How Much Do I Love?

 

This morning during worship, in between praise songs, a question was asked. One of the young men very simply said, “Would the people that I love in my life, know that I love them, if I treated them the same way I treat my relationship with God?”

Only a moment long question, before we started singing the next song. I’ve been thinking about that question ever since. Words versus actions.

How can I show God this week, how much I love him? How can you?

Just something for us all to think about.

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 NIV

 

 

Peeing In The Wind…Again

I thought I’d share one of my past posts. I think all my east coast family and friends will be able to relate. Even though my family and I missed out on the big snow storm of 2016, we certainly have had our fair share of winter weather over the years!

 

****************************************

Peeing In The Wind (originally posted in February 2011)

This winter storm is something else.I spent most of the night listening to everything we had on the deck being flung down to the other end of the deck. Even our huge, heavy grill. Seriously powerful wind.

This morning my son, K, had to take Lonnie the wonder dog, out to do his morning business. Forget the postman delivering mail in rain, snow, sleet or hail…..what about a dog owner having to get the pooch outside in this weather? K suited up with coat, hat, boots, gloves for the stint outside. Lonnie on the other hand, was totally oblivious to the storm on the other side of the laundry room door. All he knew was that he had to go. Let’s make it snappy, pappy!

The door opened and the cold and wind smacked them both in the face. ( I on the other hand only looked on, snuggled up in my cozy robe.) Now, keep in mind my family and I live in a field. There are no wind breaks. It’s always windy here in rural Ohio, but today the wind is 40-50 mph. It is snowing and there is a thin sheen of ice on everything. Not the best of conditions for walking the dog. I sort of felt sorry for K, but not enough to walk the dog for him.

I briefly saw Lonnie go flying by the window. The poor dog only weighs 19 lbs, so it is a good thing K had him leashed or he might have ended up in Pennsylvania. As it was, he was part dog and part kite.

Poor Lonnie dog. Having to pee in 40 mph winds. Not an easy feat…especially for a 19 lb. dog that is hanging on for dear life.

Lonnie the wonder dog is resilient. He toughed it out. When he re-entered the laundry room, he shook off the cold and snow. He then made his way back to “his” rug in front of the fireplace. It’s all in a days work.

 

I AM

The word am is the first person singular of be.                                                                          A name for Him, whose love set me free.

This morning in church, singing to the great I AM                                                                    The Alpha and Omega and The Risen Lamb.

The One who was, and is, and is to come.                                                                                  Great Holy Father who calls Heaven home.

For always and forever more, across time and space…                                                              A story of redemption and His amazing grace.

********************************************************************

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM“; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” Exodus 3:13-14

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ( unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16 (Amplified)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brrr….It Is Cold Outside!

Everyone has been talking about the big storm that will be hitting the east coast. Here in central Ohio we won’t be getting much snow, if any. The storm is staying just south of us. With that said, the day looks like snow. The sky is gray and the air cold. There is a stiff breeze blowing, that even an extra sweater doesn’t help. Although we will miss this big storm, we are not missing winter!

I am thankful for a warm house, cozy slippers, hot coffee, and electricity on days like this.

To all my east coast friends…..stay warm and be safe!

 

 

Peace For A Parent’s Heart

 

The day broke in vibrant pinks and purples, against a cold, crisp mid-January sky. Crawling out from under my electric blanket was difficult, as I could feel the air nip at me, even in the heated house. Today’s high temperature is to be 9 degrees. Single digits involves dressing in layers, that and a good cup of hot coffee.

My son left this morning to go back to college. Packing his car with his freshly laundered clothes and winter sports equipment in 1 degree temperature was not fun, but he is a trooper and got it done. He has only been gone a couple of hours and I miss him already.

I had a friend post yesterday about her three sons growing up and how it was hard for her. I can relate. All my children are young adults now. Two working full time, one at school and working part time, and one working full time and attending school. It is hard on parents when their little kids, aren’t little anymore….when their lives are truly their own, and they make all the choices about their days. For better or for worse.

As a parent it has always been my job to raise my children to eventually let them go. Love them, teach them, comfort them, reach them.  As the years went on, I had to learn to release my grip on them. My mama’s heart is feeling a tug today. Sigh.

I find comfort on the difficult days of being a mother, in the words of my Lord…..

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 The words that have been etched into the heart, won’t be forgotten…even if the path has lots of bumps in the road.

And, Romans 8:37-39 – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. I know that I am not always going to be there for my children. I am not all knowing, and all present, but I know the One who is. Christ loves my children, as He loves me. He will never leave them, nor can anything that happens to them, ever separate them from His love.

That gives this mama’s heart, peace. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

The Silent Killer

 

I am a first born who is organized, sure I am right, and sometimes bossy. I tend to be a perfectionist (more with myself, than with others). In some ways that tendency has helped me as I continue to strive to do my very best. Other times, it eats away at me. Silent and deadly. The details always get me, I want everything to be orderly, to be on the list so I can check it off, and no surprises! When I have too much going on, too many things to keep straight, my to do list does not have as many checks as I’d like, or if something goes wrong……I become frustrated and tense.

I currently have a lot of “balls in the air” right now. That is just life. You’d think being in my late 40’s life would be a little less hectic, but that is not the case….at least not for me. I won’t go into the up’s and down’s of my life, I know you’d understand, you probably have the same things going on in your own lives. Maybe not exactly the same, but close enough!

The other day as I was roaming around the kitchen with a million things on my mind, I read something from one of my devotion calendars. The author talked about being still, trusting God, remembering He is in control. I stopped. I took a deep breath. I exhaled.

Breathing. That is not something I am in control of. Not really. I do it, but I don’t think about it. It is not on my to list each morning. I don’t think to myself, “Dawn, make sure you remember to squeeze breathing into your schedule today.” God doesn’t forget. He knows every breath that I take. He knows every hair on my head. He knows (knew) each of my days before even one of them came to be.

I breathed again. Slower this time. I concentrated on my deliberate inhaling and exhaling. Just as I trust God for my very being…..shouldn’t I trust Him for all the minutes in my days?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV