Learning Love through Grandmas & Grandpas

Everyday, I miss my grandparents. I only knew three of four, but they all impacted my life in dramatically different ways.

My Grandma Hilbert was sweet and gentle. She was the kind of grandma who made you cookies and your favorite meal and showed her love through her actions.

My Grandpa Brownie was kindhearted. He was always quick with a hug and an "I love you, honey bunch". He taught me the most when I just sat beside him.

My Grandma Thelma was disciplined and strong. She was the grandma who told you when you were messing up and how you could do something better. And, she was pretty much always right. When she gave you praise, you felt like you'd won the Olympic Gold Medal, a Nobel Prize and an Oscar all in one.

I loved each of them - and still love them today. They all taught me how to love and showed me different facets of how God loves me.

When I think of each of them a smile always crosses my lips. I can still smell my Grandma Hilbert's scalloped corn and hear my Grandpa Brownie's laugh. But with Grandma Thelma I still feel her approval when I know I have done something to make her proud - and I still feel her disappointment when I have erred in judgement.

The same type of love emotion runs true for me when I think about God. His love is sweet and gentle and always quick with a hug and an "I love you"; But it also can be laced with sadness when I have disappointed Him by choosing against His will.

God's love for each of us transcends mere mortal love. He is every aspect and nature of love. He has high standards for each of us and He is disappointed when we do not meet them. But He is always quick to forgive, helping us to move past our mistakes.

We learn to love through the people around us, but they are only small tidbits of the grandiose love God has for us. When you are with those you love, remember that God is there too. He is loving you through your mom and dad; through your grandma and grandpa; through your aunts and uncles; through your friends.

God's love encompasses all of their love for you - and so much more.

Scripture

Deuteronomy7:8-10

Quote of the Day

Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state. Being in love shows a person who he should be.

Anton Chekhov

Question of the Day

How have you experienced love?

A+B doesn't always equal C



Hmm...I hate cats...cats walked on this ground...therefore I must hate this ground.

Snoopy's philosophy seems to make logical sense. It is kind of like an algebraic equation:

A=Cats

B=Ground

C=My feelings

A+B=C

But does it really? Or better yet, is this what God asks us to do?

When someone or something has hurt us are we supposed to automatically despise every one and everything associated with that person? If someone "does us wrong" do we cut that person off and assume that they are unworthy of our love or the grace of God?

A+B doesn't always equal C.

Just because someone has hurt you or because you do not see eye to eye with someone doesn't give you the authority to hate that person or the people that person is connected to. We can despise the actions - bullying, lying, terrorizing, mean-girl-ing, but we cannot despise the person - regardless of how that person has harmed you.

You do not have to associate with that person or even like him or her, but God requires you to show that person love and kindness. And not just the person who hurt you but everyone in that person's circle.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven... If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? ...Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Loving your enemy is a tall order. It requires perfection - and we certainly are not perfect - but we can move toward perfection by putting God's love first regardless of the situation. We can begin to see people as individuals, separate from their actions and from their associates. We can choose to not allow the A's of the world to overshadow the B's. When we start to love those who our hearts want to hate, then we will find that our C is equalling God's love.

Scripture

Ephesians 4:1-3

Quote of the Day

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Question of the Day

Who can you show God's love to who has been unkind to you?

Onward Soldier...Putting on the Full Armor of God

In "church circles" there is a phrase we often hear, "Put on the full armor of God".

This phrase - this challenge - comes from Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. He is giving the faithful a visual image of how to be fully enveloped in the wholeness of God so that they can withstand the trials they will face.

We too can take this imagery, even though we do not have modern centurions, the imagery of how to completely take on the mantle of God is a good starting point.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist:

A belt keeps your pants up - keeps your outfit secure - just like the Truth of Who God is and Who He claims for each us to be give our lives structure and support. Truth is our security.

the breastplate of righteousness in place:

A breastplate protects your heart and your lungs and righteousness is the state of being pure or holy. God's breastplate protects our hearts and allows us to live a pure life - holy - and devoted to Him.

feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace:

We, as Christians, are called to spread the Word of God; to share His love and His grace with the entire world - but we are called to do this not by force but through peace. The sharing of God's Word - being missionaries in this world - means two things. One, you need to get up and move out of your circle of comfort and share God's message with new people. Two, you must go out into the world with a peaceful attitude. You can't force someone to believe what you believe - that isn't true conversion, but capitulation. When you go in peace you know that God guides your steps.

take up the shield of faith:

Our faith is our protection against everything this world has to throw at us. Through our faith we can be assured that God is Who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. We do not doubt - we know. Faith is believing in what you cannot see and knowing that it is truth.

Take the helmet of salvation :

We put on the "helmet of Salvation..." because we know without a doubt that we are saved - not by our works but through Christ. 

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

We study the Word that we can know God's will through the history of how He has acted in the past and through His promises for the future. The sword of the Spirit is powered by that knowledge

Putting on the full armor of God takes time. We don't just wake up one morning completely clothed. We learn - just as we learned as children to dress ourselves through practice and study - how to put the armor on and how to wear it each day.

Each piece is important and each piece will guide into a deeper commitment to Christ.

And as you assemble the armor, you can almost hear Him whispering,

"Onward Soldier, Onward we go. There is much to be done. Put on the full armor so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:10-20

Quote of the Day

“God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry its weight.”

Reggie White

 

Question of the Day

 

When you think of armor - what vision comes to mind?

What's Your "Thing"?

What's your thing?

What's the thing, person, or situation which is like nails on a chalkboard to you?

Ahhh...I can almost feel you cringe.

We all have one or two things in our lives - our hot buttons - things which cause us to be quick to anger, to be easily hurt or to be an ugly version of ourselves.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

2 Corinthians 12:7

Paul doesn't mess around. He calls out his "thorn in my flesh" as a "messenger of Satan". What Paul recognizes is that "the things" which trip us up, which torment and frustrate us are often obstacles put in our path by the evil one of this world. Satan uses "the things" as ways to derail us from our path and to pull our focus from God. But don't for one second think that God can't use our "things" to draw us closer to Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Whatever your "thing" is, God can and will use it for His Glory.

Your "thing" will cause you to stumble - but it will also cause you to recognize that you need God to carry you.

Your "thing" will cause you to be quick to anger - but it will also cause you to recognize you need to seek God to help you forgive.

Your "thing" will cause you to be hurtful and mean - but it will also give you the opportunity to see all "things" through the eyes of a loving God.

Our "things", our proverbial thorns in the sides, will likely follow us throughout our lives. Your thing will likely change as God teaches you to press through the obstacle and truly set Satan behind you. But that Satan is a tricky one and he is constantly on the search for the next new"thing" to try and bring you down and pull you away from God.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Be on guard - and stand firm - listen and watch for God to guide you over, out and through your "thing" so that He can give you the best "thing" ever - His Grace.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Quote of the Day

“Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.”

E. Joseph Cossman

Question of the Day

What is your greatest obstacle?