Perfect Day Perspective

Perfect Day Perspective by Rachelle Phipps There is nothing in this world (no struggle, no temptation, no amount of money, recognition, or fame) that could ever tempt me to leave my post as wife and mother! God has blessed me with the absolute perfect day!!! I don't deserve it: *Reading poetry (The Highwayman--my absolute favorite) to the kids, on the porch, for school...when people in other countries can't read and enjoy books....maybe they've never even seen a book, much less had someone to teach them. * A brown haired little beauty with a fishtail braid, and a bright swimsuit, when a little girl in another country wears a man's t-shirt and searches through a dump to find scraps to eat. *Two rambunctious boys searching for illusive robins' nests...when other boys (maybe orphans) in other countries don't have time to be children because they walk miles to search for water, carrying their orphaned baby brother who carries a smeared water bottle, too.... * Seeing the warm delight in the big blue eyes of our miracle baby as he is surrounded by toy cars on the patio...when other couples are trying to conceive, or struggling to keep a pregnancy to term, while one American abortionist, is on trial for murdering 40,000 babies in his "sick" career, some of which survived abortion only to be killed after being born, with scissors.... * Needing to quickly go outside and slipping my feet into our oldest son's flip flops, thinking they won't fit, but it's like Cinderella and the glass slipper.... I fit my son's flip flops...? When did this happen...? And why do we get the privilege of raising him for almost ten years, so far, when people in other countries fight for their children to survive? ...Who walk miles to find medical care for the baby, only for him to die on the way there? * Shedding a happy tear when i read a sweet and caring text, from a man I love, on an iPhone that I don't deserve...relishing that text along with my coffee, which would be considered a delicacy in another country where they don't even have clean water! * Having the time to write (my absolute favorite thing in the whole world, probably) because my man works hard all day to protect our country, while Obama tries to lower military forces and funds our enemies... *Surrounded by fiery sunshine and a green carpet of grass created by a loving God...who this nation denies exists, defies with their rebellion, and turns their back on in our government and schools..... I can usually put this stuff into words but not today.... There's just nothing that compares to the freedom of being a stay at home mom, homeschooling our children, and serving a God who hears and sees and cares and saves.... I know there are women who wish they could do exactly what I do every day, and what i have grumbled about in the past. Not anymore! When things happen in your life to bring you to your knees, no one says you're going to respond perfectly in every situation...but if you learn from the struggle and you can still have a "perfect" day, amidst the trials and struggles, like I have had today, then you will know that God LIVES! You will know that he breathes his Word into your life, enabling you to weather every storm! You will know that he gives good and perfect gifts to his children exactly when they need them! You will know that He moves in the trials and wishes you'd hear him if you'd just listen and see! You will know that little things don't matter anymore, but that eternity is in the hearts of those who love Him and are committed to him! You will know that even the hardship, and heartache, and disappointments, and tragedies don't compare to your destination, and they happened to you, to bring you to the place you are, where you get the PRIVILEGE to enjoy a perfect day, when you actually deserve hell!!! Better is ONE day in God's house, than a thousand elsewhere!!!! Why can't we see God's grace in this country? Why can't we look past our trials and realize that people in other countries would love to have our struggles? If we were living every day, looking for food and water, we wouldn't have time to sin, or sit in church asking how we can stop sinning... If we lived out the Great Commission we could be considered the "Beautiful Feet" that brought the good news, to people who have never seen a Bible, and who may have never owned a pair of shoes, much less seen a closet like mine, full of them. If I went on a missions trip and wore some of the shoes I have or the blingy earrings I love so much, I'd be seen as a Princess! Beautiful feet??? Are you kidding me? Not even close! I'm not a princess. I'm selfish. Guilty as charged. Blessed beyond belief. And I sit here day in and day out crying because of my troubles, asking God why they happened to me, and forgetting that I get to breathe! ....much less have a perfect day. Maybe this isn't the perfect day, after all. My heart is suddenly filled with grief, conviction, and guilt! No. This isn't the perfect day. The perfect day would be living like the Jesus of Nazareth, that I say I follow , but care about wearing red nail polish on my toes. It would be walking into another country (barefoot like i deserve) who's never heard the gospel of Christ, and leading people to the One who fills and satisfies the soul and maybe bringing them some shoes for their soles. The perfect day would be seeing men, women, and children, calling out to God for salvation the way I did when I was 19, because I doubted stories in the Bible, that they've never even had the privilege of reading.... What is wrong with me? I came to Christ because I doubted the words in a book; The Book, that people in other countries are prohibited from owning and could be killed for possessing. The book that some people huddle around, reading by a dim candle, underground, so they don't get caught. And I'm 19, surrounded by fifteen million bibles, repenting of my sin of doubt and unbelief, of a book that people in other countries have to share and pass around. And I have like five bibles of my own, in five different versions, and I can't let go of personal grievances against me, when my Bibles tell me exactly how to do that....I'm worried about grievances against me, while I'm surrounded by my wealth and greed, and "the perfect day"....when people would think they were in heaven if they had my day. Unfortunately, they won't have anything close to "my perfect day" because they have never heard the message of Jesus Christ and will burn in hell. And the only reason they didn't hear it is because I sat in the lounge chair my husband gave me for Mother's Day a few years back, like I've sat it in ever since, and nursed my hurts, my anger, and the offenses against me, in my bright orange bikini, with a jar of clean water. With ice. "W hoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "H ow beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things !" (Romans 10:13-15 NASB)

