Congratulations Aaron and Angel and best wishes in your life together!
love
All posts tagged love
I took this picture to make a Valentines Day card for Tracy and my girls. In doing so, I was fascinated about a deeper meaning to the picture. I went into the gift shop at Central Church (near my office) and pulled a bible off the shelf to accommodate the setup. I placed the bible on a stand and opened it to the middle (curling each center page to the left/right and creasing it into the margin) to create the heart. In doing so, I was reminded that the heart of God can be found in the “center” of the scripture….and he can also be found in the margins of life! Proverbs 23:26 says, “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” Psalm 20:4 says, “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” I think these scriptures give us much insight into His desire for us…He can find you in the “center” or the “margins”…but you must be available to Him! It’s amazing what you find when you “open the book!”
Like this:
Psalm 107:14 says, “He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.” As I look at this picture, I’m reminded how many “things” are chained up in the city where I live. Gates, blockades, abandoned schools, old hospitals, businesses, and the list goes on and on. An illustration can easily be made to our lives. Decisions we’ve made, places we’ve been, people we’ve been close to, places we’ve worked, and even sometimes our homes….could all be places where we feel “chained.” The scripture writer in Psalms gives us great hope and he says, “He brought them out of (utter) darkness…” and their chains were broken! What “chains” you today? I know what it is for me that could so easily “chain” me. What is it for you? Are you willing and ready to have your chains of utter darkness broken? There is hope…when you’re ready!
- Old GM Factory
2nd Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.”
I see this picture of an old GM plant and I think of this scripture….old things will pass away, and (in Christ) all things will be new. Part of the difficult part of seeing things (buildings, houses, businesses, etc.) deteriorate, is that many times there’s no hope for a “resurrection.” What has been, will never again be! But as we live in Christ, we are new creatures. Made new by and through His loving sacrifice for us. As we look at our lives and see areas of “deterioration,” we need to remember to allow Christ to “make them new again.” His work in us is enough…we no longer need to be satisfied with our old selves…we can be new in Him! It’s a matter of choice…which decision will you make?
Dan will be in concert at the Flint Central Church of the Nazarene (Chenoweth Center) on January 29th at 6:00 PM. A time of fellowship (and desserts) will immediately follow the concert. Come hear an awesome vocal talent from a great man!
Like this:
In the very bitter cold city of Detroit (January 20th), I found cats everywhere that had been abandoned. After dark (when there was no where else to go), I found guys like JT walking the cold streets….doing whatever he could to remain warm through the night. Abandoned? Maybe/Maybe not. Regardless, a well spoken man with a kind heart, lonely and struggling to get through the impossible….live another night in Detroit as a homeless man in sub freezing temps. It seemed the cats actually had better conditions and received greater compassion from those crossing their paths in the streets. It’s so easy to pass these people by and ignore them as it was their problems that got them on the streets anyway. Or was it their choice (or maybe their circumstances)? The next time you pass one “of the least of these,” maybe a heart of compassion to at least speak to them, offer a smile, or pray for them, would help in this terrible plight? Someone had set out all the food a cat could want in the streets of the city, but the people go hungry each day. Let’s never forget how privileged we are and remember in our disgust for the homeless, they are people too! Jesus was homeless…could He be “disguised as one of the least of these?”
If you don’t know the relationship of the two in this picture, you would think it’s just another couple of guys playing an instrument. However, when you realize this is a father and son, the image takes on a whole new meaning. Since I personally know this family, it especially “speaks to me.” A father teaching, setting an example to follow, loving, encouraging, being a close mentor, and the list goes on and on. If every father “set this pace” our world would be a better place. The statement is so true that says, “it’s better to build a boy than repair a man.” Maybe we (fathers) should take a long look at this picture and ask ourselves, “how am I doing?”
Jean Pierre de Caussade says, “that each moment of our lives can be a sacrament, a vehicle for God’s love and power. The present moment holds infinite riches beyond your wildest dreams, BUT you will only enjoy them to the extent of your faith and love….to discover God in the smallest and most ordinary things, as well as in the greatest, is to possess a rare and sublime faith.”
Can We Be Jesus?
Watching a very peaceful demonstration today (I stopped while driving by), I was struck with how “polarized” our world is on the issue of abortion. It’s argued everywhere and I don’t need to argue it here. What really grabbed my attention (as I watched people “demonstrate” as well as women leaving the clinic) was one common theme…TEARS! Tearing at the heart of everyone involved was the great need for the peace only found from our Lord. I was reminded how I need to “love my neighbor as myself” as part of the greatest commandment (Mark 12:31). You see, the scripture never gave us an “exemption clause” in which we could choose who to love (we don’t have to agree, but we are commanded to love). Perhaps as important as trying to change our laws, would be to pray for and love our neighbors (yes, even those who step into an abortion clinic). As you know, this is not easy…but necessary! As Christians we have an opportunity to reach out to those in crisis, yet they will never hear our hearts if our voice drowns out His love. There’s much I don’t know, but I am convinced that the Lord loves those I saw drive away today…in tears!
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus answered, “The most important one is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater.”
Mark 12:31
Tracy, Amanda, Ani, and Alyssa….
