Are You Listening?

I have a gigantic Saint Bernard dog at my house (along with 2 Boston Terriers). He is hairy and slobbery BUT the gentlest, kindest, smartest, well -behaved and loyalest of friends. I love him dearly.

And did I mention that he has great hearing?

He is not much of a barker unless he is alerting me to a visitor ( or if he wants to come in ). He also knows when I am asleep so if someone is walking in the house he alerts me.

None of this is particularly strange except that he knows the sound of my footsteps. Jake never barks when I walk around at night. If I get up to get a drink he knows it's me and just looks at me with one eye open. But if someone else gets up he lets me know with a short woof.

If at first he doesn't recognize the footstep but the person calls out to him and recognized the voice then he will relax. Jake knows the sound of  not only his master's voice but of the sound of how I walk.

What if we had the same heightened sense of hearing that we not only knew the sound of The Masters voice but also of HIS approaching footstep?

The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them.

...and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:2-3,4c NIV

The sheep listen to his voice. They follow him because they KNOW his voice. It is only because they KNOW him that they follow him.

If we want to follow Jesus we first must spend time recognizing HIS Voice. And that takes time and discipline. 

Our days and nights are filled with so many voices that is why it is imperative that we KNOW HIS VOICE. 

Spend time in HIS Word and in prayer every day. Practice listening. Cultivate a quietness to be able to hear HIM. Develop a keen ear for HIS Voice and you may find that you can even hear HIS footsteps as HE approaches to lead you!!!

Humbly,

ruthann

In the Desert Part Two

I put together a little presentation of my recent mission trip to Mexico. I hope you are blessed with a small glimpse of these beauty full people.
ruthann

The Cycle

Ruthann, Jan, Brooke, and I started this blog in December of 2011. For me, this is about encouragement. It's about sharing Biblical insight with those who read.It's about speaking truth into the lives of others. It's about journeying with other women to become the beauty-full people God created us to be.

The passage we keep in mind for this ministry is Isaiah 61.

Isaiah 61:1-4,7-

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, 

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities

that have been devastated for generations...

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion and instead of disgrace

you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land

and everlasting joy will be yours."

Lets break it down.

This verse is about Christ. And it's about us. Christ is the binder, the freedom, the light, the comfort, the provider, the beauty, the joy, the praise, and the double portion. We WERE the broken, the captive, the darkness, the mourners, the grieving, the ashes, the mourning, the desperate, and the shameful.

What does it look when we are all those things? Broken, captive, ashes, shameful? 

Today I want to talk about the cyclical nature of those qualities. Think about your family, your past, or the families and past of those you're close with. It's very hard to pass on healing when one stays broken. It's very hard to pass on freedom when one continues to live in bondage. Its difficult to live beauty-fully when one is still covered in ashes. It's difficult to model joy when one is constantly mourning. And most of all, it's near impossible pass down grace when one lives in shame.

Good News for us-Christ came to break the cycle! 

In verse 4, "they will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations" 

If we accept Christ as our healer and freer and joy-giver and beauty maker....we can break cycles and live without shame and defeat.

When I look back on my family, in places, I see ruins. I see generations of shame and captivity. In my own past, I see cycles of bondage and darkness. Then I accepted Christ as my Savior. And I changed. My heart changed, my goals changed, and my direction changed. But it wasn't until I accepted Christ as my healer that I was truly and completely free from the cyclical damage of bondage and shame. Then I truly understood the weight of Christ's beauty.

His "double portion" broke my cycle. The cycle of generational shame ends with me because I'm embracing Christ for all He offers us: healing, freedom, joy, beauty, hope, and light. The inheritance that freedom in Christ leaves for us is everlasting joy (verse 7). 

Breaking the cycle is as simple as this: accept Christ as your healer. Accept his beauty. Accept his freedom. And everlasting joy is yours. And you can rebuild generational ruins. Make a decision today to be the one to start a new cycle: one of hope and healing, of joy and peace, of freedom and beauty.

