Okay, okay, so if you are anything like me you have this song running through your head. Sorry. I did it to me first, though! :o) ANYWAY...
Our pastor has started us on a journey with a book called The Relationship Principles of Jesus. It was written by Tom Holladay who is the teaching pastor at Saddleback...yep. The same church with Rick Warren and his book titled The Purpose Driven Life. So far, I love that the book is so easy to follow and understand. However, I am only at day 3 as of yet...and I have a feeling that the implementation will be the most difficult part. Do you want to know what struck me so far? Yes? I KNEW you would be so excited to learn what my little brain has been up to lately! :o)
Matthew 6:25.
I bet you know it. I did...I didn't have it memorized or anything but I will soon. (Val, this is my next verse for scripture memorization. :o) I also had never heard this translation. It goes like this:
I need to be diligent in giving all of my worries to God because they are all too big for me...but I know NOTHING is too big for my God. And He wants all of these things off of my little shoulders. Because if I let Him carry those worries, He gets my full attention. How many times have I told my son to wait for a minute while I do something so ridiculously stupid like surf the internet? Would my God ever tell me to "hold on, just let me get this thing and I'll get to you in a minute"? I think not! I am my Father's FIRST priority. He wants my TIME, not my unfocused second best.
Wow!
Do you see yet why that struck me?
I've confided in you all about my earthly father's lack of interest in any kind of relationship with me. I remember growing up when he was watching television we could never get his full attention. Even when we sat on his lap and he hugged us and kissed our little cheeks, I don't remember his eyes looking away from the screen. I grew up feeling that I wasn't important because he wouldn't focus on ME. And now I'm learning later what a Father's Love is truly about.
Please don't pity me or feel sad for me because I can assure you that I am not sad about this turn of events. I am so truly happy. I am happy because for the first time in my life I can not only understand how much I deserve to GET this kind of love, but I am learning how to GIVE it! I have an amazing husband who has been trying to show me all of these nearly 12 years we have been together, but it just never has gotten through. And his precious and wonderful parents have also tried - but I just couldn't grasp it.
I felt so honored when we were in a fairly recent Bible Fellowship class (it's like Sunday School but for adults) and we watched a Nooma video on love. Rob Bell was talking about the three kinds of love and during the discussion our teacher/facilitator asked if any of us knew someone who demonstrated all three. My father-in-law (they are also in our class and we LOVE it! :o) said that he believes he and his wife (my mother-in-law) have that in their relationship (believe me - they DO! :o) and then said that they could see that Hubby and I shared them all as well. I certainly didn't grow up in an environment where all three forms of love - passionate, unconditional and sacrificial - were demonstrated. All I can comprehend is that the Holy Spirit is working through these loving people to teach me of this thing called love.
Today I got a sweet e-mail from my sister-in-law who realized just today that in 24 days she will be celebrating an anniversary - her first - with her husband, Hubby's brother. She thanked me (and my mother-in-law, whom she ALSO sent it to) for accepting her and her children with open arms into this wonderful family. Personally, I could not have hand-picked a better person for my brother-in-law and we are honored that she loves us as well. It is wonderful to be able to share what I am learning with those around me...including other (newer) family members!
I feel like I am rambling here, so I will sign off for now and just let you all know that I truly appreciate each and every one of you for your contributions via your own blog posts and even personal comments on my blog. Thank you for helping me to learn what love really is and why I deserve it. You are each so special to me!
So...in closing:
Don't worry, be happy!
And again...sorry for the song! :o)
Our pastor has started us on a journey with a book called The Relationship Principles of Jesus. It was written by Tom Holladay who is the teaching pastor at Saddleback...yep. The same church with Rick Warren and his book titled The Purpose Driven Life. So far, I love that the book is so easy to follow and understand. However, I am only at day 3 as of yet...and I have a feeling that the implementation will be the most difficult part. Do you want to know what struck me so far? Yes? I KNEW you would be so excited to learn what my little brain has been up to lately! :o)
Matthew 6:25.