Priorities Lived Out

Priorities Lived Out Last year, I read Elizabeth George's book entitled "A Woman After God's Own Heart. It is a book that changed my life because it helped me change my priorities and see where some of my priorities were not in order. God has always been first in my life, since I came to know Him when I was 19. My personal intimate relationship with him has been like breathing, since then. It's very needed and natural. However, somewhere along the way my intimate relationship with Him got blurred with my spiritual growth, which are two separate things entirely. "What?", you say! I know...that doesn't make sense...but I'll explain later. In Elizabeth's book, she recommends making a daily list similar to the picture above (Note: The actual picture is located in my album titled "Priorities Sheet"...I couldnt get it to upload correctly), except that she just makes a written list every day with those same headings. I loved this idea because I was starting to realize that I had been neglecting some areas in my life. Somehow, they just got pushed to the side. I tried using a list like this, daily, but it was extremely overwhelming. Remember, priorities shouldn't become burdens, but joys! Instead, I use this list weekly and it works so well in my life. I'd like to share how I've come to live with my priorities in proper perspective! In the first box you see it is titled "God". If you are a believer this relationship must come first! In this box I list some things to cultivate my relationship with the Lord. Some of the items I put in this box for the week are: prayer, journaling (where I write to the Lord about my life, problems, joys, etc), single words such as "trust" or "obey" (things i need to remind myself to do throughout the week), being quiet before the Lord where I make time to listen to Him, and devotional time of reading his Word. This is totally different from studying his Word. This is where I get LIFE from his Word. This is where I breath it in, so I can live for Him throughout the day. This is delighting in His Word. This is soaking in His power, so I can make it through trials. This is vital! This is one area that is daily for me and I encourage you to make it daily in your life, too. Without this important relationship, there is no foundation in your life and nothing to build the rest of your relationships on. * Psalm 119:140-144. "Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. Trouble and anguish have come upon me, Yet Your commandments are my delight. Your testimonies are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I may live." In the second box you see it is titled "My Husband". I am writing this because I feel led to encourage women in this special area! The relationship with your husband must be your number one human relationship. This is an area that I let slide quite a bit. I think the years of being an army wife can make you very independent and sometimes you lose sight of the need to cultivate this area to the best of your ability. I almost lost my marriage. This is nothing to be ashamed of- only something to be learned from. And I firmly believe that marriages can be stronger through mistakes made, as long as the mistakes are corrected. Now don't misunderstand me...some things are just beyond your control as a wife, and have absolutely nothing to do with you as a wife or a person, a lover or a friend, BUT there are things I could have done better, the past ten years. There are things we can all do better in all of these areas. If your husband is an unbeliever, or is living in sin, that is not your fault. He makes his own choices. You didn't cause him to make his choices. On the flip side he cannot be blamed for your sin and choices. This is not the blame game and you are held responsible before the Lord, for your own responses and sin. You are still his wife, and there is much you can do to have a great marriage and it's never too late. In this category, I frequently have things such as: pray for him, send an encouraging text, date night, focus on communication, do the budget, and a variety of other things. Maybe your husband has asked you to do something he doesn't have time to do. Put that on the list. Maybe there's an area that needs severe help such as holding your tongue, walking in forgiveness, not being bitter, your critical spirit, making his meals more healthy, or your sexual relationship. Put whatever it is on the list. Keep this whole list in a special place where your husband and kids won't find it, since there might be things you want to keep a surprise or don't want your kids seeing. I usually hide my list before my husband comes home and take it out in the morning after he leaves for work. Some of the things you have on this list might be something you need to do daily or it could be something you can cross out after you've gotten it done. Most of the things on my list I try to do daily because I need to. Take this category seriously. Put your husband before yourself and be thankful for him. There is always something to be thankful for. Whatever you're going through in life, just know it could be worse!!! *Song of Solomon 3:4a." Scarcely had I left them when I found him whom my soul loves; I held onto him and would not let him go."* Ecclesiastes 9:9 "Enjoy life with the woman or man, whom you love, all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun, for this is your reward in life and in your toil, in which you have labored under the sun." The third box is entitled "My Children". It's so easy for children to become the main priority because they require so much from us. The more children you have, the harder it is to maintain proper perspective. However, children are very important. You are raising little ones for the Kingdom. You are molding little characters, lives, and hearts. This is your second most important earthly priority. If you are a homeschooling mom, it's very easy to get bogged down but we need to realize that each child needs a bit of our undivided attention. In this box I put each child's initial and one or two things I'd like to do with them that week. Remember that each of your children have a different love language and this will determine a lot of what goes on the list. Some of the things on the list will be the same for each child. One of my main desires is to be able to pray individually with each child, so I've had that on my list, recently. Zane's love language is Words of Affirmation, so a lot times my list for him includes encouragement or compliments. Abbie's language is quality time so her list usually contains cooking, playing games or playing with her dolls. Sheldon's language is physical touch, so his list usually contains a hug, kiss, or undivided eye contact and listening attentively to him. For Quintin I try to play or read to him daily. Don't let this be overwhelming! Ask the Lord to help you fill this incredibly daunting and taxing area to His liking! Remember this verse: * Psalm 127:3-4 "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth." * "See the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:10, 11 NIV) The third box contains "My Home". This is an easy area for me but I know some women struggle in it. I run my home very smoothly and the children help by cleaning up their own messes. I pick up my house every night before bed so that I can clean in the morning (my secret to a clean home). The kids clean their rooms every night. I do all of my laundry everyday. I wrote a large piece on this back in the day when I had little ones who were not in school, yet. I think I'm way more relaxed than I used to be then, but you can check it out if you want. It's in my Facebook notes section, entitled "Rachelle's Secrets to a Clean Home", I think. On my list I don't put the daily things. I only list extra things I'd like to get done that week or projects I'd like to work on. The Lord wants your home to be an expression of Him. It should be clean, orderly, comfortable, inviting, and a haven of rest! Your husband should be able to come home to this type of environment after he has worked hard all day to provide for his family. Children should be able to invite friends over, unashamedly. It should be a place your children have fond memories of and love coming back to after they are grown. It should be a place where visitors feel comfortable and cared for. *Proverbs 31:10-31. I won't list this passage, as we are probably all aware of what it says. If not, I encourage you to read it and discover what God desires a virtuous woman to look like. * Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." You see that after all of these categories I have in the fifth box, "My Spiritual Growth". After I feel that I have put enough emphasis on the prior four areas (not finished everything on the list, but have made an effort that I feel comfortable with), then do I allow myself to pursue learning, reading, and studying. This is different than building your intimate relationship with Christ. This is developing your understanding of God's Word. In this box I frequently have books I am currently reading and want to finish, areas or topics in the bible I want to study, Sunday School material I want to work through, our current counseling course work, or articles I want to read. If you are in college, you may need this box to entitle "My Spiritual Growth/College. Whatever your life is requiring right now, but do have an area for your spiritual education! If I am not careful, I will blur this area with priority number one and ignore prayer and communion with the Lord. So, just be careful here...reading a book does not count as quiet time with the Lord. * " My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." (Proverbs 2:1-11 NIV) After this, you are ready for ministry! If you have spent sufficient time cultivating these areas, you have a great foundation for box number six, "My Ministries". My ministry will look different than yours but in this box I usually have: my awana lesson, homeschool co-op lessons, or random things I feel The Lord leading me to do, such as ministering to particular women, shooting a text to someone who needs encouragement, discipling people, or having people over for dinner. Enjoy filling up this box! God made you for ministry! * Isaiah 52:7 "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Box number seven is "My Friends". A hard area in my life is friendship. I have a very hard time cultivating friendships and pursuing activities with my friends. Though I minister with and see my friends often, it's hard to make time for one-on-one time with them. Its even hard to have time for group activities. It's something I want to work harder on but don't have a lot of ideas for. Sadly, this box is frequently empty, aside from responding to emails, making phone calls, and sending texts to keep in touch. It's just not a strong area in my life. The Bible talks so much about the importance of friendship, even calling believers, "His friends", so we must make time for community and healthy, blossoming, productive friendships! *John 15:15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." * Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity." The last box, but definitely not the least is the "Me" box. Make time for yourself! You need times throughout the week for refreshment, or to do things you might want to do. I'll admit; I rarely get anything done on this list. Some recent things on this list are: organize recipes and photos, and scrap-booking. There are things I do daily for myself that I don't put on the list, though. I like to wear earrings and put on a little makeup even if I'm not going out, that day. It's nice to feel beautiful throughout the day and look nice for my husband when he gets home. And no matter how many kids I have, I will never give up my hot bath every night! ;). Your list will look different than mine, just make sure you do something for yourself. Make sure the children know that it's your time and not to bother you! And remember, it's your time but its not about you. Dwell on The Lord and his goodness through all these priorities. You are living and breathing because God allows you to! Remember to thank him for the moments you get for yourself! * "Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart. "(Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NASB) I usually make my list on Monday morning. Pick a day that's good for you and don't overfill. List only what you think you can do but enough to challenge you and help you change. Realize that a lot of these categories interweave. I might be sitting down nursing the baby, while I read a chapter in a book, the children are doing chores I have directed them to do, laundry is going in the other room, I send a text to a friend or my husband real quick, and I'm drinking a cup of coffee! :) A lot of it is multi-tasking, but being aware of my surroundings and my list at the same time. Let it interweave, but make sure you are mentally keeping the list of priorities in order. I pray this post is helpful for you in living out proper priorities, with the proper perspectives. I know for me, God has done a major overhaul in this area of my life. I'm not ashamed of this fact. When a car engine needs an overhaul, it is because it has worked hard, done many things, and needs new parts. It is the same with our lives. If you are tired it is a good sign that you have been working hard. We get tired and need help. We need a new perspective. We need fresh revelation from God. After a needed overhaul we are ready to move forward and minister to our husbands, children, friends, and world. Remember to have grace for yourself. You can't do everything but do try to do what God has told you to do. You will make mistakes in this life. Learn from your mistakes and go on. I love this promise from God. * “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. “Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children will be taught by the Lord , and great will be their peace. In righteousness you will be established. (Isaiah 54:2, 3, 11-14a NIV) Make sure you are using those costly materials listed in the above passage from Isaiah, for your foundation. Make sure that what you are building with is precious in the sight of God. And remember that you, a virtuous woman, are far more precious than rubies. Act like who God says you are! Don't settle for anything less! God bless you in your journey, as you live out your priorities! Let's let the Lord have the last word! "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31:10, 29-31 NIV)

