Living Love

“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat. So people who don't know what (sic) they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino. ”

― Joe Fox in You’ve Got Mail

If someone asked you to define yourself in just three words, what three would you choose? What springs to your mind first – Physical attributes? Achievements? Your occupation? Two thousand years ago Jesus challenged us to be known by a single attribute – love.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:35

Love isn’t just something you feel.

It isn’t just something you are.

It goes beyond an attribute to action. Love acts.

Love is expressed in the words we say and the ones we wisely withhold. It is demonstrated in unacknowledged kindness. Love is spoken more through our hands and feet than it ever will be with our mouths. Like faith, love is dead without action.

Like me those you most love live with you. The month of love may soon draw to a close but my love doesn't have to. I've made a plan to continue to put my love into action. I’m going to gather around the table and have every family write down one word that describes every other person at the table. After we describe each other with these uplifting words, I’m going to ask each person to give me one thing I can do to make them feel more loved. Then I’m going to set my love into motion by putting some feet to my words.

Do you want love to be more than words in your life? Why not join me in this challenge and live love this March?

Leading Indicators

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, 

if you love one another.

John 13:35

Even now they are posted across the country ready to ask the indicative question. Who did you vote for today? Exit polls will be the early leading indicator of who will win tonight's Presidential election.

Leading indicators are not just an election day phenomenon. They are valuable tools used in virtually every industry.

Insurance companies monitor storm forecasts. Economists use numbers such as jobless claims, gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation. Even fantasy baseball fanatics have a leading indicator. They created the Fantasy Production Indicator (FPI) to help them select their players for the upcoming season.

Leading indicators tell us what to expect.

Leading indicators tell us where we're headed.

Leading indicators allow us to make course corrections.

Leading indicators don't just identify trends. They can be used to examine our hearts. For the Christ-follower, our leading indicator is love. 

Before our words can be heard. 

Before our actions have impact. 

Before we have the privilege of influence.

Those around us are looking for a leading indicator. If we do not love extravagantly, exorbitantly, in unfathomable measure, we won't make a difference in our home, community, nation or world.

They will know we are Christians by our love.

What is one thing you could do to show extravagant love today?

Premeditated Love

As a man thinks within himself, so is he.

Proverbs 23:7

Premeditated. 


Premeditated murder carries the most severe penalties. Taking another's life in a spur-of-the-moment, unplanned action is deemed a much less egregious crime than thinking, planning and deciding in advance to do so. Likely none of us plan to ever kill another human but...

If looks could kill


If thoughts could destroy


If judgments could demolish


I'd be a murderer. 


What if instead we tried premeditated love? What if we thought, planned and decided in advance to love our spouses, children, friends and even strangers? I wrote about this yesterday at an online Bible study I lead for my church. How about hopping on over and reading about it: http://hopewomenonline.com/2012/07/living-free-week-one-day-two.html


(We just started a new session last Monday so if you've been looking for a way to get connected to other Christ-followers, this might be a great option for you.)

That's the Power of Love

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

We were young and just naive enough... to wait out the rest of the concert goers. My sister, good friend and I lingered outside Huey Lewis' limo long after the last note. Eventually a stubby man saddled up beside us. 

Photo Credit: billboard.com

We expected to be dismissed. We were.


He called himself Something-a-Rather Lewis, claimed to be Huey Lewis' personal manager and invited us to a private after party at his hotel suite. We were young and just naive enough... to actually go.


After a half hour of Cokes and pretzels, the door handle turned. In strolled Huey Lewis and the News. Huey Lewis was quintessential cool. He learned everyone's name in the room in a matter of minutes. He was affable, friendly and charming. He entertained us with his favorite tunes - all country and western. 


Huey sang about the Power of Love. This message resonated with people, making it a Billboard #1 hit in 1985. At the time I didn't think much of Huey's dichotomy. He sang one style of music but his passion was another.


I don't know why he didn't pursue his passion. Perhaps he thought his passion would pay less. Perhaps his passion seemed a greater risk. Perhaps he lacked the confidence to pursue his dream.


I'm no longer young but I'm just naive enough... to believe God wants us to pursue our deepest passion and our highest calling. But how?


How do ordinary people who get frustrated in traffic, perform hundreds of routine tasks a week and forget to buy things at the grocery store live a life like that?


The Power of Love.


Love should be our motivation.
Passion should be our guide.
Do everything in love.


I want to nest my heart firmly in His love so passion can fly from my heart.


What could the Power of Love do for you?

Compassion Conquers Comparisons

Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.

Psalm 103:4

Handsome didn't begin to describe my youth group crush. All sense and strength drained from my body any time he entered the room. I tried to play it cool as my stomach played hockey. He was crossing the room with a bead on me.


"Do you want to go driving after?" 


What girl could resist such romance? I tried to offer a non-committal, "Sure," but knew my eyes likely betrayed my excitement. I must have counted to sixty a thousand times before he headed for the door. I sheepishly followed after.


