Tag Archives: Unconditional love

Happy Birthday to My Eldest!

Christianity, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Image

Happy Birthday to my Eldest!

I would be remiss not to mention the birthday of my eldest son.  He was the little guy who first made me a Mommy.  He was the first human being to really teach me what “unconditional love” meant.  I thought I knew….then he was born.  So when the second one arrived, I was prepared and understood how that love multiplied and didn’t divide.

Being a mom is not the easiest job in the world…in fact, I personally think it is one of the most difficult.  We got through the necessary stages…newborn, baby, toddler, preschooler, young child, child, preteen, teen, post teen and now Adult.  I am still working on being a mother of the Adult stage. And I have made plenty of mistakes…

I am proud of my children.  But I often say that I cannot take the blame for their failures, anymore than I can take credit for their successes.   They are adults.  They are still a delight to me.So I give God the praise today for allowing me to learn so much from my first born.  I thank Him for trusting us enough to raise him.  And I say Happy Birthday…to my once little buddy.

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9*

image A2Z animation, NIV Bible*

Simple Dining

Christianity, Grace, Love one another, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, , , , , , , , ,

family7

SIMPLE DINING

 

After church I saw a person standing on the corner of an intersections asking for money.  I gave him some, because I knew that is what the Lord wanted me to do.  Honestly though, can’t these people get a job?  Last Wednesday night at Bible study that new gal told us she had messed up in the past with some “inappropriate behaviors”.  Really?  I told her that God loved her and would forgive her, but I know she will do it again!  Gees, I go to church every time the church doors are open…cannot say the same for my neighbors.

We go out and eat every Sunday after services.  I swear though, I told my husband and kids that I will never go back to that restaurant.  That waitress was simply awful!  I don’t know how many times I had to correct her and let her know she was doing a lousy job.  One of her co workers whispered to me that her husband and just left her and her two year old little boy.  Well, I felt bad for her, but she had a job to do and was getting paid.  I expected better service and I told her so before we left!

NOW, before you start throwing tomatoes….or stop reading…this is an exaggerated story!  I would hope that I never consciously said or acted this way!  I especially would not have wanted to act this way in front of my kids….but, it does sound vaguely familiar.  That isn’t good. Did I say things as I “do good Christian” things in front of my children when they were at home with me?  What message have I sent them?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all the mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…..Now we see but a poor reflection in the mirror, then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

Our lifestyle and the good “Christian things” that we do to be  a “good Christian” keep us from loving.  This type of bondage enables us to do things which mean nothing to the kingdom.  They are done out of obligation and not out of love.  Agape love allow us to love without condition.  The highest form of love is when God infiltrates our hearts and we are able to allow Him to love through us…agape love.

Is this easy?  Not always, but it is completely attainable when we understand the love that GOD has for us.  When we abide in his love and surrender our will and life to him, we are able to love, and that love drives us.  It allows us to “want” to love and share.  We are personally convicted to do out of our hearts, and not out of obligation.  It is useless to do anything…without love.

Children are beyond honest.  I messed up…alot. They could tell you stories, I am sure.  These simple lessons of loving, without obligation….and through love are the lessons I hope my children remember.  And if they remember my mistakes( I am sure they do when I think of hearing them repeat my words as I yell at the driver in the next lane)….I pray that they do learn from them, and not repeat them.

Simple Lessons.

Be Blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*image-animationsA2Z, NIV Bible*

Just Like Their Daddy

Christianity, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

Image

He Looks just like his Daddy!!

My husband and I are the proud parents of two adult men.  Wow, that is weird evening saying that…it seems like yesterday we were the proud parents of two little boys!  They truly do grow up quickly. I cannot stress that enough.  I remember people telling me that and I seriously thought I would be crushing cheerios underfoot for the rest of my adult life!

One thing that always made us proud was when someone told us that the boys looked “just like their daddy.” Although I was a “stay at home mom” who cared for those youngsters, on occasion I thought it would be nice if someone said at least one of them looked like me!!  My husband was out working sometimes very long hours so I could stay home.  Of course I thought I did all the work, so if one of them looked like me I felt like I was at least getting some credit, at least it seemed that way!  But loving my Godly husband and realizing this was a compliment, I often let it slide; it was a blessing that they looked just like their Daddy.

As the boys aged, their appearances changed, as well as the development of their own special personalities.  The eldest one really favors his father.  His mannerisms and voice are very similar to his dad.  The youngest one has many of those characteristics as well, although he does favor me just a bit!!  I must say that my hazel eyes are no where to be found.

What a picture of God.  What a compliment to be told you look like your Father!  Jesus spoke to the disciples in John 14:9-11 “Jesus answered, ‘Don’t you know me Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say ‘Show us the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?  The words I say are not just my own.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.'”

“Seen” in the above verse means that we have “perceived, discerned clearly, to behold. To see with the eyes, to experience.” (Strong’s) Jesus was responding to Phillip’s request in verse 8..“Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  Gees, I bet Jesus was scratching his head thinking he had been with them all this time and they still didn’t get it!  Jesus was in the Father and the Father in Him.  All that the disciples had seen should have proven to them who Jesus was, yet they still had a hard time “seeing” the Father.  They did not “perceive” who he really was and why he was here on earth. (Of course we aren’t very different, are we?)

He showed characteristics of the Father over and over.  He healed, he comforted, he ministered, he taught, he wept, he laughed..he loved unconditionally.  Jesus’ life was the life of the Father.  While fully man, he was fully GOD.  All the attributes that Jesus possessed were a picture of what God was and IS to His children today!  Can’t you hear it now…an elderly lady on the road to gather water at the town well passes Jesus as a child.  She tousles his hair and comments, “I tell you what Jesus, you look just like your Daddy!”  Jesus just smiled in agreement, the truth never being more true!  

As parents, we have the honor, privilege and responsibility to “train up the child”.  What better teaching than to show them who the Father truly is?  We shared many of our life experiences with the kids as we felt we should.  Why?  To show them how the Father worked in our lives, and even when we weren’t perfect, He always was. His unconditional love is truly that…unconditional.

So I guess we must ask ourselves…do we look like our Daddy?  Do our kids?  A greater compliment cannot be given…..

Blessings dear ones..

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*Strongs, Google clip art*