Reach for love to conquer terrible, rotten days
Have you ever had a one of those “terrible, rotten days” when you are just radiating bad mood vibes? Well I have discovered that there are certain times of the year that promote that type of day.
I work in an office with mostly women. Several of those women are single. That idea you get from commercials and sales pitches about Valentine’s Day being the most romantic day of the year and everyone is happy and in love? Not so for everyone. In fact, for some people it is one of those “terrible, rotten days.”
The moods of the female population of our newsroom on Valentine’s Day sent the lone male occupant scurrying for cover.
The husbands and boyfriends of those paired up in the office who scored big with their loving gestures had other eyes in the office blazing green with envy. Those green eyes made that beautiful vase of roses sitting on a coworkers desk appear as repulsive as a steaming pile of dog poo.
Just the words Valentines or love evoked looks of malice. The expression “love you” was changed to “love stinks.” It was definitely not an atmosphere of love and romance. In fact, anyone coming into the office was well advised to have their shield up coming through the door and full armor on by the time they reached the newsroom. And if that someone happened to be male, look out!
As eyes welled with tears and the females worked hard to bolster each other’s spirits with humor and small Valentine gifts to each other, I was reminded of something my pastor spoke on just a couple days ago. We are not to envy other people but to be happy for them.
We are to love one another as God loves us. Love does not envy – love rejoices.
1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
We shouldn’t be mad because someone got something we didn’t get but be happy for them and know that good things are coming our way in the right time.
When we walk with God we are filled with love and what we, or others, have or don’t have does not matter. Instead we strive to bless others and to share our love with them.
Sharing our love with others is a blessing to them and inspires others. It can lift other people up and help them move closer to God. God uses people to bless people.
Even if your desk is void of that vase of flowers or box of chocolates, that does not mean you aren’t loved. You have the greatest love of all – God’s love. Let God be your Valentine. It doesn’t get any better than that.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Mountains and Valleys
The saying goes that life is full of ups and downs. One day you may be at the top of the mountain and the next day you are in a rock slide on the way to the valley below. Sometimes it feels like you will never climb out of that valley. As soon as you get a few steps up the mountain something causes you to slip back down.
I have been feeling that way lately. There are parts of my life that are great. I am married to the love of my life, we have a home, jobs, our health and our children are all healthy. That is a life filled with blessings and what I wake up thankful for each morning.
Then the trials come in and you wonder if you will ever reach the top of that mountain or you will always get knocked back down just as you get close. Even when your children get older you feel their problems and hurts as your own. Even if you feel close to the top of that mountain in your own life, if your children are facing trials it will halt your ascent.
I told my mother-in-law yesterday that just once I'd like to see the view from the top of that mountain. She told me to give everything over to God and leave it there. Not to give it to Him then take it back down off the shelf. She is a very wise woman!
After a lot of prayer and quiet time with God, I have come to the realization that I will not reach the top of that mountain in my lifetime. That there will always be trials but that whatever they are the Lord will carry me, and my family, through. And I will reach the top of that mountain - when I am called home to be with Jesus.
So I will relish the time I am in the valley or half way up that mountain. I will grow stronger each time I fall down and climb back up. I will continue to look up and reach for the top. And when Jesus looks down and reaches out his Hand I will be lifted up to the most glorious mountain top.
The saying goes that life is full of ups and downs. One day you may be at the top of the mountain and the next day you are in a rock slide on the way to the valley below. Sometimes it feels like you will never climb out of that valley. As soon as you get a few steps up the mountain something causes you to slip back down.
I have been feeling that way lately. There are parts of my life that are great. I am married to the love of my life, we have a home, jobs, our health and our children are all healthy. That is a life filled with blessings and what I wake up thankful for each morning.
Then the trials come in and you wonder if you will ever reach the top of that mountain or you will always get knocked back down just as you get close. Even when your children get older you feel their problems and hurts as your own. Even if you feel close to the top of that mountain in your own life, if your children are facing trials it will halt your ascent.
I told my mother-in-law yesterday that just once I'd like to see the view from the top of that mountain. She told me to give everything over to God and leave it there. Not to give it to Him then take it back down off the shelf. She is a very wise woman!
After a lot of prayer and quiet time with God, I have come to the realization that I will not reach the top of that mountain in my lifetime. That there will always be trials but that whatever they are the Lord will carry me, and my family, through. And I will reach the top of that mountain - when I am called home to be with Jesus.
So I will relish the time I am in the valley or half way up that mountain. I will grow stronger each time I fall down and climb back up. I will continue to look up and reach for the top. And when Jesus looks down and reaches out his Hand I will be lifted up to the most glorious mountain top.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
It's been a while
Sometimes life gets busy and we let things slide by unnoticed, even things that are important to us. I started this blog to post my weekly columns but also as a way to remind myself of the amazing things God does in my life every day. Then I started posting less and less until I haven't posted at all for several months. When I was asked about the blog a few days ago I was inspired to start posting again. So much has been going on in my life and God has been there beside me through it all. There is no way I can talk about it all right now, but will try to share it a little at a time. God is good all the time and His love is forever. I posted my latest column and will try to get in the habit of a daily post. Smile, it is going to be a wonderful and blessed day!
