Love is......

The world tell us February is "LOVE" month. Yet, in God's economy everyday is "LOVE" day. He tells us the world will know we are Christians by the the love we have one for another.

What demonstration of love do you give those around you? More specifically how do you demonstrate love to your husband? Love is in the details. I have so many examples ~ times I have failed, times God's grace has enabled me to give.

Do I insist on my own way? THE restaurant I want to go to? THE movie I want to see? THE temperature in the house I want?

Do I keep quiet and listen rather than 'butt in' and start yapping? Do I pray asking God if I should speak or be quiet?

Am I willing to go the extra mile? Do the extra thing? Stay up an hour later to help out? Skip my nap so someone else can have one? Let the plans we had planned go, so someone else benefits. Little details that speak love.

Love is a strong witness to the world. Not the "mampy pamby" kind of love but true love. Love that gives and expects not in return. Love that sacrifices ones own desires. Love that reaches out to the unlovely. Love that forgives. Love that desires for another that which one wants for herself. Love that speaks the truth.

You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Free from you. Free from others. Free to love others you may not otherwise have an affinity for.

As I posted in earlier posts, we are studying Song of Songs in our Sunday School class on Sundays. It is an adult class of married couples. This week we were looking at Song of Solomon 8:1-7. In verses 6-7, we are introduced to seven different aspects of love. How many do you see in these verses? What are they?

*Personal ~ 'set me' as a seal upon your heart.

*Protected ~ his care for her and her care for him.

*Powerful ~ Love is strong as death.

*Possessive ~ Godly jealousy of intimacy. For one.

*Passionate ~ Love is full of fire.

*Perseveres ~ Love is going to endure.

*Priceless ~ cannot be purchased.

This week as I have continued to 'meditate' on these truths, I have asked myself many questions. Do I love like this? Am I the 'lover' God desires me to be to my honey. Is my love for Dave as strong as death? Do I persevere in love? Every day God has given me something to think about in light of these Scriptures. And to ask forgiveness for.

Food for thought.

Good for me. What about you? Do you love like God wants you to?

I may be married 40 years, yet I still have lots to learn and apply!

God's Grace is so evident to me today ~ how I thank HIM he doesn't give up on me~

Grateful Girl here, Lynette

Marriage Monday

My creative Hubby surprised me on Valentines Day! This surprise was on our bathroom mirror and the first thing I saw on Valentines Day morning!

So special to me!

These sweet 'blessings' all over the house!

On the downstairs mirrors too.

So thoughtful, so creative, so loving to me ....

Even in the family room upstairs!

Valentines love from my hubby to me ~ Dave is the most loving there is!

Who said "love" get old? Nope! Not around here! It only gets better and better!

We love because HE, Jesus, first loved us.

I am so grateful and full, Lynette

My Daybook~

Valentine Ideas for 2011? I'm thinking...........

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...sunny, blue skies, snowy patches on the grass and snow covered deck. Cold but not as cold as it was. The air seems to smell of the hint of spring......

I am thinking...how good God is to me. He is ever with me and loves me abundantly. He forgives me. He gives me grace constantly. He is my refuge and tower of strength. He has made me for a purpose. I can trust HIM!

I am thankful for...God's Word. It gives me life. Guidance and courage are found in it. I thirst for it and I get soooo 'hungry' when I neglect to 'eat from it'.

From the learning rooms...Hannah has the BEST math teacher and it is not me!

From the kitchen...ice tea is brewing on the counter. Not much going on there right now.

I am wearing...black cotton socks, grey sweat pants and a red long sleeve tee shirt with ribbons on it. Oh, and a big smile.

I am creating...space today in my house by de-cluttering spaces like drawers and shelves.

I am going...to be working on my continuing de-cluttering winter project. If I haven't used it (or anyone in my family hasn't used it) in the last 12 months ~ good bye!

I am reading...my Bible systematically, using M'Cheyne's calendar for daily readings and D.A. Carson's "For the Love of God~ Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word" that goes along with M'Cheyne's.

I have been reading through the whole Bible for years now and I was thrilled the 1st year I did it as to the huge blessing it was in my life. There are not words to explain it. I regret I got started so late in life in this rich blessing.

I am hoping...Spring comes early this year. I am not fond of snow and ice....smiling!

I am hearing...my oldest daughter's pen writing quietly as she is writing in a pocket sized journal across the room from me.

Around the house...a puttering kind of day. I like to have a list on these kinds of days, so I get more done, faster. The de-cluttering is a goal and will not be done in one day or one week or probably one month. I am taking one room at a time. Right now, I am in our bedroom. Monday I was able to get half my desk done. Half. My desk (which sits in our bedroom---privacy!) is one of my favorite places. My goal is to streamline it. So I cleaned out and sorted and threw out three drawers worth of paper and stuff,on Monday. Today I will tackle the middle one and the other three on the right side. (Maybe I will blog one day on this task...ha)

One of my favorite things...is organizing to be more efficient. I recently read that the average person wastes 55 hours a year 'looking' for things misplaced or lost items in their house. 55 HOURS? Who wouldn't want to get those hours back? ME---I do!

A few plans for the rest of the week:Basketball Games as my hubby is Boys Varsity Coach, Rebekah is Girls Varsity Coach (Caleb is her assistant Coach)and Hannah plays on the Girls Varsity team too. I sit and cheer and watch. Can you see we ALL like Basketball? It's a family thing!

Looking forward: Valentines Day is Monday. It is a cute holiday. I like it. I am sure every little girl likes it. Big ones too. When my children were little we made Daddy Valentines. Now that mine are all grown, I still give each a Valentine. I had to get creative. Now I just give them a Starbucks $5 gift card or some such little thing. Yet for my honey, I make his Valentine myself!

The above picture is from 2009 when he surprised me on Valentines Day!!! Sweet memories and I am glad I have a picture to remember by!

Who will you give a Valentine to? If your wallet is empty, make one. A card. A cake. Cookies. A ribbon with heart of endearing words. Anything! Just do it ~ demonstrate Love!

Because HE first loved us, Lynette