Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Love insists not on its own way

From 1 Corinthians 13 we read: 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never ends.

Love does not insist on its own way.

This is something that we are working on as a family. Learning that love is not selfish.
Love doesn't yell when it doesn't get its own way.
Love doesn't say "I want what I want regardless of what you think about it".
Love doesn't say "I can interrupt you even if you are talking".
Love listens.
Love finds a way to communicate clearly.
Love cares enough to help the wounded.
Love cares enough to do the dishes, wash the floor, mow the lawn without arguing or complaining about it.
Love cares enough to teach one's child at home, this despite the insecurities it brings.
Love cares enough to do laundry at 1000 p.m. at night even if one is tired.
Love cares enough to be the main bread winner in a household.
Love holds, hugs, dies to self, wipes tears, cuddles close, disciplines, and so much more.

Love DEMANDS something of us. If it didn't, would it truly be love?

Love is so much more than we do on a regular basis and needs to be more.

God sent his son to DIE for ME. Me.. a sinner, separated from his holiness. And yet he chose to do this for me.
Jesus willingly died for me. It was NOT an easy decision, not an easy thing for him to do, and yet, he chose to take my place on that cross because I as a sinner, am guilty of all the wrong things that happen. And yet, he DIED for me.

Can I not, extend a bit more of myself for those around me? Is that too much to ask?

Previous in this series
These words keep running through my head..
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy.
Love does not boast.
Love is not arrogant.
Love is not rude.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Christian Carnival ii - October 12, 2011

quite a long list of submissions today. There were two that I didn't include as they didn't seem to fit the profile of "Christian" blogger. I don't see Christ ever mentioned on your site, it's not particularly Christian then.

