overflowing

Philippians 1:9-10 says ,

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

In this verse the the apostle Paul was speaking to the church in Philippi. Paul had a special affection for the Philippians, and wanted to encourage them to continue to grow in spiritual maturity

When I reflect on this verse I see two things. The first is about the idea of,

• Our love abounding or overflowing

The concept of love is so important to God that He emphasizes what it means to love God first, then others.

So how can our love for God abound or overflow?

It happens by building a personal relationship with God as we grow closer to God the more we want to know God.  It’s like when you first fall in love. It is all consuming and if you are like me  they are the last thing you think about when you go to sleep and the first thing I think about when you awake. It is hard to picture a life without them.

Similarly the more we know God the more reasons we find to love God.  And that love drives us closer to God.

The second part of this verse is about,

• Discernment.

To discern means to recognize as separate and distinct.  In our world today we are bombarded by information coming from everywhere about everything and too much information can feel overwhelming.  This Scripture reminds us to be discerning. To know who our Father is so intimately that we can recognize the distinct voice of God.  The voice of truth.

I encourage you to allow the love of God to overflow in your life so you know who God is, and what really matters.

The most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on

In 1990 I became a mom for the very first time.  I did not know a love so great, so all encompassing.  I thought I did… with my family and even my husband, but when that adorable little girl was placed on my chest — Boom!  She was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on and my heart exploded with a love like no other.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to have second child. I wasn’t sure that I could love another child the way I loved my first. But my dear husband said that if we could, we should. We should give our precious girl a sibling, a person that she could love and support and be supported by when we are no longer around.

In 1993 our second was born. I immediately loved this little boy but I was so anxious to see my girl, who was at home with her grandma. And if I am completely honest, I wondered if I could  love him as much as my first?

At some point a nurse came to take my sweet boy to do whatever tests they needed to do. As I lay in the hospital bed I could hear him crying from down the hall. I could hear the distinct cry of my baby (over the others babies) and in that moment something came over me, like a mama bear instinct. I got out of bed, stormed down the hall and picked up my crying boy. As I was soothing him, I told the nurse that when they were ready they could come to me, they were not to let my baby cry unattended ever again.

I took him back to my room where I feel madly in love with my other little miracle. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on and my heart exploded with a love like no other.

Children can do that.  They can make your heart expand and explode with love. When you think you don’t have room in your heart for another - God provides us the ability to love - to love fully and to love unconditionally!  Just as God loves each of us.

I didn’t think I would ever feel that way again, until today when I held my precious granddaughter for the first time.  She is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on and in an instant, my heart expanded and exploded exponentially with a love like no other!

My sweet boy is now a dad and I am now a Nana.

I am so grateful.

Mom, dad and baby are well. Nana is having a moment ;)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another…. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(1 John 4:9-11,16)

What are you wearing?

Like everyday, after waking up and doing my morning routine, I go into my closet and decide what am I going to wear.  Some days are easy.  If I know I will be at my desk writing for most of the day, I put on some comfy clothes (you know, pants with the elastic waistband, for ease and comfort ;0 ).  If on that day, I know I will be at the church or meeting with folks at various coffee shops, I then need to consider, will I be doing a lot of walking? If so, maybe I should wear pants and comfy shoes. If I will be rather stationary, I can pull out the heels, maybe even a cute dress. And then there is the weather to consider. I also think about the vibe I am going for. Is this a professional meeting?  Or am I meeting a friend?  Do I feel fun? Or should I dress to be taken seriously?

I actually think about what it is I am trying to communicate in the clothes that I choose to wear. So many factors to consider, just in getting dressed!

The Apostle Paul understood that clothes reflect who we are and what we want to communicate.

In Colossians 3:12, he writes: 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Paul encourages us to clothe ourselves with the traits of our God, so that we may look more like Jesus.

So how do we do that?

Maybe a place to start is to think about the struggles in our lives that keep us from living more like Jesus, and then replace them with different actions.

• for instance, if we are generally sarcastic and cutting we choose to say something kind instead (clothing ourselves with kindness).

• If we tend to come across harsh, we choose to be gentle in our response (clothing ourselves with gentleness).

• If we are holding a grudge, we choose to forgive and let it go (clothing ourselves with humility).

As we put on the qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience the changes it produces will be evident in the way that we treat those around us.

So, what are you wearing today?