Tag: love

  • Draw near to God

    “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8

    What a great promise — that when I draw near to God, he will automatically in turn embrace me with his everlasting love. The responsibility is mine to freely give myself to him. No one forces me to get close to God or learn more about his character in the Bible and through godly teachers. But I know for a fact that relief and comfort reside    when I do act on what I know to be true, honest, just, pure and lovely! “The moments I truly live are the moments when I act with my entire will” – Oswald Chambers.  

    The opposite is true when I chose to go my own way and do my own selfish thing … turmoil, chaos, fear, doubt permeate my being and cause all manner of physical and mental distress. This place is not a pretty place to linger. “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” — James 3:7

    I have options … choosing to follow the devil = pleasure for a short time, followed by unrest and death; or chose to follow and cling to God = liberation, freedom and life eternal.

    Why not be dominated by God and allow the supernatural power of the life of God invade you?

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  • Erratic like a hummingbird?

    Green Violetear (Wikipedia)

    Sitting on our deck after dinner, my husband says, “Don’t move—the hummingbird’s back!” I glance at the reflection in our glass slider and see the feeder and colorful hanging flower. Then I see him hovering, deciding whether to stay or go. He flitters past my right ear and then moves behind my husband’s head, and momentarily back again to the hummingbird feeder and beyond. He makes a tiny rustle in my ear while flexing his wings erratically, and then he’s gone as quickly as he first appeared. Intentional at sipping the sweet nectar, but disrupted by our human presence.

    How often do I set out with good intentions to pray, read a chapter or verse in the Bible, then get distracted? More often that I care to admit. I start out strong by reading one or two verses, then quit before I allow God to speak and his words to sink in deep. The disruption may come in the form of a family member or friend needing my attention, household duties, or a work deadline. It could be just plain tiredness or hunger that takes that place of necessary solitude time with God.

    Whatever the reason for my lack of follow through, I suffer for being negligent. Knowing the sweetness and peace received from God’s love letter when I do take the time, you’d think I would return on a more consistent, enthusiastic basis. But I falter and fail again and again. All I need is enclosed within the pages of this truth-filled handbook with instructions for living a joyful and successful life. I won’t find undue flattery, but instead unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness.

    Hummingbirds, one of God’s beautiful creatures, are still fascinating to me, but I don’t want to model their erratic behavior. My desire is to spend more time in the Word allowing the message to sink in and change my thinking. When my thinking changes, my actions follow more in line with my Father’s will. This all takes time, energy and commitment to be still and consciously decide to rest and allow God to feed my thirsting soul.

    “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”

    (Philippians 3:13–14).

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  • Joys of Grand-parenting

    What’s it like when the grandchildren are around?

    • Every breath is like inhaling fresh air into my lungs
    • Gives me reason to rise early in the morning
    • Bursts of energy from on high
    • Courage and determination to live and live holy and perfectly (little eyes watch and minds absorb every word and deed!)
    • Able to swing higher, walk and shop longer, swim/float, build sand castles, bake cakes and cookies, create towers, color with rainbow jumbo crayons, read stories (favorites over & over again)
    • Feel the need to nap when they nap. Rise when they rise
    • Always carry gum and mints and water bottles
    • Just can’t get enough lovin’ and kisses!

    There’s nothing quite as special as being in the presence of innocent, say-it-like-it-is little people. Life seems less complicated, pure. I feel younger, more full of energy and vitality. Exhaustion does sink in, but I sleep soundly. I am at peace and all is well with my soul.

    “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name…who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”  (Psalm 103:1, 4–5)

    Teresa Kay Lasher©2011

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  • Unconditionally loved!

    The moment I stepped over my Aunt and Uncle’s threshold, I knew we made the right decision. My sister, brother, and I were welcomed with open hearts and arms. No pretense, prior expectations even after many years apart…just pure joy, love, and a feeling of being instantly comfortable.  Sleep comes easily even after staying up late into the evenings reminiscing and catching up on current events in each of our personal lives. I feel loved unconditionally and safe. I knew I would not be judged or criticized for the words that freely flowed within the safe walls of their home.

    And that’s the way it is when I step into the presence of God as I read his Word or pray. He’s always there, available, with a listening ear. God calls me his friend. I am special because he made me this way.

    “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else…God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring” (Acts 17:24–25, 27–28).

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  • Compassion

     

    Ezekiel Andrew Lasher

                 Eager anticipation…first look at grandbaby #3. I wonder what color are his eyes? What will be his hair color? Skin complexion? Will he be a snuggler? Fussy or content? So many questions left unanswered until I see him face-to-face.  First time holding…will he fuss or cry? Can I calm him when he cries? And that newborn sweet smell is like no other!

                 Even though two grandchildren go before, #3 is special in his own right. As a parent, I wondered after #1 baby if I could ever find room in my heart to love another. There was no need to worry as the love poured out. Again, God provides precisely when the need arises and his timing is always perfect.

                 Mothering and sacrifice go hand in hand. Only one slice of bread or cup of cereal left?  There’s no question that the remaining food will go to my child. I’d sooner go without or starve. I’d die for him or her if it meant my child could live. God did the same for us when he sent his only Son. My love is not perfect and I made plenty of mistakes as I raised my children. Yet God’s love is perfect. He dispenses just the right amount of compassion and discipline all the time. And to think, my name is engraved on the palm of God’s hands. How awesome is that!

     “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” (Isaiah 49:15–16).

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  • Shout to the Lord!

     “My Jesus, my Savior, Lord there is none like you.  All of my days I want to praise the wonders of your mighty love. My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength, let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship you. 

    Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing power and majesty, praise to the King, mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. I sing for joy at the work of your hand. Forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.” – Darlene Zschech 

    *** 

  • Fears

    “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

    Fear…small word, yet so powerful. Just what am I afraid of today? Is it that I won’t please someone, look good enough, finish (or begin) a project? Too many fears immobilize and cause me to accomplish very little results. I’m been there and today is that day.

    I started out the day with high hopes and expectations rising early only to spiral down to a huge headache and precious little to note as finished. Now I look at the day as wasted. There must be some redeeming factor in this day.

    “Seek his face! Your face, Lord, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8). Now I see the redeeming factor for the day. Because of my frustration of feeling like a failure and that I’d accomplished nothing; I turn to God’s word. In times like these, I turn to the Lord, the strength of my life. I can go on, in the absence of fear, knowing that God is on my side.

    Prayer: Thank you, God, for being here when I need you the most. You’ve told me I have nothing to fear when I place my trust in you. When I feel like a failure, you still love me with an unconditional love like no other. I chose not to worry about today knowing tomorrow brings light and life and the hope of a brand-new day.

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  • I am not in control

    Why in the world would I want to get out of bed early on a Saturday? Not only that, but the day is cold and windy.  I could remain in a perfectly warm bed.  Weeks ago, my friend asked if I’d walk with her in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  The walk raises funds to help fight breast cancer.  My friend is a breast cancer survivor this year. How could I say no?  In fact, I know five friends who have had and conquered breast cancer—four in just the last year and one is a 10-year survivor!

    Still, I wrestle with wrangling myself from my cozy domain.  All doubt escaped me as soon as I approached the mall area where at least 7,000 participants gathered.  Local merchants donate coffee, bagels, yogurt and the likes.  It takes many volunteers to coordinate such an enormous, profitable event.  Just in the Grandville, Michigan race alone, nearly $500,000 is collected.

    I can’t help but notice all the pink registration numbers.  The color pink signals the individual is a breast cancer survivor.  One group wears a t-shirt with a name of a young girl’s birth and death dates.  The mother proudly displays her celebration of: “My daughter and me,” meaning the daughter died of breast cancer, and the mother is a survivor.

    Another young man wears a sign declaring, I race in celebration of:

    “My wife, Traci.  I walk beside her today so that I don’t need to walk without her tomorrow.”

    Wow, it is hard to hold back the tears.  Yet, sign after sign bears witness of love, celebration, and pain as loved ones names are written on display and pinned upon their backs. 

    I am not in control of my destiny.  Of course, it’s important to take care of my body as best as I’m able by eating properly, getting exercise and sufficient rest.  But when it comes right down to it, if God sees fit that today is my last day on earth, today will be my last day on earth!  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  I’ll admit I don’t treasure every day, or every moment as I should.  My mind is usually so far ahead of this particular moment that I miss present blessings. 

    How can I live in the moment? What is the secret for me to enjoy today, right here and right now? 

    .

  • Happy Thanksgiving to all!

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!

    “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” (Psalm 107:1-2)

    My husband and I are so thankful to be with our son, wife and 2 grandbabies in their warm cozy abode…even if we are in frigid tundra (aka Minnesota) and it’s only 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

    In our country, we have so much to give thanks to God for…miracles and answers to prayer too numerous to count.

    • Family & Friends: children, 2 precious grandchildren (and one on the way), sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles, moms and dads
    • Warm, safe environment to work, play, and worship as we please
    • Plenty of food and drink to fill our bellies
    • Freedom to worship our God who is worthy of all our praise!

    What can you give thanks for today?

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  • He delights in me!

    “He brought me into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

    Psalm 18:19

    God delights in me? No way—me, a mere flawed human being? The fact that the great, awesome and powerful God would stoop so low as to free me, rescue me and then delight in me is almost incomprehensible! When I begin to count the number of times I’ve messed up and disappointed God…well, the number is too great to tally. And, I continue to mess up.

    The definition of “delight” is a high degree of pleasure; joy, to have or take great pleasure. Synonyms of the word “delight” are to please, gratify, rejoice, gladden, tickle, satisfy, content, charm, allure, and attract. The God of the universe takes pleasure in me? Even when I don’t act kind or loving to a family member—He still loves me. When I jump to conclusions about my neighbor’s actions and do not know his motive or his heart—God still loves me!

    I am learning that this big God is also a personal God and longs for intimacy with me. He cares enough about me (and you) to reach down from on high and take hold of me; “he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me…but the Lord was my support.” (Psalm 18:16—18)

    Have you been through deep waters? I have. I can’t depend on my physical body to perform properly at all times. I grow weary and weak, and need to depend on others to get me through the day, and that’s okay. My Mother died unexpectantly at an early age. As I think of my dear confidant, my eyes tear. I can no longer talk face to face with her and share my daily joys and sorrows.

    We all walk through dark valleys. Sometimes God takes us out of the valley; other times He walks through the valley with us. Either way, He doesn’t leave us stranded. Apart from this great God, I can do nothing. But if I humble myself and pray (2 Chronicles 7:14)—God comes through and does not disappoint. With God, all things are possible. Even sweet communion with a God who delights in me!

    Prayer:  Thank you, God, for rescuing me many times throughout the years. I don’t deserve rescue, but because of Your great love and mercy, You choose to free me in spite of me. Keep my ways pure, oh Lord, as I learn truth from Your scripture. My heart’s desire is to run to You sooner next time. When the deep waters threaten to swallow me up, I long for You to be my strong support so You may delight in me all the days of my life. Amen.

    Teresa Kay Lasher ©2010; 11/4/2010 2:26:45 PM

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