Love is in the air! At least it was in chapter four of Song of Solomon. This chapter is all about how he perceives her and compliments everything about her. It is a beautiful picture of words that King Solomon uses to woo his love (though I do not think he needs to do much to have her). Sometimes pretty words is all we want to hear. We want someone to tell us we are beautiful. We want them to tell us what they like about us. To remind us of our faults would not be much of a love story would it?
God loves us. He tells us in his Love Story that he sent his most precious love, in the form of his son, to save us. John 3:16 For God so loved the word that He gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
God tells us how he wants us to be. We are to be like Him. He loves each of us the same, even though we are unique. He wants us to love others the same way. That is not easy. Not for me, anyway. I love lots of different people. Some people, though, grate on me. I try my hardest to be Christ-like, but I fail everyday, I think. I want to be Christ-like. I am praying for a heart-change. I want to love my neighbor; all of them. Personalities don't always agree, but through Christ we can keep trying.
So be like Solomon, compliment your love. Say what you like about your family members. Even try to find something positive about those you are not crazy about. Change your attitude to be more Christ-like. Christ wants them to be apart of your family. Who are you to deny God?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Family Connection
My father makes quilts for wounded soldiers. He picks out the material, designs the pattern (no two are alike) and sews them together. Then he sends them to an organization called Soldier's Angels. They put them in a pack with other things that wounded soldiers may need and when the soldiers gets to Germany, they are given the pack. He has designed over 50 of these wheelchair quilts.
Last week, my father was contacted by solider in Afganistan. Someone gave her one of his quilts. She found the label dad puts on each of his quilts and she sent him a postcard thanking him for making it. Then she decided to send an email to them. It gets better.
She is a Major at Ft. Eggers, Kabul. She helps the Afgan soldiers keep prisoners in line at a prison. She writes a weekly update about her daily life in Afganistan. Major loved the quilt and the coorespondence. She saw where Dad and Mom live and had friends there in Middletown. She is from Colorado. She had her friend call them and Mom spoke briefly with her. Major is quickly becoming a favorite person of mine to read about. She is very special because she loves what she does, she is thoughtful enough to thank my parents for their service, and she really seems to love her job in that foreign country. It is people like Major that makes us all stop and think about why our country is terrific!
Dad is just beside himself with this new friend. It shows us that this world isn't as big as we sometimes feels it is and that our little bit of service really does help make others have a great day. I believe God had a hand in this. He definitely brought us all together for something. Now we get to wait and see what that is. I think that a family connection is here as Christians it is our duty to keep that feeling going.
Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Last week, my father was contacted by solider in Afganistan. Someone gave her one of his quilts. She found the label dad puts on each of his quilts and she sent him a postcard thanking him for making it. Then she decided to send an email to them. It gets better.
She is a Major at Ft. Eggers, Kabul. She helps the Afgan soldiers keep prisoners in line at a prison. She writes a weekly update about her daily life in Afganistan. Major loved the quilt and the coorespondence. She saw where Dad and Mom live and had friends there in Middletown. She is from Colorado. She had her friend call them and Mom spoke briefly with her. Major is quickly becoming a favorite person of mine to read about. She is very special because she loves what she does, she is thoughtful enough to thank my parents for their service, and she really seems to love her job in that foreign country. It is people like Major that makes us all stop and think about why our country is terrific!
Dad is just beside himself with this new friend. It shows us that this world isn't as big as we sometimes feels it is and that our little bit of service really does help make others have a great day. I believe God had a hand in this. He definitely brought us all together for something. Now we get to wait and see what that is. I think that a family connection is here as Christians it is our duty to keep that feeling going.
Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Where, O Love Art Thou?
Song of Solomon, chapter 3 is interesting. It first talks about the the Bride's dream of finding her beloved. Then the second half of the chapter talks about Solomon on his wedding day. How he is under heavy guard. How beautiful his specially made chair is.
The bride is scared she can not find her love. When she does find him, she will not let him out of her sight. It is like a mother who lost a child in a store. She frantically searches, calling their name, wondering where they could be. When she finds her child, she hugs them, not ever wanting them out of her sight again. We know it is going to happen though. We just have to trust that we have loved them enough and they have loved us enough to come back again.
Song of Solomon 3:2-4
2'I must arise now and go about the city;
In the streets and in the squares
I must seek him whom my soul loves.'
I sought him but did not find him.
3"The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, 'Have you seen him whom my soul loves?'
4"Scarcely had I left them
When I found him whom my soul loves;
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother's house,
And into the room of her who conceived me."
Love comes in many forms. I hope we can experience all of those forms during our lifetimes.
The bride is scared she can not find her love. When she does find him, she will not let him out of her sight. It is like a mother who lost a child in a store. She frantically searches, calling their name, wondering where they could be. When she finds her child, she hugs them, not ever wanting them out of her sight again. We know it is going to happen though. We just have to trust that we have loved them enough and they have loved us enough to come back again.
Song of Solomon 3:2-4
2'I must arise now and go about the city;
In the streets and in the squares
I must seek him whom my soul loves.'
I sought him but did not find him.
3"The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, 'Have you seen him whom my soul loves?'
