Love Check List

It is good to frequently visit I Corinthians 13, "The Love Chapter", to evaluate how we're doing at loving. Here is a check list straight from the Bible. How am I doing?

• Love is longsuffering (patient)
• Love is kind
• Love does not envy
• Love does not vaunt itself (boast)
• Love is not puffed up (proud)
• Love does not behave itself unseemly (to act unbecomingly)
• Love does not seek her own (see Philippians 2:4)
• Love is not easily provoked
• Love thinks no evil
• Love does not rejoice in iniquity (unrighteousness, injustice)
• Love rejoices in the truth
• Love bears all things (to hide/conceal in relation to faults of others)
• Love believes all things
• Love hopes all things (hope as in waiting with confidence)
• Love endures all things (remain, persevere)
• Love never fails

Though an ideal relationship has this kind of love flowing both directions, there is nothing in this chapter that specifies love only loves if it's being loved. In fact, words like "does not seek her own", "bears all things", "endures all things" speak very loudly of a sacrificial, unconditional love.
That is the kind of love Jesus shows us. Here is an interesting thing to think about. The Bible says we love God because He first loved us (I John 4:19). He demonstrated that love toward us in Christ.

What if we demonstrated Christ's love in all of our relationships? What if, in time, Christ in us transformed formerly unloving people to people who love because we first loved them? What if that person who does not love God, learns about the love of God demonstrated in us and not only grows to love us, but grows to love the One who loves through us? In some relationships, this is impossible to do in our own power. It's truly a high calling. I have written previously that the means of enduring a lopsided love comes from focusing on Jesus and all that He endured for us (Hebrews 13). Recently, though, God has challenged me to take this a step further. I Corinthians 8:3 says, "if any man love God, the same is known of him." When I read that verse this week, the thought came to mind that if my love for God is to show in my love for others, then my love for God must be very deep. It needs to run deeper than any obstacle that would keep me from sharing that love. It needs to be based in something even deeper than what God did for me in the person of Jesus. It needs to be based in something even deeper than what God does for me each day. It needs to be based in the very person, the character of God Himself. The character of God is manifest in those things He does for us, but it is so much more. It is beyond comprehension. It is worthy of our attention. In I Corinthians 7, Paul stated how he wished everyone could be single like he was. He understood that is not very realistic! His reason stated in verse 35 is interesting, though, "that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction". That word "distraction" means excessive worry. Stay with me here....

A difficult relationship certainly can be the source of distraction. When we are distracted from building our relationship with God, it greatly affects our ability to love God. When our ability to love God is out of balance, our ability to love others is lost. The point? Focus! Focus on God. Focus on knowing him. Focus on loving him. If that focus is there, the love check list will be a reality in even your most difficult relationships.

Pays to Be Frugal

Getting into couponing and such these days. It really is saving me money and getting less and less time consuming as I get organized.


Here are some helpful links:

http://paystobefrugal.com/2009/10/18/merry-christmas-100-visa-giftcard-giveaway/


http://www.couponmom.com/

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

Send me yours if you know of others!

All My Heart

I do a lot of things with "all my heart", but I wonder how much my heart lines up with God's desires? What does He say I should do with all my heart?

-Seek Him (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13)

-Love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5, 13:3, 30:6; Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30&33, Luke 10:27)

-Serve Him (Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5, 1 Samuel 12:20&24,)

-Do His commandments (Deuteronomy 26:16, 30:2)

-Turn to Him (Deuteronomy 30:10)

-Walk before Him (I Kings 2:4)

-Praise Him (Psalms 86:12)

-Trust Him (Proverbs 3:5)

-Believe Him (Acts 8:37)

Does my heart truly belong to God? All of it? There are promises attached to these -- look them up! He is the Life worth giving all your heart...

