Love

LANGUAGE OF LOVE

Barriers, Connections, Life, Love
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When Valentine’s Day approaches, people in America as well as in other countries, naturally think about love.

Unexpectedly, my mind gravitated to the wildly popular book, “The Five Love Languages,” by Gary Chapman, Ph.D., author, speaker, and counselor.

In his book, he explains five ways people express and receive love.

  1. Words of affirmation
  2. Quality time
  3. Physical touch
  4. Acts of service
  5. Receiving gifts

As you look at this list, take a moment to identify the way you like to show love to others. Also, determine which kind of action from others makes you feel loved.

As a counselor, Gary knows that many marriages have been saved when both the husband and wife knew how their partners desired to receive love. And marriages also became strong when both partners understood the way their mates preferred to express love to other people and were willing to allow time and space for that to happen.

This kind of knowledge and understanding can also improve interactions between parents and their children, with dating couples, among roommates, between fragile teenagers, or in any setting where dialogs take place.

I remember my younger days when I roomed with two friends. We enjoyed one another but sometimes lacked good communication because our viewpoints were so different. However, we were able to understand and accept each other better after learning about the five love languages and realizing we each showed love to others in different ways.

One friend communicated her love through doing “acts of service” and being available whenever a need arose. My other friend showed her love by using her gift of mercy and imparting “words of affirmation” to everyone she met. Since my love language was “quality time,” I relished the chance to spend unhurried time with one person at a time. That way I could listen to them, encourage them, and let them know they matter to me. Happily, those roommates and I are still in touch after all these years.

The discovery of the five love languages also shifted my understanding of my caring mother, who loved me faithfully all her life. I never recognized that Mom expressed her love for me though “acts of service.” And what she longed to receive from me was “words of affirmation.” I wish I could have had more time to love her that way before God took her to heaven.

It’s wonderful to be loved by others, but the best way to fill our life with love, is to receive the love of God.

God embodies all the languages of love! Love from our Father is available to us every moment.

He can help you express genuine love to others and receive the kind of love He knows you need most.

I have loved you, my people,
with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love
I have drawn you to myself.
Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)

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Mary’s Heart

Faith, Hope, Joy, Life, Love
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Painting of Mary, mother of Jesus.

The song Mary Did You Know? always moves me to tears. I can only imagine the emotions that swirled in Mary’s heart when the angel Gabriel presented the life-altering news that she would give life to the Son of God.

Have you ever wondered how Mary had the courage to respond to such a shocking message? She didn’t whisper a soft yes. She boldly declared, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me, according to your word.”

The reasons why young Mary accepted her mission so willingly is beautifully described by Debby Thompson, who writes under the banner of Living With Eternal Intentionality®. With her permission, I’m sharing the following excerpt from her December blog, “Mary Said Yes.” I also invite you to read the rest of Debby’s story. http://www.debbythompson.com/gps/2020/11/16/mary-said-yes-to-god

Mary said Yes to God—to His will, to His plan, to His call on her life. Her destiny was contained in her response, and I am astounded each time I read it! How was this humanly possible for one so young, so innocent?

A closer look at the text sheds light on her faith-filled choice.

Mary said Yes to God because she knew the Word of God.

And

Because she knew the Word of God, she knew the Person of God.

And

Because she knew the Person of God, she was prepared to say yes to the opportunity of God.

Her song (Luke 1:46-55) is saturated with Old Testament teaching where she exclaims the character of God, the faithfulness of God, the power of God, even the priorities of God. The significance of her response is steeped in the significance of Scripture. And here the connective gem emerges:

Knowing her God and knowing His Word laid the foundation for Mary to say Yes to God with pure, simple faith.

The God that Mary knew invited her into His plan, and Mary said yes. She chose to believe (Luke 1: 45). She chose to obey.

 

Friends, in this divine season let us look for ways to deepen our love of God's Word and our knowledge of Him. Then, like Mary, we will be able to say yes to whatever invitation God presents to us in the coming year.

A Heart of Gratitude

Choices, Connections, Freedom, Life, Love
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The days have rolled around to Thanksgiving week, a blessed time of the year. We naturally contemplate all the ways we can be thankful.

