Small Signs of Big Love

NOVEMBER 27, 2019 7:20 AM

This morning, I glance toward my window, but my eye catches a tiny red dot on the white drapes. This lonely ladybug found her way in to the bedroom, and just sits there contentedly. Lady bugs have been a sign from the Lord to me.
When I was adopting our daughter Grace, the chat group I joined with families all adopting children from China at the same time called itself the “Junebugs.” The name reflected the timing in which the group would be off to pick up our babies. In researching, I found that June bugs were beetles, but they were much like ladybugs–which I felt were much prettier. So, that theme was in my head, my lady bug was on the way. However, somewhere around May when everyone was getting their photos of their baby girls, I got a notice that we needed a passport for me on file, even though I was not going to be traveling. Our application went into an “incomplete” pile, as a result. My already anxious heart was devastated, not knowing what this might mean. And, you guessed it, I was no longer a June bug. We did resolve it, and only lost a few months. Following another scare from 9/11, we did get our beautiful Grace in October. The first week she was home, I looked on Grace’s dresser and there was a lady bug, and another, and another…! There must have been more than ½ dozen. I laughed with tears at God’s sweet and gentle message of love and faithfulness. 

The ladybug is a smile from God to me reminding me of His faithfulness; and how we might dare hope for a June bug, but God wants to give us our hearts desires.

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How Would You Respond

Have you ever thought about the boy who had the five loaves and two fish? There he is with a huge crowd, with his own provisions. His parents or he himself had planned well and ensured he had food for the long day or days he would be out. And now, one of the disciples around Jesus, Andrew is pointing it out. What might have been His initial response? There are many responses even a young person would have. Possibly, he could have felt a bit nervous that someone is taking away his food and now what would he have? Will he get it back? Will he have enough? He might feel angry, people whom he sees as interesting or good are taking his food, and not giving it back. He might feel very honored having the attention of those in charge here, pointing him out, and giving him special focus in the crowd. And he might have felt excited, anticipating that something was about to happen. Or he might have been happy to give what he had, being dependent and assuming he will be cared for no matter what. 
As a child I was very sick and in the hospital on a floor with children who were dying. When they came to realize I would not die, my mother told me to give away a doll I had just been given. It was painful, because I didn't understand, and I wasn't very happy myself having been through all I had. Giving can be hard when we have need and wants. Yet when we give to Jesus it comes with a reality that He gives back more. When I was at the register yesterday they asked if I wanted to give to a charity. It seems most stores are doing that and it gets tiring. Because I had just spent money on dinner, I gave a dollar with just a hint of reluctance. As soon as I did, the cashier said “you have some reward money here, would you like to use it?” I said, “sure.” She said you have a dollar. Before I blinked, God gave the dollar back.

How much do you think the little boy with the fish and loaves ate that day? I'm guessing as much as he wanted, and likely the disciples sent him home with a bunch more.
Lord, help us respond in giving to you like one who knows we will be cared for no matter what.

Come and See

Come and see
This is what Philip told Andrew when He doubted who Jesus was. 
This is what Jesus said to Andrew when Andrew wondered about Jesus and wanted to be able to find Him.
This is what the Angel told Mary to do when she doubted and worried what had happened to Jesus. 
Our jobs as Christians is to bring people to “come and see.” We invite people to see the truth, to come and explore who Jesus is. That is Gods way. And He will do the rest.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul calls us to embrace the assurance we have in Christ, as our means to persevere in our hope. But he does not ask us to do this alone. In fact he reminds those he's speaking to in the book of Hebrews that they need encouragement from one another. When we are feeling the stress of this world and its sin–or our own–we may start to falter and forget the reality of our faith. This is when we need each other, to hold each other up and encourage one another that we have promises in God nothing can overcome. Our love and good works will cause others to increase faith and they like ripples in the pond will spread out and cause more faith. When we feel like holing up alone from stress, fatigue, discouragement or grief, Paul is helping us remember that is when we need to meet up with others. And we are all called to be encouragers, who keep one another from swerving.

Lord help us to reach out to one another and to continue to be encouragers of hope and faith in you.

Where is your soul when your heart is hurting; when the world crowds in and confusion floods your brain? What does your soul say or do when you doubt yourself, and everything else? It's redeemed in Him, saying, “live!” Live because life is in you! It is restored to wholeness for all time. Feelings are nerve related and brain chemically driven, but the soul supersedes. It's connected to God and dwelling in Him, and Him in the soul. So there is no division, once washed. Aloneness is a feeling, not a spiritual reality. Become who you are today and step into the soul of your life!

“Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.””

Mark 10:49 NIV

The man whose life was such that he was sitting by the side of the road begging, heard it was Jesus was passing by.  In his limited state he cried out to Jesus, asking for mercy on him. After being hushed and rebuked, he persisted. With the disciples and the large crowd that surrounded him, Jesus could have passed right by barely noticing. But he stopped. Through his disciples he called Bartimaeus to Him, and asked what he wanted. He could have asked for money or help, but his faith in Jesus prompted him to be bold and ask for what he really wanted. 

Even in our worst state, Jesus never ignores our cry to Him for mercy. Though the culture around us may influence us to minimize our belief, and even mock that kind of raw vulnerable faith, it is where Jesus calls us to him. And how many of us stop at asking for what we really want,  because it's too hard to believe? How much more so to believe He has eternal life through Him. Cheer up! He's calling you.

The rainbow…a naturally occurring phenomenon when light is reflected, refracted and dispersed so that water droplets create a spectrum in the sky of color. God’s brilliance in His creation became His sign to us of no more fear of floods that would wipe out civilization, because of His mercy and compassion. God points to structures to remind us of His promises to us. Stones that became engraved tablets of His contract of kindness; and the cup of wine, a new covenant of love, in Jesus’ blood that was poured, like from a cup, for us. In each, He holds up the promises, if we just would look to Him. Symbols accent and remind us of God’s immeasurable mercy, call for communion with Him, and reasoning for righteousness. He doesn’t want us to forget. He’s gone to unimaginable lengths to show us who He is and that His love is ready for the asking. He desires our joy and well being, and to rise above our nature and the limits of this life to save us from ourselves.
We too can set up structures as reminders that love is around us, and God desires us to know Him personally. Today, what symbol can you identify to keep you looking to the one who knows your deepest needs and awaits your eyes?iPHONE + iPAD

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 I long for righteousness in a dry and thirsty land–in me as well as those around me and the world. The ills of this world, and the blindness to them grieves me and I hate it. I want more for all of us and for your purposes and promises to prevail. But we need to see. We also need to recognize the glory of you in this world too. The beauty of nature revealing your creativity; the way you designed the world and all in it, revealing your infinite brilliance and ingenuity; and your whispers that breathe your closeness on to our hearts, revealing your infinite mercy. But we just try to press on, making the most of where we are, living in relativity of the truth, since we do not live close enough to fully experience it. 

Still, what is dying is renewed by your grand design. It needs only to rest in you to know it will see another day in different form. You've made all of life to be transformed by renewing. For us who trust in you it begins with our minds, and moves to our entire spirit, soul, and body. 

Like the flower opening in the light of spring, look upward, and life will continue to bloom. world, and the blindness to them grieves me and I hate it. I want more for all of us and for your purposes and promises to prevail. But we need to see. We also need to recognize the glory of you in this world too. The beauty of nature revealing your creativity; the way you designed the world and all in it, revealing your infinite brilliance and ingenuity; and your whispers that breathe your closeness on to our hearts, revealing your infinite mercy. But we just try to press on, making the most of where we are, living in relativity of the truth, since we do know live close enough to fully experience it.
Still, what is dying is renewed by your grand design. It needs only to rest in you to know it will see another day in different form. You've made all of life to be transformed by renewing. For us who trust in you it begins with our minds, and moves to our entire spirit, soul, and body. 

Like the flower opening in the light of spring, look upward, and life will continue to bloom.

