Happy Mother’s Day!

‘Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.’ Proverbs 31:30

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

My heart is thinking of every mom celebrating today:

First time Moms, New Step-Moms, Adoptive Moms, Stand-In Moms like Mentors and Friends and Moms who have been in the game longer than they care to count

Motherhood is a blessed responsibility – a true gift from God

There is no playbook – not even within families

Each child is unique in their own way – and so too are all you Moms

I celebrate you all today!

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

My heart is full of prayers

I am thinking of every Mom whose Mother’s day is forever changed.

I am praying for those who are experiencing the first Mother’s Day without their Mom.

I am praying for the countless Moms who are experiencing their first Mother’s Day without one of their children.

 

The first birthday, the first Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year; the first Valentine’s Day, Easter or any special day that you used to spend with that loved one - it does not get easier.

           

And while every experience is unique, I can relate on a personal level. I have been thinking about my Mom a great deal lately. She was my absolute heart. And while I miss her tremendously [this my first Mother’s Day without her on this earth], I know she is rejoicing today - at home, in heaven with Jesus and her Mom.

           

I honor you all this Mother’s Day –

Today, I am praying that you all have a blessed day

Whether you are reflecting on past memories; or if you are still blessed with the ability to create new memories with your Mom and/or children - may it be a day of peace, joy and relaxation.

 

Happy Mother’s Day & God Bless!

2021: St. Patrick's Day

‘For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God’  Romans 8:14

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Today is a day of great celebration for many and a day of national pride for many Irish. Yet, that has not been the primary or traditional reason of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in my family. Today is my Nana’s birthday!

Growing up in Boston, MA … March 17^th was a local holiday

My mom always told me we had the day off from school because we were celebrating my Nana’s birthday. And I remember thinking, ‘My Nana must be something pretty special for them to shut down the whole city.’ I think I was in second or third grade  before I found out the truth. I guess technically my Mom was not lying – that is why she celebrated March 17^th.  

However, she also incorporated some very Irish traditions: corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day. The recipe has been tweaked over the years. I add Guinness Stout to my corned beef and we have incorporated chocolate treats and a couple of loaves of Irish Soda Bread. However, the heart of the celebration is the same: good eats, counting blessings and enjoying relaxing time with family. This year my mom is heaven with her mom (my Nana) – but I like to think they are both smiling at me and my sons as we continue our family traditions.

Not all traditions are bad. However, the true message of St. Patrick’s Day often gets lost in some of those traditions. It is frequently overlooked the fact that St. Patrick was taken to Ireland as a slave and eventually played a substantial role in sharing the gospel with the Irish people.  A slave turned missionary  … that is noteworthy.

It is this aspect of St. Patrick’s Day which is much more aligned with the celebration of my Nana’s birth and life.  She was an amazing woman of God! She loved her husband. They were married over 50 years and did not separate until she went home to heaven. She loved her children, she consistently provided for her family, always extended a helping hand to neighbors and established a firm foundation of faith for her family and grandchildren. This legacy of faith has continued – the roots which she established continue to grow, bearing fruit in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great-grandchildren to this day. Faith in the One True & Living God, Facilitated by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and Empowered by the Holy Spirit … That is truly something to celebrate!

Therefore, in the tradition of honoring my grandmother and honoring the memory of St. Patrick, I leave you with this blessing: May the Strength of God guide us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us. May the Angels of God Surround us. May Christ be with us, before us and in us. Christ be over all!

THANKS GIVING 2019: Happy Thanksgiving!

Good Morning Friends!

Gobble, gobble, gobble – 

These words resonate in my ears every Thanksgiving

It is what my Auntie Barb always says every Thanksgiving Day

And she always sounds SO CUTE & joy bubbling out of her ... like it always does

ME –

I am up early and have not slept most of the evening;

Cooking, cooking, cooking!

But, I absolutely LOVE to cook so it is a pleasure

I am also up praying that your day is off to a great start –

That this Thanksgiving Day 2019 will be a joy-filled one;

And that if you are traveling this Thanksgiving Holiday – that you will be safe

THANKSGIVING is such a special day

HOWEVER – 

This is not where our giving of thanks begins … or where it should end

I hope during this series, that we have discovered –

WE HAVE SO MANY REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

EVERY DAY – there is something which should cause us to GIVE THANKS;

EVERY SEASON – should be a time for THANKSGIVING

COUNTLESS REASONS – abound, reminding us WE ARE BLESSED & SHOULD BE GRATEFUL

Let us not allow our heart of gratitude be relegated to a season or a day

Let us GIVE THANKS every day!