Below is a profound quote that focuses on gratitude, which means a general appreciation of life. The words filled my mind with possibilities. Perhaps you will feel the same.

It tells of simple ways our lives could change if we view our situations with a heart of gratitude. We can easily concentrate on things that are happening in our lives that we wish were different. However, looking at them through eyes of gratitude can change everything. As the first line says: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life!

Gratitude unlocks life's fullness. - Melody Beattie

If you choose gratitude, what difference
might that make in your current situation?

To share your answer, post your comment below! 

The Plans of God

Connections, Faith, Joy, Life, Love
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Family portrait: three smiling people.

My unexpected invitation brought me joy and increased my dependence on the Holy Spirit.

The invitation came from Judy Douglass, the wife of the former president of Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ. For many years, she wanted to create a book called, “Pioneer Women of Cru.” The time had come.

She and her team chose fifty staff women who made an indelible mark on the ministry. Now they needed others to interview the women and write their personal stories. I felt honored to have a part in this wonderful project.

After scanning the list of women, I knew I wanted to write the story of Molly Abraham, who now lives in heaven. It was an easy choice, because I loved Molly and had known her for more than thirty years.

Both Thomas and Molly lived in South India. However, in 1967, while they were temporarily living in Portland, Oregon, a friend of theirs introduced them to Dr. Bill Bright, the president of Campus Crusade for Christ. Dr. Bright challenged them to become staff members, and it didn’t take them long to say yes. Obviously, Dr. Bright sensed that Thomas was a man of faith and vision, because he appointed him India National Director and directed him to return home and begin the India Campus Crusade ministry.

Before beginning their work with students, Thomas and Molly prayed and asked God for 5,000 decisions for Christ during their first year on campus. By the end of the year, 5,067 students had indicated decisions for Christ! That miracle was only the beginning of all that God accomplished through them in their lifetime.

Amazingly, God planned that Thomas, Molly and I would join Campus Crusade in 1967 and go through staff training together at the Arrowhead Springs headquarters. We enjoyed our special friendship, but never dreamed we would see each other again. After all, they were returning to India.

Then, in 1974, God called me to Campus Crusade’s area office in Asia. Originally located in Manila, Philippines, the office soon moved north to Baguio City. Every year the Asia national directors met together in one of the countries. As part of the admin staff, I traveled to each location. You can imagine the thrill of seeing Thomas and Molly at my first national directors' meeting!

Though we enjoyed our yearly visits, the bigger delight came when Thomas was appointed the Central Asia-Pacific director and he moved to Baguio City with Molly and their three children! From then on, our office team became part of Thomas and Molly’s family.

Since Molly was already with Jesus when I began writing her story, I asked the Holy Spirit to show me where to find the information I needed. He prompted me to look in my keepsake box, where I had fortunately saved the four-page newsletter Thomas wrote in celebration of his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. His letter not only traced Thomas and Molly’s life from 1962-1987, but included details about people, places, dates, and major events. That "golden newsletter" became a framework for all the other input I received.

As I continue to write Molly’s story, I am depending on the Holy Spirit to give me words that will bring glory to God.

Molly and Thomas filled my heart with love and showed me how to live a faithful life. I’ll be forever grateful for the plan of God that brought us together.

The Whispers of God

Choices, Connections, Faith, Freedom, Joy, Life, Love
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A young boy playing a piano.

"Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually made his way through a door marked, ‘No Admittance.'

"When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the piano, innocently picking out 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.'

"At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, 'Don’t quit. Keep playing.' Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn’t recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.'

"Perhaps that’s the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren’t always graceful, flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life’s work can truly be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, 'Don’t quit. Keep playing.' May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces."

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.(Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

What might your life be like if you willingly give your own efforts to God and allow Him to transform them into His masterpiece?

 

The source of this story about Paderewski is unknown. Ignacy Jan Paderewski, who died at 81, was a Polish virtuoso pianist, composer, a statesman who spoke for Polish independence, and president of Poland soon after World War I.

Photo by Nightowl at pixabay.com/users/nightowl-29/

Make Time to Love

Choices, Journey, Joy, Life, Love
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An older couple posing for a photo in a park.