In Matthew, I got stuck on the opportunity for the crowd to release a prisoner. I felt the hope in my spirit although I know the entire story intimately. There was an opportunity for hope to save Jesus from the worst. But that was small "h" hope that would have been a loss for all mankind. Still how often do we look for hope in people or circumstances to save the day, not knowing or understanding the bigger picture and Gods design. His plans are always better, grander, full of unmatched love. It's just hard for us to see at the time. I wonder how many of the followers of Christ had their hearts leap for a moment at the prospect of the crowd releasing Jesus, and then sink again, into discouragement--even in the light of Jesus' promise He would rise. It was just much harder to believe. How much do we struggle with believing, even knowing Jesus is with us always--in the small and the unimaginable?

Yearning

Gliding freely in the steel blue sky are two birds, unencumbered by the burdens of the world below; dancing with the wind, and determining direction in sync with one another. I want to be like that with you Lord--free, gliding, and dancing with the moves of your Spirit.

What do you see when you pass a flower--a spot of color on your way somewhere? When you look into a flower, the intricacy of God's design is evident. And it brings a sense of joy, stirring the soul. This is just one tiny glimpse of the nature of our glorious God who withholds nothing from us, to extend his love. How much more beautiful and intricately designed are you? You are worth more. Others passing by on their self directed path, barely nodding at the spot of colorful personality you display, have missed it. If the word of God dwells in you through faith, the glory of God lives within you. A flower is.  You are...but eternally. As you look upward to the Son, you are a display of God. Stand in that, and maybe today just resolve to see that in someone you pass.

An Exhortation of Love

You can be victorious. Rest your head on the word of God because it will protect you from the wiles of the enemy who is desperately trying to fool you and lead you astray. There is peace is the pages of the Lord, when you live in love. It's tiring to take issue with so much, and it is tender to find the voice of God in the midst of the struggles of others' unrighteousness. Our own is burdensome enough. Take refuge in the leading of the Lord as He speaks into your life through love, always wanting your best, always loving you most, and always dealing with the principalities that try to govern your ways." Nothing is too formidable for God. Rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I Want My Girls to Know...

Beauty generates a visceral response. It instantly feeds the soul. Yet there is another layer of complexity to our perception of it. It is in the meaning of what we see, where we look, and what we are telling ourselves about it. I want my girls to know they can view the intricacies of a flower and feel awash of peace from its natural beauty. I also want them to look in the mirror at every stage of their lives and notice the beauty that God sees. At 10, the beauty of the energy that can't stand still in front of a mirror, as the body starts to change. At 17 the vulnerable beauty in the eyes, as they bypass the acne. At 23, the vision expressed through a beautiful mouth ready to take on the world. At 30, the beauty in the baby bump though it wears them down and changes shape. At 40 past the stretch marks and new wrinkles, the beauty of the hands in constant motion for others. At 55, past the graying hair, to see the beauty in the gentleness learned through life, as hardships come and go. To see at 65 past the sagging chin and wider middle, the face that is in the grandchildren wanting those eyes on them. At 75 to see in the lines on the forehead years of life lived well and love given. At 88, to see the dignity and joy inside the still brilliant eyes looking at what God has done. And in the last moments to see Jesus' beauty that lived in them their entire lives, looking back in the mirror, and saying "well done my good and faithful servant."

A Time to Move

We stand still at times we need to move. We look onward instead of walking toward. We speak about, instead of speaking to. Avoidance plays a key role in protection, but when it stops us from moving into the areas God wants to charge for us, it hinders Gods blessing. Move in, move on. There is nothing that can stop the Lord, if He is in it.

1Sam 14:6

Sound waves. We underestimate their impact. A gripe here, a criticism over there, an angry word here, a story repeated there, and the waves flow on. Like invisible bowling balls they knock down what is standing and demolish people's careers, marriages, even hopes. What we mean as innocent chatter, or say out of our own frustration; what is repeated to protect us or make us look or feel better about ourselves can be weapons of war in the spiritual battles ensuing. 
Wireless words can be waves of impact, like mini bombs tossed across the city and flowing almost unstoppable, crushing what is in their path. 
Determine today to step away from the temptation. Frustrate the enemy by letting your speech be like the reset button or “delete all,” constantly standing up those around you and reviving possibilities and hope. Commit to sending out sound waves of love.