Sometimes life gets busy and we let things slide by unnoticed, even things that are important to us. I started this blog to post my weekly columns but also as a way to remind myself of the amazing things God does in my life every day. Then I started posting less and less until I haven't posted at all for several months. When I was asked about the blog a few days ago I was inspired to start posting again. So much has been going on in my life and God has been there beside me through it all. There is no way I can talk about it all right now, but will try to share it a little at a time. God is good all the time and His love is forever. I posted my latest column and will try to get in the habit of a daily post. Smile, it is going to be a wonderful and blessed day!
Valentine’s Day: a time to focus on your marriage
Valentine’s Day is next week. It is a day that is loved by those who are half of a happy couple and dreaded or ignored by those who aren’t.
I have a friend who chooses to celebrate the day as National Singles Awareness Day. But while the day may be a difficult one for those who are single and don’t want to be, it may be the hardest on those who are part of a couple that are having relationship problems.
God’s intention for a marriage is for a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman. God hates divorce. As someone who has been divorced, I would be a hypocrite to say I don’t think there is ever a reason to divorce. If you are in a physically or emotionally abusive relationship, you need to get help.
Ephesians 5:33 says, “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” An abuser is not following that command.
Where the real problem lies, is when a marriage is looked at as a “trial.” A term that I have heard is “starter marriage.”
Really? What is a starter marriage? Is that like a starter home, where you get something less than your ideal until you can afford what you really want? Will you ever really find that ideal, where everything is perfect? If so you are living in a dream world because no person is perfect – only Jesus was perfect.
Every marriage faces problems. Children, finances, temptations, anger and every day situations can all put a strain on a relationship. It is how you handle these situations that can make or break a marriage.
Problems can put negative thoughts in your head and, unchecked, these thoughts can make a minor problem seem like a hurdle that can’t be overcome.
Your spouse’s skipped turn doing dishes escalates into “I have to do everything myself,” and eventually to “Life would be easier if I was just on my own.” It is this downward spiral that spells an end to many marriages today.
There are problems that are much more difficult to overcome such as infidelity or addictions. Even these, though, don’t necessarily have to mean the end of your commitment to one another. Getting Christian counseling in these situations, however, would be a good idea.
Marriage is a vow made to your spouse and to God, to maintain a loving, faithful lifelong relationship. It takes real commitment to make it work.
It isn’t just you and your spouse in the marriage, God is part of the commitment as well. When things start to get hard, turn to God for the answers. Let His word be the way.
Imagine buying an older home instead of the perfect one. A home that you spend years getting fixed up just the way you want it, that you pour your hard work and love into, that you make uniquely yours. When that home is fixed up just the way you want it, you will cherish it and not be so quick to want to move onto “something better.”
Now look at your marriage the same way. Instead of looking at it as a starter marriage look at it as a lifetime marriage. It can be whatever you make it. If you and your spouse choose to have a happy marriage, you will. As for me, I choose to recognize every day what a blessing I have in my husband.
I challenge you to use Valentine’s Day as a time to recommit to your marriage.
Valentine’s Day is next week. It is a day that is loved by those who are half of a happy couple and dreaded or ignored by those who aren’t.
I have a friend who chooses to celebrate the day as National Singles Awareness Day. But while the day may be a difficult one for those who are single and don’t want to be, it may be the hardest on those who are part of a couple that are having relationship problems.
God’s intention for a marriage is for a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman. God hates divorce. As someone who has been divorced, I would be a hypocrite to say I don’t think there is ever a reason to divorce. If you are in a physically or emotionally abusive relationship, you need to get help.
Ephesians 5:33 says, “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” An abuser is not following that command.
Where the real problem lies, is when a marriage is looked at as a “trial.” A term that I have heard is “starter marriage.”
Really? What is a starter marriage? Is that like a starter home, where you get something less than your ideal until you can afford what you really want? Will you ever really find that ideal, where everything is perfect? If so you are living in a dream world because no person is perfect – only Jesus was perfect.
Every marriage faces problems. Children, finances, temptations, anger and every day situations can all put a strain on a relationship. It is how you handle these situations that can make or break a marriage.
Problems can put negative thoughts in your head and, unchecked, these thoughts can make a minor problem seem like a hurdle that can’t be overcome.
Your spouse’s skipped turn doing dishes escalates into “I have to do everything myself,” and eventually to “Life would be easier if I was just on my own.” It is this downward spiral that spells an end to many marriages today.
There are problems that are much more difficult to overcome such as infidelity or addictions. Even these, though, don’t necessarily have to mean the end of your commitment to one another. Getting Christian counseling in these situations, however, would be a good idea.
Marriage is a vow made to your spouse and to God, to maintain a loving, faithful lifelong relationship. It takes real commitment to make it work.
It isn’t just you and your spouse in the marriage, God is part of the commitment as well. When things start to get hard, turn to God for the answers. Let His word be the way.
Imagine buying an older home instead of the perfect one. A home that you spend years getting fixed up just the way you want it, that you pour your hard work and love into, that you make uniquely yours. When that home is fixed up just the way you want it, you will cherish it and not be so quick to want to move onto “something better.”
Now look at your marriage the same way. Instead of looking at it as a starter marriage look at it as a lifetime marriage. It can be whatever you make it. If you and your spouse choose to have a happy marriage, you will. As for me, I choose to recognize every day what a blessing I have in my husband.
I challenge you to use Valentine’s Day as a time to recommit to your marriage.
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