Skip to main content

I Dare You to Love Like This!




I’m determined to not just study God’s Word, but implement it. It’s hard. Back in January, I wrote about the direction the Lord gave me for 2011. Whereas last year I focused on trusting Him to a greater degree, this year is all about loving. To love deeply you have to spend time with Jesus, see the best in people, speak right words and clean up your heart every day. I take the verse in 1 John 3:18 seriously.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

My granddaughter is only going on three but she taught me an important lesson. Her Mama seldom wins the battle of keeping her hair out of her eyes with piggy tails. In two seconds, she pulls them right out. While visiting last time, it was my responsibility to dress her one morning. When we got to brushing her hair, I asked her where her barrettes are. She told me that she just wants to look at them. In other words, I can’t put them in yet. It’s the same with the potty. She eagerly wants us to read books about using the potty, but isn’t ready to sit on it quite yet.

I see myself that way, too. I’m a cautious type, but the call is to love boldly. I’ve read all about it in the Bible! Therefore, my mind is set to forgive more deeply, speak more carefully, let God lead me more and choose my friends more wisely. This will be another triumphant year. I just know it. By the way, I got that wonderful call a few days ago reporting that my granddaughter used her potty! It looks like we are both on our way to victory!

My post today connects to Spiritual Sundays hosted by Ginger & Charlotte.

Comments

  1. MistyAugust 27, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    Beautiful reminder for me today.. I need to learn to see the beat in people. I need to live and love as I am called to.

    "let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." - Actions are what I need to work on.

    Thank you for sharing!

    Blessings,
    Misty

    ReplyDelete
  2. VilisiAugust 27, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    '...speak more carefully...'
    That'll be me! Thank you for these encouraging and uplifting words.God bless. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nikki (Sarah)August 27, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    Loved your analogy and my10 yr. Is growing out her bangs and still gets her hair in her eyes. Sigh.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim @ Homesteader's HeartAugust 27, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    Right now I'm reading a book called 1000 Gifts and I can't even begin to tell you how it's speaking to me.

    Loved reading this today my friend. We should all strive to do the same!

    HUGS
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mevely317August 27, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Love, love, love(!) this reminder to "walk the talk."
    Have a blessed weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa notes...August 27, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Oh, this is so good. I have been trying this year to trust more, but I am a cautious type too. It's a struggle, but I know it is worth it to learn to depend more on the Lord.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ginger~~Enchanting CottageAugust 28, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    It's kinda funny how a 3 year old can teach us something so amazing.
    God Bless,
    Ginger

    ReplyDelete
  8. PamelaAugust 28, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    I love learning from the kids! This spoke to me...challenging me to love more.

    Blessings,
    Pamela

    ReplyDelete
  9. LisaAugust 29, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Sometimes Love is a hard thing to walk out...especially to those who have mistreated us, yet God calls us to do it. We are all like your grandbaby in ways. We can look at it, study it but can't quite do it! LOL! Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  10. PeggyAugust 29, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    I love your post. I, too, feel God is calling me to love more. And to keep my focus off myself and on Him and if I'm focused on Him and spend more time with Him then I can love more, as you so aptly said.Praying for a season of much loving for us both.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Janis Van KeurenAugust 29, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    What a beautiful and encouraging post. It makes me want to love fully and dive in deeper to walking with the Lord.

    Blessings,
    Janis

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Daisy House

I work at my desktop with the children at my feet.  A makeshift area rug made of white butcher paper lines the floor where the baby, crayon in hand, imitates her big sister.  Sister focuses on the finishing touches of the house she designed.  The catchy children’s song, Wheels of the Bus, blasts from the Toddler Station on Pandora Radio. Six year old Sookie unveils her masterpiece and I ooh and awe at the sketch.  “It’s a daisy house!”  I exclaim.  “I love the colors.  I wonder what the inside looks like.”  Without hesitating, Sookie describes each room.  “There are five rooms and they are all different colors.  One is Mint Chip, another Strawberry.  There is a Vanilla room, and a Cookies & Cream room and the last room is Rocky Road.  You have to wear a sweater inside because it is very cold.” “A house made of ice cream,” I reply.  “It sounds heavenly!” I dug into my Bible readings that morning ...
37 comments
Read more

Marriage Tip #44: Do What He Wants

I thought about our upcoming anniversary.   I prayed one morning for the marriages in my family, and a sentence about my own dropped in my spirit:  “ Do What He Wants .”  I paused, “Really?”  He’s his own man.  What if I end up in the wilderness camping by night and target shooting by day?  What if a coyote decides to have me as a late night snack? We celebrated our anniversary early this year, Before the kids come next week.   And we did it his way . This is how it happened. I never asked him about a plan or even mentioned our day.  I remember how it all unfolded at the roundabout just as we drove into Sedona.  He asked me if I would like to go to a baseball game.  I responded excitedly, “Yeah!”  Before the day was over, he purchased tickets for a Diamondbacks home game. He printed them out.  He booked a hotel room so we wouldn’t have to drive home from the city after the late evening game. ...
44 comments
Read more

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
23 comments
Read more