FIRST LOVE!

HAPPY VALENTIN'E'S DAY!!!

WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. 

(1 JOHN 4:19)

CHOOSE: LOVE

Choose love and find joy!
Greeks had 6 words for love---3 of which were used in NT scripture.
Phileo love (deep friendship) John 12:25, Storge (like a family love) Romans 12:10, a combo of phileo & storge, and agape (unconditional, represented by God's love) John 3:16.
Hebrew definition for love in OT is 'ahabah (similar to GK Eros, romantic love) as depicted in Song of Solomon and Proverbs 5:18.

Today is a day to celebrate love. I celebrated with tea as I read cards & emails, and opened candy from loved ones.
I celebrate "morningtime" with tea. I love tea.
But God.....has shown me that "love" in scripture is not about inanimate objects.
In scripture, love is always the only kind of real love----relational.
So....I guess that excludes my cuppa. But.....I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like my morning cuppa.
Happy Valentine's Day to all!!

Heart-felt

Valentine's Day 2015.
A day of messages with Texas basketball video games, smiley icons from friends, texts that made me puddle and creative gifts/cards from grands.......

.....my fave flowers from my fave man. All appreciated.

My heart "felt" them all!

Nif-TEA-Gif-TEA

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8, ETV)

So many advertisements this week are for perfect "love" gifts. Yet, what most folks really want is love itself. Those acts of love that express that deep feeling. Sometimes it's easier to buy a gift than to pass on love.

Actually, apart from God, the author of love, we can't do it----even on this love-proclaimed day, our actions speak louder than those Hallmark sentiments and bouquets of red roses. Share the love. Give of yourself. Pass it on.

 "Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay, love isn't love 'til you give it away," came to mind when I saw this tea store sign but "integri-TEA" had me google it. Two sources were given. I choose the older one. (Oscar Hammerstein II)

Heart shaped little cakes were baked in a pan given to me by Julie C.
I "passed on" to the Parlows--even the dog got one, by his own devices.
Sorry Tim, Edgar beat you to it!

From FANTASY to REALITY

Fantasy Meets Reality

2/14/12…..or from NYTimes to Aldi. The NYTimes article (2/8) on lobster in a puff pastry momentarily had me considering that I could afford and create such a gourmet treat--- that, my friends, for me, is a delusionary state of mind.

When kids were younger, i.e. living here, Valentine’s Day “tradition” was a dinner using all the china, crystal, silver, etc. The rationale was that if they were ever invited to the White House for dinner, they wouldn’t embarrass themselves.

"New" Coconut pie recipe---created with what I had on hand.

Caleb, this is a place setting with more that one fork.

 Kids are gone from home and our newer tradition, dinner for two, is somewhat pared down. Seafood has become “bill of fare” along with fresh asparagus and whatever else is on sale though usually a “new” dessert to be served before after dinner “divinity, my fave gift from hubby. This year’s momentary deluded state of mind will hopefully include lobster, but not the NY way. Aldi’s Lobster tails, 2 for $12.99 is the reality---and even that’s a stretch because I’ve already gotten big scallops from Costco, hubby’s fave. 

V’day is right in the middle of “retreat” week for me so  I’m anxious to see where God leads me. At least the table is already set. 

The first thing He did, was to lead me from fantasy to reality. Then He allowed me to blog early so I could cut and paste this entry when the day comes---He reassured me that both He and hubby prefer my time and praise, not perfection. 

Perfection is not reality at 1152!

Happy Valentine’s Day

2/14/09 Love is in the air---or it should be---with every breath you take! Have you shown God’s love to someone today?! Remember there’s a world of hurting people---everyone has a burden or some kind of “baggage,” so let’s be sensitive and extend a “hand” of grace and love to family, friends and beyond. I’m getting a little “preachy” here, aren’t I?? It’s because my experience with my rare cancer, aka Big MAC, has clearly shown me the difference the depth of His love for me and the love from others has made in my life. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) How grateful I am to have a Savior who laid down His life for me. Today, may I lay down my self-centeredness---dying to “self “ in every way, that I might love others better.