listen

It's not so much the opinion that I'm interested in. Although I am interested, so don't get me wrong. It's the passion that infuses the opinion that inspires me.

Opinions do not offend me, throw me off guard, insult me, confuse me, infuriate me, threaten me, or make me in anyway uncomfortable. I love the opportunity to hear what someone else feels and thinks. Even greater than listening to the opinion behind skin, and teeth, and eyes, is to be invited below the subfloor of thought and feeling to the heart.

Asking a question shows interest, and the opinionated beg to be heard.

Ideas are hearts beating toward a destination.
Questions illuminate every choice step.

Equally fascinating is the person who, when asked his/her opinion, hands it over freely with literally no conviction whatsoever. The sky is simply blue, and the grass green; barely a blink - simply an utterance, loosely attached - if at all. Attached to what? Life with no constraints begs a question. But who is brave enough to ask - to listen?

Indifference is encouraged while passion is chided - even before little hands can grasp at shapes to hold.

"Turning and turning in the widening gyre 

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst 

Are full of passionate intensity."

The Second Coming - William Butler Yeats

Passion is fading while apathy swells. Can you hear it?

Boston Marathon

I woke with Boston on my mind; people whose lives are changed forever because of hate. What has our world become keeps repeating over and over in my heart. But why do I think it has become anything that it hasn't always been? The world has been broken and ruled by hate for a long, long time. The difference is now I am living in it. What will I do with my fear?

I fear easily. Circumstances shake me to the core. I panic -and react  to situations before they even fully erupt because I can vividly imagine the depths of horror before they even unfold.

How do people continue today? How can we joyfully bring babies into this world of war, confidently rear our children in unpredictable surroundings; send them off to school where security is a false hope, board our destination planes with sobering uncertainty, and drive to our office buildings as if they stand indestructible. We are a people who must run into danger and not from it; people who must continue to publicly assemble where danger is not supposed to hover, and yet how? How can we live this way? Who can deny that indeed evil does lurk, scheme, and premeditate wicked acts upon humanity? It always has!

This inner conflict is a churning, tearing reaction of my flesh. I cannot live there. Life cannot be there. This grip of fear is cold and ugly, and dark, and it suffocates me.  Life's breath is choked by fear. People were meant to know full life - eternal life - life that cannot be threatened by anyone or anything. My soul aches to touch this reality, but I am wrapped in flesh.

Fear is a reaction of the flesh to which faith in Jesus Christ has an answer. Jesus is the only answer. I look to Him, by faith, and I ask.

What could you possibly say to this God?  And I felt as if He asked me, "Are you ready to listen, you of little faith?"

I began to read:

I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. Psalm 31:22 

I sit in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. Psalm 69:2

The waters flowed over my head; I said, "I am cut off!" I called on Your name, O Lord from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: "Do not hide your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help." You drew near on the day I call on You, and said, "Do not fear!" Lamentations 3:54-57

Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?...And I said, "This is my anguish; but I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. Psalm 77:7-11

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him. 
Psalm 91:15

Today will continue as every day always has - with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is with us, and for us, and the only One who can deliver us from our enemies and from our fear.  What can man do to us? No evil can touch the soul that belongs to God - by faith. 

"Fear not for I am with you, do not be dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Praying - with you - for those who have been affected by this act of terror - for the glory of our God in every one. The battle isn't over yet. He will be victorious.

The Redeemer is strong. Jeremiah 50:34

Here Comes the Bride

Do you cry at weddings? I always do. When I was single I would cry selfishly because I was watching someone else's dream coming true. Now I cry because I realize how very much we willing brides and daring grooms do not understand at the alter, and yet in those sacred spoken vows I realize how bold the grace of God who seals and accomplishes our covenant in spite of our blissful ignorance. God alone makes a marriage.

I joke to the single women in my life that I made a better girlfriend than I do a wife. It is true if you consider the focus of that statement: I. I made me what I wanted to be. I could be exactly the kind of girlfriend I wanted to be. It was all about me, and what I believed I was supposed to be in that role - what I wanted to be in that role. That idea - being what I believed I was supposed to be in the role of leading lady - imploded when I became a wife. Why? Because God makes a marriage. Any other image of that design will self destruct. And we are seeing that happen in so many marriages, aren't we? Be it in the daily conflict that our friends commiserate about or the divorce that eventually results in unresolved selfishness - marriages are suffocated by our grandiose dream of happily ever after.