What is your Bethesda?

The invalid by the pool (Bethesda) thought he needed the pool for healing. But one encounter with Jesus where Jesus asks if he wants to get well, and he is healed. Jesus asks the obvious question (do you want to get well) so the invalid will shift his focus from defeat, and the pool, to Jesus. The healing was instant. And the instruction to pick up his mat and walk was to show the invalid the truth, that he was healed. All those years--38--and one question from Jesus and the man was fully healed. 

Jesus commands him to stop sinning--I presume so he doesn't end up back where he started. Jesus wanted the healing to be permanent. But he also wanted to reveal something about himself and His love. He didn't and doesn't want to see the man or any of us stuck in sin. The deeper issue of a life free in Him was the focus here. 

How often are our eyes on the wrong thing to bring us relief, hope, or healing? We trust in "pools"we cannot even access like more money, status, a person, etc. Jesus looks on, asking in the Spirit, "Do you want to get well?" And there is a wellness that surpasses all of our workouts and health regimens, and even medical management. It is in Him. He is asking all of us if we want to get well. Shift your focus today from defeat to Jesus, and His healing will begin.

The Cause to Pause
There is always cause to pause, but we race in our minds and our bodies, on to the next. The pause is a glory moment. We cease movement and the glory of the artwork in the sky feeds our souls. Or the barren trees share their inner intricacy for a new appreciation of complexity. Or we simply turn the inner eye to recognize the emotion welling up within us that we push aside for activity's sake. The pauses draw us back to God, whose glory is all around – and in us. Grasp a glory moment today, and see how it makes you shine.

Dreams and Doubt

As a planner I like having a goal and moving toward it. But the way God has used me has been walking me into small opportunities for ministry, and I engage and try my best. So these small engagements sometimes feel like I'm not doing much, really. And that's not because I want to claim any credit. I'm quite clear that this is Gods power and anointing, and for His glory. I just don't seem to have that big dream. And I'm a passionate person that wants to have an impact in the Lords power. So in talking to him, I motioned with my arms extending one at a time in circular motion, saying "I don't want just this one thing, then the next, then the next.." I had an instant image of a flower, with petals opening one then the next...and sensed God saying, isn't that how a flower opens? He knows I love flowers and photograph them to reveal his glory, particularly close up, inside the beauty of this creation. An image is worth a thousand words, of which I had none.

Finding Purpose

Luke 11:33-36

JANUARY 31, 2019 7:50 AM

There is no purpose for a lamp that is hidden. It’s ultimate reason to be is lost.
“Instead they put it on "its” stand... " It is placed where it belongs. And that is apparent to all, so it can work it’s good for all who see it.
Being able to reveal what God wants, through us, begins with our eyes. What are we focused on? What do we look at? We go with our gaze. If we are not seeking to see purity, and focused on God’s goodness; we will be darkened and serve no purpose for Him, and have no expression that serves. If we focus all of our being on God and His will, we will be lit up with purpose; and shine, not just before others, but for them, on behalf of God.

 Allison
https://dayone.me/4OQYuzs9

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The sky speaks for God. The words are brilliant Orange, and blue. The spotlight rises from the east and cast a deep yellow-Orange ray directly upward to the one whose expression we are absorbing, as if to say “the one to whom it points is grander than this remarkable display of fire through the sky.” He is above it, beyond it and the artist who speaks daily in so many ways that our minds cannot hold the extent. But we hear you Lord. You roar in the sky, you sing in the clouds and you kiss with your light, magnificence that cannot be measure but is poured out for us who have yet to fully appreciate the colors, depth, and beauty of your love.

What is God saying to you today through his created beauty?