True Religion

One Thousand Gifts - #103-117

My eyes are searching through a list of YouTube titles.  I wish I had an idea of who the original performer was.  I select a name that seems the oldest and most authentic...

As the first notes start playing, she is flooded with memories.  The memories we share - the ones I should not be able to remember and yet somehow I do...  the memory of my head resting on her shoulder as she sang me to sleep.  Who would've thought that a tango would become my favorite lullaby?

But there are other memories, I'm sure.  She stands up and starts dancing.  She is so beautiful.  She looks so happy - and all of a sudden so young.  I can't take my eyes off her.  I wonder if she's remembering how she danced with grandpa.  I wonder if I ever get to see her again.

How can I capture this moment?  How can I freeze it in eternity?  How can I stop it right here - her dancing, me watching her?

I can't help but wonder where she will spend eternity...

All this time away from Bryan, all this studying, all this exhaustion - it is all worth this moment right here.

my beautiful grandma

I am grateful...
- for the best grandparents one could ever wish for
- for living under the same roof with my grandparents till I was eleven
- for living in the same town with my grandparents till I was twenty
- for all the reading, and playing and caring that my grandparents did
- for my first English word
- for memories that we share
- that my grandparents always believed in me and thought highly of me
- that they always accepted me no matter what I had done
- for the simplicity of grandma's cooking
- that some things in their apartment never changed
- for YouTube where one can find almost any song these days
- that I have a video of my grandma dancing to "Утомленное солнце"
- that I watched my grandparents love each other deeply
- for learning that my family's been teachers for generations
- that their disapproval of my choices becomes a test of my obedience to God

Summit VII

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: 

to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, 

and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

(James 1:27)

I wish I were able to attend this summit (my ministry here in New York will prevent me from doing so).  It will take place in Louisville, KY on May 12th - 13th, 2011.  I believe all of us are called to minister to the orphans of the world.  It does not always have to be through the mission trips or actual adoptions. There are so many ways to get involved.  Whether you are actively involved in orphan ministry today or not - you should prayerfully consider attending this summit.  For more info - click here.

The Pursuit - Whose Dream Is It Anyway?

I keep coming back to thinking about this.  How we allow others to define who we are and how we feel about ourselves... How we take upon ourselves burdens that are not ours to carry just to please people who'd never be pleased regardless of what you do...

Do you have people in your life like that?  Do you ever feel that no matter which decision you make someone (at least one but dear to you someone) will be unhappy?

What do you do then?  How do you break free without burning the bridges?

Valentine's Day with JESUS

Valentine's Day with Jesus

Jesus does not send perfume
To linger in the air
Instead He sends salvation, sweet
To show how much He cares.

He doesn’t bring me candy hearts
In boxes of delight
Instead He always lets me know
I’m precious in His sight.  
             
He doesn’t pass out pretty cards
Trimmed in shades of red
Instead He gave His life for me
His precious blood was shed.

He doesn’t hand out fancy gifts
Like we would send to mother
Instead He sends a message clear
To always love each other.

He doesn’t give me teddy bears
That whimper, “Please be mine”
Instead He gave His heart to me
I wear it all the time.

He doesn’t give me roses, pink
For all the world to see
Instead He gave eternal life
That’s good enough for me.

Written By:  Marilyn Ferguson

I Have Never Been Unloved

Today as many countries all around the world celebrate Valentine's Day... as all vendors bring out the pink, and the red, and the soft and cuddly, flowers, toys, chocolates... as many of us either bask in the love of our dear ones... or wish we had that someone special in our lives...

... let us not forget what true love really is ...

"You are MINE."  - God.

(Isaiah 43:1)