LOVE

There’s something magical in that word!

“You can Give without Loving, but you cannot Love without Giving”

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated with the word, L-O-V-E.  I remember that I loved my daddy so much that at times I thought my heart would pop right out of my chest.  I thought he was the handsomest man on the planted.  Am I sounding silly? Or just plain dumb? Nevertheless I adored him.  And I knew he loved me.  I would have given anything or everything to him, and still feel that way today.

As you can see up near the top, a Quote that I think is a perfect description of how I feel about the Lord.  I find that because I love Him, I have a deep desire to give to him.  Did you say what do you want to give Him?  Everything!  More!  Yes I want to give Him more of me…more of what I have….More, More, and even more…until I have given Him all that I am, all that I have, and then more.  Are you laughing?  I am really serious. And guess what?  God blessed me with a husband who is almost…yes, I said ALMOST exactly like me.  He keeps my feet on the ground and “reins me in" when I get a little crazy.

Here is one Biblical example of love….and yes, I know you already know this portion of Scripture.  I Cor. 13  I wrote this more from memory, then copying the exact text, so please don’t get upset.  “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres … And now these three remain: faith, hope and Love.  But the greatest of these is Love.” By the way, I have not used the exact wording…but some of it in my own words…

Luke 6:38

King James Bible Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

I love this portion of God’s Word…and I claim it often.  I know that if I’m a giver, God will provide for me.  That’s exactly what it says….Give and it SHALL be give unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and …. Hey look at this…Running over, shall men give …!  Whoa…now who can argue with that kind of promise?  No me!  And best thing is…I have experienced this…over and over again.  God can not lie.  I remember one time, Herb and I needed some big bucks…well, big for us…we needed $14,000.  And we had to have the money…we didn’t have much…but we gave it all.  Yep….we gave all we had…certainly not $14,000, but we did give every cent we had….and trusted God to provide…and He did!  And I have to tell you this….so sweet…so amazing…so much God simply answering our need.  We got a gift for exactly $14,000.  NO it’s never happened again…but we only had that kind of need once in our lifetime…but no one knew about this huge need except for Me, Herb and God….so what do you think?  Right now, our car is 14 years old and it’s starting to cost us a little here and a bit more there, but one of these days, we are going to have to buy another vehicle, not something new, but something to replace this older car and we will again have to throw out the rope of faith and trust God…and because of  depending on Him all these years, we will give what we have and believe He is going to provide.  We love Him and we know that He first loved us.  He has promised to meet our needs…I would never ask Him to provide a Volvo, or a BMW, but I do trust Him to meet our needs.  How much do you love Him?  Enough to give Him your life?  You time?  Your money, and trust Him to your finances.  Read the Bible and believe that every promise in the Book is Yours’ and Mine. Hurray!  Love Him.  And remember you can’t love without Giving.

Have a wonderful week, and Remember to Love the Lord with all your heart.

Let’s Love our Mothers

( I had a picture here, but it didn’t show up...sorry)

I

I am doing all of this today in Pink, in honor of my mother…whose favorite color was pink…I must admit, she looked even more beautiful when she wore pink.  We chose shades of pink when we picked our her flowers for the funeral this week, and I personally chose huge white Spider Mums to highlight all the pink.  I put a small bouquet in the corner of mom’s casket from my granddaughter Leah Darby…it it looked lovely.  We buried Mom yesterday on a snow covered hillside here in Tennessee.  It took two guys to help me up the hill, preacher was a pallbearer so I wondered if I could get to the grave site, but God supplied the help I needed up the slippery hills side as He always does.

Today, I have needed to talk to mom, I felt so strongly that I wanted just one more chance to share my heart…but it was too late.  Girls, that is such a sad state to be in.  Needing to take care of business and its simply too late.  I urge you to take the time NOW, while you have your loved ones…to let them know you love them. 

I have to say that over the past few months, and more so in these past two weeks, I have told mother I loved her.  I have thanked her for loving me, so making sure I always had clean dresses to wear, that I was bathed, and when I grew older, there was a scheduled time for our baths.  There was always wonderful meals, homemade cookies, and Chicken ‘n Dumplings and fried chicken.  Health foods too…like vegetable soup, fish, salad, and oal meal.  Mom was a cleaner too…our house was always clean, and she taught us girls to clean.  At the time, I thought it was the cruelest, meanest thing, and was sure none of my friends had to help clean and do chores. I’ve found out that many of my friends had to do chores, some much harder then I had to do.  And I thanked her for teaching me to clean.

I thanked her for the homemade dresses, I wanted store-bought most of the time, but mother was being wise with the money they had, and now I understand and I have thanked her.

I remember the nights when a fever was raging and I’d feel her cool hand on my brow and I’d hear her soothing words.  I’d see her down the hall, on her knees beside her bed, and I knew she was praying for me.  And while she lay dying, I told her thankyou over and over again.

Read Titus chapter two…God tells mothers to love their children, and mom loved us well….and I thanked her as she lay in the hospital,  I thanked her to for loving dad…and giving us the security of knowing that mom and dad stood united…and we could feel that confidence that tomorrow and the next day, and the next month, and forever that they would provide me with parents loving each other and love me. 

