1 Corinthians 13-a Christmas Version

I shared this at our Ladies Christmas Party & Ornament Exchange:

If I decorate my house perfectly, with strands of twinkling lights & shiny ornaments, but do not show love, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, bake dozens of Christmas cookies, prepare gourmet meals & arrange a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I'm just another cook.

If I work at MRM, carol at the nursing home, give a lot to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the tree with intricate ornaments, attend a myriad of Christmas programs & holiday parties, & sing in the church choir, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love pauses to encourage the friend. Love is kind.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated everything, or the kinds of presents they get their family.

Love doesn't yell at the kids or dogs to get out of the way, or be critical of those around them, but is thankful they are there to be "in the way."

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games & gadgets will break, jewelry will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Strong or Weak, Healthy or Hurt

I am a runner...I love stories like these. And I love all the verses in the Bible about running, finishing strong, etc. I hope this might encourage you today~

At this state championship cross country race in 2010, Holland Reynolds (16) helped secure her team's champion title. You might think she did this by winning the race, or at least coming in top 5. No...she did it by literally crawling the last 5 meters across the finish line. It's a 3.1 mile course & at the 2.5 mile marker she was in 3rd place, pushing for 2nd out of the 169 runners. Then this team's top runner's legs just started to give out & cramp. Her quad muscles seized & chose to simply not work for this champion runner. She was healthy, but suddenly became weak. But she kept her eyes fiercely on the finish line. Reynolds said she did not remember collapsing but did remember crawling: “All I knew was that I had to cross that line.” Her team won the championship that year. Because, even though she crawled for her 37th place finish, her team would not have won it if she didn't cross that line.

Today, are you one of the strong runners you see finishing strong?

Or are you like Holland Reynolds here, finishing weak?

But even if you are weak, are you still healthy? Do you still have your eyes focused on the prize, the finish line, if you are hurting?

There are days when I feel as if I could sprint across that finish line.

There are others when I feel as if all I can do is crawl to it & fall down exhausted.

But it's crossing it that matters. Not giving up or quitting.

Running Hero

First things first...yes, this is a pic from the 80's...so now you don't have to wonder about the track suit :) But I LOVE this picture...here's why:

This is more of my family heritage--this is my Uncle Gene. I am a life-long runner because of this man. In this picture, by looks of the flags in the background, his track suit, & the stop watch in his hand, he was a cross country & track coach in eastern MT--both of which sports I did all through junior high & high school (many meets, he cheered me on & coached me even though I wasn't on his 'team', which I loved)...& am a runner to this day. I also stand just like him (hand on the hip 'tude)...& we kinda look alike :) This awesome man is with the Lord now & I miss him cheering me on, but I am blessed with wonderful memories of him. And even as I was out on my run thismorning, I thought of him with his stopwatch getting splits.

Wife

So I have ventured into something a little new & different as far as leading a Bible study goes. My new small group met for the first time tonight & I am so excited! The Lord is so wise & wonderful to lead me to do such things! I am doing a small group approach to learning & growing to be an Excellent Wife--with some absolutely beautiful 'young wives.' I am thrilled to see where the Lord takes us! But as I thought about why I am doing this study, what my motives are...the Lord put some words on my heart, as He often does & this is what I shared with these girls tonight:

I don't claim to be a perfect wife, even an excellent wife. Because I am not a perfect woman or believer. I am far from a perfect person. Because as long as I walk this earth, I'm a sinner. But Jesus didn't come for the perfect...He came for the sinner, the sick, the imperfect...He came for me. I am a sinner saved by grace & I have been graced to a high calling. The calling of being a wife. To be a partner, helper, friend, encourager, lover, cheerleader to a man I call my husband. My loyalty is to God first, my Master, then to fulfill the wedding vows He gave & I said on my wedding day to my most prized earthly possession. I don't know it all, not even close, that's not why I am leading this small group, but I do know the best 2 things there are to know: to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, strength & to love people. The more I love Jesus, the more I'll love people, mainly, my husband. I am called to love. So that's what this is all about--to study to love better. It is one of my life goals to always study & learn how to be a better follower & wife...because I know I can't or won't know it all until I meet the Love of My Life face to face, so until then, I will do my best, all that I can to honor the love of my earthly life.

