Put on Love
With the flurry of activity in the backyard, it took awhile for me to notice.
We were hosting a baby shower over the weekend for dear family friends and their son.
Everyone had contributed to the day.
Decorating an amazing balloon arch.
Creating a multitude of desserts that were as pleasing to the eye as they were to taste.
Making a buffet of food to serve the many guests who came to celebrate this special occasion.
And on grill duty, my friend Chris.
Our families had met at church over 20 years ago.
We have celebrated many occasions together over the years.
Today was the addition of a new memory.
But when I looked down to the yard to see my friend taking a break from the heat, I saw something that I had missed earlier.
Chris was wearing my Dad’s apron.
Behind my sunglasses, I could feel my eyes tear up.
My sister had made this apron out of one of my Dad’s shirts for me after he passed away.
It hung just around the corner from the kitchen.
If my parents were still with us, they would have been in the backyard celebrating as well.
With all the activity, I almost missed it.
My friend had put on love.
That meant more than I could say.
In our day to day lives, that is what we are called to do as God’s people.
To above all else, put on love.
In a world full of distractions, we are called to reflect kindness, compassion and patience.
Maybe it is through a kind word.
Maybe it is through a simple gesture.
It can even be by putting on an apron.
Whatever it is for you friends, don’t forget to put on love today.
It’s your most important garment.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:12-14 ESVShare this:
Pass It On
My son, Dan is working at Summer Camp now that his semester has ended at college.
The thought of camp makes me think back to my own experiences during childhood with camps and Vacation Bible School.
Snack time and crafts.
Meeting new friends.
But it is the music that stands out in my mind the most.
A song written by Kurt Kaiser will forever be embedded in my heart.
Pass It On.
As an adult, I realize now that it was also laying the foundation for what we are all called to do: share His love.
Once you have experienced it, you do not want to keep it to yourself.
Here are some of the lyrics:
“It only takes a spark
To get a fire going
And soon all those around
Can warm up in its glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You spread His love to ev’ryone
You want to pass it on.”Have you experienced His love?
Who can you pass it onto today?
It only takes a spark.
Share His love.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NLTShare this:
Where Will You Fix Your Eyes?
The skies on Saturday were spectacular.
A reminder of the beauty of His creation.
Each view gave a different perspective.
As we were driving home, I felt like my head was on a swivel, looking in all directions to take it all in.
It was hard to keep my eyes focused forward.
But this was the view that displayed a beautiful rainbow.
The reminder of God’s covenant with His people.
This is true on other days as well.
I get distracted by the things around me and forget to fix my eyes on His promises.
The things of this world may provide beauty, but will never provide what He can.
Where will you fix your eyes today?
“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
Genesis 9:12-13 NIVShare this:
Where to Walk
Somedays it is hard to know where to start.
A long to-do list.
Too many tabs open on your computer.
Multiple voices pulling you in different directions.
This is when I need God to direct my steps the most.
Before the day begins, listen for His unfailing love.
Trust Him.
He will show you where to go.
Blessings to you weekend!
“Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.”
Psalms 143:8 (NLT)Share this:
He is Near
Meet Max.
My 5 pound Morkie.
Some days he has the courage to take on a dog 10 times his size.
Other days Max loves to hide under the covers, away from the world.
I don’t know about you, but that is me.
One day, I feel strong and am ready to take on whatever giants are facing me.
The next day, I want to hide under the covers away from the world.
Then I remember His word.
And that He is always with me.
Our God is always near.
Friends, I don’t know which Max you are feeling today.
But have courage.
When you are ready to throw off the covers and face the world, He will be by your side.
“”Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:7-9 NIVShare this:
Wisdom for the Week
Wisdom for this week.
“You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others.”
Colossians 3:12 TPTShare this:
Remembering
“For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 TPTRemembering those who bravely sacrificed their lives this Memorial Day.
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We Are Family
I didn’t need to look at a picture, because I can still see it in my mind so clearly.
My Facebook memories jolted me back to this day 15 years ago.
There would always be music playing during my treatments.
May 23, 2011
“We Are Family” today, which was appropriate as Dad and I were both there
for radiation…
“Have faith in you and the things you
You can’t go wrong, oh no..
This is our family jewel…”This was not the experience we planned on having together.
But having been diagnosed a year apart, we found ourselves in that small cancer center awaiting radiation treatment at the same time.
I have said this many times over the years.
Of the literal thousands of photos that I have, this is my most cherished one.
It encompasses my life verses in one snap shot .
“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him. If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but how can you keep warm by yourself? Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 GNTDFighting cancer alone would have defeated us.
But we were fighting together.
“Let love be your highest goal…”
1 Corinthians 14:1 NLTThere may have been just the two of us in this picture, but the outpouring of love we both received during this time included so many people that you don’t see here.
And we were constantly surrounded by His love.
Side by side, we were never alone, never unloved.
Friend, I don’t know what memories will pop up for you today.
My prayer is that you are reminded whatever you are facing, that He is with you.
You are part of His family.
We are family.
Blessings to all this weekend!
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Through the Storm
Raindrops fell quickly on the window of the car, but I could still see the irises in full bloom through the glass.
Something hopeful in the midst of an otherwise gloomy day.
The beauty was not hard to see if you were looking.
But that is not always the case.
Sometimes when we are in the middle of a storm, it is difficult to find the good.
We become focused on the outcome or our own fear.
But if we fix our gaze in Him, His light can break through the darkness of any storm we face.
He will not let us fall.
Even those closest to Jesus had trouble seeing what was right in front of them.
It only took a split second for Peter to take his eyes off the Savior before he let his fear take over.
“He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?””
Matthew 14:29-31 ESVFriends, it is easy to focus on our fear instead of our faith.
Whatever storm you are facing today, remember this:
He is with you always.
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Son Seekers
I learned a new word this morning.
Full disclosure.
I am a bit of a word nerd.
Here it is : heliotropism.
This is the act of flowers or leaves tracking the sun.
It is sometimes referred to as solar tracking.
Young sunflowers are one example, following the sun for growth.
The interesting fact is that two types of heliotropism exist.
Positive heliotropism is when plants move towards the sun.
Negative heliotropism is when plants move away from the sun.
Here is the most fascinating part of the this process to me: the movement is a daily, reversible process.
I love how God can use His creation to reflect our human nature so perfectly.
We can choose to follow the Son.
It is a daily, reversible process.
It is easy to be distracted by the things of this world and move away from the Son.
But if we want to grow, we need to follow Him daily.
My prayer today is that we all become Son-seekers and grow closer to Him.
Blessings in heaps to your week!
“Seek more of His strength! Seek more of Him! Let’s always be seeking the light of His face.”
Psalms 105:4 TPTShare this:
