MORNING--NOON--EVENING--NIGHT!

MORNING---What a great way to begin "my" day!

6:50 am wake-up.....because it is Saturday!

Serve one another humbly in love, (Galatians 5:13)

Be ye kind one to another, (Ephesians 4:32)

Set your minds on things above. (Colossians 3:2)

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Today my day will also start soon after with some of BB's yummy blueberry lemon poundcake with a candle in the middle.Hmmm! YUMMY! I could lick off the glaze after I blow out "my" candle! 

Calls. Cards. Texts. Emails, Gifts. 

Noontime lunch w/ hubby @ small place with outside patio and yummy spaghetti! (my fave) followed by more of BB's cake!! I did "share" a bit!

Some call it supper, others say dinner! I call it dessert on the porch with cake!!! I shared a bit with hubby and with grandson, Owen. He knew what was in store. After all she is "his" BB!

Nighttime. Lights out.....so no-one sees me taking a last serving of "my" cake!

Sunrise to sunset it was a glorious September 13!

5 WORDS MEDITATION

"Monday Meditation".........."through love serve one another."*

Only 5 words from Galatians 5:13.

Few words to bring many thoughts.

"Self-indulgent" words" omitted.

How will I/you respond to those words today.

ALLITERATIVE MEDITATION!

OOPS--didn't finish my alliterative meditation in a timely manner to post this entry. Pretend it's still Monday. Nothing new to me---I'm often mixed up on what day it is!

Ad agencies use alliterations to sell products. PayPal. Best Buy. Bed Bath and Beyond.

English prof once told me that alliteration is a "fake literary form" and should not be included in any true work of literature.

Oh well---alliteration resonates with me when I try to recall many Biblical truths. Alliteration helps A.D.D.

Self-serving or Savior-serving? That's today's alliterative question after rereading yesterday's journal jottings. 

It's had me thinking all day. All are called to serve. (Galatians 5:13) Not all serve in the same way or place. But service is a by-product of loving others. Then, why do I, who love others, seem to be serving less and less, but feeling wearier & wearer? 

Some well-meaning folks are telling me I just need a "me" day. Frankly, my dear ones, I don't think so. I think I need a "Thee Day.

"More of Thee and less of me." 

Not alliterative but comparative as the appropriate answer.

"Lean on Lord Jesus"  is the alliterative answer!

CARING!

If people could use one word to describe you, what do you think it would be? Given that challenge to describe friend, Crickett, one word kept coming to mind. Caring. 

Think synonymously....Kind. Concerned. Thoughtful. Trustworthy.

My One Word to encompass Crickett Keeth.... "Caring"-- with all the above listed facets.

Crickett has always understood the value of fellowship, knowing how difficult it is to do life alone. She shows this as she blesses lives of many. 

She cares for others in various ways with her time, resources and strengths: 

• devoted to others in love as she honors them above her self. (Romans 12:10) 
• serves others humbly in love (Galatians 5:13c) 
• carries another's burdens, (Galatians 6:2a) 
• trustworthy to keep requested secrecy .... as she looks to the interest of others (Philippians 2:4) 
• In fact, Crickett is known world-wide as a caring encourager who builds up women and spurs them on in a teaching ministry. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

GOD is not unjust; He will not forget your (Crickett's) work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. (Hebrew 6:10) 

Now, that's caring at its best! Think all caps...........

THINK CARING CRICKETT! 

Then.....THANK CRICKETT for listening to the Lord and coming to First Evan 17 1/2 years ago.

"Du-TEA" of the heart

....by love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13, KJV)

Uptick seems to be the "buzz word" of the investment world. A transaction's improvement indicates an uptick. Stock market ratings measure it carefully.

Even in the field of education, it's all about the test scores known as value added assessment. Teachers are rated by the upticks of their students. If the teacher has done his duty, one should notice an uptick in those scores. Growth is the evidence.

What about one's spiritual duty? Can one's spiritual duty be rated on a spiritual scale. Can matters of the heart be rated by an uptick? 

Certainly serving others is an investment in relationship and a pretty clear indicator of spiritual growth.

Those who love the Lord, serve others----it's just part of the continuum. Spiritual matters of the heart don't feel like a cuppa du-TEA or an uptick to be scored. Merely Spirit-fed and Spirit-led overflows of the heart. Duties of the heart are just blessings to be shared. Investing in others counts whether anyone is measuring or not.

In the end, it's the ultimate uptick. An eternal investment.

"chari-TEA" : a Re-Brew

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13, NIV)

Today's speaker at Downline Women's Summit, Lysa TerKeurst, caught my attention when she said, "when I've done something for someone else, I like to be noticed and thanked." "Whereas," she continued,  '"a wise-hearted woman has a servant's heart."  Such a woman "tucks her quiet acts" of un-noticed areas of service, where only God sees. Not done for the eyes of others.
I imagined such gifts of love, in the area of financial service, being given anonymously. Without tangible reward---name on a plaque or thank you gift included when donation is given. Conviction!

Charitable type of love is in an overflow of one's love for the Lord which allows one to serve others well. It is not a love that needs credit.

Charity in the Hebrew is tzedakah---completely voluntary or a religious obligation---typically seen as a moral obligation, a charitable giving to be performed regardless of financial standing, even by poor people. A works-orientation of sorts.

These actions can certainly be seen as "acts" of charity BUT greater still are those same works which are done as an outpouring of love from God, Himself.

If one becomes more interested in keeping the commandments to establish one's own merit than in loving others, then the message is lost. Even if one serves others out of obligation to observe the law, then it is done for "self "rather than for the "others" one is appearing to serve. In such a way, that service fulfills one's own desires. According to the Greek translation, charity is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) BUT is fleshly service, "charity" without love? Charity without love, is that an oxymoron?

True charity is God's work. We are but His hands and feet to show Christ's love to the world. Charity is expressed by serving one another. When the object of our faith is Christ, who loved us, we are motivated and empowered to express His kind of love to others. His Love Works.

Research says….

8/10/13 Statistics show……Research indicates……Current research confirms…..

As an educator these phrases easily catch my attention. But also, as an educator, I’m skeptical because I understand that data can be manipulated or “read & interpreted” in order to substantiate what the researcher purports as truth.

Years ago a study that caught my attention claimed, “...family who plays together stays together.” Beyond that result, was the claim that the top activity under the “play” finding was camping. In other words, the camping aspect of play seemed to really seal the deal for keeping the family together. 

I liked that idea but…..after a week in the woods with 6 grands, the word “play” is a misnomer. Camping is work. Camping necessitates working together. Such work is probably just as valuable as the “fun.”  At least, that’s my experience.

This past week K-Love shared some “research findings” which experientially I have found to be true.  In a “Well Being” study, the research showed that well-being comes from doing for others. In others words “doing good” is better for you than feeling good.

Scripture calls it “one anothering”  in 30+ verses. 

Serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13)

But if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. (1 John 4: 12)

Certainly God’s love in a person would enhance his/her well-being.

That research finding, based on truth of Scripture, rings true to me!