Unless we seek God - the covenant designer and sealer - we will not succeed. The pictures of bride and groom all looped in love and lace will corrode in mildew ridden boxes of cardboard, and hearts will break under the weight of them. The bride's heart - the groom's - the children of the marriage bed who innately long for security in mom and dad - the fathers' who gave their daughters away - the mothers' who longed for their baby to be loved - scarred hearts forever. Does anyone consider that before they say, "I do"? If we did consider the weight of our commitment would we make such a vow? Because truly - how are we ever capable of such dear responsibility? That's just it: we are not.

Only when we surrender our script for this love life to God  - only then - are we able to not only live out our marriage covenant completely - but ALSO - oh dear, dear, dreamer's heart - only then will we know true joy. Because JOY is only ever the work of the Spirit of God.

If you are married, love your spouse not by yourself but by every word that comes from the Word of God. You will be blessed. His Word cannot fail.

If you are single, delight in the gift that you are given today - to be yoked to God alone as you live for Him.
You will be blessed. His Word cannot fail.

~ The wife I envisioned is not the wife I am becoming. Because the one that I pictured through a dreamer's eyes moved in purposes of self. God has undone that design one gentle stroke at a time by His living Word, and He has trained my steps to dance to the tune of Follow Me. As a wife, I have no idea what I am doing. He does.  Self not required.

Teach me your way, Lord. Psalm 27:11

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. Psalm 32:8

Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. Psalm 25:8-9

Grateful to learn with you! Grateful He is faithful to us all.

Love in vivid color

Pictures represent who we are by what we love, invest in, and surround our lives with. Pictures also represent who we are NOT by the simple exclusion of what we have chosen not to love, invest in, and surround our lives with. The WHO and WHAT in our pictures - as well as the who or what that IS NOT - tell a very poignant story. Just like a crayon box with so many colors to choose from...you live in images and color choices that infuse and shape your story. 

Aren't you grateful for the people in your life who consider you, not themselves, page after gift of life page?

the choice to pursue.
the choice to retreat.
the choice to abstain.
the choice to imbibe.
the choice to toil.
the choice to rest.
the choice to fast.
the choice to dine.
the choice to give.
the choice to withhold.
the choice to sit out.
the choice to join in.
the choice to speak up.
the choice to remain silent.
the choice to sing.
the choice to listen.
the choice to laugh.
the choice to refrain from laughing.
the choice to protect.
the choice to set free.
the choice to be comfortable
the choice to bring comfort.
the choice to battle.
the choice to surrender.
the choice to be bold.
the choice to be humble.
the choice to serve.
the choice to be served.
the choice to tell.
the choice to keep secrets.
the choice to yell.
the choice to whisper.
the choice to be right.
the choice to absorb wrong.

freedom of choice. 

Our life in pictures says it all. One image at a time. No camera necessary.We see others clearly, don't we... - or perhaps we see ourselves - in vivid color.

Light

November 20th, 2012 would have been my father's 73rd birthday. He died 22 years ago in a car accident. I never stop missing him in my life, but I never stop celebrating him either. Usually his birthday is hard for me. I wish I could tell him what a gift he was to me as a dad. I wish I could tell him what a gift he is to me now as I consider the wisdom that he gave me - through God - for this life.

My Father in heaven is gracious to connect me to my dad even to this day. He doesn't have to - He just does. And I don't look for these connections. I don't ask Him to show me my dad in some way or give me a sign that he is okay. I know my dad is okay, and I have a sense that he is not at all concerned about me. He is with the God who holds my life, so why would he worry anymore about anything, right? There are just some days - some times - when something is said, or done, and a connection to my dad is brought to my mind like an instant message. God knows my heart. He knows my mind, and He knows that I will think of my father in those moments. And in the midst of remembering Daddy, I thank my God for the gift of my memories of him, and for the gift of the moment that God tenderly gave to bring my dad close to me once again.

November 20th has another significant meaning for me. I wasn't feeling very well on November 20th ten years ago, and considered the hope of having a second baby may have come true. I took a pregnancy test early that morning, and it was glaringly, gloriously, positive. On my father's birthday, my Heavenly Father sealed a date in my heart to connect to my dad though he is far from me now. My son's heart was beating beneath mine, and I knew it on my father's birthday. I love to wake on on November 20th and think about the sweetness of that day for me because of three men I get to love in this lifetime: my husband, my son, and my father. Only God can make a connection like that. How I love my God!

I don't know if my father is aware of me, my children and this life he used to know; I often think he is still in his first glimpse of glory because time there is most certainly not time here... What is most significant to me with this life I live in missing my dad is that my heavenly Father is well aware of me, and He has taken such  tender measures to demonstrate His love is complete.

