Tag: love

Least Favorite Words . . .

Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. (Psalm 139:4 ESV)

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As I work through the prompts for 30 Days of Lists, every once in a while a topic seems to stump me. Today was such a day.

I love words. I don’t really have “least favorite words” to put into a list. But I do have words that I wish would never come out of my mouth. There is some comfort, as well as conviction in knowing that God is aware of a word that I will speak even before it exits my lips.

I like to collect words. I have the word “latte” on our buffet, a gift from our oldest son. I have the word “read” in my art studio because reading is one of my favorite ways to learn. My sister gave me a word sculpture that says “Life is Good.” I often paint the word “love” into my art because God desires love.

So when asked to write a list of least favorite words, I had to think more in categories rather than specific words. (And if I told you my least favorite word begins with “b” and resides inside your nose, that would just be gross, so I won’t mention the word.)

I do not like words that hurt my feelings or yours. I don’t care for angry, loud words or razor sharp ones–those cutting remarks cloaked as little daggers of disapproval. The kind of words that people claim were only jokes, but really are sucker punches to our egos. These are some of my least favorite kind of words.

I avoid words that are discouraging, degrading, disappointing or disgusting. I do not care for words that deprive others of their value or make them feel less than loved.

I dislike words that misinterpret a situation. I don’t like words that support lies or fail to keep their promise.

Sometimes words will fail me. But the WORD of God never does, and in fact the LOVE of God never will.

What are some of your least favorite words?

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Sneak Peek at my 31 Days Topic

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To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul…(Psalm 25:1 NIV)

To see all 31 posts in the series, click here.

Where has September flown?

My good friend, Dawn Paoletta, rousted me from slumber today, when I read that the 31 Days of Challenge is around the corner. Last year, I did 31 Days of Quiet. And the year before, I just posted whatever seemed nourishing that day.

Here I am, six days from October, and the topic on my mind is GOD+ART.

How to love Him more? How to think of Him constantly? How to practice His presence in all my ways? How to express my devotion to Him through ART and creativity?

So, my loose plan for the challenge includes meditating on Scriptures related to the soul, studying the life of Brother Lawrence through his booklet: The Practice of the Presence of God and communing with God through art journaling.

And then, I will share my fruit with you. For 31 days. For fun. For inspiration. For the challenge!

I have read the story of Brother Lawrence before, but I did not recall his conversion experience. That it involved a tree, seemed an invitation to spend time studying his life.

Here is the encounter with God that changed his life forever:

“That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time the leaves would be renewed and after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and Power of GOD, which had never since been effaced from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD …” (Brother Lawrence)

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Posted on by kelrohlf 3

God Rest Ye Merry

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (Psalm 16:11 NIV)

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Last Friday, my six year old niece and I spent the afternoon together. She loves to point out women who have “a baby in the belly.” She is very curious about the whole mystery of the how the baby arrives. So I’m not surprised that she enjoys playing with the nativity figurines, especially baby Jesus and Mary. When my sister picked her up, we noticed that Loryn had placed Mary in the manger with Jesus. After they left, I placed everyone back in their proper place.

The next day I read a devotion about Mary’s receptivity to bearing the gift of Jesus in her womb. So I put Mary back on the manger, in that vulnerable position of offering herself to God and her openness to receiving Jesus into her life as pure gift.

As I have mentioned, my journey during this Advent{ure} has been very different than past years. I find myself struggling daily to recapture the “feel” of Christmases past.  Disappointment creeps in, and depression lurks in the corner. I despair over my failure to experience the joy I know is possible this time of year.

Today, I remembered an explanation I once read about the carol, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. I used to think that the gentleman were merry and really didn’t think about what “God rest ye” meant.

“God rest ye merry” was an old English expression which petitioned God to keep one merry or joyful. (Christopher and Melodie Lane, Christ in the Carols)

When I try to manage my moods or control the merriment of the season, I become dismayed. I lose the joy of the season. My attempts at holiday cheer fizzle out, because my heart is occupied with anxious grabbing for stuff, rather than held open for receiving. I need to climb into the manger, and be still. To let His presence fill me with joy, peace, hope and complete love.

May God keep you merry the rest of this holy season!

 

Linking with Soli Deo Gloria Party

Posted on by kelrohlf 12