Annette presents Love is not rude posted at Fish and Cans.
when I think of rudeness I think of someone who says or does something without regard for the other person. For instance: a person the butts into line.
Chelsea Childress presents A Security, A Surrender posted at An Arrow in the Making.W
hat was so hard for her was that the car was out of her control. Something that she typically had full reign over was now in the hands of someone else, someone inexperienced. And that made her fearful.
Ridge Burns presents Preaching posted at Ridge's Blog at InFaith.
Preaching – it is a big deal and a heavy responsibility, but it provides great joy.
David R Wells presents Half-Calorie Christianity posted at Revelation 3:10 - Blog.
It seems to me that these half calorie Christian leaders are treating the Bible like the old saying of “take the good and leave the bad.” That is very dangerous. The Bible is full of instructions and they are all meant to be followed.
Rick Smith presents No Quick Fix posted at InFaith's Mission Blog.
Though these very practical matters may be of help in some cases, I think I’ve been missing the mark.
Sarah presents The Lovebook posted at This is what Sed said.
It's strange that something so small as writing an encouraging post about someone on Facebook has turned into such a spiritual battle for me.
Michael Cooke presents The "Big Business" of Church posted at Michael Cooke.
Living in today's society, we are constantly bombarded by marketing ploys from every business everywhere. It is inevitable. Everything from shoes to jeans to toys to literally everything has advertisement and marketing ploys to try and get you to buy their product. But since when did the House of God become the House of Big Business?
Chris Price presents Perry, Romney, and Mormonism posted at American Church History.
However, this brings up another question. Is there any reason that Mormonism should disqualify Romney from being president?
Rebecca LuElla Miller presents What Are We Saying posted at A Christian Worldview of Fiction.
But someone may well point out that some things, some people don’t deserve to be blessed. Actually that isn’t true.
True Stillwater presents Unanswered Prayers posted at Letters, Messages, and Prayers.
When life is shaky and everything is falling apart, the answers to my prayers always tell me to keep the faith…keep believing… know that I’m not alone
Kaleb presents The Most Important Relationship of All posted at W2W Soul.
In the midst of all our significant relationships, which require a lot of time, love and attention, what is the most important relationship of all? And, how do we nurture that relationship?
Brandon Peters presents Points of Authority posted at INSPIKS.
Prophets and even he whom Jesus was closest to (John), those who had lives probably far holier than any of ours, cowered when they saw God.
Carl presents Do Your Economic Duty: Get Married, Stay Married, and Have Kids! posted at Theological Pursuit.
The report, entitled "The Sustainable Demographic Dividend, What Do Marriage and Fertility Have to Do with the Economy?", give four conclusions from the analysis:
Zowada presents Christians are too desperate for growth. posted at Zowada Blog.
No matter how bad it hurts me, I must be open and honest with where I am at spiritually, even if it means disappointing the leadership over me, because guess what, my desire should be to truly change, not impress.
Dave Taylor presents One thing we lack. OK, there's three or four other things ... posted at Letters from another life.
But it's also working because it works. Being faithful to obey the Lord produces real change, not just a new set of beliefs.
Jennifer in OR presents For by the grace given me posted at Diary of 1.
I’ve always hastened over this verse that begins the introduction to the gifts, but I’d like to take a closer look.
Jeff presents Yom Kippur: A Reason for Christians to Celebrate posted at ReturningKing.Com.
Yes, you read the title correctly. To many, Yom Kippur is merely a foreign word that appears on our Outlook calendar each year. It seems that most believers do not even know what it, where it came from or most certainly what it represents. Yom Kippur is a good reminder of just how much rich heritage of the faith gets lost for modern Gentile believers. Because we do not serve the Mosaic requirements for Holy Days each year, we miss the richness of the Old Testament Feasts; each of which point to and are fulfilled by our Messiah, Jesus, in some way.
Stephen Bagasao presents The Death of Steve Jobs: The Real Story posted at Stephen Bautista Music.
The death of Steve Jobs has spawned numerous stories about his life and legacy, but there's a much deeper, pressing story to tell.
Maryann Spikes presents Questions Jesus Asked posted at Ichthus77.
I love how Jesus used questions to get people to think for themselves.
Michael S. Pearl presents About 'Militant Modern Atheism' and Religion posted at The Kindly Ones.
The submitted blog starts from Philip Kitcher's paper, "Militant Modern Atheism", in a discourse through the vacuousness of militant atheism to the nature of the religious sense. Although dismissed by Kitcher, this religious sense or awareness should not be ignored by secular humanist projects such as Kitcher's where the goal is to make religion redundant.
Melanie Grant presents Is that screen taking over his life? posted at Mel's Mouthful on Mothering.
Boys are getting a really bad rap at the moment - not without cause. Many parents seem to be cultivating a screen-based lifestyle whether it is their intention or not.
Josh presents Words of Encouragement: 30 Short Uplifting Quotes posted at What Christians Want To Know.
Here is a collection of quotes that I hope will encourage you.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Love is not rude

From 1 Corinthians 13 we read: 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never ends.

Love is not rude.
when I think of rudeness I think of someone who says or does something without regard for the other person. For instance: a person the butts into line.

the free online dictionary says this
rude (rd)
adj. rud·er, rud·est
1. Relatively undeveloped; primitive: a rude and savage land; a rude agricultural implement.
2.
a. Being in a crude, rough, unfinished condition: a rude thatched hut.
b. Exhibiting a marked lack of skill or precision in work: rude crafts.
c. In a natural, raw state: bales of rude cotton.
3.
a. Lacking the graces and refinement of civilized life; uncouth.
b. Lacking education or knowledge; unlearned.
c. Ill-mannered; discourteous: rude behavior.
4. Vigorous, robust, and sturdy.
5. Abruptly and unpleasantly forceful: received a rude shock.
Focusing of course on the interpersonal aspect of being rude
3.
a. Lacking the graces and refinement of civilized life; uncouth.
b. Lacking education or knowledge; unlearned.
c. Ill-mannered; discourteous: rude behavior.

So if Love is not rude, what is it, especially in regard to interpersonal relationships.

Love is refined, not uncivilized. So not like the conan the barbarian thing! Sorry folks that's what comes to mind for me. Love wants MORE from us. We need to think more and act less. To truly check ourselves.
This is something that we are working on with our son.
THINK. Now.. are you acting in a way that shows love?
is hitting mommy because you are angry showing mommy that you love her?
Is throwing the kitten because he was bad teaching him that you love him?

