Favorite Things

my older brother gave me two of my favorite things in life. A navy blue Coldplay coffee mug and a pair of brown leather, Nine West, round toed pumps, that I wore even on my wedding ten years later.

i didn’t really know or think of those things as my favorites in life, my treasures, but over time, these ordinary items have become precious to me.

my brother didn’t pick these items out for me. they weren’t gifts he thought up and wrapped for me. they were gifts i received by being in his company. gifts that may not have been as special, had i found them parceled and posted, but the time that i spent with him, that he spent with me on those occasions, turned my gifts into mementos and those mementos now add a bit of beauty and fondness to my daily life.

he took me to a coldplay concert in okc where i believe Fiona Apple opened the show. it was great to see both of those incredibly talented, awesomely stylish artists live. going with my brother and sharing the experience with him was what made it top notch, however. and he got me my mug.

the second gift, my beloved brown leather pumps. he took me to a movie once several years ago, although i can’t recall what we saw. we ducked in and out of nine west, but not without some seriously beautiful girly leather shoes. i hardly wore them because i loved them so much, i never wanted to dirty them. i have been wearing them more and more since, they have been my go to shoe in the past year, and were the perfect pair for my bridal ensemble this past November.

he would have bought me any shoe in that shop. because it was what i wanted, although he did tell me in his words, i’m sure, that he thought the pair i picked were lovely.

that is like God. he loves us and wants to give us nice things. it is when we spend time with him, like my brother, that he is able to truly love us. to hear our requests. i am not speaking of material gifts any longer, but now more, the gifts of the spirit. how much more precious a gift?

i may use my mug or my heels on any given day. they are dependable to me, and they are always there when i need them. tucked in my cupboard, on a shelf in the closet. i simply go grab them and enjoy!

that is much how his gifts work. they are always there. charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity. tucked away in our hearts.

he has given them to us, all we need to do is access them. maybe you're rather organized and know right where they are, especially if you're in the habit of using them on a daily basis. perhaps, though, it's been a while since you've used these gifts. maybe you haven't noticed their absence. maybe you're not sure which gift you need access to per situation. i encourage you. spend time with your Father and he will guide you.

what fruit might you need today?

peace? patience? patience on a dream? a promise?

in the season of gift giving, i challenge you to keep these seven fruits on your mind. and to know that whichever one is called for today, all you have to do is pray, ask the lord, and get in the Word. let us value charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity, above insecurity, fear of the future, above gossip, competition, division, dissension.

and when you are thinking of that perfect gift for that special someone, perhaps it is a trip to the movies and a surprise gift from a favorite shop that will add to their life one of their most favorite things.

a Sunday prayer

holy Father.. Spirit of light, life.. God of love and mercy divine How great is your truth.. How great are your ways Your unending, unfailing love

holy Father whom I have leaned on and rested in since i was a child How real you have shown yourself.. How sure is your voice How gentle your guidance How sweet is your Song

holy Father spirit of quenching waters How ceaseless is your salve how perpetual is your peace how calming your counsel

holy Father holy Father

you bring freedom to my chains you bring goodness to my heart you preach to me you speak to me you whisper truths when i bend to hear

holy Father holy One

you know me by name. and i, i hear you, oh Father i will seek you oh Lord to find you in the secret place

my separation from you, see to it’s removal for in you alone do i find life in you alone do i find rest in you alone do i find joy in you alone is there peace and gladness of heart in you alone do i overcome

so spirit of the Living God, I humbly present my requests in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving eager expectation and joy unending

lord, teach me your ways.. open the eyes of my heart so that i might see as you see

each day anew each morning i rise show me your path the one that leads to you, holy Father not to righteousness, nor riches not to fullness or wholeness or happiness or even forgiveness, father but to you i want to walk with you talk with you hear your call lean into your goodness and rest in your hands all the days of my life..

amen

keep loving one another earnestly,

It is love that people desire.
It is not love from one, and only one other human, that people desire.
People simply, once they have thirsted for it enough, have need of care, kindness, comfort… patience.
And yet what is love, other than an action?
What is it to be loving?
How can one show love?
How often shall we love?
Who?
When?
Why?
And what is greater? Giving it? Receiving it?
How do I give love? How do I receive?
Father… I have failed. I have likened the darkness. I have become the shadow in the corner.. I have fallen — farther than the universe’ fingertips can reach me.. I am lost. Unsure which way is up.. but Father, You still are here. You stay here. You have always been here. YOU stay the same. And how lasting is constancy.. how comforting is forever. How new is your mercy…
And yet, He offers this love to the world. An unending kindness, a map to the hidden treasure, a hand to hold.. an ear to hear us.
Right here, right now, you can lift your voice to this Father. You can say hello, you can thank him for the sleeping baby on your shoulder, you can whisper hallelujah to the King of Kings, you can cry out in pain, anguish, despair… or joy… or thanksgiving.. in praise. Or in all of it. He hears you. His love surrounds you. Look for His presence.
1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Matthew 7:1-29 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. …
Colossians 3:12-15 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. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Hebrews 13:1-25 Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ...
1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love. Psalm 34:18 ESV / 86 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Luke 6:27-36 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ...
1 Peter 2:1-25 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. …
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