If you like Biscotti, you'll love this Christmas favorite! I got it from my friend, Sarah Longanecker! :) Enjoy!


Gingerbread Biscotti
2-1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4c. molasses
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. chopped pecans
1/4 c. currants
Combine first 7 ingredients. In another bowl combine eggs, brown sugar, molasses and vanilla. Combine both just until moistened. Fold in pecans and currants. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Divide dough in half. Form into 2 narrow rectangles on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 for 24 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and turn oven down to 300.
Transfer to a cutting board. Cut diagonally into 1/2 in. slices. Place cut side down on greased sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned, turning once. Cool on wire racks.

Joy Like Casper ~ Fruits of the Spirit 2012

Our Fruit of the Spirit focus, for 2012, is joy! Will we have joy, this year, in all circumstances? Will we demonstrate joy to our families, our husbands, and to our children? Will our neighbors and perfect strangers see and feel our joy? Will others see us as different? Can we really make the choice to have joy? Will we respond properly in situations to exemplify joy?

Paul consistently tells us to rejoice and be glad. He wants our joy to be full and overflowing, in all circumstances. It is so hard, isn’t it? Our bad days make it a daily battle and you know what they say about bad days, “Bad days make bad years and bad years make a bad life, (or lives).” Our lives affect others, whether we like it or not. Our difficult circumstances seem to take over our hearts and souls. Hard decisions that need to be made, overshadow our joy. Lifelong problems that never seem to change or get any better, steal our joy (John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.) Sometimes our own shortcomings and our choice to dwell on them, causes us to be less joyful.

Being joyful is a choice and a difficult one. It is moment by moment, step by step, and prayer by prayer. We must stop and think before we step forward. We must choose joy.