Have a blessed weekend, 

Jill

Find A Secret Place

I have this favorite place where I park which overlooks an inlet of Onset Bay. The serenity found there especially in the early morning is exceptional and conducive for Bible reading, praying and writing. The view encompasses a composite of God’s great creation with an assortment of man’s touches; ocean and sky, sunshine and shade, sandy shoreline and lush foliage, simple shanty cottages and regal Victorian houses, dingy dinghies and stately yachts, jagged rocks forming jutting blockades that could hamper travel yet nearby two well engineered bridges, solitude and yet an ability to observe flurries of human activity.

What does God see when he looks down on such a scene? If I, in my simplemindedness, can value its diversity, imagine how God does. And this scene is pristine in comparison with others. In our active daily lives so much of what happens around us seems to make little sense at times. Its then that God needs to be our primary view. And we need to try to see things through His eyes.

While we and our world appear to be in constant flux, God never changes. He is the constant whose gracious plan is always for our good. He is not only Creator but Restorer. He is Maintainer and Sustainer. He is Designer and Remodeler. He is Preserver and Recycler. He adjusts all things so that they can be useful to us.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

The concerns on my heart are heavy. A lot of them are for ones I love. Some are for those I don’t even know, like the victims of tragedies. They include trouble and hardship, sorrow and danger, illness and need, confusion and fear. So the prayers that I pray must not be just spoken, but filled with faith.

Ultimately the best way to build up our faith and release our cares and prayers to God is to spend devoted time with Him and in His Word.

Psalm 91 says,

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
⁸ Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
¹² In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

¹⁴ “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

So if you’re at a restless pace
Or falling back within the race
I hope you’ll find a peaceful place
An easy access quiet space
One that lets you glimpse His face
And see His view and perfect grace.

Gratefully HIS,

Jan

Don't Trade Your Treasure

When my boys were little they use to trade their toys with their friends. They would take a  new toy, one that they had really wanted and then trade it for an old toy that belonged to their friend.

Somehow my boys would be talked into believing that the trade would benefit them. Somehow they believed that their friends toy was better than their toy. Somehow they believed the lie.

It made no sense to me, from my mature perspective. After all,  I had an understanding of the monetary value and popularity of my children's toys. I also knew how much they had desired these toys until someone My children on the other hand, made their decision based on false information. They became confused and traded their treasure for something less.

People knew God perfectly well,but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who hods the whole  world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. Romans 1:22-23 The Message

When we become Christians we are given a precious gift of eternal life with God and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit allows HIS Word to be revealed to us in Scripture, in prayer and worship. HE gives us HIS Truth. We enter into a beautiful relationship with Jesus, we know God.

There is nothing as precious as this divine relationship and we need to guard it and treat it MORE special then we treat our material objects. We keep our jewelry all shining in special boxes because they are precious to us. We wash and wax our cars with the gentlest touch because we deem it as a treasure. We dust and polish our collectibles. We read books with all sorts of advice and information while ignoring the Truth in God's Word. We give little attention to our most precious treasure- God.

We treat God as something dispensable, something trivial. We trade the desire to be intimate with God  for teh desire for material things.We trade the Truth for the enemies lies.

When we put ANYTHING before  God,we have traded the glory of God, our treasure for something cheap.

We need to guard our hearts, guard our minds, guard our treasure every day!!!

Protect your treasure, worship God above all and whatever you do, don't trade it in!!!!

Humbly,
ruthann

In the Desert

See, I am doing a new thing! Now, it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 NIV

Last week while I was on a mission trip in Juarez, Mexico a dear friend was at home praying this Scripture. I didn't know about this Scripture until I arrived home and was sent a copy of the Scripture.Upon reading it my eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude.

I had not been to this part of Juarez for four years and when I arrived I was overcome with gratitude for all those that had been working during this time. God had used so many people to do HIS work. A working  children's home had sprung up in the middle of the desert!!!!

A dirt path the width of a truck leads the way to the home. A "way in the desert" leads to the sound of running feet and bicycle tires rolling over the sand and giggles of joy fill the courtyard. The dining hall is filled with the clanging of plates of nourishing food and prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord.

The children's home is a short distance from a desert neighborhood of palette and concrete homes. A desolate place of deep poverty and dry dusty land. There is no water except from the occasional rain caught in barrels or pumped from a water truck.

Although there is a severe lack of clean water for drinking there IS a stream of living water moving through this neighborhood. 

This past week alone we experienced close to 50 people coming to salvation. Men, women and entire families were giving their hearts to Jesus!