I read my Bible first thing in the morning. This has been a daily discipline for some time now, one that I have had to grow to love, and in the process one that has changed my heart, my mind, and strength - and also my desire for time with God in His Word. When I woke on November 20th, (yesterday) this is what I read. I hope it is an encouragement to you, too. We will have trials in this life, but God will always lead us through them continuously in the Light of who HE is.AND in that - there is much joy. 

"When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." Micah 7:8

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3

"I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. IN God (I will praise His Word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

It is so good to hear from God. It is so good to know Him and SEE Him in this life. It is so good to know that HE knows us and SEES us. Where would we be without the gift of His love - without the gift of His wonderful LIGHT? He knows where we would be - and most certainly - has not left us in the darkness that is there.

Stepping forward with you in LIT UP faith. Stepping forward with much joy. 

"

Give Me Something.

Those moments come...Moments when we feel like we're holding onto hope by our fingernails...Do you pray or even cry to God out loud, "Just give me something...Give me something - ANY -THING - to assure my hope...right. now," ? Uh-huh... I know that prayer. I know that ache. I hate it. But in those moments - in that prayer - God has been so faithful. He can't not be faithful.

Our God keeps giving me some. thing. - a powerful truth - that  I could not imagine or conjure up -  in the midst of my circumstances - A truth to believe in - to secure me - to stand on.  Check this out if you have time. I hope this truth will encourage you and fortify you in your faith journey today as it has encouraged me.

Love this Jesus Life we share!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE FOURTH MAN

One of the most famous events in the entire Old Testament is recorded in Daniel, chapter 3.  It all began when three courageous Hebrew men refused to bow down and give homage to a golden idol as commanded by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar himself.  The penalty for disobeying was serious indeed.  All not doing this would be instantly thrown into a red-hot furnace of fire!  Thus the command was to bow down, or burn up!  It was quite a persuasive altar call, to say the least.  Upon learning of their refusal, the king experienced conflicting emotions—both anger and sorrow. 

Anger, over the gross insubordination, and sorrow, for the three offenders were actually rising stars in his administrative government.  True, they worshipped that weird and invisible God known as Jehovah, but they were honest, faithful, talented, and hardworking young assistants.  What to do?  So then, before the terrible sentence could be imposed, they were summoned to a private meeting during which he offered them a second chance. The advice:  “Just obey and you’ll be okay.” The answer:  “No way, O king, no way!”

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up,’” (Dan. 3:16-18).

Enter now the fourth man: “Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire”? They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire,” (Dan. 3:19-26).

Wow!  At this point can you entertain some theological math? 

• Question: How many men did the king order into the furnace? Answer: Three.
• Question: How many men did the king see in the furnace? Answer: Four.
• Question: How many men came out of the furnace? Answer: Three.
• Question: What happened to the fourth man? Answer: He’s still in the furnace waiting for you!

One of the most beloved songs always sung at Easter time is entitled, In the Garden. 

                                               Note the lyrics:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

What a glorious scene is described for us:

• We are transported to a beautiful park-like garden, similar to the one Adam and Eve had enjoyed during their days of innocence.
• The morning sun has just risen, its golden beams dispelling the darkness.    
• The sky is blue.
• The birds are singing.
• The flowers are blooming.
• A heavenly hush seems to permeate the entire landscape.
• Not a trace of trouble, not a hint of heartache.

Question:  What’s wrong with this picture?  Answer:  Actually, nothing at all — except for the fact it is rarely the case!  The brutal truth is for every trouble-free day there seems to be three troubled-filled days.  Because of this, the fourth man spends far more of His time in the furnace than among the flowers.  Also, it’s where He does His most productive work. 

By the way, most evangelical theologians believe this mysterious man was actually a Christophany – that is, a pre-Bethlehem appearance of Jesus Christ Himself. 

There are several of these Christophanies in the Old Testament.  Miracle of miracles, in the opening pages of the New Testament, the fourth man takes upon Himself a human, flesh and blood body.  Now He is able to fulfill the three new and final offices assigned to him by the Father. The Old Testament fourth man will now function as a (1) prophet, (2) priest, and (3) king.

So to recap the ministry of the fourth man:

• In the past He once came speaking to us.
• At the present He now is seen praying for us.
• In the future He will eventually be ruling over us.

Great, grand, and glorious works indeed!  But in my mind, it would seem the most blessed of all is the very first where the fourth man is seen fellowshipping with us in the furnace.

Furthermore, this furnace ministry transcends time, having been in play since the days of Adam and will continue in full force until the last of God’s blood-washed sons and daughters have been safely gathered in that shining city among the stars, the New Jerusalem!  Then, and only then, will the fourth man depart from the furnace to ascend His everlasting throne!