I think one of the hardest areas in my walk with Christ, is to remain joyful. It particularly bothers me when my children see my grumpy, impatient spirit, my short tone of voice and my obvious fatigue with any on-going issue. They are around me for most of their day. When they are older I want them to think of me and remember my joy. I want them to remember that I had joy in all circumstances. I have failed so many times. Sometimes, it feels like these shortcomings will never end; that they will never be conquered. I will never be victorious. God’s Word says otherwise (1 Cor 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 60:12 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.) I love Psalm 21:1-7, where David gives praise to God for victory in a battle: “O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him--length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

We are in a battle, too. Our children’s future, our marriages, our friendships, our testimony to all is at stake, in this battle. We must fight for those we love and know that God gives the victory but we must choose to fight in the battle. God’s Word says that without love we are nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3) but without joy we show that we do not have love. We will never attain perfection, but when we choose not to have joy, not to be in the battle for joy, ultimately we give the impression that we do not have love and that we do not care. We show that we do not care about our example, our testimony to others, our spiritual health and the health of our children. Proverbs 16:24 and Proverbs 17:22 say this: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” and “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

I find it interesting that in Galatians 5:22, love is mentioned first and then joy immediately follows. Peace is mentioned third. It begs me to think that if we truly love, our joy will be evident to all and THEN we will have peace in our hearts and in our homes. All of a sudden I am hit with fresh revelation! I have always tried to cultivate patience first, so I am able to choose joy in a situation. As an example, take any challenging situation with your children. In the situation maybe you are like me! I feel so impatient that my first thought is to stop, breathe, and be patient...then I try to speak joyfully. It doesn’t always happen. It’s a half-way good approach, I guess. Maybe all this time it was the wrong one. I wonder if a better approach would be the model of Galatians 5:22? Maybe we should stop and ask ourselves, “Am I going to choose a loving attitude, a tone of voice full of love, and to speak in love? Is love going to be my basis in what I am about to say or do?” If we can choose to love, first, in everyday situations with our husbands and children, I think that a joyful heart will follow. Maybe next, our heart and home is filled with peace and maybe THEN we are patient. I don’t know; it’s just a thought.

In inanimate situations, however, we must first choose joy. Obviously, cancer, money situations, a broken washing machine or a natural disaster are not people and cannot be loved. In these situations, I think joy must be the first focus. This will guarantee that we will be more likely to exemplify love to the people in close proximity. Without choosing joy in these types of situations, I think we all know that our frustration overflows to anyone present and this isn’t loving.

Back to animate situations! :) I am reminded of James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” If you have ever seen the old “Casper The Friendly Ghost” episodes from the late 1980’s, you know that Casper is always going through various trials. This is always because he loves and wants to help others. In one episode, Casper finds a duckling named Dudley, who has just hatched from an egg. Dudley’s mother is nowhere to be found, so Casper takes him as his own. In the next scene, evening has come. Casper finds a nest and he and Dudley are settling down to sleep. A huge storm comes and Casper shields Dudley from the wind and the rain. Surprisingly, the whole time, Casper has a huge smile on his face! :) He then puts the nest upside-down on top of his head, as an umbrella, for he and Dudley...and now with an even bigger smile! It reminded me that during our personal trials, we must shield our children with our joy. Our children will someday face enough of their own trials and we must model joy in ours. As we shield them in that joyful protection, an umbrella forms over our heads. It is the umbrella of God’s promises, his Holy Word, his loving kindness and his faithfulness. It is his truth.

Back to Casper and Dudley! In the next scene, Casper (think of you as a parent) is teaching Dudley how to fly. Dudley is so frustrated with his attempts but Casper (still with a smile on his face) urges him to persevere and to keep trying! You see the little duck set himself with determination and begin to fly. Casper rejoices and both have smiles on their faces! :)

God’s truth gives us the victory in the battle and along with that we are made blameless and pure just like it says in these verses from Philippians! If you have made it this far with me, meditate with me on God’s Word, through Paul:


Philippians 2:1-5 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 2:14-18 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life---in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”

I will close in the words of John! :) 1 John 1:4 “And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.”

Fruit of the Spirit ~ 2011 ~ Love

~ GALATIONS 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ~

This year, instead of working on a fruit of the spirit alone, I decided to invite my friends to do it along with me. Several were interested and so I began a new facebook group just for us! :) I have been doing one fruit per year, from 2002 to 2010 and finished Self-Control last year. I didn't do well at all in that area. It was a whirlwind year in which so much happened. I didn't always have the best responses and immediate attitudes. Eventually though, God would correct me and I would change my attitude but it wasn't immediate like I wanted. I am back to Love, now (which I did so long ago in 2002). I am looking forward to this year's study. Love brings together all things, encompasses all things and lifts all things up. I am praying for such strong revelation in my spiritual life this year, as I study love, that all the other fruits will be easy for me in the coming years.

Love is so huge. The Bible tells us that without love we have nothing. I feel daunted as I even consider trying to do a word study on it. My Bible concordance is so full of verses on love that it is overwhelming. The Blue Letter Bible website I enjoy using has over 300 verses with the word love in it in the KJV, and over 500 in the NIV. There is no way that I can even begin to tell you the magnitude of God's love for his people but I may be able to help us to understand how we are to love, with some select verses that we all probably know, and some that we may not know.

Each January as I do my new studies, I always begin with asking myself some questions. Some that I hope to cover this year are:

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO LOVE?
WHAT INHIBITS LOVE IN MY LIFE?
WHAT KEEPS LOVE FROM GROWING IN MY LIFE?
HOW WOULD GOD HAVE ME LOVE MY HUSBAND?
MY CHILDREN? MY FRIENDS? MY NEIGHBORS? MY ENEMIES OR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE ME?
HOW DID JESUS LOVE?
HOW WOULD GOD HAVE ME LOVE HIM?
HOW CAN LOVE HELP ME TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL AND SHARE MY FAITH?

