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"!

Living With an All-You-Can-Eat Mindset

What happened to all those all-you-can-eat buffets like Furr's, Luby's, and Golden Corral where we could indulge in every variety and choice of meats, veggies, salads and desserts? Maybe it's the health conscious living that we have these days, but I loved the whole notion of paying a nominal price for any and everything that laid before us. The whole thing was ours for the taking, after paying a nominal price for all that food. We could go back as many times as we wanted – even if we only ate one bite of any one item.

An old gospel song I remember well goes: “Jesus has a table spread / Where the saints of God are fed / He invites his chosen people, come and dine.” Somehow, I think the “table spread” doesn’t mean a petite size portion. Since God’s storehouse is overflowing with abundance, why would we settle for a snack? GOD lays out in front of us a buffet line of blessings. He gives us unconditional love, amazing grace, everlasting peace. He is so creative, loving and generous. Imagine how many beautiful fruit trees must have been in the Garden of Eden! He said “No” to only one tree in the entire orchard. All the other trees were “Yes” options. Simple obedience is the nominal price for enjoying all the blessings we could ever hope for.

God has a Blessing Buffet just waiting for us to enjoy. He makes it so easy to love Him, draw close to Him and please Him. We forget that the very God who created this entire universe, Who holds the stars in place, and knows the exact number of hairs on our head, also knows our way. His favor rests on us as we seek after Him with our whole hearts. He holds the power to cause things to happen in just a moment that would take us years to do. He can line up our pathways to cross with others He wants us to meet. He can open doors that leave us surprised at how they open. He can close doors that He knows are not the best for us. He has a plan, in the good and every hard thing we face. And often the greatest blessings come after the greatest times of testing.

God will not allow any circumstance, or any person, to hold
us back from His blessing, favor, and purpose for our lives. We don't have to worry because we belong to Him. He is more than able to turn the toughest, darkest times, around for good. He will not waste our pain, but will use the difficulty of what we walk through for good and to bring blessing and freedom to others. His presence is with us and we can be assured in whatever we face, His plans for us are good. I'm taking all-I-can-get AND eat at this table spread with so many blessings! How about you?

Animal Lovers & People Lovers -- Let's Unite!!

I was having my early-morning devotion on the Wuerch Family’s back patio when Bryson, my 10 year old joined me. Oh how I love that boy and the “talks” we have. We started talking about how crazy the world seems and what a shame it is that people are being so ugly to each other. I said, “You know, Bryson, that’s not the way God created us to be. In the beginning He created the Garden of Eden. In fact it looked just like this (I pointed to the backyard). It was so peaceful and beautiful.. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They ate the apple from the one tree that He said they shouldn't eat from. Ever since then we’ve been doing things that God says not to do. He told us to love and be at peace. And what does God’s people do? We argue and complain and dislike each other. We take ourselves out of the Garden of Eden because of those kinds of mistakes.” Then Bryson gave his profound response to my Bible lesson and insights. “Nana, there wasn't concrete in the Garden of Eden. There wasn't a basketball court. There were no houses.” Oh my goodness. That boy. My joy.

Actually, Bryson does bring a little Garden of Eden to me as he represents so much peace to me. I accompany him to see after his animals – the longhorn, a barn cat, five goats and two miniature donkeys: Molly and Firecracker. By the way, there will be a baby arriving to the Wuerch’s animal kingdom in October. Firecracker is “with child….rather foal”.

Then there’s Bentley, their dog. Bryson loves all animals with all his heart. A garden snake was in their yard and Brennan was about to kill it, when Bryson stepped in to save the day for the snake. He has built-in compassion for animals.

Bryson and I took Brennan to his baseball game on Sunday, with spare time to visit the “Austin Pet Alive” animal shelter. They are a part of a network of shelters that have rescued over 2,000 dogs and cats from abandonment after Hurricane Harvey. Hundreds are at the Austin location. They are scrambling to reunite the pets to their owners. I saw so many loving volunteers there who didn't seem to notice all the loud barking. Neither did Bryson. He said, “Nana, I think I’m in heaven!”