But I have to admit to you that I didn’t often think of these things.  I did often, and in some cases, I never told her thank you.  And now it’s too late.  I rubbed lotion on her swollen feet this week, and I am ashamed to say, I can remember only one other time when I did that.  I wish I had done more loving gestures for her, but now it’s too late.  I know there’s not much Scripture in today, but Yesterday was Valentines Day, and I buried my mother.  I wanted so much to whisper I love you Mom…but laying in the casket was my mom’s body, but mom was not there.  She was in Heaven, face to face with the Lord Jesus, and seeing Dad, and my twin sister, Arlene…and having the time of her life.  So, maybe call your mother, if she’s living and tell her you love her, think of the good things she has done for you…and let her know that your glad she is you Mother.  And tell her again, and again.  Do things for her.  Maybe take her out to lunch.  Does things to let her know that your glad she is your Mother.

Exodus 20:12 KJV -

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Happy Valentines Day

I love you gals.

Mrs. Curriden

He Really Loves Me!

Here it is February 3^rd. 2014, and I’m still trying to remember to write 2014, and the entire month of January is already past.  I always like to focus on “LOVE” during this month.  I want to do this again this month, but I am starting with God’s love for us.   One of the first verses I always taught my babies was “God Is Love”.   I loved to hear their sweet young baby voices saying those 3 words.  If you’re a mommy of little ones, begin now to teach them about Jesus, and that He loves them. 

I wish that every person alive would truly love the Lord.  Can you imagine what our world would be live if that was the case?  It would be Heaven on earth!   Okay…now to get to the thoughts for today.  “We love Him because He first Loved us.”  I John 4:19  Probably most of you know this sweet song.  Won’t you take a moment and read the words.  How much does he love me? Just like the song says… He loves me like I was His only child…and that is how he Loves you too.

          God Really Loves Me

g                                                c                  
My Father has a great big family. 
                                                                      d      
And there are many children besides me. 
                      g                                                 c            
If you're wandering how He divides His time, 
                                                   d      
let me say I never stand in line.   (this is just me...saying AMEN!)

        g                                                  c          
He loves me like I was His only child, 
                            d                      
never felt so loved before. 
                  c                     d            
I could never ask for more. 
           g                                                c        
He loves me like I was His only child. 
                      d                
God really loves me. 
   c                        d                  
Yes He really loves me. 
          c                         d                      g            
He loves me like I was His only child. 


         g                                               c        
He never favors me above the rest. 
                                                                  d          
But I can't help but feel that I am blessed. 
           g                                  c          
He treats me best I often say. 
                                                                    d        
But all my Father's children feel that way!

Preacher and I have been on the road for 6 days.  We took a huge load of supplies to a Christian Servicemen’s Center in Jacksonville, NC…and took a look at the ministry there too.  We were able to provide the Center with $400.00 worth of supplies, coffee, sugar, powdered creamer, Canned Tuna, Beef stew, chips, chips, and more chips, hot sauce (remembering the guys at Eifel Bapt. Church)  Ramon noodles (a case) Paper supplies, eg  Tissue paper, paper towels, napkins, plastic cups, as well as office paper, and much more.  It was a blessing to be able to be help.  We have a special place in our hearts for the military. 

Here is something that happened just today...an example of God’s love for me.... 

I was wearing a solid gold bracelet that one of the men stationed at Eifel Baptist church 2004-2006 bought for me when he had to go to Turkey for a 3 month Deployment and upon his return, he had brought me this bracelet from Turkey, so it has great sentimental value, as well as costing him a lot of money.  Today we stopped to “walk” and the spot we chose was Walmart.  Preacher headed to the sports section and I picked out Valentine cards for my granddaughter, and both of our mothers, found a pack of scrunchies (multi colored) then decided to go to the restroom before checking out.  As I entered the “stall” I noticed that the bracelet was missing.  My heart took a dive into my stomach…then I bowed my heart and prayed.  As I prayed, I asked the Lord to help me find it, and if need be, keep the eyes of others around it to not see it.  I left the bathroom and tried to remember my steps.  It was very crowded and as I re-traced my steps, I had to dodge so many people.  I continued to pray, and I told the Lord, it’s okay if you’d rather I didn’t have it.  Just as I said those words…something caught my eye…it didn’t look like a bangle bracelet, but still I went to see what it was.  My heart did a jump…it was my bracelet…and it had not been stepped on, and God heard my prayer…it was right in the center of the aisle in front of the row of check outs.  Yes, He loves me like I was His only child.  But, the best part is…He loves you like you are His only child.  We do not have to wait to ask His help with just the BIG things…He wants us to come to Him for everything.  Did you slip and say an unkind word?  Ask Him to forgive you and help you make it right.  Did you forget it was your husbands birthday?  Ask the Lord to help you fix it.  You say…Oh Mrs. C, that’s such a trivial thing.  God see’s your need, whether big or very small, and wants to help. 

He really loves you.  He really loves me.  Enough to keep all those shoppers in Walmart from finding my bracelet.  He really loves us.

Next Monday we will take another look at the Love of God.  Let’s read this verse…before we close.  John 3:16 “For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life.”   Yes, He really love me.