I am so thankful for you this morning!

Praying you have a tremendously blessed day –

Happy Thanksgiving & Much Love in Christ!

‘Rejoice always, pray continually,

                Give thanks in all circumstances –

for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.’ I Thessalonians 5:16-18

LOVE: IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

Hi There Friends!

I pray you have had a fantastic week!

It is hard to believe we have reached the end of February already

And with that end comes the close of our focus on LOVE

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series!

With all we have discussed about LOVE,

I know no better place to end than with this powerful reminder:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” I Cor. 13:4-7

I also love the way the Message Version defines LOVE:

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “Me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies

When you meditate on the definition of love and apply it to every relationship;

You will be absolutely amazed at the result!

Love for God, Love for Self, Love for Others –

There is nothing like the power of TRUE LOVE

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening

Wishing You Much Love …

LOVE: WHEN YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

Hi there friends!

I pray your day went well

I know – this is actually my second post today.

However, in all fairness, my aim was to get yesterday’s post up yesterday

But, it ended up going on the page just past midnight.

Why? Have you ever had one of those days – after a long day of working – where you say to yourself, ‘I’ll just sit/lay here for a moment to rest my mind and my eyes’? Well – that was me yesterday. And a few hours later I woke up and realized … that might not have been the best idea J

And, wouldn’t you know – it happened again … tonight!

However, I was not taking a ‘quick rest’ tonight. I started out talking to the LORD, and then crying to the LORD, and then singing to the LORD, and then listening … and then sleeping under the sweet presence of the LORD. Fittingly, when I awoke, I had a text message waiting for me from my very best friend. She said she was thinking about me and just wanted to check and make sure everything was ok. What a perfect segue into our discussion on – PHILEO LOVE!

PHILEO LOVE – it is often referred to as brotherly love.

However, it most accurately noted as a love shared between friends.

In the context of a family, storge love often comes first;

And, if you are fortunate, you can eventually have phileo love as well.

On the opposite side – with friends, you can start out with phileo love;

And, if you are extremely fortunate, it can develop in to a bond so deep that one would think it was storge.

Scripture tells us, there is a friend which sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). And, we all have the opportunity to know Jesus as that friend. His presence was very tangible to me this evening – before I fell asleep and even while I slept [that would take too much time to explain]. Yet even with that, the LORD reminds me of the special gift that He has given me in a friendship based upon phileo love with my dear friend. Jesus is great ... however, sometimes you need Jesus that you can see – to go to Starbucks with, to help with moving, to be a shoulder to cry on, to go bowling with, to go to a restaurant just for dessert & coffee, or to receive a text message from ... and who you can text back.

YES – I believe there are those unique relationships which the LORD allows to enter our lives where the individual sticks by our side closer than any family member ever could/would - and you do the same.

·         AGAPE LOVE – is an act of the will, which may or may not be reciprocated 

·         STORGE LOVE – is often rooted in where you have been assigned, the family where God decided to plant you. Yet, it too may or may not be reciprocated

·         PHILEO LOVE – however, is a mutual, or shared affection between two people

We talked about the concept of phileo love briefly when we discussed storge love. You will recall how we discussed the love shared between David and Jonathan – a love which was stronger than family [I Samuel 18:1]. This was phileo love which blended [at least in intensity] with storge love. It is an amazing thing!

If you are blessed to have such a relationship [or several relationships], you are no doubt aware of what an awesome gift it is to you and your friend. Sadly, however, if you do not have this type of relationship, you are probably painfully aware of the void it can leave in times when you need Jesus in a tangible form.

But all hope is not lost. There is a saying that one who desires friends should show him/herself friendly. So take some time to build connections with people. It may not always develop into a friendship based upon PHILEO LOVE. But, you never know … it could! 

I pray tonight that the LORD would bless you with one such friend.

If He has already blessed you with such a friend, I pray that you would never take that friendship for granted.

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening!

Wishing You Much Love …

‘Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.’ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

LOVE: SELFLESSLY PROVIDES

Good Evening Friends!

I pray you have had a great day and weekend

It is Super Bowl Sunday here in the US – basically another national holiday for most of us

My guys are all upstairs, watching the game, eating food and having drinks

I will join them in a few minutes. But first I had to post this message.

And yes, I am spending one more day on this concept of STORGE/FAMILY LOVE

It is the love which has been manifesting in my home all weekend.

It is a blessing having three sons.

Nothing gives me greater joy than when I hear what I hear tonight.

I am downstairs in my room typing away

And they are laughing and conversing and just enjoying the company of one another.

That joy will only be multiplied once any of them gets married and our family expands.

