doing so much, and are so passionate about doing it, that you don't even consider it a job or task or service project or ministry endeavor? It's just that sweet spot of "living in your zone".

In general, I live that way, but weekends are when I really feel the most "in the zone". I attend two church services to worship and thank God for His many blessings to me, but I also serve in two other church services. And I have a Life Group in my home during the week. It's my calling. I know it. A calling is when we are passionately using our God-given gifts in a way that pleases Him. I know that when we find God's purpose and destiny for our lives...we begin to feel "in the zone" -- passionate about OUR GAME in life.
Have you discovered your calling? Are you living "in your zone"? If not, pray and ask God to help you find that sweet spot. In time, He’ll reveal it to you and you'll soon be "living in your zone"!

Here For A Purpose and Assignment

I am a very busy woman. That's on purpose. I am passionate about life and squeezing out every drop of it that I can. Not only do I work as a marketing representative showing visitors the wonderful community where I live, but I'm a member of another company where I get to share an amazing opportunity that changes people's lives. I serve in various capacities at two different churches. I have a Life Group that meets in my home every Thursday. I'm a Board Member of a non-profit organization, an Advisor on another, as well as serve on two committees in my community. I speak and/or teach at events and organizations. I mentor and counsel some precious people. I post each day about something that might help someone. And, best of all, I'm on beckoned call when my kids call for my help. In fact, I'm in Texas, right now, helping my precious daughter and family move into their beautiful new home.

Last week, one of my friends asked, "Aren't you so tired? You just do too much -- after all you're supposed to be retired?" My response, "Where did you hear that from? I have no intention of EVER retiring. In fact, every day I refire with passion to do even more!! If I'm not dead; I'm not done. I fully intend to go out in a blaze of glory!"

I heard Joyce Meyer say, "Don't be always talking about 'If I can just make it through this old world to my mansion in the sky'. If that's what life is all about, the minute you got saved, God would have beamed you out of here! You are here for a purpose. You are not here just to take up space!"

I love that -- God's master plan is for us to live our life with excitement, enjoyment, determination, and zeal......and to fill that space with loving, caring and spreading God's love everywhere and to everyone! When my time here has ended, I'll know that I will have no regrets, because I gave it everything I had. Yes, I believe I'm here for a purpose and assignment.....and when my assignment here is completed, God WILL beam me out of here!

The Pearl of Great Price

God is relentless in His pursuit of us. He speaks to us in a thousand different ways, endeavoring to get our attention. He is passionate in His love for us, and patient in His tolerance of us. And, just in case you ever doubt your self-worth, here is proof positive of how special and amazing you are:

In Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus told a simple little story about a merchant who was on a venture, trying to find expensive, beautiful gems. He was especially interested in finding pearls. Jesus said this man, looking for valuable pearls, found one pearl of great price. It was so exquisite, so beautiful, so rare, so valuable, he sold everything he had and he went and he bought that pearl.

YOU are the pearl of great price and God’s highest treasure. He searched far and wide for you, and He was overjoyed when He finally found you. You may have been covered with a little dirt when He first dug you up, but that didn’t matter to Him. He saw the beauty inside you, and He is committed to cleaning and polishing you until you glow with His radiance. Yes, you are His precious child who possesses the character and likeness of Him, the perfect Pearl. And doesn't that make us want to return His love by a relentess, consuming and passionate pursuit of Him?