Oh, I am thrilled & can't wait to dig in with this group!

Render

Here is a funny truth for you: I have turned out to be kind of a computer nerd. I spend A LOT of time in front of not one, but two computers & I actually enjoy it most of the time. Then came something I never suspected or guess would be my job in a million years. I was suddenly the "media girl" at the church...yes, in charge of anything video. Self-taught. Feeling completely inadequate at times, but all the while getting faster at editing & enjoying expanding my creativity through video & media.

So I recently read this verse...now one of my favorites & causes me to wait & ponder it for a moment as I evaluate my life:

"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments."

Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,

and abounding in steadfast love..." Joel 2:12-13

There is so much I could say about those verses, but I love one of the main points: it's a heart matter, not a matter of how you look on the outside. We can look all calm, cool, collected, put together, & great on the outside, but what does my heart look like? That is a true reflection of who I am & my character. Do the 2 match up, or are they altogether different? What's the disconnect? And this can look different depending on the day or hour!!! Anyways, what really makes me stop when I read that verse is this word: REND. Render your heart. Here comes the tie-in with my computer & video nerdedom--EVERY time when I am finished editing a video...when I have cut, razored, transitioned...made this video how I want it, have made it absolutely as good as I can so the audience I am making it for will appreciate it & like it...I export the video. Then this box comes up, every time...I see it multiple times each week:

See it?! "Rendering Media..." While in the video world, I do my best to make a great video to present to my audience...as it renders, it is making it presentable. The passage in Joel says to "render my heart"--am I doing everything I can to best present my heart to the audience it was made for? My audience of One? What I am doing to rend my heart for the Lord & make it more presentable to please Him? I'm glad I have this reminder so often during my week--a reminder to examine my heart & see if I am just concerned about the "garment" or if I am truly presenting my heart to the Lord with excellence.

The Ten Toast

August 11, 2001

If I were to make a toast today, it would perhaps go a little something like this:
To my amazing husband & friend-thank you for loving me these last 10 years, loving me as our wedding vows promised on August 11, 2001. You have made being your wife such an honor & joy, not to mention it has been a blast being married to you for 10 years. We have seen a lot of ‘life’ together in our 10 years, some ‘life’ that many people don’t ever have to face, but there is no one I would have rather faced ‘life’ with. Doing ministry side by side has been an incredible journey for me, one I love & have never regretted…I look forward to serving with you for many years to come. I respect you, cherish you, adore you & above all things, love you…deeply.

I thank the Lord for calling me to you & changing my life with you.
And to the friends & family that have encouraged us, loved us, & taught us along the way…THANK YOU! Our marriage has been impacted by so many these last 10 years!

Cheers!

Coeur d 'alene August, 2001

Coeur d 'alene August, 2011

Celebrating my Beautiful Friend

I wish I could be with my beautiful friend, Brittany, today...give her a hug & tell her in person how blessed I & countless others are by her being born this day! God has so graciously allowed me to do life with this amazing young woman...only He could know exactly what I needed when He gifted my life with Brittany Ficek. Who knew several years ago, after meeting & a simple drop-in to Coldstone Creamery that she would become one of my dearest & closest sisters & friends! Her faith is fresh & steadfast...she is wise & mature beyond her years...she absolutely BEAUTIFUL...her heart is genuine & soft...she is compassionate & kind...she is confident...she stands on God's Truth for her identity & foundation...while she has known the Lord basically all her life, she is the walking testimony of faithfulness...she is an amazing, loving, & adoring wife...she is a servant to the core...she loves her family...she prays & worships passionately...she is a light shining brightly...she is fun & has a great sense of humor...she is so gifted & talented...she is reliable & loyal...she loves God's Word & seeks out ways to grow...she loves Christ with all that she is. She is such a wonderful friend to me...one of the best a girl could ever ask for! She knows me well & loves me anyways :) We have travelled the world together & then some...we have some of the most wonderful memories. She encourages me to be more like Christ in all areas of my life. She says the hard things in love & showers me with love & encouragement. She is this & so much more! Happy Birthday Britt--I love you--you are truly an amazing creation & daughter of the King!