God's Love

God looks for us - He searches us out and calls us by name.  He leaves the 99 to find the lost 1. He waits eagerly for us to come to Him.

He loves us in spite of our faults, in spite of our sin, in our brokenness.

God delights in us in spite of all of these things.

He understands.  He cares.  He grants mercy.  He forgives. He provides.
He loves fully and completely.

He knows us inside and out because He created us - He thought us up and then spoke us into being.

Because He knows us so well He can love us perfectly.

He loves unconditionally as only He can.

He loves personally.

The only thing He wants in return – is fellowship - that we love Him back.  That we talk with Him and get to know Him. That we believe.

What do you do with a love like God’s?

You accept it. You bask in it. It's a gift.
You truly realize just how great His affection is for you - how He loves you so!

And then you share it. 

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19 

That's it...simple.

How Should I Be?

As a preschool teacher, I always felt it was important to share how a child's day was with their parents.  I also liked to capture things the children said.   I would ask the children a leading question and then jot down their answers and at the end of the year, I would provide the parents with what I called a Dictation Book.  After one particularly hard behavior day -  lots of tattling and bickering going on - that's what 4 and 5-year-olds do, right??  - anyway, I thought we needed to take a breather so I had everyone sit criss-cross applesauce on the floor.  I turned out the lights and we sat in silence for about 3 minutes.  To them, that was an eternity and by the end of the 3 minutes someone started giggling and it, of course, had a ripple effect. Once the hilarity died down we were ready to have a TALK and I asked a leading question.

"Ok", I said, "we have had a hard time getting along today.  Really, guys, how should we be?"  That's all I said.  Micah's hand shot up - I should be good and loving.  Brayden chimed in - I should be nice. Laura was more specific - I should be nice to people.  Andrew piped up - I should be a sharer.  And so it went, I should be:  a listener of God, noble,  kind and not listen to the devil, be myself and be good to God's creatures, good to my friends oh and kind, forgiving and on and on.  These kids had it right. They just forgot for a moment.  They were all caught up in doing what preschoolers do and they forgot how they should be.

As adults, sometimes we forget how we should be.  We get all caught up in the excitement of a kids baseball game and we forget.  We get caught up in a heated political discussion and we forget. We get caught in the middle of a neighborhood dispute and we forget. When we feel ourselves being some way other than how we should be, it is time to stop and take a breather.

Looking at how God is - His character - serves as a reminder and gives us a plumb line to hold ourselves up against.   We are filled with God's love -- not dotted, not sprinkled, but "filled" -  it should ooze out of us like the jelly when you bite into a jelly-filled donut.  "...for we know how dearly God loves us because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." Romans 5:5  God is good.  Even Jesus proclaimed God as good. "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good." Mark 10:18  Being good isn't just about being obedient, it isn't just for children.  Oh no, being good can mean so much more - honest, virtuous, having integrity, and noble - as my little Ian said.

The Bible is very clear about how we should be.
"But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also.  If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you."  "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."  Luke 6: 27-31, 35-36   

Kids sometimes forget how they should be. Adults sometimes forget how they should be.  It is just a fact.  I think God's expectation of us is that we always aim to be the best person we can be.   Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."  2 Corinthians 13:11  And Mark instructs, "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."  Mark 5: 48
Perfection is a pretty high bar.  We won't truly be perfect until we get to heaven, but we can aim for it now.  Aim to be more Christ-like.  Look inside yourself and see what area God might like to see you work on.  I know what area He has pointed out to me.

As you peer deep inside, go into it with an open heart and mind and a can-do attitude claiming the verse: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13.   Let's take it from the mouths of the babes and be how we should be.  How much more beautiful our homes, our blocks, our towns, our cities, the world would be if everyone was how they should be.
It could happen. But it has to start somewhere - let it be with me! I invite you to join me.

Sweet Friendship - A Good Gift

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another."
—John 13:35

Billy Graham said, “The human soul is a lonely thing. It must have the assurance of companionship. Left entirely to itself, it cannot enjoy anything.”

As God was creating all things, He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God did something about this with the creation of Eve. This was the very beginning of human companionship. Ephesians 4:25 reminds us that "we are all members of one body." God’s people are one body. We are not intended to function alone, not intended to be unconcerned for one another. We were made for community. This is where friendship comes in, the comradery that lightens the heart and lightens burdens because they are shared. 