You may have more great questions we could add to this list. Feel free to do so! :)

In my basic word study using just a Webster's dictionary, you find the richness of love, the importance of it, and the fun of it. This is not even going into the different forms of love in the Hebrew and Greek, and which forms are used in select verses! So, I will begin with a basic word study and study of sub-word definitions taken from the actual definitions for love.

LOVE AS A NOUN: what love is:

1) Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties (a good definition describing love in the family setting-parents, children, extended family).
2) Attraction based on desire, affection and tenderness felt by lovers (great definition of the love between spouses).
3) Affection based on admiration, benevolence or common interests (friendship).
4) The fatherly concern of God for man (how God loves us).
5) Brotherly concern for others (neighbors, enemies).
6) A person's adoration of God (how we love God).
7) Unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another (basic love which encompasses all things-putting ourselves last).

LOVE AS A VERB: how love is shown:

1) to hold dear
2) to cherish
3) to like or desire actively
4) to take pleasure in


SOME SUB-WORDS SELECTED FROM ABOVE, GIVING DEEPER MEANING TO LOVE:

AFFECTION: tender attachment, fondness

ATTRACTION: the action or power of drawing forth a response. A force acting mutually between particles of matter tending to draw them together and resisting their separation. The relationship existing between persons that are not naturally (or involuntarily) drawn together. I love these definitions as they remind me of the devotion we must have, in love, as well as the spontaneity, that often occurs between people! It is what makes love, fun! And not just between a husband and wife, but also among friends. It shows God's love, for love! :) It shows why Christ died for us! He died for us to draw forth a response from us all. Without the attraction there is nothing! :) Isn't this a wonderful and perfect thought? It shows that we can choose to ignore attraction but that it is hard, as the above definition states when it says, "resisting their separation". The author of love and of our Salvation, obviously understands pure and perfect love! Oh, that we might! :)

ADMIRATION: A feeling of delight and of astonishment

ADMIRE: To marvel at and to think highly of.

BENEVOLENCE: Disposition to do good, an act of kindness, a generous gift.

DEVOTION: An act of prayer or private worship. Dedication and loyalty.

DEVOTE: To commit by a solemn act of dedication. Attachment to an object, person, or to God.

DELIGHT: To take great pleasure, to give joy or satisfaction to.

ADORATION: To worship or honor as a deity or as divine. To be extremely fond of.

CHERISH: To hold dear, to feel or show affection for, to keep or to cultivate with care (repeat: WITH CARE ....as a gardener), to nurture, to harbor in the mind deeply.

To me, personally, I feel that the definitions for Cherish and Attraction best describes love to me! :) The beauty of love is amazing, for sure! :) Books are written about it, songs are sung, lives are given for it. It holds together marriages and families, friendships and communities. It teaches, it measures, it is worked for and strived for, it is highly regarded and highly praised. It is considered a blessing, considered in traditions and in mission work. It is everything to basically everyone, everywhere and the ROOT of it, is from God! God IS love! And He shows it in the over 500 times it is mentioned in the NIV translation. Here are some mentions of it....from God's Holy and Fully-inspired, precious and life-giving, WORD:


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.
1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
1 Jo 4:10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1Jo 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1Jo 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1Jo 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1Jo 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
1Jo 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
1Jo 4:21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1Jo 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
1Jo 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

As we see in First John, God is obviously love! :)

Christ speaks in Matthew on the importance of love:

Mat 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
Mat 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Mat 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Mat 5:46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?


Here are just a few of my favorite love passages (some are long, some are short):

Deu 7:7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
Deu 7:8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.




Jhn 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Jhn 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
Jhn 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Jhn 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Jhn 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Jhn 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Jhn 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
Jhn 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Jhn 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
Jhn 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Jhn 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Jhn 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Jhn 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Jhn 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Jhn 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Jhn 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Jhn 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.


1Cr 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-

Eph 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.


Col 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Col 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.


1Pe 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Tts 2:3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
Tts 2:4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,
Tts 2:5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.


JENNIFER DAVIS SAYS:


1 Corinthians 13:2
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I AM NOTHING.

1 John 3:15
Whoever does not love ABIDES IN DEATH.

I wanted to focus on what happens if you don't have love. There is a reason I wanted to do this study! I have felt like I didn't have love. I have felt like I couldn't show love. While that may not be true and may be a lie I have believed, I need to see what it really means to not have love. It means wasted time, wasted efforts, and ultimately death. I want more for my life!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRACEY DUNN SAYS:

Here is something from this evening.....Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:25 tells us if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
We all know that developing the fruit of the Spirit takes diligence and determination. So many times it seems that a tiny incident can take us from the love walk. When this happens it seems that we can literally see the fruit of peace, gentleness, long suffering just falling off of us.
God, our Father, is LOVE! From love all the other fruit comes forth. We first must have this agape love, this unconditional love that the Father has.
"walkinginfruitofspirithtm.com"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This doesn't even come close to examining all the verses on love! There is no way to properly explain to you exactly how to answer the questions I stated above! That's why I need you ladies from my facebook group! This study will take a long time (and we have a year, plus the rest of our lives), to give practical ideas on how to live out these verses! :) Let's pray for and help each other this year!!! :) God bless you!

Physical Touch from God? Is It Possible?

Physical Touch from God? Is It Possible?



Here I am again with the crazy urge to write something that I just have to get out! I pray that God would give me the words to write what's been on my heart recently, in a way that would encourage someone. That's all I care about in my writing: to encourage my friends to follow God more closely and in practical ways. The Lord knows that I am all about practical! :)

In our Ladies Bible Study this week, one lie we can be led to believe in marriage is that we need a husband to be happy....or that we need our husbands to be a certain way, or do certain things, and in a certain way, for us to be happy. The truth that the author of our book (Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss) shares, is this: "Happiness is not found in (or out of) marriage", "There is no person who can meet our deepest needs" and "No one and nothing can make me truly happy apart from God".

