LEAP DAY LOVE NOTE

Some things "bother me".  Having no devotional on February 29 is one of those.

Don't misunderstand me, I had my morning quiet time BUT the first devotional book I chose did NOT have a 2/29 entry. As I checked the copy right date I noticed it was not published in a leap year, so maybe that was the reason for the omission.  

As a somewhat OCD female, I like order and structure. So...... the absence of a day's devotional in my "2nd choice book" labeled, A Year of Devotionals had me a little off-kilter. Plus, it was published during 2012, a leap year, no less. In another of that author's books, he had stated, "There's Nothing wrong with devotional books, ---Ive written some myself---but they are to be supplements to our spiritual diet, NOT the main course." (Morgan p.60) I sense his absence of a 2/29 entry emphasizes that.

But God, who knows me well....had me look up and right on the table in front of me was my old favorite, Jesus Calling DayBrightener. As I flipped the card to today's devotional, there was February 29. How special for an OCD soul.

Plus, I was affirmed as Sarah Young's entry spoke right to my heart because earlier this morning, I had prayed for others to find the right pathway to love......and "My One Word" for the year is LISTEN. "Listen more to Me" leapt right off the page and into my heart. 

My today's love note reminder from the Lord.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

I am asked, at church at the gym and in my neighborhood---"what are you reading?". Hm-m-m---that must mean I'm a reader. A reader whom they can trust. That's a big responsibility.

Here are 2  "real" books on my shelf. My other book is an e-book---not my favorite choice but it
is the only access I had to Dear Mr. Knightley! I'm only 65% through the story but it already is in my 4 star category. It's a "reader's" delight as it has many classic book references in the text!

Timothy Keller is always a good read for me when I'm seeking insight.  Following the Intro of Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering, I have used the Table of Contents a lot.  It's often the way I "read" non-fiction. For me. the third part of the book provided the most practical material. From the crushed in Spirit to those in the fiery furnace, the author offers hope, within the reality of suffering, through Scripture. I appreciate that Keller is a reader and appropriately quotes from a variety of backgrounds, e,g. Shakespeare and Patchett to Lloyd-Jones and C.S. Lewis. 

A few take-aways for me: Suffering puts its fingers on good things that have become too important to us (me). (p.308) Human beings are hoped-shaped creatures. The way you live now is controlled by what you believe about your future. (p.334)

For fiction, Elizabeth Musser's books have long been a favorite. She had me hooked with Swan House, the first on I read.  Hopefully, I will soon be able to borrow her latest one, When I Close My Eyes. Two take-aways from The Long Highway Home deal with courage and faith. The book highlights the terror and horror of refugees as they flee their homelands.   

Courage is fear that has said its prayers. (p. 334)

Faith has changed my perspectives on things. My wants and needs and desires. (p.369)

Books, both fiction and non-fiction, change me as I read with my spiritual insight lenses intact. 

As I age, more and more of my books are audio---hearing those words give me vision as clearly as the printed text.

Sight without vision. Sight beyond vision. Think periscope. Periscopic. Seeing things that are out of sight but spiritually intact. Close by. Sounds like faith to me.

What are you reading?

KINDNESS IN ANY LANGUAGE......

Hubby just called  from the road to tell me today is national "kindness day", more specifically Random Acts of Kindness Day. For me, I seek to b more intentional in kindness. But.....random mentions can bring me back to focus.

Going back to pic log from this week-end as "kindness" were at every turn. Boomers think back to  Kodak moments.

No matter the language of the culture may all take seriously the words of Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind to one another" -----regardless of their ethnicity.

There is no special language for acts of kindness from a pure heart. Maybe it's in braille

 or signed or..

...just pronounced uniquely. Even the English language can have the clip of the British or the drawl of the South in USA. Kindness is a language of action for the benefit of others, not self.

BOOK----UNFINISHED.

The verdict is still out on the rating of this Charles Martin Book. It's not his "typical" writing style. 

Of  course, I've only read his fiction and this is my first non-fiction by Martin. Plus, I have not quite finished it,

His meticulous research is delivered in a very readable form. Martin is a seasoned storyteller and this strength shines in the pages I have read so far......and I am just beginning this journey with What if I't's True?: a storyteller's Journey with Jesus.

One jewel I have already discovered as Martin asks the question, "Who is this Jesus?" Jesus Himself said, I am the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:16)

If Jesus is the way, then He's taking us some where. 

But where? I believe the answer is to HIs Father. (p.15)

One reviewer for Christianity Today said that Martin won him over with his sincere love for Jesus.

As I continue to read this author's journey through God's Word, I sensed that Valentine's Day would be the right time to post this author's work focusing on his Savior. 

Valentine's Day--a day of celebrating Love.

"Greater love hath no man that He lay down his life for His friends." (John 15:13)

That fact stands. 

"Jesus loves me, this I know"--- even if I don't finish reading the book today!

Life is not always as it seems.....

Punxsutawney Phil told us at the first of the week that spring is just around the corner! My daffodils around the mailbox, ready to bloom, would certainly bear witness to that..

Hubby, my resident meteorologist, cut them and brought them into the house a few days later.

He knew things are not always as they seem and "storms" were on the way.

A day later, a severe thunderstorm came barreling through battering down many pre-blooming flowers on our street. 

Mine, however, were in a small vase in the kitchen put there by Hubby himself.

He has an awareness about many things which slip right past me. One being weather.

Life is often that way and we are caught off guard. 

Why? Because our perceptions are limited. Our vision is obstructed when we think that all we can see, is all that there is. We think that way because we don't know the whole story. 

Christians are blessed to know the whole story. Even in the midst of the diagnosis we hate to hear, or the hurtful words that have been thrown our way, we can still have hope---hope for the very thing we cannot see. That's what our faith is. Never does it feel more real than when life doesn't make sense.

God did it for Joseph as well as the thief on the cross beside Jesus. All the "not" seen goodness of those situations were made known. (Matthew 10:26)

"We only "see in part." (I Corinthians 13:12, NLT)

God promises enlightenment, total and true throughout eternity. We will see Him.

"Things are not always the way they seem" is truly an understatement for believers. Aren't we glad!