As God’s children, God promises us "good gifts". (James 1:17)  One of those gifts is friendship. While we are here on earth, we are guaranteed the richest and truest friendships. Only in true Christ-centered friendship does genuine trust exist.  Only in true Christ-centered friendship do we feel genuinely safe. Only in true Christ-centered friendship do we find genuine peace. The only true cohesive power in the world is Christ. He alone can bind our human hearts together in genuine love and trust.

“A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Proverbs 27:9

Much like Jonathan and David, hearts can be knit together in friendship. (1 Samuel 18:1) Jonathan was a gift to David. He supported him, encouraged him, and helped him become the leader and king that he was. True friends can do that for each other. In the words of Melanie Shankle, “The aim of friendship is to sow into each other words of eternal life and blessing. We remind each other of God’s wisdom and provision, refresh each other’s spirit, and strengthen each other’s faith.”

Just like Jonathan was to David, God has given you people around you that are a gift. People have been placed in your life by Him, at this particular time for a reason. I love this quote from Corrie Ten Bloom, “Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see.” Your future is in His hands. He is faithful and can be trusted to give you exactly what you need when you need it. He is faithful and can be trusted to give you exactly WHO you need when you need them. God has given you a "good gift" in the people around you. Lean in to Him and to each other and sow blessing into each other’s lives through your sweet friendship.

Be sure to thank God for your friends, the people He has given you to walk through life with. The people that will tell you the truth, even if it hurts. The people that will listen and not judge. The people that you love and will love you back no matter what. The people that time and distance have no hold on. The people that will make you stronger and a better person. They - are a good gift! 

  

The Sound of Silence and Electronic Devices

Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel, a musical duo that had their beginning in the mid to late '60s wrote a song called Sound of Silence.  According to Sean Kelly from Quora, "In The Sound of Silence, he (Paul Simon) was expressing his angst toward his, and other's, feelings of alienation in a post-modern world.  Part of this alienation is viewed as a result of our inability to communicate effectively with one another, combined with our ready acceptance of thought and opinion as provided by the mass media." 

'Alienation due to our inability to communicate effectively with one another.'  

Whoa! Does that sound vaguely familiar?  Aren't psychologists and educators today saying that the social media phenomenon, video games, and cell phones have done just that?  Are we not so tied to our phones and ipads and computers that they have replaced a good old fashioned one on one conversation.  I myself have been known to spend (waste) an hour or more at a time flying through social media to find out what's going on in people's lives.  But, is that really the whole story on their lives? I would be willing to bet - not!

Is there a place and/or use for social media, of course.  Sharing exciting news, sending invitations, building a business and perhaps sharing some vacation pics are all excellent uses for social media. Should kids be allowed to have fun playing video games and watching TV, sure.  However, these activities should never replace communicating with people one on one. And all too often it does.  "Kids are spending an average of more than 7 1/2 hours a day using electronic media, which includes TV, the Internet, video games, and mobile devices, according to a 2010 report by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation."(Quoted from Very Well Family) I would suggest that this is causing a breakdown in the relationship building process.  People are meant to be in community - real-life community - not just a digital community.  

Jesus gave us a good example of how life is meant to be lived in community. Seriously, He talked to everyone and He listened. Really listened. He asked tough questions. He gave straight answers. And He made people feel loved, accepted and well...important.  That's what being in community is all about. We get to know - really know - people...not just the good stuff that gets posted but the bad and the ugly and the truth of it all.   

Think about it, when you are perusing social media, there is no conversation, no communication - just silence, unless of course, you see something funny, then you might hear yourself laugh.  But, there is no one to laugh with you. Just silence. 

The sound of silence can be lonely. The sound of silence can be frightening. In the silence there is room for your mind to compare, judge, feel jealous, resentful, fearful and so many other emotions that are not from God.  

So, we have established previously that there are a place and use for social media and cell phones, as well as a time and place for kids to play video games or watch TV.  However, I would propose that we be smart about it.  Set limits and practice what we preach.