I would like to expand on this by using my own examples and by also using some information from the book, The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I am not at all intending to misquote anything in that book....I actually don't even own the book. I can remember a lot of what is in the book and I am going to use my own take on it, just to show you how God has used it in my life. I want to drive home an awesome truth that I have recently realized. I think that this could be encouraging for a lot of wives, especially military wives, who's husbands are gone. I began to realize this truth while James was in Korea but I didn't fully comprehend it until now, and I HAVE to share. Hang onto your seat, Donna! :) I SOOO love you....and you'll realize why I just had to say this just now, once you read this!

I want to give some background on the Five Love Languages, just in case someone doesn't know anything about them. Feel free to add anything to this in the comment section if you think of something.

Gary Chapman has done some studies and concludes that everyone "feels" love in one of 5 ways. He calls them languages. You will feel most loved if someone does one of the 5 for you. You feel least loved and the most upset when this language is absent in any relationship, ie: child/parent, spouse, friends, etc.

These are the 5 Love Languages:
Affirmation
Quality Time
Receiving Gifts
Acts of Service
Physical Touch

I will give some examples of each of these, in case you are wondering, and so that if you have never heard of this you can discover what yours is....or what someone else's is ( a child, a husband, a friend, or whoever). You can tell what your love language is by realizing what you do when you want someone to feel that you love them. You will usually show others that you love them, in the exact same way that you yourself feel loved.

Affirmation- You will feel most loved through: Talking and sharing, getting letters, receiving compliments, a meaningful card or phone call, praise, when someone truly listens to you, when someone takes the time to really talk and understand you.
If you feel this may be your love language, you can be sure it is, if you feel most annoyed, irritated, or unloved if something like this happens: You get the cold shoulder or the silent treatment, you are spoken to harshly or talked down to, you are belittled, you don't receive phone calls from people you love, someone breaks correspondence with you....the list goes on. What probably hurts you most are what people say or how they say it. This is my son, Zane's, love language so I have to be very careful what I say to him and how I say it.

Quality Time- You feel most loved when: someone takes the time to be with you and to do something you enjoy, spends time with you (it could be anything---sitting on the couch with you, going walking with you when you know they'd probably rather not go walking,etc). It's going that extra mile for you and making you feel loved and important by sacrificing their time for you.
You will probably feel unloved if this happens: The person spends too much time at work, working overtime when maybe your finances don't really need it, the person would rather spend time alone or with other friends (in excess), than take the time to be with you, the person doesn't include you, etc. This is my daughter, Abigail's, language. Playing barbies with her, cooking with her, or just spending time doing anything with her is what makes her feel loved. You can literally feel her heart warm, when you make the time for her.

Receiving Gifts- You feel most loved by: receiving tokens of the person's love for you, knick-knacks that tell you the person was thinking of you (on the trip, or at the store), a picture drawn by your child, gifts large or small, roses, chocolate...all that stuff. A meaningful or appropriate gift speaks volumes in this love language.
You will feel least loved when the person never gives you anything, forgets your birthday, anniversary, or another important event, or gives a gift that is not in your taste. But usually in this love language, any little thing from anyone, makes you feel loved and cared for! :) I think this is my mother-in-laws love language because she always gives the best gifts and they are always exactly what you want! :) And she remembers what you say that you want! I am afraid to say that I am a horrible gift giver.....she can attest to that.

Acts of Service- You feel loved when someone takes the time to do something for you that you hate doing. It's usually the dirty jobs, but it can be anything that makes your life easier such as: watching your kids so you can have a break, doing your dishes and laundry, taking out the trash, taking care of stuff before you have to ask them for help, not procrastinating on stuff such as projects in the home that you can't take care of, or even something that you just can't do but would love to have done, and in a timely manner.
You are probably most irritated and feel unloved when you are feeling overwhelmed and no one cares to lift a finger, or when no one even offers to do anything for you that needs done. You may be a very organized person and tend to manage time well but oh, do you feel loved if someone gets to the job before you do! :) At this point, you look at the empty trashcan, clasp your hands together and say, "Oh, thank you, so much for doing that". This is 1/4 of my love language....and sometimes it pushes to 1/2, depending on the busyness of my life at the time. Now, if you give me a HUG after you do something for me, ....well, that is TOTAL love, since my main love language is Physical Touch!

And the last one is Physical Touch- you feel most loved when you get a hug or a kiss from the person you love, a hug from a friend, a shoulder to cry on, a pat on the back, holding hands (especially when it's not convenient to do so), when a friend grabs your hand when you are upset, and says, "Let's talk". It can be a back rub. It is most definitely taking a minute to stop and touch you, instead of passing right by like you're invisible. It's when they make a slight detour to the kitchen sink while you're doing dishes, before heading on their way down the hall. It will greatly irritate you if you have to constantly go to the person to receive this type of love language. In doing so, you will feel like you are smothering the person, and that's exactly what you are doing. You're trying to tell the person what you need, and you probably do it without realizing it. You just want the person to reach out to you on THEIR own accord, not yours. Otherwise, you feel that you won't receive it unless you initiate it and it is very frustrating. This is probably true for all the love languages, but since this is mine, I know the dynamics of it.
You will feel unloved especially from the "cold shoulder", and especially when that happens after a disagreement. Withholding physical touch on purpose, is devastating to you. Absence of the person (such as during a deployment), is particularly frustrating. A child who doesn't like hugs or to be held. It's easy to tell in children since, socially, they haven't learned to cover up their feelings, as well. Just because the child won't hug you doesn't mean he doesn't love you....it just isn't his love language and you must find out what his is. Adults will "put up" with your hugs just to be socially acceptable but a child will not. Sheldon's love language is physical touch so we mutually give each other many hugs. He loves to sit in my lap and "must" be tucked in complete with two kisses and one very big hug. I think this might be why he nursed for so long and why I had trouble weaning him. He loves to be held. He loves me to hold his hand. He doesn't like to be away from me, or anyone he loves. He loves snuggle time. Sometimes I just swoop him up and hold him close and he doesn't mind. This is how I know his love language is Physical Touch.