Seek Ye First

Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

I haven't blogged for a while. I unintentionally took the summer off! Life is busy. I don't know anyone who isn't nearly out of their minds with busyness. Most of our busyness is probably self-made. I do a lot of planning. I don't know a mom who doesn't plan. It is necessary to feed, clothe and generally take care of the interests of a family. Planning isn't wrong in and of itself. I find it ironic, though, when I'm busy planning because I'm planning to be busy. When my plan becomes that thing that I seek, it is wrong. Jesus said, to seek FIRST the kingdom of God. Jesus said to take NO thought for tomorrow. I have always put the word "thought" in the context of being anxious. The definition does include anxiety, but it encompasses so much more than that. It also means "to care for, look out for (a thing); to seek to promote one’s interests; caring or providing for". I've always thought because God is a God of order, I must have an orderly life, and that order is accomplished by planning. Psalms 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD..." Do I plan and seek to follow my plan so much that I leave no room for God to order my steps each day? I know there is a balance here. I believe the balance is achieved by leaving a good portion of our days unscheduled and unplanned so that there is room for God to order our steps that day. I don't want to be so busy that my direction cannot be changed. I don't want to plan God out of my day. How can I reach out to others and meet the needs of others when my own plans are my master. Are all these activities really necessary? They may be good, but are they best? Remember what Jesus said to Martha -- the busy planner? Martha had just expressed her frustration to Jesus about the fact that Mary, her sister, had left Martha to do all the work while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Much to Martha's surprise, Jesus did not reprimand Mary for not serving Him with Martha. Instead, he reprimanded Martha, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Most of the things that consume my day will go to the grave with me. How much time do I spend with Jesus? How much do I really let Him order my steps in those things that will not be taken away? Now the question is, how to move from B (busyness), to A (at His feet). How does this become a reality in my life? This will be my meditation for the day and my prayer, "Show me, God how to seek Your Kingdom first. Show my how to take NO thought for tomorrow. Let me be willing and able to obey you in each step of my day. May You be the one who orders my steps."

The Effort of Getting Dressed

"Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)

Recently I have been having a lot of trouble getting up on time. When I oversleep, it has a pretty negative effect on my entire day. Usually it means I will either not spend time in the Bible and in prayer -- or at least not quality time. If I do spend the time, then it means I'm late to work, which takes away time "doing school" with the kids. To my dismay, even at my seasoned age, I found myself in the habit over oversleeping and seemingly powerless to break the habit. I mentioned this struggle to a good friend when we were having coffee Monday. To my surprise, she was having the same problem. So, in keeping with true friendship, we agreed to help each other and are now making that 4:00 am "accountability call". I can't say I am enjoying dragging my weary bones out of bed that early again, but certainly I am enjoying the benefits of reestablishing that habit.

I've been studying Ephesians 4 this week. Today I spent some time just meditating on verse 24. The terminology Paul uses, "put on the new man", implies effort. When we put on clothes in the morning, we have to put at least a bit of effort into that process. It requires purposeful thought and physical action. We may not always enjoy the effort, and at times expend minimal effort, but we HAVE to put forth some effort, or settle for the alternative of not getting dressed at all (which is an unsettling thought!).

I have to admit, most days I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what I am going to wear. I am a casual person unless the day's activities require otherwise. But, spiritually each day does require more than just casual dressing. I am called to be an ambassador of Christ each day, and the dress code is pretty specific. This "new man" is created in righteousness and holiness, just like God is righteous and holy. These are not character qualities that come naturally to the human race! In fact, if you read verse 22 of Ephesian 4, before we can think about putting on this new man, we have to "put off" the old man -- the one that is not righteous and holy; the one we were before we were in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:17, says "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This new man becomes part of our spiritual wardrobe the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Unfortunately, as long as we have this flesh to contend with, the old man is also still part of our wardrobe (see Romans 7:14-25). We are commanded, though, to reckon that old man as dead (Romans 6:11-13). So, part of my daily effort is to ignore that old, smelly outfit hanging in my spiritual closet and make the choice to put on the new duds each day. Thus, the 4:00 am wake-up call. That new man really is much more pleasant (for everyone) and definitely worth the effort!

Firstborn From the Dead Pics

The kids had the amazing opportunity to be part of the "Firstborn from the Dead" Saturday and Sunday. Pictures could not even begin to convey the power of this story of Christ's life, death and resurrection. Wow!

"Glory in the Highest" - Kiah was an angel (I'm of the opinion she still is!)

"Holy"

"Holy"

Saturday was a LONG day for the five "Boys Athletic Movement" boys -- and for me as the rehearsal stage mom. We were there from 10 am to 10:00 p.m. I was stage mom from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. The boys were great all things considered. My patience only thinned toward the end... :o)

Before the show...

Small room - lots of fun!

A goofy moment.

Here is part of Judson's piece. Those little guys were SOOO cute! He was in another scene, too, but we didn't get that one on video. We did order the DVD...

Here's one of Mikiah's pieces. This is the garden scene before the crucifixion. The video does not convey the intensity of this scene. It was so cool! Mikiah was a "Pharitree"...

Excited about This Performance!

Mikiah and Judson are in this performance coming up Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd and 24th. What I have seen in the rehearsals is really amazing. If you enjoy watching shows, you will love this one. Hope to see you there!


Performance is 1 week away. Tickets are going fast.
Dramatic Truth School of the Arts Presents
LOCATION:
The Bell Center
MidAmerica Nazarene University
2030 E. College Way
Olathe, Kansas

SATURDAY, MAY 23 7:00 pm Evening Performance
SUNDAY, MAY 24 3:00 pm Matinee Performance
TICKET PRICES:
$10 Adults,
$5 Students under 18,
$5 Students over 18 with a current student ID.