Here are a couple suggestions to help us all make the right choices and decisions when we are using our electronic devices:
1. Be disciplined about how much time you spend on social media or using electronic devices (your kids are watching you)
2. Set clear hard boundaries on how much time you allow your kids to spend on social media or using electronic devices (including watching TV) - # of hours per day, only on the weekend, only certain shows, etc.
3. If a real live person comes home or enters the room - they come first - put the device away
4. Make a plan for those times when there is nothing to do. Instead of going for the X-box, play family board games, here's a novel idea (no pun intended) have a family reading time every day - your kid's teachers will thank you! 
5.  Don't be afraid to just turn off the TV, gather all electronic devices in a basket and go cold turkey for a night and just talk. (Warning: It might take a while to get the hang of this but it is so worth it!)

Think about how the sound of silence might be influencing you and your family, and give this a try.

    

    

Listen to Me!

Life is odd. It is sometimes filled with confusion and uncertainties. You never know for sure what’s coming. One day is fine – the birds are singing, the sun is shining and the kids aren’t fighting. The next day monsters come out from under the bed and out of the closet from all directions. The fridge breaks down, all 4 kids wake up with pink eye, so you need to stay home from work, but have no vacation days left. But wait, it gets better, you have spent all your grocery money and don’t get paid for another 5 days. Stuff happens! Am I right?

Malcolm Muggeridge, a Christian scholar made a statement that I sincerely value. He said, “Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.”  

The parables Jesus told are to help people understand an unfamiliar concept or idea. He painted vivid pictures with His words so the people could ‘figure it out’. He used commonplace things to illustrate His point and help someone come to a conclusion.

At my current workplace, we have begun a study called Rooted. This week’s study was on prayer. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Sometimes we pray and pray seeking God, seeking an answer or clarity. We wait, and wait and wait perhaps thinking God is not really hearing our cry. News Flash!! God doesn’t send a text or an email with an answer. We play a part in getting an answer. Prayer is a two-way conversation. Our part is to stop, be silent, and listen. Pay attention to the “happenings, great and small”, and find God speaking to you through them. In other words, ‘get the message’ He has for you. He really could answer you and guide you in so many different ways.  But we have to be paying attention. We have to be listening. What are some of the ways God speaks to you?  Think about that for a moment. 

I believe it is an art to find and hear God in the things that happen. It takes practice. It takes being still and that can be hard. Take it from the person who has to get up and do something during every single TV commercial. It is hard to sit still. But hear Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God…” Be still!

God’s promise in Psalm 32:8 is “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” I learned the lesson of listening and paying attention many years ago and have never forgotten it. I was working in an office setting. I knew my time there was done, but it was comfortable. I was paid well, it was close to home, so for literally months I was asking God for direction – should I leave should I stay, blah, blah, blah…One Sunday I was sitting in church before service started and was praying again – God what should I do. I flipped open my Bible and immediately focused on these words found in Isaiah 46:12 “Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness.”  LISTEN TO ME… Believe me, I got the message! Did you ever see a child place one hand on either side of mom’s cheeks and turn her head so she was looking him right in the eyes? The child is saying ‘listen to me, mom’, ‘focus on me’ ‘I am trying to tell you something’. That morning it was as if God placed a hand on either side of my face and turned my head in His direction – ‘LISTEN TO ME’, ‘FOCUS ON ME’, ‘I AM TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING’. I had not taken the time to listen or pay attention to the answer – my heart had been telling me to move on! I wasn’t listening to my heart. My family said to move on.  I did not listen to them either. ‘Happenings great and small’ told me it was not the place for me to be. I failed to ‘get the message’ even in all that. However, God, because He is who He is, kept His promise and got my attention by calling me a “stubborn-hearted” fool. Listen to me!!!

Matthew 7: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Once we learn to listen and pay attention, we have an amazingly perfect resource to find peace, contentment, understanding, direction, & clarity. He alone brings calm in all the chaos of life. However, we have to do our part, too! Listen!

I would encourage you to get in a quiet place for a prayer time today. After you are finished praying, spend 3 minutes in the quiet and just listen. Perhaps write down what you hear from God. I suggest you begin to make this a daily practice. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what you hear from God as you listen to Him. 

    

Overwhelmed? Tired? Confused?

Life is busy. I do not have to tell you that! Practically every single person I know has the same lament - "I am too busy!"  I have too much going on!" Even in the summertime when we could be relaxing and taking a break, we find ourselves busy trying to get "it" all in.  What is "it" anyway?

