4 For You

“Love is a many splendored thing”,  and a loving relationship takes work to keep it splendored. In our hurry scurry world so many things get left undone. Don’t let your love come undone. A loving relationship is the one thing that makes the ugly world recede and provides a safe haven to rest in. It is a treasure that God blesses us with here on earth.

A Holy Experience, had some wonderful advice about how to keep love fresh by investing 4 minutes a day. 4 minutes for; 4 affirmations, 4 hugs, 4 fixations.

4 Affirmations: If saying good things about ourselves, with self-affirmations, can boost our spirits how great could we make our loved one feel by purposely saying 4 kind and good things to them?

4 Hugs: Physical contact with someone you love speaks volumes. Make eye contact, hug and reset your love meter to “Yes! You are one for me.”

4 Fixations: At these four places let your love be known; when you leave the marriage bed, when you leave the front door, when you return through the front door, when you return to the marriage bed.

Relationships take time and effort, even a good relationship needs constant maintenance. Keep your love fresh doing these simple things.

Every relationship in your life will benefit from a hug and/or kind word.  Don’t let a day go by that you haven’t expressed love and gratitude to; your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your co-workers. Let God’s love shine through you.

The Definition of Prosper

Reading through blogs I follow Melinda Velez over at Mel's Godly Gals gave me an "ah-ha" moment.

I don't imagine I'm the only Christian who studies the Bible and takes in the many references to God's prospering his saints.  These from Deuteronomy are fairly standard;

you may live and prosper

we might always prosper

you may prosper in everything you do

This from Jeremiah is well known: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Reading these am I alone in thinking, and sub-consciously expecting, that if I live my life as God calls me to that I should surely prosper?  I'm using the defintion of prosper in accordance to Merriam Webster; to succeed in an enterprise or activity, especially to achieve economic success.

Melinda Velez helped me to hear what I sub-consciously already know.  Dollars signs are not the only sign, or the usual sign, God grants prosperity.  God prospers us with intelligence, wisdom, opportunities and relationships.  Counting these blessings my life is rich indeed! 

I needed the reminder to look outside the box of current thought.  Do you, too, need a reminder?

The Secret of Wait

My sweet sister-in-law, Brenda, shared a poem that spoke to my heart.  I believe it will speak to many of you, too. 

A thoughtful friend was familiar with this poem and knew the author of this wonderful piece, Russell Kelfer. 

Russell Kelfer (1933-2000) was an elder and Bible teacher at Wayside Chapel in San Antonio, Texas for more than 20 years. During his life time he was active in a broad variety of Christian projects ranging from education to a World's Fair pavilion. His legacy of practical application Bible studies, poems, and fictional stories know no denominational boundaries.  (Information courtsey of http://ffmp3.firefighters.org/kelfer.asp)

 The Secret of Wait
by
Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently, said, "Child, you must wait."

My future and all to which I relate,

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?

I'm needing a "yes," a go-ahead sign,

Or a "no," to which I then can resign.

And, Lord, you promised that if we believe,

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And, Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry,

I'm weary of asking, I need a reply!

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate;

As my Master replied, once again, "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut

And grumbled to God, "So I'm waiting... for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,

And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign."

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun,

I could raise the dead and cause the mountains to run.

All you seek I could give and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want, but you would not know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair,

You'd not learn to trust by knowing I'm there.

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me,

When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fullness of love,

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove.

The glow of My comfort, late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked,

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have, last.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Yes, your dreams for your loved ones, overnight would come true,

But, oh, the loss if I lost, what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see,

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft' My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still WAIT.

Praying you know the peace, comfort and joy of Jesus Christ.

Spring Teaser 2011

Today was #5 in a string of beautiful spring days.  It has reached 80 degrees.  That's technically summer weather but hitting those temps in March I consider it just darn nice.  D. and I have made good use of the opportunity to clean up the flower and garden beds, lay down the pre-emergent and trim, trim, trim. 

Smelling the freshly turned earth and wiping the sweat off my brow I thought of all my family and friends still under a sheet of snow or blanket of cold. 

In your honor I have soaked up this wonderful day to pass along to you.  Enjoy a glimpse of warm things to come.