deeply-from-the-heart love

I Peter 1:22.  “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.”

i’m not sure I’ve ever really noticed this verse before… but i’m struck by it today.  if the purification of our souls is helped by our obedience to the truth… and if this purification which is helped by our obedience produces genuine love for each other … i’m concerned about the state of the Church — and even more concerned about the state of my own heart — cuz i don’t know that i’m experiencing that much “deeply-from-the-heart love.”

oh, Lord. have mercy on us.

out of place

a plant out of place is a weed

simply said

I keep saying I need to start blogging again.  I guess that means that I have enough energy to actually be thinking a little deeper lately...that's good.  However, my life is filled with picking up toys, sweeping the floor numerous times a day, changing diapers -- basically trying to keep this little household afloat.

And, thus, "simply said" is born.  Perhaps someday I will have time to develop these thoughts as I once would have at wendtonajourney; however, now is not that time. This little category will have to do for now while I continue to be the mommy of a little one.

blessed thought

He leadeth me! O blessed thought! O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!  Whate'er I do, where'er I be, Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

my own plan

One of my dear friends is the mother of a 17 year old who after a recent discussion about life after graduation told her mother "I don't need your plan!  I have my own plan" with all of the attitude you are probably imagining.  When my friend told me this, I laughed and said "that so sounds like me talking to God."  And, the more I reflect on it, unfortunately, the truer it seems to be.

I'm studying Nehemiah right now, and his confidence in leadership strikes me.  When others jeer at him or try to ruin his plans, he stands firm, yes, confident, that the hand of God is with him and that there is a job to be done.

I'm afraid that my responses are not always like Nehemiah's.  It seems sometimes God hands me a plan that looks too hard, and I tell Him "I've got my own plan."  Or, He hands me a plan that appears to be of little importance, and I tell Him "I've got my own plan."  Or, He hands me a plan and when others jeer at me rather than trusting in His ability to work through the situation, I tell Him, "I've got my own plan."

I suppose with Nehemiah's confidence in God's plan it should be no surprise that he led his people in building the long-awaited wall around Jerusalem.

Oh, Lord, forgive my "own plan."  Amen.

workin' it

"Faith is more than belief: it produces its own work. Faith works itself out in love (Gal. 5:6)."  ~ Rollin Grams

day 25

we just had a wonderful Thanksgiving day.  and, there are so many things that i am truly thankful for.  trav and i were chatting today about how it's so nice that i don't have to drive across the cities on these cold, blustery nights, that we get to share this place we call home, and that thanksgiving day starts and ends with him by my side.  but, one of the bonuses of marrying trav that made my thanksgiving day really rich this year, is marrying into his family.  i do so love my in-laws, and i am so blessed to now share their name.

day 25:  so, on this twentififth day of november, thanksgiving day, 2010, i'm thankful for the family i have gained by saying "i do."