I was part of a team that led an entire family to the Lord. A father, mother with cancer, a grown daughter and five children repeated a prayer of salvation under the blazing sun last Tuesday. At the end of the prayer the father put his hand to his chest and with an enormous smile he said that actually felt different. The family hugged each other and smiled and laughed in celebration.

Streams of living water running through the wasteland!!

How blessed am I to have been a part of what God is doing in this desert land, to have seen with my eyes and heart the goodness of our Lord.

God is moving and making a way all around the world. Listen for it. Look for it.

Do you perceive it?

With Gratitude,

ruthann

Why

I would be remiss not to write something about the shooting this morning in Colorado. Partly because it's all the news is talking about. Partly because we all have a Christian obligation to be praying for the families in that community. I don't mean obligation in an "I have to do this even though I don't really want to" way....but in an "I am a Christian and it is my privilege and honor to lift these hurting people up to the Lord" kind of way.

Whenever things like this happen, people always ask "why does God allow these terrible things to happen?" I mean, goodness, a 6 year old girl was shot in the back and almost died. And an infant was shot...

I don't know the complete answer. But I know that my God is always faithful, and in some way, He will make beauty from those ashes. In my deepest darkest times, He was there. In your deepest darkest times, He was there. And in this deepest darkest time, He will be there.

God created us in His image. We were not originally created for sin. Had we listened to God's instruction in the Garden, we wouldn't have tragedies like this to deal with today. But we didn't. And because we are given free will, and God did not create us to be puppets on a string, we have people who commit these heinous crimes. And now we do have to deal with tragedies like this.

I so wish it were different. I wish those families and that community did not have to face that loss. That fear. That horror. But they do. I don't have a long theological answer as to why things like this happen. But, like I said, I know that God is faithful and He will be there for that community if they let Him in.

Last month I wrote about what to say when people go through intense amounts of suffering. I revisit that point today. Sometimes, there's nothing to say. Sometimes, it's best to be silent and simply pray that God's will be done and that He make something beauty-full out of a terrible situation.

I know He can.

Faithfully,
Jill

Garden Faith

I have a wee small garden at the bottom of my stairs

The ease with which I tend to it has nary any cares

I water in the morning and then again at night

But most of all the other times it’s barely in my sight

Though sometimes I add nutrients to seep within the soil

The sunlight it requires does not fall within my toil

And on the days that summer rains have sprinkled, poured or showered

I’ve hardly had to do a thing but yet each plant has flowered

I tidy up from time to time by plucking out the weeds

But overall I find that it has very meager needs

What started out as seedlings have grown to stems so tall

That they barely now resemble what they started as at all

From simple tender sprouting each one has taken root

Each bloom that’s burst, then fallen has uncovered precious fruit

In awe I watch the mystery of reaping what is sown

A harvest of what still remains so virtually unknown

God gives the seed, the sunshine, the water and the earth

And we are left with little but to oversee the birth

The wonder of its process is all in His creating

Our role in it is simple and mostly rests on waiting

For He provides the substance, the nurture and the place

Just like the all sufficiency of His amazing grace

Our gardening is just a chance to help Him, if we must

But in His eyes what brings Him joy is our belief and trust.

Gratefully HIS,

Jan

Fasting

As you read this post I will be in the desert of Juarez, Mexico working at Resplandor de Vida, an orphanage for abandoned and children of extreme poverty. I have been a part of this ministry since we first dug the foundation in April of 2005.

Last week I confessed to you my small struggle when God put this opportunity in my path. Although I love Mexico and the work we do there it was not in "my" agenda" for this July. But we all know how "my agenda" goes.... right out the window when God calls.

So I am there in Juarez  and this post was written and scheduled to be posted on Tuesday the 17th. When I return I will fill you in on what divine appointments God had for me in Mexico but for now I will leave you with a Scripture to ponder.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide  the poor  wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58:6-7

Blessings,

ruthann

Lighthouses

I think we have a hard time sometimes- deciding how best to tell people about God, or the Bible, or Jesus. We get nervous about deep and meaningful conversations, or committing to relationships with people who are emotionally draining, or engage in behaviors that, quite frankly, terrify us to address.

