Thinking

I picked a Bible passage for 2011.
Romans 12:9-13.

But for a long time,
I wasn't able to get past
the first sentence of verse nine.
Love must be sincere.

Sincere means earnest; genuine; real.

Love must be earnest; genuine; real.

At first I was thinking only about my earthly relationships.
With Ryan.
With my kids.
With my extended family.
(on both sides)
With my friends.

I was saying over and over to myself:
Love must be sincere.
Getting asked to do something I really didn't want to do:
Love must be sincere.
Wiping up spilled milk for the umpteenth time:
Love must be sincere.
Cooking supper for the family:
Love must be sincere.
The list could go on.
And on.
And on.

Grit my teeth and say it:
Love must be sincere.
Which really doesn't make it so sincere, huh?

But then, God said:
What about Me?
Is your love for Me sincere?

Oh, dear.

The rest of verse nine:
Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.

The best way to cling to good:
Love God sincerely.
Love God earnestly.
Love God genuinely.
Really love God.

Sincere love for God =
Sincere love for others.

Fingerprint Friday

Ezra brought these weeds flowers to me the other day.
I had just mopped my floors.
Roots, dirt, dead leaves were attached.
Dropping all over the floor.
The clean floor.
He was holding them up above his head.
Beaming.
So proud to bring his mommy a present.
We cleaned them up.
Put them in a cute little vase.
Set them out.
And they actually looked pretty. It reminded me of bringing myself before Christ.
I come to Him with all my roots, dirt and dead leaves.
Dropping them all over His thrown room floor.
His pristine thrown room floor.
Yet somehow He sees beauty in me.
He cleans me up.
He sets me out.
He uses me for His glory.
All because He loves me.
What grace!

Ephesians 2:4&5
But because of His great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ
even when we were dead in transgressions-
it is by grace you have been saved.

Each week Beki at therustedchain hosts Fingerprint Friday and uses a song by Steven Curtis Chapman as a springboard. Join in. It's a great way to be reminded of God's presence.

He Really Does Love Him

Jobie's prayer at lunch today:
Jesus,
Fank you Ezwa tummy huwt (hurt).
Fank you Mommy don't huwt.
Apples, fingys (thingys).
Amen.

Yep

I really do love him.
Happy Valentine's Day!

To my one and only.

Fingerprint Friday

John 15:12
My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you.

Each week Beki at therustedchain hosts Fingerprint Friday and uses a song by Steven Curtis Chapman as a springboard. Join in. It's a great way to be reminded of God's presence.