I don't profess to being an animal lover, but I appreciate the love people have for their pets, My compassion extends more to people. The key word here is compassion. I know people who treat their pets like family. I see those heart-wrenching times when a family’s beloved pet passes away. I see how people get indignant when animals are abused and they talk about it passionately on social media. I understand that people get attached to animals for a number of reasons, but it’s mostly a combination of their biology and need for affection. As for the biology, when people touch and look at their pet, it makes their brain release chemicals that makes them feel good. The need for affection boils down to the fact that pets offer unconditional love. And unconditional love feels good.

Preferring a dog over humans seems absurd to me, but I know those beloved pets are always there for their owners. Sweet Bentley in the Wuerch household, lives for our contact with him. He will never disparage us. He has no hidden motives. He gives consistent, unconditional love. He only barks when someone comes to the front door but welcomes them with a wag and a kiss and laying on his back for a tummy rub. He’ll also be a great consoler to you if you need it, because he’ll jump up by you to keep you company.

I started this post today with “God’s creation and beauty that He made for you and me.” We got it messed up when we humans lost our compassion for each other. You know that part that says “Love your neighbor as you love yourself; be kind to each other – tender-hearted with mercy – forgiving one another.”

Somewhere, along the way, we became consumed with judgementalism instead of gratefulness. I’m liking the sound of a dog’s life where we simply show up for each other and give each other consistent, unconditional love. That sure makes the animals sound like they have a lot more of the character of God than we do. Our great, unconditional loving and compassionate God is consistent – never changing – and is the great consoler when we need His love the most. No wonder my grandson loves animals. Just maybe, his love, is the Father’s love for all of mankind. I’m going to think like that and desire to be like that. How about you?

Opposites Attract

At dinner last week at our fishing cabin, with three 17-year old guys, as only Staci can do when she is in rare form (that’s most of the time), asked the boys what were they looking for in a future wife. I know what’s she’s doing when she asks those kinds of questions. It’s an “imparting wisdom” time. One of the boys immediately spoke up and because he had a recent break-up with a girl, said, “Now I know I want someone just like me – has the same sense of humor, likes the same foods and other things, loves God just like me.” Hold on to your seat.....the firehose is getting ready to come out! LOL! Because Staci and Larry are complete opposites but have adapted themselves to each other’s likes and dislikes, she had some great words for him and, in fact, for all of us!

We’ve all witnessed couples that we’ve thought "How did THEY ever get together?" I know that's the way it was for my husband and I. He had a serious, intuitive, methodical, perfectionist, deep-thinker personality. I, on the far end of the spectrum (as far as the East is from the West), was/am a lighthearted, sanguine, fun-loving, upbeat, go-with-the-flow personality. It worked well for us. We completed each other. We made each other better because of what one of us lacked, the other had. But, it didn't come without years of maturing and adapting.

Speaking of “opposites attract”, think about how opposite we are in our relationship with God. He is perfect; we are not. His ways and His thoughts are so much higher than our ways and our thoughts. He loves unconditionally; we do not. He forgives and forgets. We try to forgive, and seldom forget. He gives without expectation of return. We give expecting to receive.

Here's the really good news. He is attracted to us, and we are attracted to Him. Everything that He is, and we're not, is okay -- He knew that, so His perfect plan of giving us His best, His one and only Son, bonded us together in perfect completion. Yes, "In Him you have been made complete......" (Colossians 2:10) Like my husband and I, after spending so much time together, we started completing each other’s sentences. We knew exactly where to go out to eat, because after all that time together….we knew what we loved to eat. And, every day as we spend time with God, we'll find ourselves taking on more and more of His characteristics and His beauty, and before long, we start to think as He thinks, forgiving and forgetting like He forgives and forgets, and gives and loves unconditionally.