4"Scarcely had I left them
When I found him whom my soul loves;
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother's house,
And into the room of her who conceived me."
Love comes in many forms. I hope we can experience all of those forms during our lifetimes.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I'll Take that Challenge!
Last night after choir practice, Allie, Timm and I were driving home. We took a detour to the BMV to see what time it closes. Well, Thursday it closes at 5. I can not get off work to take her and Mike is working. So I said, "Maybe Daddy can take you after school Friday, but it depends on the storm and oh, wait, Timm has a doctor's appointment. Besides, if the weather gets as bad as they say..." I let my sentence drop off.
Allie sighed.
"Saturday will be out of the question too." I continued.
Allie looked at me and said, "God is challenging me." She looked upward, raised her fist, and said, "God I accept your challenge!"
Do we do that? Do feel like we are being challenged at every turn and do we rise to the occasion and accept what is happening and vow to overcome? Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. It is all in our attitude. If you are sick, and going through a rough time, like Timm and his headaches, what do you do? Do you sit back, cry why me and wait for an answer? Or do you go to doctor after doctor, do what they ask and stay positive? Or what if you are going through a financial difficulty? Where do you turn?
I honestly can say that I usually hate when God is challenging me to do better. I know in the end that I will love the outcome, but the struggle I put up is wearisome. So why do I struggle? Probably because I am human and I am rebellious. I try not to be, but let's face it, we want things our way, not God's way.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So let's vow to be up to the challenges we face. God wants more of us. We want more of us for Him. Are you up to the challenge?
Allie sighed.
"Saturday will be out of the question too." I continued.
Allie looked at me and said, "God is challenging me." She looked upward, raised her fist, and said, "God I accept your challenge!"
Do we do that? Do feel like we are being challenged at every turn and do we rise to the occasion and accept what is happening and vow to overcome? Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. It is all in our attitude. If you are sick, and going through a rough time, like Timm and his headaches, what do you do? Do you sit back, cry why me and wait for an answer? Or do you go to doctor after doctor, do what they ask and stay positive? Or what if you are going through a financial difficulty? Where do you turn?
I honestly can say that I usually hate when God is challenging me to do better. I know in the end that I will love the outcome, but the struggle I put up is wearisome. So why do I struggle? Probably because I am human and I am rebellious. I try not to be, but let's face it, we want things our way, not God's way.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So let's vow to be up to the challenges we face. God wants more of us. We want more of us for Him. Are you up to the challenge?
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Come and Dine!
Song of Solomon 2:4
4"He has brought me to his banquet hall,
And his banner over me is love.
This verse, of course, inspired the song His Banner Over Me Is Love.
Come with me to His banquet eating table.
His banner over me is love.
Come with me to His banquet eating table.
His banner over me is love.
Come with me to His banquet eating table.
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.
He is the vine and we are the branches.
His banner over me is love.
He is the vine and we are the branches.
His banner over me is love.
He is the vine and we are the branches.
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.
The one way to peace is the power of the cross.
His banner over me is love.
The one way to peace is the power of the cross.
His banner over me is love.
The one way to peace is the power of the cross.
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.
Do you remember this song? There are many different verses and variations. These are the ones I remember (and I still needed help with them). God wants to dine with you. He wants you to eat of what he gives, sustaining yourself and living. He doesn't want you to over do it, but to be satisfied. Each time you open your Bible, you are eating from His Word, living and breathing how he wants you to live your life. Every time you are at church, taking communion, you are following God's will. You are and need this. We all do. I need it every week. I think it helps strenghthen me. Every day I mess up and say something or do something that is sinful. So every day I need the Bible and every week I need communion to remind me that Jesus died for me, that God loves me enough to show me through the cross. Yes...the one way to peace is the power of the cross, His banner over me is love.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
4"He has brought me to his banquet hall,
And his banner over me is love.
This verse, of course, inspired the song His Banner Over Me Is Love.
Come with me to His banquet eating table.
His banner over me is love.
Come with me to His banquet eating table.
His banner over me is love.
Come with me to His banquet eating table.
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.
He is the vine and we are the branches.
His banner over me is love.
He is the vine and we are the branches.
His banner over me is love.
He is the vine and we are the branches.
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.
The one way to peace is the power of the cross.
His banner over me is love.
The one way to peace is the power of the cross.
His banner over me is love.
The one way to peace is the power of the cross.
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love.
Do you remember this song? There are many different verses and variations. These are the ones I remember (and I still needed help with them). God wants to dine with you. He wants you to eat of what he gives, sustaining yourself and living. He doesn't want you to over do it, but to be satisfied. Each time you open your Bible, you are eating from His Word, living and breathing how he wants you to live your life. Every time you are at church, taking communion, you are following God's will. You are and need this. We all do. I need it every week. I think it helps strenghthen me. Every day I mess up and say something or do something that is sinful. So every day I need the Bible and every week I need communion to remind me that Jesus died for me, that God loves me enough to show me through the cross. Yes...the one way to peace is the power of the cross, His banner over me is love.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Every Rose Has It's Thorn
As I started to read the second chapter of the Song of Solomon, the first two verses jumped out at me.