I once asked my middle son – quite some time ago – when he was going to start dating

His response was shocking as he looked me square in my eyes and said, ‘Mom, I am a selfish being. I like to spend my time the way I want to spend my time; I like to spend my money the way I want to spend my money and I am not willing to compromise right now. So, why get into a relationship and frustrate someone and have them frustrate me?”

I was completely taken aback at his declaration – 

However, I had to give him give points for being honest & candid

YET – the truth of the matter is that he is anything but selfish

He is one of the most generous and responsible people I know.

Without intending to do so, he has modeled my love message for today.

He possesses a love which selflessly looks toward the needs of others.

NOW – do I believe he still likes to spend his time & money the way he desires? YES!

HOWEVER – he lovingly places those desires second when he recognizes a greater need.

He is a pretty special man!

·         He understands the importance of a man looking after his own family: Taking to heart [even if unconsciously] that one who does not provide for his own family is worse than an infidel [I Timothy 5:8]

·         He demonstrates a love which lays down personal desires: He repeatedly esteems others more than himself. [Philippians 2:3]

·         He puts action behind his love: He embodies Philippians 2:4 which reminds and encourages believers: ‘Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.’

All of these qualities are so important in a family

It demonstrates how LOVE SELFLESSLY PROVIDES

I am truly blessed … and so very thankful

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening and Week!

Wishing You Much Love …

“A new command I give you; Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

LOVE: WHILE YOU CAN ...

Good Morning Friends

I pray your day is off to a great start – February 1, 2019

I continually find myself saying, ‘The older I get, the faster it goes’

However, I think it might be time for me to adopt a new saying when time passing:

‘Thank You God for the time; help me make the rest count’

I was going to move off our focus on STORGE/FAMILY LOVE

However, I believe I am going to spend one more day there – TODAY

WHY? Because it is so important to … LOVE WHILE YOU CAN

My cousin passed away yesterday morning; he was fifty-one years old. I think that is young. However, I might feel that way because he was only three years older than me. We were all more like siblings than cousins when we were growing up. He called my mom his second mom. My last contact with him before New Year’s Day was in December when he told me he would be coming to see her soon. He truly loved her. Yet, even with all his love for her, he was not able to make that last visit.

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us – the next moment is not promised to any of us

That is why it is important to – LOVE WHILE YOU CAN

Many people have been commenting on my cousin’s amazing smile.

And he did have an absolutely amazing smile!

That glint in his eye, the crinkle of his nose and then there was that dimple on his cheek.

His smile was infectious and you could not help but smiling yourself in response.

But why share this with my online friends who did not know him?

It is important to focus on loving family while you can & letting them know.

Family love [and love in general] is a precious gift – but one which can easily be taken for granted.

Therefore, it is important to be intentional about loving and expressing love

Take time to appreciate the little things that you love about people – and let them know

It is so important to express love –

Whether it is a kind word, a loving act, a thoughtful gift, a heartfelt hug or a listening ear

And this does not just apply to family love – it carries over into all areas of love

It is great to express the love you had and will continue to hold onto

However, you will never know the full impact of expressing the love you have – TODAY

LOVE EVERY CHANCE YOU CAN – seizing every opportunity to express love

LOVE BECAUSE YOU CAN – recognizing it is a gift from God to have people to love

LOVE WHILE YOU CAN – understanding there is no greater present like the present

Praying You Have a Blessed Day!

Wishing You Much Love …

“A new command I give you; Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

LOVE: IT'S A FAMILY THING

Good Morning Friends

Happy Thursday!

Hard to believe we are at the end of January already.

The older I get, the faster the time seems to go

Nevertheless, I hope you are enjoying your week

I also pray you are enjoying our focus on LOVE

It has been great to spend some time focusing on the love of God. Now, we are certainly not done with this most important facet of love. However, today we will be focusing on a different type – STORGE (pronounced stor-JAY).

What is STORGE?

One online definition labels it as a: ‘familial love [which] refers to natural or instinctual affection, such as the love of a parent towards offspring and vice versa …; a wide-ranging force which can apply between family members, friends, pets and owners, companions or colleagues.’

Why is it important?

This type of love [storge] is actually not mentioned in the Bible in its root form. There is a compound usage [philostorgos] and the opposite form [astorgos] mentioned in the Bible twice [in the context of storge love being lacking and the effects on humanity]. And, it is not mentioned in the Old Testament at all. However, the concept of STORGE was present from the start. Yes, if we look back to the beginning of creation, we find that one of the first actions that God took after the creation was to create – A FAMILY. 