Today I find myself at home, alone, Cool!  This is going to be such a nice relaxing day.   I decide to start off with a little exercise, get the blood pumping and the steps for the day in, so I hook up the dogs to go for a nice long walk through our lovely quiet neighborhood.  Of course, Daisy pooped.  Yes, I always have poop bags with me.  The poop bags I recently bought and tied to the leash, however, were defective. (Exasperated sigh goes here!)  They were not sealed on the sides or the end. Just really cute sheets of plastic and not very helpful. So, after our walk, I had to go back and pick up the poop with a real bag. My conscience won't let me just leave it there.  Moving on.  When I got home, I sat on the side of the tub to take my shoes off and slipped off the side of the tub landing on my tailbone, ouch!!  How did I even do that?  Next on the agenda, making dinner for some dear friends.  I thought I had everything I needed. Nope. So I hop in the car to go get sour cream and flour tortillas only to find when I got home that I already had both. (Seriously???)  Why didn't I double check in the garage frig?  I need a drink! No, not that kind of drink...a drink of water...I need a drink of water! So I grab the bottle off the counter and looking forward to being refreshed, I gingerly place the water bottle to my lips and tilt it awaiting the cool refreshment and... low and behold, I haven't taken the top off the bottle.  Duh!!!

When goofy things like this start happening to me, I know I am very near the brink of something...like maybe I am about to self-destruct.  More than likely, my brain is on overwhelm. Sometimes it is trying to sort things out and is just distracted. At any rate, I have too much processing going on in my brain and it just keep going and going and going, thinking and thinking and thinking and this wreaks havoc. Unlike the Energizer Bunny, however, my batteries do run out.  I don't like it, but it's true.  Do your batteries run out, too?

There is hope for those of us that get overwhelmed, tired and confused at times and our batteries begin running out.  His name is Jesus.  So today, in the remainder of my home alone time, not to be confused with the movie of the same name, I pull out my Bible and land in Matthew, Chapter 11.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30

The yoke of Jesus here is meant as a spiritual aid. When we are in overwhelm mode, it is our very spirit, our soul, that is tired or distracted or confused and working overtime.  The function of a yoke was to couple the oxen to do the farmers work - the oxen working in tandem, side by side - together with the farmer.  Taking on the yoke of  Jesus couples us with Him to do the work He has for us - whatever and wherever it is. If we work, think and play or even spend time home alone in this way, the Bible promises whatever we do will be made easier and lighter.

Overwhelmed? Tired? Confused?  Head out to the barn and talk to Farmer Jesus.

Praying - anytime, anywhere, about anything

I believe it is God's desire for us to communicate with Him. Communicating with God verbally or in our thoughts is called prayer. His Word encourages us to talk to Him "without ceasing", and "at all times".

                                             I Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing." 

Ephesians 6:18 "Praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication to that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."

I have charge of the Preschoolers in our church.  I can't imagine serving anywhere else. Preschoolers are so much fun and they learn through movement. Anyone with a 4 or 5-year-old, knows they love to move - A LOT!!  and practically all the time.  Anyway, one of the things we teach them when we are learning about prayer is that we can talk to God anytime (we point to our wrist, aka wristwatch) anywhere (we move our hands to each side of our body at about shoulder height) about anything (we reach our hands to the sky). This, of course, is a simple way to teach kids about talking to God and they totally get it.

But, as adults, prayer needs to go deeper still. Every occurrence, every occasion, every circumstance, every decision we need to make can become a stirring of the Holy Spirit within us to pray.  Prayer needs to become a habit. So much a part of ourselves that it is as frequent and natural as breathing.

I have read a book called The Practice of the Presence of God several times over the years. This book changed my thinking on prayer. The cover of the book invites us to read the spiritual secrets of a humble brother who enjoyed closeness with God.  Brother Lawrence was a Carmelite monk whose sole purpose in life was to remain always in the presence of God - no matter the task, no matter his circumstance - anytime, anywhere, anything!

In his 7th letter to an unnamed friend, Brother Lawrence wrote, "The least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. (God) You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of."  God is always available - just a thought or even a whisper away.