Love learns. In the context of the definition this would be educational learning, but think about it, can you truly show love to someone if you haven't learned abit about them? So learn who your fellows about you are. Learn so that you can love them.
This to is something I am trying to teach our boy.
Son.. I KNOW that you like it when I read to you in a fun voice.
Because mommy knows this she does her best to do it.
Mommy LIKES making you smile because she loves you.


Love is not discourteous, thinking only of itself. Love considers the needs of others.
This is a bit harder to teach a lad.
he is STILL so very self-centered.
It is indeed a continuing work in progress.
But then again, it's a continuing work of progress in myself.

So knowing that love is kind, love is patient, love is content with what they have, Love simply acts without calling attention to itself, and love is humble, what does it mean to say that love is courteous?

is it just a continuation of the theme that Love does not put itself before others?
the love is indeed following the path of Christ? The way to God himself?

Consider this: Jesus showed ALL this love for us when he died for us.
God showed ALL this love for us when he sent his son to die.

God could have been impatient, angry, selfish and what not. But he chose to remain true to his promise to us.

This tells me that as I learn more and more how to be a more loving person, the more and more I am becoming who God wants me to be. A person who follows after his own heart.

I KNOW I have a long way to go to be what he truly wants me to be. But when I see the list of what love truly is... isn't that a better thing?


Previous in this series
These words keep running through my head..
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy.
Love does not boast.
Love is not arrogant.

Friday, October 07, 2011

A pic for a sick church member

the lad drew this for a sick church member.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Yesterday Productive

Yesterday was one of the better days I've had in a spell. As some of you know I've been battling fatigue and feeling frantic in my head all the time. That feeling is still there but it's not as intense currently. It's doing a VERY good job of making me "not feel comfortable in my own skin".

On Tuesdays The lad and I do art and science. We also read. Makes for a relaxing day. We fill in the gaps with other things as well, but for the most part we make it a fairly relaxing day. This is important as Mondays are normally a rather busy, rather long day.

Yesterday we invited Renee and her children over to join us. The plan initially was to do some art science and then go for a nature walk. The children REALLY wanted to play with the bunnies so I had some out on the lawn and told them to go to it. :) We had an excellent time together.

Before they arrived I cut up the apples and got them to stewing for making applesauce. This caused us to become inundated with yellow jackets.

ERGO>>> I built some yellow jacket traps with the lad, hubby and I sprayed my bedroom which was loaded with yellow jackets, and we had a bit of a "ACK!!! THERE ARE YELLOW JACKETS IN THE HOUSE" freak out for a moment. It did give Renee's oldest child the opportunity to practice killing them though. :)

One such trap: here the lad is checking that it is working. it is. there are six of them floating in it.

We have another set up close to where one of the nests is as well... and it has a bunch floating in it as well. I HATE yellow jackets they are dangerous around the bunnies as well.

After we were done school for the day I went out and picked grass for the rabbits and had a visit with our neighbour. They are filling their days with painting right now. The lad came over to bug us and then started stealing my grass! He certainly likes to tease a body.

I got pictures of ALL the bunnies taken...now I need to get them onto my websites. I'm in process of building a new one. Here's the old one and here's the new one. If you have a moment can you tell me what you think? I want to make the new site highly informative and yet keep it as friendly as my old site is. What I like in the weebly one is that I can make drop down menus. What I dislike in weebly is I haven't figured out how I can put multiple pictures into one on "box". So far I can only put one in which I find bothersome. It is SO easy to do with the webs site. Does anyone know how to do that with weebly? put multiple pictures in one 'box"? thanks for helping if you do. :)

I also managed yesterday to get most of the laundry finished and put away. On Sunday I had opened the linen closet and said "oh, something stinks". (and yes I know, not the best way to rest on the Lord's day). Tracked it down to the comforters and what not in the bottom (I had started at the top because that's where it seemed to originate from). None the less the linen closet is now well organized and the smelly linens are washed! Certainly made of a pile of laundry to get through....

Believe God's Promises

This is a poster that is free to download. You can find it here.

HT: to Practical Pages.