I think it's God's kindness to us that the first Spring flowers are yellow--daffodils, tulips, and this amazing beauty covered in blooms. No leaves yet, but splashes of brilliant yellow that sing "The sun'll come out tomorrow!"
During the month of February, we meditate and memorize the definition of love from 1 Cor. 13 (You know which ones I'm talking about--the wedding verses. Even Jim and Pam had them recited at their wedding). Our family needs refreshed in this, so it's nice to have this tradition to bring us back to it each year. We read and repeat the entire passage, but then focus on one element daily. "LOVE IS KIND" --today's focus. I asked the kids, "What does 'kind' mean?" Middle sister asked if she could give an example rather than a definition. With permission, she joyfully retrieved two stuffed animals and used them to demonstrate kindness by sharing. Brother and sister followed her lead and also acted out kind gestures between fluffy friends. "Very good," I affirmed them, "You obviously know what it is to be kind." This is where, in years past, I would have ended the lesson. We would adjourn by praying round the table, thanking ...
Journal entry from Sunday, November 15, 2015--after many weeks of being weary from sickness, lonely for home, discouraged at not being able to accomplish basic things, and feeling pressures from the lack of my accomplishments. So I allowed the presence of Christ to refresh my spirit. You may recognize song lyrics and scriptures He brought to mind, which allowed me to dismiss the pressures and recenter myself in His purposes. I am here... to enter His gates with Thanksgiving in my heart, to enter His courts with praise to say "This is the day that the Lord has made! I will rejoice, for He has made me glad!" to know God and to make Him known, to remember who I am as a child of God, to love my husband and bring him good all the days of his life, to love my children and train them in the ways they should go, to have God's commands on my heart, to have God's promises on my heart, to talk about them when I lie down and rise up and walk about the way and sit ...
Picture from Joy105 blog I feel removed from the pulse of America while living abroad. Honestly, I rely on facebook posts for current events (one week, all I know that happened at home was debates about the color of a dress) ;), yet I can see a small but recognizable change in the posts about Baltimore compared with Ferguson posts: there are significantly LESS prejudiced remarks in my newsfeed, fewer quick and harsh judgements, more compassionate people speaking up. I don't know if that's just my experience?? Perhaps it's because during Ferguson, most of my circle of friends didn't know what to say, so said nothing. Just.like.me. Perhaps it's because a large majority of my facebook family truly walks with Jesus, not "religious rules" people, but people of deep relationship with the Creator of humanity who compels love for others , and they are now speaking with this sentiment: "I still don't know what to say, but I am paying...