The book goes on to talk about S. Clement of Alexandria. He was a gifted teacher of new Christians in the church at Jerusalem.  I can easily identify with Clement on several levels. You might want to look him up and read about his life. It is quite interesting.  Back to topic...around 190 A.D. Clement wrote the "Stromata" in which he described a man that might be very much like Brother Lawrence. He wrote, "the great business of a philosopher, that is, a wise Christian, is prayer. Such an one prays in every place, at every time, not indeed using many words, or thinking to be heard for his much speaking, but in secret in the depths of his soul, while walking or conversing with his fellow-man, or reading, at the table, when at work. His praises rise to God unceasingly; not only in the morning, and at noon, but in all his actions he glorifies God as do the Seraphim."  Anytime, anywhere, about anything!  Unceasingly in thought, word and deed!  

These types of prayers are called breath prayers; they are short, simple, heartfelt, meaningful, spontaneous, important and valuable. Examples might be when you are watching your child quietly play - you speak a blessing over your child, or pray for their future. When you see a beautiful flower, thank God for the gift of nature. When someone you know comes to mind, ask God to give them the desires of their heart. Short, simple prayers that keep us communicating with God, and in His presence all the time.  Breath prayers can be prayers of praise, worship, love, needs, thanksgiving, blessing, help and so on and so on. Anytime, anywhere about anything! 

Today might be a good day to begin practicing breath prayers and perhaps, like Brother Lawrence, they will become a habit in us leading us to remain always in the presence of God.  I pray it is so!

Breathe in - "Father", breathe out - "draw near to the persons reading this blog today."  

There are many good articles on Breath Prayer. Following is a link to just one.

Guideposts article on Breath Prayers

Be Prepared

Time and time again, scripture tells us how the Israelite people of the old testament rejected God's ways and followed their own.  And over and over, God gave them chance after chance to get it right.
After Solomon finished having the house of the Lord built, he dedicated the temple to the Lord praising God and pleading for God to hear his prayer on behalf of the people.  In answer to Solomon's prayer, beginning at 2 Chronicles 7:12 we read,  "Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, ..." The next verse, verse 14 is the second or third or fourth chance God gives them.  It says "...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  (There are so many 'if" 'then' statements in scripture!)

What I read in the words of verse 14 is, 'if I (God) have a people that know Me and trust Me and obey Me, then, there is no limit to the times I will forgive them and do great things for them.'  Now let's make those words more personal. Go ahead hear these words as if God were speaking them to you. Take them to heart.  'If you know Me and trust Me and obey Me, then, there is no limit to what I will do for you and no limit to what I can do through you for all things are possible with Me in your court.'   (See Philippians 4:13)

Know Me. Trust Me. Obey Me. A tall order for sure. For in our humanness you and I want control. We want what we want, our way, in our time, as we planned.  Guess what? That's not knowing and trusting that God has our back. That's not being obedient to what He wants. Don't shoot the messenger on this, I just call 'em like I see 'em and it is humbling.

You and I need to relinquish control and know that God's ways are not our ways. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55: 8 & 9  If we are asking God for direction or clarity in a matter, we need to be prepared to step outside our comfort zone and do things His way. Remember His ways are higher, better and maybe harder.  And that's a good thing! We can't wait twiddling our thumbs for an answer hoping to hear God tell us to do it our way. No! God will challenge us. A challenge needs trust. A challenge needs obedience. A challenge forces us to look at who we know God is. I believe that is what God wants from us.

Recently, I prayed and prayed and prayed for an answer to a matter. I just wasn't hearing from God. (I thought.) I finally realized I was waiting to hear Him tell me to do what I wanted to do. To do what I thought was right. But I learned, the hard way, that what I thought, was not what He thought. He wanted to do something way better. And I missed out on that and am suffering the consequences.  I didn't come to Him asking for what He wanted, I was praying for what I thought He might want.  There is a huge difference. Now, I am in the same boat as the Israelites and must go to Him humbly asking forgiveness and praying that He will heal my land. In other words, fix my mess.

When we count on what we know of God, when we trust Him and obey Him, His ways will challenge us to do more, to be better, to live righter (Is that a word?). His ways, His methods, His purposes - so, be prepared - for 'if' we do this, 'then' He promises great and mighty things.