Instead, we debate politics and scholars and scientists and popular culture. We protest and picket. We attend church and serve those who already know Jesus. We form “safe relationships” and talk about “safe” topics. We avoid the real stuff. The stuff that changes lives.

I don’t know how you came to know God, but I’m betting it probably wasn’t from watching some Christian debate some Atheist. It probably wasn’t watch a political debate between a conservative and liberal.

For me, it was relationships. It was because God put people in my life who wouldn’t give up on me when I was a fool. It’s because some of those people weren’t afraid to have terrifying conversations with me. It’s because I saw the way those people lived and wand the joy and peace that they had.

D.L. Moody once said, “A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine. “

We’re called to be light. We don’t reach people by blowing political horns, or by loudly debating good vs. evil and right vs. wrong. We reach people with relationships. We reach people with love and peace.

I’m not saying there’s not a time to boldly proclaim, or debate, or protest. But I am saying, that the majority of lives, are reached through relationships, with lighthouses. We can’t be fearful to have those terrifying conversations with people.

We can’t be so judgmental that we won’t befriend someone who is engaging in behavior that we don’t approve of.  We must do it with caution and protection so we don’t slip, but that fear shouldn’t stop us entirely.

When you hear a foghorn up close what do you usually do? Walk close and embrace it? No, you probably cover your ears and back away. There’s a time and a place to be a foghorn, and I’m afraid that we use that excuse and option too often, and in replace of entering into challenging relationships.

Are we really so arrogant as to not consider how challenging WE must be in our relationship with a holy GoD?? I don’t know about you, but I’m not always sweet as pie to deal with… And He does it anyways.

We should do it anyways.

A few weeks ago, my Pastor said, "God teaches us to love by giving us people who are unlovable." Relationships with those people, is how we lead them to God.

Enjoy you’re weekend!

Jill

HIS Tangible Love

I was at a loss as to what to write for this blog today, so I sought the Lord about it. After my mind wandered around a bit, it seemed that it kept coming back to one place. God seemed to be reminding me that He wants everyone, everywhere to be consciously aware of His tangible love and affection for each and every one of us personally.

Not just the assurances of His love for us that we get from the Bible and not only the signs of His great creation around us. But rather the personal touch kind of love that each of us needs to sense from time to time.

Now you might be thinking that tangible means something you can actually physically feel. Or something you can see and then reach for. So it may be a stretch for some to consider this concept. But tangible can mean perceptible. And God so wants us to perceive His personal, individualized love for each of us.

He often demonstrates it to us through others and that is awesome. But I want to encourage you to look for God’s private encounters with you. When He speaks directly to your heart. When He holds out His hand of love to you to grab hold of or when He slips His hand into yours without you having to do anything. When He sings a song to you. When He pats you on the back. When He places His arm around you to draw you closer to His side or across you to bar you from harm.

He is so ardently in love with you. And like any one of us would, He wants us to be aware of it.

We all have different styles or seasons of expressed affections toward our loved ones. But when conveyed at their best we would hope that those we love would be delightfully aware of the depth of our love.

Let God love on you. Look for it. Expect it. Receive it. Delight in it. To quote a little talking bear I was given once, “The wind on your face might just be God blowing you kisses.”

Gratefully HIS,

Jan

My Life is Not My Own

 When I was pregnant and my body was changing beyond my control I started to feel like my body was just not my own anymore. I made decisions that transcended my preferences for the benefit of my child.

Then when my boys were little my days were filled with meeting their needs, teaching and creating family memories. It takes a crazy amount of time to care for infants and toddlers and even school age children. The demands on a mom are endless.

 I I felt like my life was no longer my own.

These were not necessarily bad feelings. Although some days it was difficult and even overwhelming at times.

 I can remember wanting to be able to read a book, not just one page over and over for lack of concentration. I wanted to take a bath without children knocking on the door with their questions and needs.

My days were consumed with my children. My life was just not my own. My needs and desires became secondary to their needs and desires. I made this choice to put my needs and desires after that of my children when I became a mother


When I became a Christian I did the same thing; I put my needs and desires after the desires of God.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This past week I had spoken this Scripture to someone in describing my life of service.  I wake up (almost every day) and I think "what can I do for God today?" My deepest longing is to meet HIS needs along with meeting the needs of my family. It's what I do.

