Happy Valentine's Day.. show your love for others

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action. ~Mother Teresa

Wishing everyone a love filled Valentine Day.  Be sure to tell those people you care about just how much you love them.  Remember the best part about loving someone is you always have the chance to make them happy.  This Valentine Day send someone a note that tells them just how much you care about them.  It might be the best gift they ever receive.

Blessings to all....

How well do we LOVE?

Today I am reminded of how we are called to love one another. God's love for us is never ending and we should strive to love others in the same way.  I try to make my life about loving everyone where ever they are on the journey.  Every day I ask for God's love and grace in my life.  That I may love others as He wants me to.  Most importantly that I will not be in the way.  What I want and what I desire does not cloud my judgement and I am able to listen for what He wants from me.  That I may love with my whole heart and soul and bring His love to others.  

With Valentine's day fast approaching..  let us all make every day a day filled with love.  Shouldn't we be showing love and care for everyone all the time? Just think how much more awesome our world would be if we lived our lives without judgement & full of love each and every day.

Blessings and LOVE

Let Us Give THANKS

Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving and I want to encourage everyone to be mindful of all there is to be thankful for.  I was just speaking with someone about how some people tend to think the grass is greener on the other side ... funny thing is once you are over there the grass doesn't seem quite as green.  

How often do we start our day giving thanks and praise for all we are given? Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  It does not mean we never have sadness or hardships in our lives, but honestly there is always something or someone to give thanks for.  

My daughter and I had the privilege of going to Austria this month and the family we stayed with treated us with such love and kindness we were overwhelmed.  We had never met any of them and yet they all treated us as if they had known us for years.  Every day we gave thanks for their generosity and kindness.  It had us both remembering Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.  If we could all remember this .. all the time we would live in a world of kindness and thanksgiving.

This weekend I asked students in my youth group to write a letter to someone in their life they are thankful for.  Telling them why you are happy they are in your life and what you love about them.  I began having students do this years ago and one time after a student had written to his grandmother she was so moved she in turn wrote to each member of her family, leaving them all with beautiful words of love and thanks.    I challenge all of you to write letters this Thanksgiving as well. You may never know how it can make a difference for that person, but I can assure you they will appreciate the letter.  (use the copy below to write your Thanksgiving letter.)

Blessings for a joyful and healthy Thanksgiving.

Are you a Saint in the making?

                                                                                           

November 1 & November 2 we celebrate all saints and all souls 
  

I remember as a young child learning about these days and wondering what I was going to have to do to become a saint.  Our pastor tells our congregation that we are all saints in the making and I agree.  We are all given gifts and talents to use for good. 

   In Wizard of Oz when the munchkins meet Dorothy they ask her if she is a good witch or a bad witch.  Her response is, "I am not a witch at all, I am Dorothy Gale from Kansas."  That statement defines Dorothy. She knows who she is and understands that she is not good or bad she just is.  I believe in order for us to really know ourselves we must know God.  We must recognize the true love he has for us and  believe we are who we are, because of Him.  He has given us powers just like the Wizard to use for good.  So we can choose to use our powers for good or evil just as Dorothy or the wicked witch did.   

Using our so called "powers" for good, enables us to continue to be more like God.  We can continue to choose to make a difference and in that process become saints in the making.  Our goal is not to do good only to become saints; but rather do good because we know the love we share with others can change the world.   Love is very powerful!    

This past week I read a  book called,  I walked to the moon and almost everybody waved. 
 I highly recommend it.  Such a beautiful message about being who we are called to be.  To use our powers for good and become Saints in the making.  Living our lives for good will continue to make our world a better place for all who are in it.  

Blessings for a wonderful day!

All we need is LOVE

My son recently played the role of Marius in Les Mis and I have to say this line is for me one of the most moving in the entire show.  "to love another person is to see the face of God".  There really is nothing more true.  If we all acted with hearts of love rather than ego/judgement our world would be more beautiful every day.  

All I need to do is take one look at my grandchildren and I am looking at the face of Christ. People have always said, wait until you have grandchildren you can not believe how much you will love them.  Well they were correct.  I believe there is an instant soul to soul connection you have with each one of them.  They teach me what true unconditional love is.  You need no words just being in their presence reminds you of "The Presence". 

Knowing God )the presence) is knowing love.  When we are able to recognize the divine in everyone and everything we are able to love more fully.  It is easier to forgive, easier to be present, and easier to love.  I challenge us all to be present to The Presence.  To look for God in everyone and everything.  At first you may not see it, but if you pay attention and listen you will.  

Blessings for a wonderful week.... 

I AM BLESSED

I had the extreme privilege of going with our high school youth group DESTINY to Hopkins Park for a mission trip two weeks ago.  It was a miraculous time.   God's presence is overwhelming!  My husband Tom and I also had the true blessing of being Godparents to Curtis.  We have known Curtis since he was 9 yrs old and were honored to serve as his Godparents.  We pray that God continues to guide us and Curtis and that we may always know the love God has for us all.  

One thing we all walked away from Hopkins Park with is to know how very blessed we all are.  The richness of God's presence there is like nothing I have ever seen.  When asked how they are doing, you will hear this response from  nearly every person living there.  "I AM BLESSED!"  No matter what their life circumstances, they find God in everything and everyone.  Our pastor always says that when you are there you are on holy ground and I could not agree more.  

I give thanks and praise for all the blessings and love I have in my life.  No matter where life's journey brings me, one thing I will always remember is.. " I AM BLESSED" !

Do they see Jesus in me

Thursday May 23, 2013 

Jesus' Self-Portrait

Jesus says:  "Blessed are the poor, the gentle, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for uprightness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness"   (Matthew 5:3-10).   These words offer us a self-portrait of Jesus.  Jesus is the Blessed One.  And the face of the Blessed One shows poverty, gentleness, grief, hunger, and thirst for uprightness, mercy, purity of heart, a desire to make peace, and the signs of persecution.

The whole message of the Gospel is this:  Become like Jesus.  We have his self-portrait.  When we keep that in front of our eyes, we will soon learn what it means to follow Jesus and become like him.

  

Do they Jesus in me ..Joy Williams  This is one of my favorite songs because it reminds me of living my life out so that I reflect Jesus in all I say and do.  
Walking the walk means we are forever keeping present to the Presence. 

Special thanks to all those that have served our country and continue to serve.  God bless you... have a wonderful Memorial Day.