"So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Little Things Making a Big Impact

Sometime, notice in your Bible the many little things that were of great significance:  the little gift of the widow, the water pots in Jesus first miracle, a little lunch of 5 fish and 2 loaves, spit and mud, touching just the hem of Jesus cloak, the red cord of Rahab, the jars that Gideon's army smashed and on and on.  There is no doubt in my mind that little things are important.  Every little detail is important.   And in doing little things, I think we become more Christ-like-- offering a smile, giving a hug, even just a look or a brief touch on the cheek of a child - all little things, but so important.  For often, the little becomes the big - think about each of those little things from the Bible that I mentioned - a big lesson, a big ministry, a big crowd gets fed, the blind man could see, a woman healed, a family saved, a small army victorious.  Huge outcomes from simple acts. Jesus was simple. He told simple stories. He spoke of a flower, a bird, a gardener, a single lost coin, a single lost sheep, a boy who ran away from home and He was concerned for the little children.  Everything and everyone was important to Jesus. He used little things to make a big impact.  I see that God uses those small things we do in big ways, too.

A few Sundays ago our church held a River Baptism in the mighty Boise River.  Over 100 people made a decision to be baptized to show the world that they have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, love Him and are one of His devoted followers. In each case, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the road to that big decision began with a little thing - a smile, a hello, or an invitation - Come!

Think about it this way - the little things we do or say can make the difference in how a person spends his or her eternity.  That's actually huge!  We get to be part of God's big story for each and every person we meet.   Little things, make a big impact on people.  It's up to us to just do what we can and then God does the rest...more than we could ever ask or imagine.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."   Ephesians 3: 20-21

You're Strange, I'm Unique - Marriage

Today marks 47 years of marriage.  Yes, to the same guy!!!  They all said it wouldn't last but we proved them wrong - perhaps out of pure stubbornness or maybe it is our competitive natures.  We both hate to lose. But I say -- it must be love.  Whatever the reason, here we are.

Married at a young age, we sort of grew up together.  This can be advantageous.  There really were no surprises.  But, there was a huge learning curve.  The phrase "young and stupid" comes to mind.   When we went to get our first apartment, we were literally pulling change from our pockets and the bottom of my purse to make the deposit of $110 for the rent.  We made our first meal in our new apartment in a popcorn popper.  Campbell's Vegetable Beef soup heats up quite nicely in a popcorn popper from the 70's.  Who knew!!!

He swears marriage is more difficult for men than women.  Women are so hard to understand he says. For my first birthday after we had been married for a mere 7 weeks, he gave me a vacuum cleaner. He was so proud.  We needed a vacuum cleaner (we hadn't vacuumed in 7 weeks - ewww!) and he was being a good provider.  I cried!   35 years later, I asked for a shed for Christmas.  He got me two sheds and I was happy as a clam!!  So what's not to understand?  Women make perfect sense.  If I had asked for a vacuum cleaner and got one, a vacuum cleaner would have been fine -- but seriously, who would ask for a vacuum cleaner?  Certainly not I.

For the first several years of our marriage, he gave me a sympathy card for our anniversary.  I was never really sure if the sympathy was for me or if it was transfer sympathy and he was feeling sorry for himself.  The jury is still out on that one.

At 6 years I got a t-shirt.  This was not just any old t-shirt - no, this one was special.  It had words of love on it.  It read -  "6 years, I must be nuts!"  Lovely.  That could go both ways, so I wore that t-shirt to rags!! I have been known to hang on to clothes for quite a while so he actually asked me today if I still had that t-shirt.  I don't, but I do still have the other t-shirt gem from about 20 years ago that reads - "Tyrannosaurus Rox."   Speaks volumes doesn't it?  Now I affectionately wear one with a picture of Grumpy on it that reads "I Love Grumpy Guys".  Just sayin'.

Over the years - 47 to be exact - life has thrown us curves, there have been ups and downs, but always we had each other and God.  When people ask how we have stayed married so long I often wonder if they are asking because they know us and can't believe we are still married to each other - or if it is because they just wonder how we've made it this far.

Marriage is not about the stuff.  It's about commitment.  It's about taking the good with the bad.  It's about forgiving and forgetting.  It's about respect and honor.  It's about laughter and tears.   It's about doing life together.  "Two-gether" - Two as one!  Your strangeness and my uniqueness combined in one life under the umbrella of God's great love.

Through it all, with God at the center, it's all about love and the rest of our lives "two-gether".

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life!

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."  Genesis 2: 24

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."  1 Corinthians 13: 4- 8a