Well, God has a funny way of testing us when we profess to live a certain way. So today I  was faced with a decision to prove that I do "know" that my body is not my own.

God provided an opportunity for me to say "yes" to a need that came up on a mission trip, I would like to say that I said "Yes" easily without reservation but that wouldn't be the truth. I wrestled for awhile with my own needs and desires before I remembered that Jesus paid a huge price for my life and t is not my own.

I have spent the evening gathering all the necessary items that I need to fit into my suitcase tomorrow. I will be flying off early Wednesday morning to do HIS work.

I am not a lover of extreme heat but I am heading right into it. For one week I will submit my personal preferences to HIS; for my life is not my own.

In Him,

ruthann

Awe and Wonder

As I drove up to Waltham this Wednesday I admired God’s handy work as we passed forests of trees on the side of the highway. Now that summer is here and plant life is in full bloom, from an elevated point on the road, it looked like a jungle around us, with no visible sign on man’s intrusion. At times, I get caught up in the intricate design of something so seemingly simple, like a tree. I am fascinated time and time again by how beautiful a place God has made for us.

When I lived in Virginia I would follow the constellation Orion from where I worked all the way across the city, down the highway, and up the mountain to my apartment. On my ride home last night, an enormous yellow-orange moon served as my guide up 295. I had a worshipful spirit as my mind tried to fathom the vast expanse of sky above me

One of my favorite memories from living in Virginia was driving on The Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall. I lived in a city that was tucked in a valley surround by mountains. Each morning on my walk to class all I had to do was lift my head to see the colorful mountains surrounding me. I was immediately aware of just how small I was.

I’m sure you’ve had moments when you’re staring into a picturesque landscape and wondering how you have the privilege of viewing such sights. Staring out at a beautiful and vast ocean, gazing at the stars on a clear night, looking out into the most magnificent mountains...I get overcome with wonder and awe when I remember some of the things of this earth I’ve seen.

Tonight as I was thinking about that moon, all the sudden a verse popped into my head, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”....I...ME.

I look at these scenes, and I think about the intricacies of this created planet and I’m full of awe and wonder at God’s creation...rarely do I think of myself that way. Or any another person for that matter. (With, of course, the exception of newborn babies.)

I think of that verse to remind me that I was created in God’s image, and that I have a purpose, and that I matter to God. But I have never really thought about it with the words and emotions it actually uses. “Fearfully” and “wonderfully” made... When God looks down on us, perhaps he has the same feelings we get as we look at the mountains, or ocean, or sky. “Look at that amazing design.” “Look at the beauty and intricacy of that creation, my creation”

I felt love last night as I looked at that moon. Because the same God who created the galaxies, created me. The same God who painted the mountain ranges, designed every fiber of my being.

When I look at it that way, it is impossible not to be in awe of God. It is impossible not to have a worshipful spirit. It is impossible not to want to serve Him and give Him the very best of the life He gave me.

God has created us full of beauty, whether of not we choose to see it, is up to us.

In Him,

Jill

Reflection

Did any of you catch a glimpse of the moon last night, the 4^th of July? It was a brilliant sight to behold - a giant, radiant, glowing orb of orange hue as it crept up over the horizon. I was driving in a direction toward it so it was frequently in view during it’s early rising phase, (without my attention being diverted from safely driving). It had competition at times by random fireworks displays, but it was the consistent form of brightness in the night sky.

As it crept skyward its size appeared to diminish. The tint of color faded but an ivory luster took its place, shining brighter still; a boldly liberated body in the span of darkness surrounding it.

Streaks of clouds wove their way across its surface, but still its light shone through. My eyes were continually drawn to its mystery and beauty. Light in all its forms has a way of being irresistible.

I did a little research this morning. You probably all know that the light of the moon is really only the light of the sun’s reflection upon it. In fact the moon itself has a surface of darkness like coal. It couldn’t glow if it wanted to, unless set on fire.

I discovered that while the face of the moon that we see remains the same, the other dark side of the moon also gets reflective light from the sun. When the dark side is getting its light bath is when we earthlings can’t even see the moon, or only see waxing and waning slivers.

