Thursday, May 27, 2010

More Love

        There is a John Mayer song where he refrains, "If you want more love why don't you say so?"  Maybe you know the song.   It's been really popular for a while now and the other day when I heard it I began to think about asking for love and more specifically why is it sometimes so hard to ask for help!? Sometimes if we shut people out because we think we can do it alone, we are missing a blessing that only they can give...something we really need at the time, and maybe something they need.
Jesus tells us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."  And also to "love your neighbor as yourself."  If he wants us to show love to everyone around us imagine how much more he must want us to show it to our family members and loved-ones. 
        This week has been an especially busy one for us.   For one, we have been preparing for our departure to the Holy Land.  ( In fact I am leaving the house in three hours and I haven't packed yet!)   We have also hosted a very special visitor in our already pretty full house.   Our married daughter, Angie has been here since Monday.  She flew out from Dallas for her cousin's wedding which will take place in a couple of days and she arrived a few days early so she could spend some time with us.   It has been a wonderful week and we have enjoyed her company so much.  Unfortunately her husband, Chris couldn't come with her  but I am now realizing that this was meant to be.  Angie needed to spend time with and show love to her younger sister in a very special way.
         Our 24 year old, Christina has recently accepted a part-time position as a fitness instructor in a local gym.    As things worked out this past Monday she began her "practice teaching."  I am a fitness enthusiast and I wanted to support Christina,  so of course I was there for her debut.    Imagine my surprise when just five minutes into class in walked Angie!!  Robert has just picked Angie up from the airport and since she also wanted to show her support for her sister she hustled her way there just in time for the one hour "FitBar" class. 
         Later that night as Christina was going over her choreography with Angie she asked for her sister to give her some feedback and she also asked for some advice.   I am not sure if Christina was remembering that Angie used to both choreograph and teach dance routines or not but the point is she asked for help and Angie lovingly and graciously gave it!
The next day Christina's routine was near perfect!
          How wonderful it was for me to witness this giving,  caring spirit in Angie.   And,  how important it was for me to remember that I don't always have to do things on my own either.  It's okay to ask for advice or a helping hand when I need it.
         Who can you ask for help or advice today?  Who might you be able to show the gift of time and love?
"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."  Matthew 7:7    As John Mayer puts it,  "If you want more love why don't you say so?"  
God is blessing you.   Donna

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Rest For Your Soul

"Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light"   Matthew 11:28  (words of Jesus)        

This is my husband,  Robert and our new grand daughter, Haven. We love Haven so much and we have the privilege of taking care of her every Monday, which has now become my favorite day of the week.  It's the day that I put aside all the things that I could and should do and I rest in her presence for several hours while giving her mommy and daddy a much needed break.
I couldn't resist taking this photo.  Haven had been a little fussy this day and did not want to stay down in her bed during her scheduled nap time.  Robert,  as the loving grandpa that he is, picked her up and comforted her and before I knew it they were both sound asleep! 

As grandparent's our love for Haven is unconditional, constant, and ever-present, even when she is away from us.  It reminds me that our heavenly father's love for us is even greater.   Jesus tells us to "come to me."  This verse does not imply that we wait until next month or next year,  it emphasizes the present...now.  God promises to be our partner when we are weary (tired) and burdened by life's many challenging situations.  No burden is too heavy for Jesus and he exudes love and humility from his gentle spirit, and tender heart.  He also promises that he will "give you rest".  This means rest which is freely given and not something to be earned.  It is unconditional, constant, and ever-present, just like our love for our grand baby, yet even more so!  He goes on to say that his "yoke is easy and my burden is light."  In Greek easy means "well-fitting" which makes me think about how easy it is to have a relationship with Him.  He is there for me any and all the time.
A yoke, usually refers to the wooden beam which ties two oxen or other animals together so that they will work together as a team, evenly and smoothly, when plowing a field.  The correlation in this scripture implies the partnership or working together between us and God.   When we learn to rely on Him instead of on our own human frailties,  we are tied together and the good news is that He will always carry more than half the load.   When we are heavy in heart or if we are struggling with hopelessness, anger, bitterness, or illness we can rest in Him and find freedom,  peace,  love and rest.

I truly believe that babies are born with an innate ability to love God and others.   They are innocent and helpless and they are pure in their trust until it is broken.  God honors and loves little babies and children but He also loves you.  For some of us a lifetime of disappointments and hurts makes it more difficult to put ourselves out there and to trust or risk taking a chance again.  For others it is hard to love out of fear of rejection or abandonment.    Jesus wants you to be tied to him so that you can be a part of His family.  He will never reject you or hurt you.  He wants to carry more than His share when your load gets too heavy to carry alone or when you are too tired to go on.   You can rest with Him any time. 
I close with a few words from one of my favorite worship songs from Hillsong Church in Australia.

"Everyone needs compassion,  a love that's never failing,  let mercy fall on me.  Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a savior,  the hope of nations.  
Savior, he can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save.
Forever, author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.  
So take me as you find me,  all my fears and failures, fill my life again.    I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, now I surrender.....
Shine your light and let the whole world see,  for the glory of the risen king!!" 

God is blessing you.