1"I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys."
2"Like a lily among the thorns, So is my darling among the maidens."
Two of the names Jesus is known by is Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valleys. Two beautiful flowers. My dad use to raise roses. On our little mound in Lebanon (I say mound because the house was on a mound or hill), at one time he had up to 9 or more rose bushes growing. Most of them he rescued from The Black Barn or some other nursery that was neglecting them. Two of my favorites were Blue Girl, which was a purplish-blue flower that was right next to the porch and the Smell-Good flower. This flower was orange with yellow and white on the petals and it had the most wonderful fragrance!
My dad didn't just grow these wonderful flowers, he raised them. He lovingly planted them, fed them, watered them, pruned them and just when they were starting to bloom, he cut the first one and gave it to Mom. The rest of the hundreds of blooms he cut, he would take where ever he went and gave them away. Every time we went to the store, church, or bank, even the softball fields, he cut what blooms were ready and gave them away. He loved to give them away. He made ladies all over Lebanon smile! Now he does that with his candy. My dad loves to bring a smile to everyone.
God does the same thing with us. He raises us up to bloom. He brings people to us to plant the seeds of His Word, gently waters those seeds until we start growing and then he prunes us when we need it and then others can benefit from the blooms that we produce. Hey, that is a cool analogy, isn't it?
So for the second day of February, love is still the theme. God loves us enough to raise us, if we take root in him. He wants us to succeed. Success isn't easy, though. My dad use to tell me, you have to go through a lot of thorns to get to the rose.
1"I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys."
2"Like a lily among the thorns, So is my darling among the maidens."
Two of the names Jesus is known by is Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valleys. Two beautiful flowers. My dad use to raise roses. On our little mound in Lebanon (I say mound because the house was on a mound or hill), at one time he had up to 9 or more rose bushes growing. Most of them he rescued from The Black Barn or some other nursery that was neglecting them. Two of my favorites were Blue Girl, which was a purplish-blue flower that was right next to the porch and the Smell-Good flower. This flower was orange with yellow and white on the petals and it had the most wonderful fragrance!
My dad didn't just grow these wonderful flowers, he raised them. He lovingly planted them, fed them, watered them, pruned them and just when they were starting to bloom, he cut the first one and gave it to Mom. The rest of the hundreds of blooms he cut, he would take where ever he went and gave them away. Every time we went to the store, church, or bank, even the softball fields, he cut what blooms were ready and gave them away. He loved to give them away. He made ladies all over Lebanon smile! Now he does that with his candy. My dad loves to bring a smile to everyone.
God does the same thing with us. He raises us up to bloom. He brings people to us to plant the seeds of His Word, gently waters those seeds until we start growing and then he prunes us when we need it and then others can benefit from the blooms that we produce. Hey, that is a cool analogy, isn't it?
So for the second day of February, love is still the theme. God loves us enough to raise us, if we take root in him. He wants us to succeed. Success isn't easy, though. My dad use to tell me, you have to go through a lot of thorns to get to the rose.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Real Love Story
This being the month of Love, I thought I would do love themed devotions. Hopefully I can come up with 20 different things to write about. If you have any ideas, let me know.
Chapter 1: 1-7
Isn't it wonderful that God chose to put in the middle of the Old Testament a beautiful love song? The Song of Solomon (also known as The Song of Songs) is thought to be one of over a thousand songs written by King Solomon. Though at first this song seems like a love story between a maiden and a shepherd and a King, it seems as though it is really about God's love for Israel. The first seven verses are about a young woman who is in love. She wants to be with the one she loves. She is very much in love with this shepherd and wants to be with him. She is bold in her questions and statements to him. She seems to be young.
Chapter 1: 8-17
The next 10 verses are the reply from her shepherd. He tells her he loves her, and compares her to a beautiful mare. He tells her she smells good and is very beautiful. There is no doubt these two are in love. They want to be with each other and compliment each other. Love is in the air. Reading Song of Solomon is like reading a love poem. The best part is that it is out of the greatest love letter ever written. Sometimes we forget that God gave us The Holy Bible as a love letter to us. It tells of his love past, present and future. Give this book a try.
Chapter 1: 1-7
Isn't it wonderful that God chose to put in the middle of the Old Testament a beautiful love song? The Song of Solomon (also known as The Song of Songs) is thought to be one of over a thousand songs written by King Solomon. Though at first this song seems like a love story between a maiden and a shepherd and a King, it seems as though it is really about God's love for Israel. The first seven verses are about a young woman who is in love. She wants to be with the one she loves. She is very much in love with this shepherd and wants to be with him. She is bold in her questions and statements to him. She seems to be young.
Chapter 1: 8-17
The next 10 verses are the reply from her shepherd. He tells her he loves her, and compares her to a beautiful mare. He tells her she smells good and is very beautiful. There is no doubt these two are in love. They want to be with each other and compliment each other. Love is in the air. Reading Song of Solomon is like reading a love poem. The best part is that it is out of the greatest love letter ever written. Sometimes we forget that God gave us The Holy Bible as a love letter to us. It tells of his love past, present and future. Give this book a try.
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