What is the hardest thing for you to give up on a daily basis?

For me, it’s my time. Since I’m a planner, it’s a continual challenge to release time to spend with people and get involved with activities outside my regular agenda. In the past, I gave more priority to my projects than to people.

However, in recent years God showed me the importance of intentionally letting go of some of my neatly-arranged plans and creating space to enjoy friends and family. Now that people’s names are sprinkled throughout my monthly calendar, my joy has increased and my stress decreased.

This life-changing lesson also brought about a desire to build a deeper and more meaningful relationship with my Uncle Miles. When Aunt Elia went to heaven, his life changed drastically. Mine did, too. Her death was one of many losses among my family members within a short period of time.

In my sorrow, I cried out to God, “Father, please don’t take Uncle Miles from me yet. I can’t say goodbye to anyone else right now. Please let me have more time with him.”

God gave me six more years. Those years became the most memorable ones for me. Uncle Miles and I became close friends, not just family. Our friendship filled the empty places in both of our lives. We began taking turns calling each other every weak—either he from the west coast or me from the east side of the country. We discussed family memories and happenings, but he always wanted to know about me. In turn, I wanted to hear about the highlights and downsides of his life at the retirement center.

It didn’t matter that he was in his 90’s. He stayed engaged in my life. Every fall I flew to Oregon for several weeks to see family and friends. During those times, he and I talked together in his apartment, shared some meals in the dining hall, and ate at a couple special restaurants. Our spontaneous phone calls in between were a treat.

We also began a tradition of taking a day trip together every year. Our favorite outings included drinking in the beauty of the Colombia River gorge and enjoying the majesty of Mt. Hood. Though hindered by his macular degeneration, he amazingly directed our journeys and made sure I didn’t miss any turns.

One year, after delivering Uncle Miles back to the center following our day trip, we sat together in his apartment. Words of encouragement and mutual admiration flowed between us.

Finally, we stood and hugged good-bye. “Honey, thanks for spending time with me. Really enjoyed our visits while you’ve been here and especially our trip today.”

Knowing I was returning to Orlando the next day, we looked into each other’s eyes with deep love. I believe he knew he wouldn’t see me again. I was unaware. Perhaps that’s why God prompted me to say, “Uncle Miles, I’ll see you next time . . . but if not, I’ll see you in heaven.”

Uncle Miles died less than three months later at the age of 97. I’ll be forever grateful to God for showing me how to make time to love my precious uncle so I wouldn’t miss the memories I’ll cherish forever.

What memories do you share with a special person because you chose to give up your own plans and spend time with them?

The Faithful One

Connections, Faith, Journey, Joy, Love
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This is such a beautiful time of year when we consciously take time to focus on family and friends. And we ponder the significance of the season...the birth of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. He was born to die for us so that we could know God personally, without our sin separating us from Him. Because of Jesus we are able to enjoy an intimate relationship with God, our Father.

A friend sent me this Christmas greeting that highlights truths about Jesus that we may forget during our busy lives. I wanted to share it with you because it reminds us how blessed we are to know Jesus, The FAITHFUL ONE!  

Jesus the faithful one christmas card.

As this year ends, I hope we will take time to recall the amazing things God has done for us during 2023. Some experiences were joy-filled; others were sorrowful. Yet, God has been with us in each experience, whether to celebrate or to bring comfort. God wants us to remember this year.

As 2024 approaches, God wants us to look forward. To anticipate, to hope, to dream. To open ourselves to new challenges and walk through open doors. Ask God to prepare you for what lies ahead. He has plans for you so listen carefully to His Holy Spirit. God wants us to follow Him into the New Year. 

God’s Presence in the Every Day

Choices, Connections, Fear, Freedom, Love, Rejection
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One morning I wrote my prayers to God in my journal, beginning with these words:

Please help Your presence be obvious in my encounters and conversations with people today.

The next morning, when I opened my journal and glanced at the prayer request I'd written the day before, I laughed out loud! You see, God had caused yesterday’s events to unfold exactly the way I prayed.

Come with me to the nearby grocery store. After perusing the aisles and checking items off my list, I rolled my cart to an available row and stood in line. I bantered with the young man in back of me.