Now, onto what i really want to write about! :)

Without wanting to disrespect my husband, I will just say that this has been a struggle in our marriage. He just does not feel love in the same way that I do. Nine times out of ten, you and your husband will not share the same love language. This has been frustrating for me. However, God is powerful and God can fulfill all of your needs no matter what they are. There are no barriers with God. No impossibilities. And this is where I hope to encourage you!

While James was in Korea I turned on Christian radio and caught the tail end of a program where Gary Chapman was the host's guest. He was promoting a book of his and I think it was called The Five Love Languages of God. I'm not certain on that and I have never read the book. It's something to that effect, anyway. At the end of the show he was talking about how God shows love language to us in the exact way that we need it and in the most effective way. God gets his message of love and care to us, by loving us in our personal love language. Then, Gary Chapman gave the title of his book and his website, I think, and then the show was over. I felt my focus blur and I don't even remember what show came next, or anything. All I could think about was the tail end of that show. I started thinking, one by one, how God shows his love, through each of the 5 love languages. I could see how God shows us affirmation through His written Word, the Bible. He obviously shows us His love through His Word, through the sermons of others, through christian based music, and through prayer we can "talk to God". I could see how God shows us Quality time, through our own personal relationship with him. He is never too busy for us. He always wants to spend time with us, in showing us His truths, and in "walking" with us day to day. I could see how He uses Receiving Gifts to show us His Love. He gave us the ultimate gift of his Son, Jesus, to die on our behalf. He gives us a myriad of gifts and blessings each day. I could see how he loves us through Acts of Service. He bestows His power on us to get through the nasty trials, the bad days, the headaches of our world. He deals with the yuck in our hearts and is constantly at work in our lives doing the ultimate acts of service. He can't take our trash out in a literal way, but he can sure clean us out. Every day, we see how he keeps us going in his acts of love toward us. But, Physical Touch??? How in the world can God show me this????? I was stumped for sure....but VERY interested. I was interested because my husband was in Korea for a year. The two years prior we barely saw each other, and the years before that I always complained that he wasn't fulfilling my needs. My love tank was definitely on empty. If there was a way that God could show me love in my personal love language, I was all for that!

I know I immediately asked God to show me how this was possible. I knew that nothing was impossible with God, but my heart was aching for my husband, and I also doubted that my husband would change much, in this way, once he got home from Korea. We had talked about it and he had said he would try harder. I don't know why I had this expectation. It was probably stupid, but so was I.... I guess I thought that since we'd spent three years pretty much apart, that somehow he would automatically be better about speaking my love language. It doesn't work that way, though.

Anyway, I didn't realize it at the time but God started to show me how He could do this! :) Looking back. I know how God sustained me, and ALSO, how he changed me and my expectations. I see now how He met, and meets, my deepest needs. I see now how He shows me love in the exact and perfect way that I need. I see now, how it's not so important if my husband doesn't fulfill all of those needs. I see now, how I have relieved some of the pressure off of him (not fully----I mean he IS my husband and I am MADLY in love with him, after-all, and I do crave his physical attention but it's ok now if I don't always get it from him). I guess I've grown up a little. Nothing will ever take away this desire but if I can feel love in this way, from my God, than that expectation isn't fully on my husband. I will not shrivel up and die if he is ever taken away from me, or while he is gone.

Amazingly, the answer to the question in the title of this note, is a "YES". God can show me love in a physical way.

During the three years that I lived in North Idaho, we had some of the worst winter weather, since 1969. With each winter we got more snow until in 2008/2009 we had gotten about 5 feet of snow and not much of it melted. During the winter, in my mom's valley, the sun doesn't shine much. There is always cloud cover. It's very grey and dreary, and cold....and I hate to be cold. Anyway, imagine my surprise that during the winter while James was in Korea, I just happened to live in a cabin that had large front windows....that winter we just HAPPENED to get A LOT of sun, even though we got 5 feet of snow. When the sun would shine through those huge windows I would drop everything and run over there to soak in the warmth. Our cabin was built in the 70's and wasn't very warm. The sun shined so much that year that it faded that side of our couch. I'd sit on that corner of the couch and just "FEEL" God's love for me. When I was at the breaking point, God gave me a sunny winter after two prior winters of nothing but clouds. Sun just about every day.....God KNOWS I love sun! :) Sure, it was cold outside, but God gave me his warmth there on that corner of the couch.

I made a Bible reading schedule that year so I would be more accountable in my daily Bible reading. I made the schedule so that I would finish my Bible in two years. I made it in January of 2009. I began In the New Testament. I was in the Gospels in Jan, February, and March...some of the coldest months of the year, there, and the last few heart-wrenching months until James came home. What's the significance of that, you say? Well, I am so drawn to any Bible story where Jesus touches someone. It's so weird but my favorite stories of my Savior, center around him touching someone. My favorite of all is when he heals the woman who touched his robe. That woman could have SO been me! She thought to herself...."if only I can just touch the edge of his robe, I will be healed". I can't bear the thought of the physical pain that he went through during his Crucifixion. But I could feel God's love for me as He drew me to His Word, and into passages where Jesus touched people, and his physical death and what that means to me. Also, I have come to love how the pages in my Bible feel and how they smell. Touching God's Word, is equivalent to touching my Savior, and feeling his love for me. My favorite thing to do is take a hot bath and James bought me a waterproof Bible. NoW, I can read God's Word as I relax in the tub...

