Passion

I got a very good question from my friend  Lisa this morning.  What a way to start off my Monday morning.  Thank goodness I am on my third cup of coffee and the creative part of my mind is racing. 
Here is one of her two questions: What does it mean to have Passionate Pursuit of God?  I told you it was a good question.
My passionate pursuit of God happens when I totally stop trying to be in control and just spend time in His presence. 
The trees are budding right now.  This is one of my favorite times of the year.  I call it - "God's love letter to me."  When I see the buds, something in my soul just craves more time with God.  It is like He is speaking directly to me. 
Some people only think about the pollen and their allergies when they look at the budding trees.   I think about how His love and mercy is new every morning.  It is all in how you view life.  You know the expression "looking through rose-colored glasses?"  Well I am choosing today to look through my "God glasses" and passionately pursue God and all He has in store for me today.

The Strength of Women

So I am working on a book project.  The Title is "The Strength of Women".  I have been blessed with some strong women in my life and upon reflection realized how rich my life has been from knowing them.
One of these women was my friend and mentor Lena.  We worked side by side in Christian Women's Club, a Stonecroft ministry.   She was a walking miracle.  Her strength was amazing to me.  Although she suffered from a variety of health issues, it did not slow her down.  She was involved with her family, her church, and her community.  She loved life.  She loved people.
The source of her strength was her relationship with the Lord. When Parkinson's overtook her body, I drove her to speaking engagements.  She never lost her sense of humor.  Toward the end of her life here on earth, I visited her in the nursing home.  She had suffered a stroke and could no longer care for herself.  As usual, her sense of humor was intact.  I thought I was going there to comfort her.  I was wrong again. I walked away more blessed.
I know she is dancing today in Heaven and  I will see her again one day. 
The verses that comes to my mind when I think about Lena are Romans 5:3-4: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope."
Today I celebrate the strong,godly women in my life.

Today

I am not sure how this week went by so fast.  This is the third day I have been home with a virus, and though I like having time at home, I don't like it this way.  I know you can relate to that. 
I have found many times in my life how God uses interesting avenues to get my attention.  This week is no different. 
I spent time catching up on my reading.  I am reading "Praying Together" by Stormie OMartian.  I highly reccomend it. 
God is wooing me to spend more time in prayer with Him, and I love how when I really pay attention, He shows me through a book, sermon, or Bible study how much He loves me and wants to spend time with me.  He never moves.  I do, sometimes.
I encourage you to spend some extra time today recognizing God working around you today.

Love Is In The Air

Today my thoughts are all over the place.  I know it is Valentines day.  I don't like how commercialized it has become.  More importantly I don't like the message that all my single friends get -- that you need to be part of two. 
Last year my sweet husband agreed to fixing brunch for our single friends on February 14.  You were not invited to our house unless you were single.  I really wanted them to know that they are special. 
My love language is acts of service, so when my husband agreed to cook brunch, my love tank was full.  I did not need flowers or fluff.  We wanted our friends to know how much we love and appreciate them no matter if they are single or married. 
Yesterday in church our Pastor talked about love.  Not romantic love, but a deeper love for the Body of Christ.  Do you have this love? Do you show this love to those around you? 
Today reach out to somebody that needs to know they are loved - loved by Christ and by you.

Memories

I opened a tube of new face cream the other night and the smell took me immediately back to my childhood.  My paternal grandmother, Memaw, used that same brand.  I remember when I spent the night with her watching her nightly routine.  Washing her face and applying her face cream. 
One of the most important things my Memaw taught me was how to pray.  At around the age of 5 or 6, she taught me the Lord's Prayer.  I did not grow up going to church much except when my grandmothers took me so my first knowledge of God was through that prayer. 
Now that I am Memaw to three precious grandchildren I am trying to be intentional about helping them know Jesus.  Their parents are rearing them in Christian homes, but I want to leave them a legacy of memories even sweeter than my memories of my grandmothers. 
The more time I spend working on my relationship with the Lord, the stronger I get about the intentionality of sharing with others. 
Be intentional today.  Make a memory today.

Is Life Fair?

Sometimes I ask the question, "Is life fair?".  Recently I read a very good devotion by a friend about how wonderful her relationship with her mom is.  As I was reading this, my mind was going back to the previous week when I sat and listened to several young women talk about how strained their relationship with their mom was. 
I encouraged them to seek to work daily on their relationship with the Lord and ask His guidance on how to have a relationship with their mom.  In this "ME" society, more people are self-centered and don't know how to love unconditionally - even their own children.  I am not saying it is always easy to love unconditionally.  There was a time in my life that I did not know how to love unconditionally, but the closer I walk with the Lord, the more surprised I am at how unconditionally I love my family as well as everybody around me.  That does not mean I don't have boundaries. In some of my relationships I have found that the healthiest way is to have a surface relationship.  I don't love them any less.  I just choose to love them where they are and not push my expectations of who they should be on them.  That is just my opinion and I have learned that not everybody wants to know my opinion. 
Today I choose love.  Today, life is fair.