He decided it was not good for Adam to be alone and He gave him Eve, to be his wife.  What a precious gift they both received – to have an established network, an instant support system and, a place to call home – and not just in the sense of a residence. Have you ever been in the presence of someone and it felt just like ‘home’? And it does not occur solely within biological families. Looking back to our definition, I can look at each of those areas and thank God that I have been blessed with friends, pets and colleagues who all became every bit as much family to me as my direct family members.

So why was it important to God?

I believe the focus on creating a unit where storge/family love could be present was important because that was the ultimate goal all along. The LORD desired for us to know the value of family, to experience the love within family, to be a part of His family.

This picture below is one my favorite pictures from travels with my children when they were younger - probably because it is a bunch of boys ... being boys. It is an image of them on the shoreline with their cousins. You would think they were all fast and furious friends, on yet another adventure. However, these were distant cousins whom they had only ever seen once before. It was during a trip to Panama. I had decided – long after my ex-husband and I had separated – to take my sons to go meet the other side of their family. I felt it was important – and it is a decision that I have never regretted.

I still remember the day we arrived for our vacation. There was a small ‘tribe’ at the airport to greet us [three van loads]! I recall my youngest, grabbing hold of my hand and asking with amazement, and possibly a bit of trepidation, ‘Are all those people here to meet us?’ Yes – I responded – THAT’S FAMILY!

NOW – I realize that not every family situation is filled with love and loving moments. However, family love was prototype before people and life situations got damaged by the effects of sin.

YET – It is still such a precious prize.

FAMILY LOVE

If you do not have this family love – realize that it is available in so many other relationships.

Although not his biological child, Timothy became so much like family to the Apostle Paul that Paul referred to him as ‘his own son’ (I Timothy 1:2). Likewise, David and Jonathan shared a closeness that surely superseded the closeness that either of them shared with their biological siblings; scripture noting ‘Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul’ (I Samuel 18:1). And then there is Ruth and Naomi; Ruth declaring her loyalty, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go … your people will be m people and your God, my God.’ [Ruth 1:16] This type of family love can be developed in many ways.

If you have this family love – cherish it, nourish it and fight for it. Reflect on the characteristics of love and employ them within the family, remembering, ‘Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ [I Cor. 13:4-7] It is this type of love, cultivated within a family – freely given and willingly accepted – which helps build the foundation for individuals to become loving people inside and outside of the family unit.

Praying You Have a Blessed Day!

Wishing You Much Love …

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ...

Happy Thursday!!!

One step closer to the weekend & doubly blessed because … 

YESTERDAY WAS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

It was a good day!

And, I woke up with a sense of excitement … but not for the reason you might think

I love when my birthday rolls around because it means I am just a few short weeks away from my favorite holiday – VALENTINE’S DAY

OK – I know it is a little early to be thinking about Valentine’s Day and LOVE

BUT – It truly is my absolute favorite holiday!

I loved it as child – when I would go to the store with my mom and we would pick out cards to give to my classmates. I always wanted to give some candy or a lollipop with my cards. And even back then, I always wanted to make sure that I matched the right card to the right person.

When I managed a team – Valentine’s was always a big deal. Catered breakfast, decorations, candy, gifts for my staff and co-workers and, of course, games & prizes [one year the grand prize was a weekend getaway at upscale hotel at the oceanfront]!

As a parent – I would decorate the whole house with red heart balloons, buy special presents, select the tastiest candies and prepare a special dinner. AND I HAVE THREE SONS!!! But Valentine’s Day was always like another Christmas in my house. That part is not surprising since Christmas is about one of the greatest acts of love ever recorded. God so loved the world that He gave … He Gave His love, He Gave His best, He Gave His Son [Jn. 3:16]

AND –

I believe He not only loves to shower us with His love;

He loves for us to shower others with love as well

I BELIEVE VALENTINE’S DAY IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE ON THOSE CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART. 

Now, some would say that you should do that all year – AND YOU SHOULD.

But, it is also good to seize extra opportunities to DEMONSTRATE LOVE EXTRAVAGANTLY 

I LOVE THE LORD

I LOVE LOVING ON PEOPLE

AND ... I AM HOPELESS ROMANTIC!!!

Therefore, you will have to forgive me – but over the next few weeks I will be focusing on:

AGAPE, PHILEO & EROS [GODLY LOVE, BROTHERLY LOVE & ROMANTIC LOVE]

There is actually a fourth which we discuss as well: STORGE [FAMILY LOVE]

I’m not certain where this short posting series is going to end up … BUT I CAN’T WAIT!

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening & Happy Friday Tomorrow!