Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Do you know how much?

Even though I love a good bargain, I'm not thinking how much as in dollars and cents. Maybe sense.... How much do you sense God around you, in you, through you? Honestly, I have to admit lately, not as much as I'd like....but I've been trying to handle everything on my own again. Usually, when Easter is coming up, I can feel God pretty strongly. This year just seems to be zipping by though and it seemed to sneak up.

Sometimes the true message of Easter can get to caught up in the egg hunts, baskets and the elusive Easter bunny.

The true message of Easter is that Jesus came to prove to us HOW MUCH we are loved! Even when the world tells us we are politically incorrect or a day when we are feeling unlovable, it does not change the fact that we were worth Jesus dying on a cross for us. Jesus didn't come to be an earthly ruler or a political activist. He came to spread His arms across the expanse of that cross and say, "THIS is how much I love you!"

Romans 5:16-18 (NIV)

16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.


I used to have a song I'd sing to our kids when they were little and we'd joke about how much do you love me.

I love you up to the sky and back....and around the world and back again.... I love (kid's name).

I picked up the CD "Freedom" by Mandisa at the library recently. I had heard a few of her songs on the radio. I had not heard the one entitled "How Much" (song below). When I heard it the first time, it was at one of those down moments where I needed a reminder and I SO needed to hear it right then. I got that tingly feeling that shivered through me as I let the words soak in. Hope it does that for you too.

Mandisa's How Much:

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Life and Death....and don't miss out on sharing the ride....

I really should be in bed (what else in new?). But there are times when I realize why I'm up. This is one of them. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes. We found out earlier tonight that our Grandma's boyfriend died. Grandma died a few years ago. Both of them had memory issues as they aged. When we would visit, we would have the same conversation about 3 times in the time we were there....and usually in the same order. It would be kind of frustrating, in a lovable sort of way. They could remember things that happened YEARS ago, but not things that happened just a few hours....or minutes before.

I always thought it was kind of cool that they found love again at their age. Both of them had been married before. It really said something about grandma because men were pretty much a high commodity where she lived. Men could take their pick. (lock that in memory for future reference, boys....hee hee!)

I would sometimes have to guilt our kids into going to visit on Sunday afternoons when there was usually something else they would rather be doing. Sometimes there was other stuff I would rather be doing too. However, when we would get there and the residents would be so excited to see the kids, it was all worth it. We still remember some of the residents and being counted by one lady as we walked by.

I would remind us that the time would come that they would not be here anymore for us to visit....and we would miss that. It did and we do.

After Grandma died, we would still visit him occasionally. He was worried we would forget him. He would tell us stories of the things he'd done. He was in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the war. He showed us pictures of himself as a young man. Later, he moved. We went to his birthday party. We told him we would get back to see him. We didn't.

Our older generations are a treasure of history and information. Sometimes we get so busy with today that we forget about yesterday.

Hebrews 6:10-12 (NLT) 10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

I received the following link in an e-mail from my sister (very timely)....and part of the reason I started out in tears. It reminded me of those times I took the time to spend with my grandma that lived with us for years, Jeff's grandma, her boyfriend, etc. It reminds me that the day will come when my ride is nearing the end....and I may be the one wishing someone would come visit.

http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/

Life seems long, love while you can....even if it's while you're forgetting. Our Sundays are not the same. One day they really are gone.