We are much like the moon; pretty dark all on our own. Only able to glow because we hang in proximity to the ultimate Source of Light, The Son. Sometimes appearing bigger than we really are. Rapidly changing our colors. Needing to be set afire to be useful. Clouded over. Often barely visible. Or worse than that, totally invisible.

However, like the moon we too are boldly liberated bodies. We have opportunity to shine greater because we are amidst the darkness. Even when we have days and weeks of not appearing to be a light, we are still and always being lit up in the hidden places of our being, by the ever-present Light of the World, Jesus. We have the ability to be consistent, not just fleeting sparklers. And whenever we shine we have the capacity to be irresistible.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Gratefully HIS,

Jan

Summer Reading

This past weekend I didn't get much summer reading done. Instead I spent time flipping through the pages of various bridal and wedding magazines. It was great fun checking out all the new wedding gown designs and trendy themes versus classic styling.  Even at my age I still love to look at wedding magazines.
Afterall, there is not  many things more beautiful than a bride.

You may be wondering WHY I would be looking at a wedding magazines so I will gladly tell you. A week ago my stepdaughter, Jen, became engaged to a wonderful young man. I am happy for them and their future and excited about the upcoming wedding.  I am looking forward to ALL the plans for their big day ( I am a planner and a hopeless romantic).

Weddings take a great deal of planning. Every little detail is attended to with the utmost attention.  A color scheme is chosen, the location is reserved, the dress is purchased, invitations printed, menus planned, floral arrangements created, guest lists written and so many more details are covered before the big day.

Although many hours are spent planning the ceremony, the rehearsal, the reception, honeymoon the centerpiece is love.

The Bible is a book about God's love for us. From the beginning to the end it declares God's love for us, HIS desire to be in a deep relationship with us, with you and with me.

The book of Hosea is a testimony to God's persistent, unfailing, unconditional, and forgiving love.

Eugene Peterson who wrote the paraphrased translation of the bible, The Message, says this in his opening commentary on the book of Hosea; 

" God is love, that God loves the world. Each single detail of the real world that we face and deal with day after day is permeated by this love. But when our minds and imaginations are crippled with lies about love, we have a hard time understanding this fundamental ingredient of daily living, "love", either as a noun or as a verb. And if the basic orienting phrase "God is love" is plastered over with cultural graffiti that obscures and deface the truth of the way the world is, we are not going to get very far in living well. We require true stories of love if we are to live truly."

I grew up with the happily ever after books and movies that little girls view and grew right in to the grown up romantic comedy genre. Watching romantic movies and reading love stories may seem like a harmless activities but if not balanced with the Word of God our minds and hearts can be deceived.

Intellectually we may understand "this is only a movie" but emotionally we can start to belief them. Satan, the father of lies, just loves for us to buy into these romantic tales calling them love stories when in reality they are stories of lust and selfishness.

When you want to sit back and relax with a good love story may I suggest picking up the Bible. The book of Hosea is one of many stories that will melt your heart.

"I will betroth you to me forever;" Hosea 2:19a NIV

Aren't those beautiful words? (Deep Sigh)  Did you know those words were written for you? You are betrothed to Christ. He is coming back for HIS bride and there will be a great wedding. (check out the book of Revelation) 

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7 NIV

As my family goes through the months preceding the wedding I will have many reminders regarding preparation. For as she is preparing to stand before her earthly groom we all need to continue to prepare to stand before our Heavenly Groom.

 I want to be a bride- adorned  and dressed to please her groom , Christ Jesus, radiant with love, and glowing with hope and expectation of eternity together.

 I must give attention to all the details of my life, my heart and my mind so that I will be that beauty-full bride.

I need to know deep in my heart and soul and mind the truth about love not the lies that the world will tell me about it. 

I want to please HIM and bring HIM glory on that day? How about you, beloved?

My summer's reading list will include some wedding material for sure but I plan on spending most of my time on the greatest love story ever told- The Bible.

Joyfully,

ruthann

Just Loving

Good Morning Beautiful !!!

Will you join me this Monday morning by joining your hearts with the heartfelt words of Christie Nockels and just love on Jesus, for HE is worthy of ALL our love and adoration. Click on the link below and then sing your heart out to Jesus. What a way to start any day!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww7tlzgMz6U

Rejoicing In Jesus,
ruthann