Then I became aware of some kind of confusion at the end of the aisle where an old man was struggling to swipe his SNAP card because his hands were shaking. He handed the card to the clerk, who rang it up at the register. Then came the unexpected announcement, “Sir, you still owe $9.45.”

The bewildered man stared at the clerk and then pointed to the fully-loaded cart, as if to say, “But everything is ready to go.”

I knew the customer couldn’t pay, so I instinctively reached in my purse for my billfold.

The clerk explained to him, “Your card paid the $54 for groceries, but it won’t pay for the wine.”

I piped up, “I’ll pay the balance.”  Inside, I smiled at the irony of paying for the man’s wine rather than healthy food.

The young clerk looked at me hesitatingly, then accepted the $10 bill from my outstretched hand and returned the change. “Thank you, young lady.”

The stooped man swiveled his body to get a glimpse of his rescuer. I smiled at him and declared, “That was from God.”

He scoffed out loud at the mention of God’s name. Now released from his debt, though, he placed both hands on his cart and ambled toward the door.

I stepped up to the counter. “Thank you, again, young lady, for what you did.” (I was really liking the “young lady” part by then.”)

I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s why we’re alive.”

His eyes twinkled and a smile spread across his handsome face. “That is so true. I encounter this kind of thing every day and I try to help.”

“I can tell you know Jesus!” I said.

His smile broadened.

Right there in the aisle of that ordinary, neighborhood store, God’s presence surrounded the four of us. The young man behind me observed all that transpired, and surely God planted a seed in his heart. The unbelieving man’s monetary dilemma shifted to a full resolution, and in the process he heard the name of God. The store clerk received unexpected encouragement that day and also a chance to affirm his faith. My heart exploded with joy, because God had touched each one of us in a special way.

God asks us to be ready “in season and out of season,” because we never know when He might want to use us to carry out His plan.

Do you remember a time you prayed and God answered in an amazing way?

The Motherly Ways of God

Faith, Hope, Joy, Life, Love, Uncategorized
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Genuine Love

Faith, Hope, Joy, Life, Love
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A man holding a child's hand.

This morning I’m remembering my grandmother. When the topic of love of family crops up, Grandmartie is always at the top of my list.

My fondest and earliest memory is hearing her sweet voice singing a lullaby to me. Her arms enfolded me as she slowly tipped us back and forth in her rocking chair.

She loved my visits to her home. Delight spread across her face when I pranced into her kitchen after bounding up her back stairs. I eagerly walked into her first hug.

Living within walking distance of her home made it easy for me to see her often. Sometimes during our visits, when she had to tend to chores, I explored the attic, trying on old clothes and playing with her childhood dolls.

Grandmartie’s phone calls to my home always seemed to arrive at the perfect moment. Our conversations flowed easily.

As a rather shy teen, I received some wise advice from her that remains in my mind. “Gail, whenever you can’t think of something to say, just smile.” Not surprisingly, smiling at people comes easily to me. Most often the person smiles back. In that moment I see pleasure, and sometimes hope, in their eyes.

When I moved to my college dorm, she wrote beautiful and descriptive letters that left me feeling as if she were sitting beside me.

The most precious treasure Grandmartie deposited in my heart were her words about Jesus. Each time she talked about Him, her eyes sparkled. From early years, she created in me a desire to know Jesus like she did.

During my sophomore year, when I made my personal decision to invite Jesus into my life, Grandmartie is the one I called. Our hearts grew even closer.

When I began my career as a missionary, God revealed His plan for my life: to lead others to the Savior. That’s what Grandmartie had been doing her whole life. When she and my grandfather moved into a retirement home, she found many more people to love, and encourage, and introduce to Jesus.

After my grandfather passed away, her life remained full. Even when dealing with the inconvenience of macular degeneration and the eventual move to a care center, her sweet spirit and loving smiles continued.

A few months before her 100th birthday, God called her Home. Though we can no longer see each other, I will always remember the sound of Grandmartie’s lullabies and the love she poured into my life that drew me to her Savior.

During this month of love, I hope you will take time to remember the person who first filled your heart with love for Jesus.

 

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.

With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

(Jeremiah 31:3)