I close with a personal question:  Are you – right now – in the furnace of affliction?  If this be the case, please carefully read the following, for each word here has been written especially for you!  They came from the pens of a king, a prophet, and a song writer:

“The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts,” (Prov. 17:3).

“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction,” (Isa. 48:10).

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply:
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!

Dr. H. L. Willmington
Founder & Dean
Willmington School of the Bible

The weight of HATE

  

Just to see the word HATE in bold like that gives me a knot in my gut. You, too? Makes me think of the faces to whom I spit that word like venom, and makes me think of my own tears because of when that word was forced upon my heart like a dagger. "I hate you!' It is the voice of pride - raising it's ugly head to strike at someone who is opposed to you, isn't it? YOU anger me. YOU defy me. YOU embarrass me. YOU belittle me. YOU ignore me. YOU hurt me. YOU are not my idea. YOU don't belong. YOU are not my choice. YOU are opposite me in every way, and because of that - HATE - is how I feel toward you.

YUK! I need a little nasty face emoji here. Insert blecky face. Or go ahead - make your own. That's always fun. Here...I'm doin' it with you. Feelin' the yuk face crunch up with my dry skin this morning...

You wanna know why you feel so gross about that? You ~ who know the Living God, you wanna know why hate bothers you so mcuh? We were not only created in the image of the God who is LOVE(I John 4:8), but now are restored to that image through Christ - and are able to reflect that image I John 4:19)...YOU cringe at the though of hating someone because HATE, as we understand it - is opposed to God. GOD is love - and what He is opposed to is sin, but even...EVEN in our sin - there was no hate...there - in the midst of what God had every right to hate in us and about us - was JESUS! the love Gift of God  - our rescue FROM sin. Romans 5:8."While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God did not hate us, but LOVED us so much that He made a way for us to be united with HIM in love - to love. WHAT LOVE!!! Oh my soul!!! our God! He is too wonderful to fully imagine!

I was grocery shopping yesterday, and I overheard a very loud talking woman spewing her anger into her phone which was not visible...she was wearing earplugs. So Star Trekish we are these days, aren't we?!?! Star Trek..I totally dated myself, I'm sure. Google it if you're not sure what I'm talking about. ANYWAY - This woman shamelessly bellowed out in the soup aisle..."I hate her! She is a liar! She lied to you! She lied to me! She makes me sick."

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.She didn't say that, I did...well - not out loud...but I should have. Maybe. Anyway... My heart hurt. I literally ached. Whatever this other woman has done, and I do mean whatever - HATE is not her cure, NOR.NOR.NOR. will it be the cure for the one who is overflowing with hate onto the Campbell soup selections.

BIBLE study in aisle 7 everybody! Can you just see me? I just wanted to offer the only thing I had brewing in my own heart - MERCY! oh please have MERCY for this lying woman, and save yourself from what you're doing to your boiling blood pressure - brow lines - and soul. I didn't say anything. Not one word. Honestly, I don't think at that moment this woman would have appreciated my interference, and quite honestly I was rather concerned what she might be capable of with a can of soup at that moment. Not a teachable moment fo' sho. And then of course ... who am I, right? I can just hear her now...loud talker style and all - "Just who the heck (possibly, could be worse) do  you think you are, lady?"

"Who me? Well...I just want to give peace a chance."  NO - that wouldn't work.
How about..."I work for Oprah, and we were interested in interviewing women who are victims of liars and how they cope peacefully with it." No. That would be a lie. She'd smell it, I'm sure.
I guess I could have started whistling, "What the world needs now, is love - sweet love." But maybe she wouldn't have known that song so prolly a better choice would have been Michael Jackson's - "I'm looking at the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways."... But, then again I would have had to sing that one - loudly over her talking - cuz, that's a hard tune to whistle even softly right?

Well, I wrestled with the dilemma of my heart and this lady - and the liar she hates - all day, and now into this morning. I can't let it go, and she is far away from me, probably on to some other issue in her life...that will require great love and great mercy...something I fell short of offering...but something Jesus did not.

As I prayed for this lady and liar woman this morning (I'm sorry - I don't know what else to call her, but she needs prayer, right?) ... I listened to God whisper to me through His Word over and over again Once it's in my head, I can't let it go. "You can't love God and hate your brother," AGAIN - "You can't love God and hate your brother". Again...and again. What do I do with this God? It's just me, and I know this one. Silence. 