Suffering's Sake

God doesn't call us to a masochistic desire to suffer for suffering's sake, but a humble willingness to suffer for Jesus' sake. He suffered to the point of death Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5: 1-5 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

Finally, brothers and sisters,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Philippians 4:8 Yesterday this scripture was running through my mind with a bit of revelation. I considered the fact that whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, varies from person to person. While I may find a camping trip lovely, you may find it uncomfortable and therefore undesirable. It's a beautiful scripture in the Word. One that many people are capable of reciting. Preached, I'm certain, from nearly every pulpit that's ever existed. One of my favorites and because of that fact, I brushed the "bit of revelation" aside and continued on in my day. But this morning, it was the verse of the day on YouVerse. Out of thousands of scripture that could have been the verse of the day, it was this one. And the Lord spoke to my heart. True. Noble. Right. Pure. Lovely. Admirable. Excellent. Praiseworthy. Think about such things. Why??? Why did Paul give us these very specific instructions on what we should entertain in our minds? He goes on to tell us in verse 9 when he writes, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you (italics added). There. So that we can have peace. So any time I'm dealing with a subjective subject -- I love words -- I try and always bring it back to the law that brings freedom. Matthew 22:36-40King James Version (KJV) 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

learning and praying.. praying and learning

I've not written here in quite some time. Life and I have been doing an entangling dance full of unforeseen twists and dips and turns and I've been so focused on not falling, well, sometimes that's all that we can do. There are times when we are so desperately vanquished in a learning process, that we are unable to share or even understand, ones self, what it is we are learning. You are simply moving and breathing, and hoping for love as you go. Some have grown tired of such a thing... learning. Some too accustomed, some too arrogant.. some simply too tired or unequipped to continue wading into life's cold, blue waters. Some may simply prefer a cozy cot on the beach near the fireside, avoiding the waters all together. Spectators, they are. Safe, they are. Warm? Afraid? Wise? Useful? ... Happy? Our hearts are all that drive us on.. whether out of fear or love, wisdom or foolery, doubt or belief. It is here, where the decision whether or not to stay by the fire. We don't wear hearts despite popular belief, but our hearts wear us. Never hidden from the world are they. The Lord has shown me that His view of our hearts is a clear one. He sees each of us as precious children. He does not care whether or not we stay by the fire, walk ankle deep for a few moments in the cold, or dive in, surfing each wave under the sun and moon. He cares for us. He longs for us to be well and to be happy, not "even" despite the past, but "definitely" despite the past! As mothers, there are limitless amounts of decisions that will impact our children's lives. We make these decisions daily and we do so with one desire in our hearts. For our children to be happy and healthy. There is no way for us to make the right decision 100% of the time when it comes to raising our children. We are not perfect. Our children are not perfect. But He is perfect. He holds our loved ones in His hands. Not you and I!!! And not only does He hold them, He has greater plans for their lives than we could ever plan or hope for or imagine, just like his plans for you and I.

Prayer: So Father, use me. Help me to exasperate your unending goodness. Father, help me to share your unwavering grace. Father, forgive me for not trusting You. In every moment, I aim to trust you. In my failure, Father, you are my grace. When my soul feels trapped under the waves of life, you Lord, extend your hand toward me and lead me. Out of the waves. Out of the sun. Into the comfort of my loving Father.

the giver, not the gift. part 1.

My husband and I have been serving the Lord for over a year now. He serves Him when he loves me, I serve Him when I submit to my husband. We serve Him together when we honor each of our parents. And we serve Him when we love our neighbor. We are sell outs. Our desire is less of us... more of Him. And the blessings? Woah, the blessings. Peace and joy and health. Our children. Our families. Our friends. Things that we've always had, but not in the healthy form in which they exist today. Isaiah 61:1-7. The Favor of The Lord The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They’ll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. Looking at the old ruins in your life, the rubble, the ruined cities. Whether it is friendships, devastation among family members, isolation, shame of poor decisions, guilt, neglect. Rebuild the old ruins. Raise a new city out of the wreckage. Serve God. Heal the brokenhearted. Comfort all who mourn. Messages of joy instead of news of doom.