He was one of those cool guys with a cool car built for two but with a minuscule back seat in which one could squeeze on an emergency basis only. Another girl was already standing by my car. What in the world was this? He asked me out.


When Mr. Dreamy arrived at his stud-mobile, he offered the cramped back seat to me and the prime real estate to Miss Moving-in-on-my-Man. A short drive later we were at the Alabama equivalent to Happy Days' Inspiration Point.


I was ordered out of the car. I sat on the back bumper as the windows fogged and the bumper began a rhythmic, albeit short-lived dance.


Humiliation seeped out and shrouded me in shame. 


I was nothing but a cover for Mr. Dreamy to pursue the girl he found worthy. I wasn't her. I was passed over. Unnoticed. Tossed aside.


I immediately drew comparisons between myself and Miss Shannon-You-Never-Had-a-Chance. She was well endowed; I wore two deflated balloons. She was flirtatious and fun; I was studious and serious. 


Do you ever draw comparisons between yourself and others?


When you see a mom with well-behaved children do you secretly wish you were less fun and more of a disciplinarian?


When you see a man who advanced quickly in his career do you try to guess the recipe of his success?


Comparisons are a losing proposition. We see the finish line not the pit stops along the way.


The woman with so-called perfect children may have pit stops such as kids who lack confidence, assertiveness and decision-making skills.


The man with the fast track may have pit stops such as compromising his values or ignoring his wife and kids.


Miss Chesty had many pit stops along the route of her life. They weren't pretty. They weren't desirable. They were tragic. 


A moment I thought of as humiliation was actually a crown of God's compassion and love. My purity was saved for another day. Eventually I would learn I didn't need a man to certify my beauty. I allowed the One who still inspires me to pull my life from the pit. He shrouded me in love and compassion. He compared me to no one and loved me exactly as He designed. His compassion conquered my comparisons. 


Have you ever been in the pit of comparison? How could God's love and compassion pull you out today?

I Love You 0-0-1

I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving kindness.

Jeremiah 31:3

A picture really can communicate more than words. Something about seeing my littlest girl act out her love makes it real, concrete, substantial. As many parents do, we've modified our "I Love You" motions into a game. Once Carynne starts, I respond with a like pattern adding two fingers at the end (I love you too).

She subsequently holds up three fingers and on we go until we run out of fingers. One day in an attempt to trump me with the volume of her love she held up two zeroes followed by a one (her way of saying 100). My insides melted with the warmth of her love.

Just like Carynne, my love is made real, concrete, substantial when I act it out.

When I'm tired at the end of a long day, do I love 0-0-1 or 1-0-0?


When I'm mired down in the endless jobs of cooking, straightening and washing, do I love 0-0-1 or 1-0-0?

I want to love my family with abundance. Abundance is supplied from the One who loves me first and most. Abundance is given one day at a time. Abundance spills from His heart into mine. Abundance from the One whose love can not be numbered.

Day 22 of Prayer Guide - Perseverance for Your Heart

Day Twenty Two

Perseverance for Your Heart

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Nothing is impossible. This is a core belief for you. When you reach a sticking point, you push through. You’ve been bootstrapping as far back as you can remember. Suddenly, you’ve reached a point where your heart simply won’t follow your feet. You feel stuck; unable to proceed.

Hindered one, come embrace perseverance for your heart.

Today I Pray for You:

·         To stop pushing through and start being directed by the Source of true perseverance.

·         To discover the mine of perseverance that exists in the depth of God’s love.

Today You Pray:

Never Ending One, I’m weary from trying. Though my effort tends to meet with “success”, I wonder if I chase the wrong goal. What if true perseverance is found in a gentle push from You rather than a pull from my own strength?

For too long I’ve measured progress as forward. Shift me down into Your bottomless well of love. The further I dive into Your arms, the more You fuel perseverance in my heart. Entwined, You carry me forward.

Beautiful Girls

Psalm 45:10-11 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear...The King is enthralled by your beauty.

"I don't like these things that stick off my head," Carynne (4) pouted into the full length mirror.

"But that's how God made you. And He made you beautiful. Each person is unique." Clara (5) returned.

I stood half-dressed with crazy, uncombed hair in front of the same mirror.  I saw beauty.  Not the natural, genetic kind. Not the brand that can be purchased, trained or concocted.  I saw beauty that flows from the heart.  Clara saw it too.

Carynne's hair falls in gentle curls like a peaceful ocean reaching its' shore.  She sees curl and wants straight.  Clara's hair is stick straight and currently whacked.  She didn't look in the mirror and see her deficiencies or her sister's.  She saw God tenderly loving her.  She let God love her sister through her.  That, my friends, is beauty.

What I want most for my daughters when it comes to beauty, is for them to implant in their hearts God's love affair.  Knowing Him intimately brings out the beauty tucked inside all of us.

Jesus, I sit hours later fully dressed and without a stitch of makeup but I feel lovely.  I have drenched my skin in Your word, my hair in Your grace and my face in Your love.  You are enthralled with my beauty.  I am enthralled with You.