We sure do want to be like Him, but it can be a long, slow process of growth. Like in our marriages, maturing in Him, is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of our lives. St. Paul said, "This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like Him." (Ephesians 4:13). We are a work in progress, but the longer we are in relationship with Him......the more we will be complete in Him. And, in this case -- OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT!
#OppositesAttract #PerfectGod

Everybody Deserves Somebody

Day 261 of Photo Inspirations -- Everybody Deserves Somebody
I have the solution for relationships that last, whether it be a marriage, partnership, or friendship.  It's also the solution for raising kids, caring for elderly parents, maintaining healthy appreciation and cooperation in dealing with extended family.

There are so many opportunities for conflict and disputes in whatever relationship we may have. But....if this one criteria is met, I can guarantee success.  It is being CENTER-FOCUSED on the PEACEMAKER.  He who speaks "PEACE BE STILL" and He who is the epitome of unconditional love --- is the ONE who, if placed at the core of every relationship we are in, we will be operating in HIS LOVE and will have appreciation for each one in our lives -- regardless how sweet OR not so sweet they may be.  How can that be?  God IS LOVE and when He is invited into the equation of our friendships and relationships, then His love will be in us and going through us to others.  

This kind of love is only possible, when we fix our eyes and hearts on the ONE who loves us unconditionally even though we fail Him and disappoint Him. He gives us forgiveness over and over. He overlooks our faults and He lavishes His grace upon us when we sure don't deserve it.  If we follow His lead and always consider WWJD "What Would Jesus Do?", then we'll become more and more like Him.  

This first photo inspiration came from the Amish Restaurant that we went to yesterday.  It absolutely described me. "Everybody deserves somebody who makes them LOOK forward to tomorrow."  I had been looking forward to this day for days.  So, of course our day, yesterday, prompted this post.

My two walking buddies, and I, took a road trip to celebrate Nancy Crow​'s birthday.  We planned this day for weeks.  There's nothing like "girl time" when we can be silly (especially with a selfie stick), talk about lots of things, go shopping, and eat lots of yummy food.  But, here's the glue that has bonded us together.  We each love God with all our hearts.  Most of our conversations are about the goodness of God, and if one of us veers off into any worry or concern, we tenderly rein each other back in with encouraging each other from promises in God's Word.  We love to celebrate, appreciate and inspire each other.  For a fact, I know that girl friends make us healthier, happier, less stressed, and I know we'll live longer because of each other.  Seriously, we ALL need friends.

These two gals inspire me so much.  In fact, many of my FB posts and blogs come from something they said in a casual moment.  These women make me stronger. I see them caring for others and in spite of some "stuff" in their own lives that are not perfect, their inner strength that comes from their relationship with God, causes them to rise and shine daily.

If today, you are lonely or tired of going it alone through life, go out and BE a friend.  Show yourself friendly.  Be an encourager.  Brighten someone's life with generosity.  Pray for a friend.  Pray God gives you true friendships -- and make sure that THE FRIEND who sticks closer than any brother is RIGHT in the middle of those relationships.

To God Be The Glory, Honor and Praise

"How can I say thanks for all the things He's done for me? Things so undeserved yet He gave to prove His love for me -- the voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude -- all that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee! To God, be the glory -- for the things He has done!"

Those are words from Andrae Crouch's beautiful song, "My Tribute", and they are words that sincerely express my heart of thanksgiving. I can't begin to express my gratitude enough for God's faithfulness, His unconditional love, His peace and joy that I know -- not because of anything I've done or deserved. It is simply His amazing grace that has sustained me, protected me, and provided for me -- more than I could have ever imagined possible. I'm so grateful for my life -- the past, the present and the future. I know everything I am and everything I hope to be, is because of His great love. He deserves all the glory and honor and praise. Oh, how He loves YOU and ME!