And then, the quilt at Trinity Baptist Church...ah, yes....the quilt. One day at church I had forgotten to bring Sheldon's blanket, so I went in the nursery and randomly grabbed one. Nothing special. It was always cold in the sanctuary so I ended up leaving the quilt in my chair. The church has movie theatre type seats and so I would fold the quilt up and then fold it up in the chair. It stayed in that chair for two years. No one ever moved it because it was my seat and it was my quilt....they thought, I guess. Every Sunday I sat there with that quilt on my lap...I'm sure I even wiped my tears on it several times. I have that quilt now. I couldn't bear to leave it there. I asked the church cleaning lady who it "really" belonged to and she said it belonged to me since she had no idea where it came from! :) It hangs on my hallway wall filled with signatures from women I dearly love. Women who loved me and kept me going through three years of hard times. Women who offered me a shoulder to cry on...women who listened to my anger and cared about me....a woman named Donna who always hugged me....always touched my shoulder and looked in my eyes and asked me if something was wrong, or how I was doing. She always encouraged me and listened to me try to make sense of everything happening in my life. I can run my hand along that quilt as I walk through my hall. For a long time I couldn't look at it. I kept it folded up in my closet but two weeks ago I knew it was time to display this wonderful work of a Mighty God, where all the world could see! :) Yes, it's just a quilt, but it holds the signatures and messages of women who were physically there when my husband couldn't be and women who God appointed to be there. I wish I could repay them.

There are absolutely no barriers to God's love, if you will just open your eyes and your hearts to him. Stop relying on humans to fulfill your needs and expectations. They can't. They can certainly help, but they can never do and be what God can do and be for you! Sure, the 5 Love languages will help your marriage and make it easier here on Earth, but nothing can compare to God's unfailing love and deep devotion for you. He knows you. He knows your needs and your deepest desires. Just open your eyes and SEE it...open your heart and FEEL it! :)

The Kite

The Kite
I have begun to realize a mental picture that I always tend to see whenever I think about my life, trials and spirituality. God gave it to me a long time ago but I have suddenly realized just how much I think of it. I have come to the conclusion that it is my special and very personal connection with my Savior and that he wants me to view this symbol he has given to me, as mine! :)

I am a very visual person. I love imagery. Some of my favorite songs, books, art or movies all tend to be rich in visual imagery, or have hidden meanings. I have many favorite country songs that when I hear them I have certain mental pictures. I love movies with deep color (such as very green grass, or very blue sky). One movie that I saw a long time ago was The Virginian. It is a western and I have no idea what the story line is, but every time I think of the movie I see the deep green grass in this huge open field and the deep blue skies in the film. Someday I want to find that movie and watch it as an adult. Maybe Netflix has it. Anyway, I would like to tell you about my life symbol....the Kite.

From the time I came to know Jesus as my Savior at age 19 until I was about 24 I was a very happy person. I had never felt depressed. Yes, there were times when I was sad or angry, but generally I was very happy. Very happy with my life, family, etc. Then one year a lot of trials started hitting me. I felt as if my life as I knew it had been thrown up in the air and that I was trying desperately to catch little pieces of the happiness I had once known. I would try to catch these pieces and try to fit them together into a puzzle. There would be a chunk missing here, and a chunk missing there that was never to be found, or so I thought and felt.

During this period in my life I felt as if I was flatlining, spiritually. As if my prayers were somehow inhibited, that is if I could even pray with focus, or pray at all. During this time, I had a very strong mental picture that was constantly in my brain. I would think back to when I was a happy person, and I saw myself as a beautiful, colorful, free kite. I always saw myself floating high in the sky and I always for some reason pictured my husband as the person flying the kite, as if it was up to him to bring me happiness. Of course, as you know with flying a kite you occasionally will lose wind speed and your kite can sort of dip down like it is going to come down. At times, if I was sad or angry I know that my kite would dip down, but all of a sudden the wind would whip back up again and I'd be back to flying high. Then, one year my kite was flown right into a tree. With each trial I felt as if someone was pulling me down and I would get stuck on the next branch. With every tangle I felt myself ripping, and the wooden parts of the kite breaking. I couldn't see out of the tree. All I could see was green leaves. I always pictured my husband at the end of the kite, pulling me through all these trials, as if it was all his fault. Every time I hit a branch and ripped, I hated him more. I felt like I would never get out of that tree, and would never see the light of day, again. All I could see were these green leaves in front of me and all these branches below me....(more trials and tangles to fall into....or get PULLED into, as I thought). One day I fell out of the tree and landed under it, in a pile of broken kite...full of depression, anger, resentment, hate, bitterness, ad hopelessness....all ripped, tattered and torn, with no hope of ever being the kite that I once was. Beautiful and happy. Then one day someone picked me up, sat down with me on His lap under that awful tree, and for months that person tenderly sewed and mended the rips. Slowly, carefully and with great love. My wooden braces felt as if someone was strongly tying, at each junction, a cord of three strands. I started to feel as if my flatlined, cold, spiritual life was seeing the light of day again. That, as if two years of Winter were finally turning into Spring (picture The Chronicles of Narnia, here- another favorite movie of mine)! That, color was finally coming into my life again. That finally, I could see a color other than green. As we all know, the color green usually means growth and while I hated that color while I was stuck in that tree, I came to realize later, as I looked up at that tree I had fallen from, that it was actually a beautiful green...the sign of spiritual growth. And I then had respect for that color and I became thankful for it. I also changed my perspective. I realized that the One holding the end of the Kite was my Heavenly Father....that He had been in control of my life at all stages (even getting flown into a tree) and that I no longer had to visualize my husband as the flyer of my kite. That it wasn't up to my husband to make me happy. He never flew the kite. It has always been God, whether I saw it or not.

And so, here we are now, four years later. I feel as if I am even more beautiful than I was before. With all my mended rips and tears. Stronger for it, and with a changed perspective. I know there will be more trees. I know now that I will get through them and I will grow with each one. In between the trees, I can fly high in the sky with the Holy Spirit flying my kite and no one else. It is so freeing!


My life symbol....THE KITE! What is yours????