I bet you know it. I did...I didn't have it memorized or anything but I will soon. (Val, this is my next verse for scripture memorization. :o) I also had never heard this translation. It goes like this:
Do you know why that seems so profound to me at this moment in my life? I realize that all I ever do is worry. I worry about how I'm going to pay all of the bills with Hubby's check. I worry about losing weight. I worry about how we're going to keep all of the medical bills current so Kiddo can continue to get his allergy shots. I worry about what to make for breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. I worry about getting all of the cards for all of the birthdays and anniversaries going on in our Bible Fellowship class each month. I worry about getting pregnant. Or NOT getting pregnant. Yep. I worry about EVERYTHING.So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life - whether you have food,
drink and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing?
(Matthew 6:25 New Living Translation)
I need to be diligent in giving all of my worries to God because they are all too big for me...but I know NOTHING is too big for my God. And He wants all of these things off of my little shoulders. Because if I let Him carry those worries, He gets my full attention. How many times have I told my son to wait for a minute while I do something so ridiculously stupid like surf the internet? Would my God ever tell me to "hold on, just let me get this thing and I'll get to you in a minute"? I think not! I am my Father's FIRST priority. He wants my TIME, not my unfocused second best.
Wow!
Do you see yet why that struck me?
I've confided in you all about my earthly father's lack of interest in any kind of relationship with me. I remember growing up when he was watching television we could never get his full attention. Even when we sat on his lap and he hugged us and kissed our little cheeks, I don't remember his eyes looking away from the screen. I grew up feeling that I wasn't important because he wouldn't focus on ME. And now I'm learning later what a Father's Love is truly about.
Please don't pity me or feel sad for me because I can assure you that I am not sad about this turn of events. I am so truly happy. I am happy because for the first time in my life I can not only understand how much I deserve to GET this kind of love, but I am learning how to GIVE it! I have an amazing husband who has been trying to show me all of these nearly 12 years we have been together, but it just never has gotten through. And his precious and wonderful parents have also tried - but I just couldn't grasp it.
I felt so honored when we were in a fairly recent Bible Fellowship class (it's like Sunday School but for adults) and we watched a Nooma video on love. Rob Bell was talking about the three kinds of love and during the discussion our teacher/facilitator asked if any of us knew someone who demonstrated all three. My father-in-law (they are also in our class and we LOVE it! :o) said that he believes he and his wife (my mother-in-law) have that in their relationship (believe me - they DO! :o) and then said that they could see that Hubby and I shared them all as well. I certainly didn't grow up in an environment where all three forms of love - passionate, unconditional and sacrificial - were demonstrated. All I can comprehend is that the Holy Spirit is working through these loving people to teach me of this thing called love.
Today I got a sweet e-mail from my sister-in-law who realized just today that in 24 days she will be celebrating an anniversary - her first - with her husband, Hubby's brother. She thanked me (and my mother-in-law, whom she ALSO sent it to) for accepting her and her children with open arms into this wonderful family. Personally, I could not have hand-picked a better person for my brother-in-law and we are honored that she loves us as well. It is wonderful to be able to share what I am learning with those around me...including other (newer) family members!
I feel like I am rambling here, so I will sign off for now and just let you all know that I truly appreciate each and every one of you for your contributions via your own blog posts and even personal comments on my blog. Thank you for helping me to learn what love really is and why I deserve it. You are each so special to me!
So...in closing:
Don't worry, be happy!
And again...sorry for the song! :o)
Comments
You keep on learning girl and keep sharing it with us.
In Him,
Beth
I pray you will just continue to know how much God loves you and know that He is carrying all of your burdens.
I tend to be a worrier too. I have to admit I'm better than I used to be. Women in general are probably more the worriers, wouldn't you agree?
My Scripture that I'm memorizing this time is verse 8 of Psalm 139. I'm trying to memorize that whole chapter from the NIV.
Glad you're doing well. Talk to you soon!
Love,
Valerie