God is MY teacher. I am the one who hears His Word in my head right now, and as much as I would like to press this lesson into this other woman's heart - and through her phone to the friend that was being fed the venom to hate liar woman as well... - THIS lesson in the grocery aisle was actually for me. Really God? Me. I love. Don't I? I curdle inside at the sound of hate... toward anyone...Silence.

I decided to search for the passage that kept repeating in my head...

I John 4:7-21. Wow. Can I even just encourage you to go there with me? Oh my soul. Pour some tea. And sit with Jesus. And slowly think through every word and repeated word that John penned through the inspiration from the Spirit. Just underline the word love every time you see it. LOVE! Then ask Him... ask our Teacher:

Show me how I love well, please. What does that look like in my life.
And, Lord, show me how I fall short of love...not just in my words out loud, but in the quiet of my own headset that is just between me and you...

Wow. Everyone may not hear the sludge we're spewing about somebody, but uh-huh, God sure enough does. AND that sludge we're steppin' over and ignoring does not go unnoticed by the God who calls us His temple. I have to clean house, girlfriend. OH WOW! OH WOW! 

I can't help but wonder... What is just between me, myself and I? HA! That's a joke! nuthin'! nuthin! nuthin!!! Because first of all, God know everything about us - Psalm 139, and secondly - everyone knows it, too... "Out of the overflow of the heart...the mouth speaks" Luke 6:45. 

Somehow, some way, that little hate pool is going to spew. Mop it up and wring it out. 

Hate. Do I really hate... Think about it. Hate: aversion. hostility. Ask God to show you that IN YOU... and ask Him to show you to whom you have directed it - and not just outwardly, but in your own head...God WILL ANSWER YOU. He will. And when he does - cover that person that you feel this AVERSION/HATE for with prayers for blessing and grace - and ask for any way you can demonstrate grace and love. 

Yes, my friend, I'm with you! Of course I am - or I wouldn't be blogging my face off right now! I'm with you!!! I'm not alone, am I? If so - pray for me! I need LOVE goin' on in my heart so that it speaks for my thoughts. I need "what the world needs now - is love sweet love" and "I'm lookin' at the man in the mirror - I'm asking him to change his ways..." in my own personal head set right now. 

When I feel aversion toward someone, I'm praying for love and for God to show me what that love is supposed to look like EXACTLY as He would love - to paint it clearly for me on the inside of my eyeballs so I can see it - and do it...Cuz, wow - sometimes, I know I don't have a clue. 

No, I'm not happy about this lesson. It bugs me. This too, God? Then He reminds me of Colossians 3 - and putting to death my earthly nature, and  I think, great! I get to take out my frustration on something then! One day - there will be no more struggle with who I am without Christ. One day - we will be like Him - effortlessly! "When Christ, who is our life appears, THEN you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:4 
WHAT A DAY! Oh my exhaling soul! What a day!

 We are as AMBASSADORS of God. Can you imagine that? Crazy! Let's Love that lady in our life who is a liar. I have a feeling she doesn't have many friends right now. Love that neighbor who has mouthy kids that break your stuff. She probably could use a cup of coffee. Ya know? (If my neighbor is reading this, no Jackie - your kids are wonderful when they're here, and they don't break my stuff...I'm being broad here - not local. Glad you're my neighbor!) Love that woman at work who gossips about everybody. Tell her what you're learning from God at lunch. Let her talk about that! Love that person who you know is talking about you behind your back.Give her a card and write in it - "Just had to tell you, YOU ARE LOVED!" ..oh and wait - Love your brother. Love your sister. Love your husband. Love your son. Love your daughter. Love your mom. Love your dad. I could go on and on with family...right? Love those people - SPECIFICALLY- who are most difficult to love when they stand so close and are so capable of being opposed to you from one moment to the next - because!!! because!!! this...oh my heart! THIS is the image of God to the world. Can you hear me preachin' sista? I'm a' prechin' it!! Tears in my eyes and coffee drippin' down my chin cuz I'm typing and sipping and spilling as I rock the desk!

THIS love, that reaches out to those who are opposed to us with grace - is the image of God to the World. 

This passage in I John - refers to those who share our faith - but settle into every context that God speaks to for love. John was writing to the family of God in I John 4, but God - in the entirety of His book - teaches us that our love must extend beyond family as well...JUST AS HE DID - to the world. From Israel - to the Gentiles - to the ends of the earth...LOVE.

Wish I could hug you right now! It's so, so good! - And we are so, so able. THIS is what we were created for...LOVE - not hate. Lovin' with you today. Oh yeah, I know it's hard! Get down dirty on my knees hard. Some people just don't want to be loved, right? Jesus gets that, too. He died trying anyway.

"We love, because He first loved us." I John 4:19

LOVE!