Memory Verse Monday: Matthew 22::37-38

"Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment.'" - Matthew 22:37-38

Join me while I get philosophical for a few.

What is love anyway? 

What does it look like?  Does it have a certain smell? Can you feel it? What does it sound like? Have you ever tasted love?

If love looks like anything, then love has an infinite amount of looks.

If love smells like anything, then the possibilities of smells are limitless.

If love is a certain touch then I suppose love could feel like at least a billion times a billion things.

If love sounds like any one thing than it would have to sound like an endless amount of other sounds.

Can love taste like one thing... who decides... therefore the possibilities are endless for taste too.

Go ahead... try to define love, I dare you. Describe it. Illustrate love. 

What does God look like? Does God have a certain smell? Have you ever felt God? What does God sound like? Have you ever tasted God?

Go ahead... try to define God. Describe Him. Illustrate God.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

The Bible describes love like this:  Corinthians 13:4-7, NKJV. "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things "

Couldn't God be described the same way? 

My favorite Bible verse says that "God is love"... 1 John 4:7-12, NKJV:  "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us."

So I must ask, can you have one without the other? I seriously want to know how one can "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" without God being involved in the love? (Matthew 22:37-38)

"Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for creating each of us in such a way that we are capable of love (You). These words seem so insignificant at times, but I mean them when I say... I love you. Because of Jesus I can pray! Amen!!!" 

"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38

God is love and Love is God,

Vanessa

PS. Here's last week's memory verse... it's okay if you're still working on it! 

PSS. Philosophy, not my favorite college class. :)

Memory Verse Monday: Psalm 20:7

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name Lord our God." Psalm 20:7 NIV

via Pinterest

Here are a few different versions of the same verse: 

• "Some nations boast of armies and of weaponry, but our boast is in the Lord our God." - Psalm 20:7 TLB
• "Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7 NLT
• "Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7 AMP
• "Some give the credit for victory to their chariots and soldiers, but we honor the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7 ERV
• "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7  KJV

You might be thinking, "Chariots? Horses? What?" 

The emphasis of this verse is actually in the second part of verse. How is that for a cop out answer? Seriously though, put the emphasis in the second part of the verse. Let me teach you why...

Nowadays chariots aren't used much. The TLB version uses the words "armies" and "weaponry" instead of "chariots" and "horses", which makes it a bit more modern.

Try the words, "democrats" and "republicans" ~ Some trust in democrats and some in republicans, but we trust in the name Lord our God. <<<How is that for current events?>>> And I digress... 

via Dave Ramsey's Twitter & Facebook

Okay... getting back to my point (I think I have one) and this week's memory verse...

Try the words, "hard work" and "sacrifice". Or try the words, "their own strength" and "self-discipline". ~ Some trust in hard work and sacrifice, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.  Some trust in their own strength and some in self-discipline, but we trust in the name Lord our God. 

Some trust in degrees... some trust in money... some trust is their spouse... some trust in alcohol... some trust in good deeds.... some trust in their church.....

The point to this verse (in my opinion):
 the Lord our God, is alone worthy of your life and your trust. You can trust your life to God and God alone. 

I suppose that's one of the many reasons why He is the "I am" (Exodus 3:14).

"Dear Lord, Of course I want to trust the big things to you. But I also want to trust the little things to you and everything in between. I love you. Amen."

God is Love (and worthy of your trust),
Vanessa 

PS. I don't usually recommend switching out words in the Bible for random words. In fact, never do that. Bad idea. But for purposes of getting the verse's point across I did just that. And since it's my own blog I can do that. < insert giggles here> 

PSS. Can you recite last week's memory verse, John 15:5, without cheating? If so, that's so great! If not, here's the link to the verse for a refresher. Blessings!    

Memory Verse Monday: John 15:5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

There's a word from this week's memory verse that is really catching my attention. Any guesses what it might be?!?!? 

If you came up with, "nothing" then you would be correct.

This same word is found in John 5:19 "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself...."

We live in a world that wants to know, "What can you do?" More specifically, "What can you do for me?" And often times, what you can (or can't) do is in direct correlation to a measure of success (or failure).  

Who wants to be dependent? Weak? Insufficient? Incapable? When's the last time you witnessed someone signing up for those traits? 

Jesus did. He signed up for all of that and more... he signed up to be a nothing. 

I don't know what your day looks like but here's mine: Deadlines, I have them and they're today. Bills, it's that time of the month. Responsibilities, as a wife and nursing student and blah blah blah, I've got responsibilities alright. Grades, they could be better (so much better). Loved ones, frail and week across the country far from any help that I can offer. Husband, across the country period. My own ailments, insecurities, weaknesses.... just a typical Monday. Okay so I'm purposely only pointing out the negative and it could obviously be a lot worse, but you're getting my point... 

So instead of "I do..." or "I will..." or "I can...." today I am stripping myself of any independence, and agreeing with God when he says that I "can do nothing" (John 15:5) apart from Him. NOTHING.

Say it aloud with me, "NOTHING." 

You can do NOTHING apart from Him. No, I think that needs an exclamation point. You can do NOTHING apart from Him!  

 Let's pray together...

"Heavenly Father, I get it. Forgive me for trying to be independent. It's really silly if I think about it. I want to be like a Georgia Peach on a healthy organic tree... I want to ooze with your sweet goodness and love. Lord there's no way that I'm gonna even come close to that without you. Thank you for making the most of my day and making up for what I lack and then some. And Lord, it's tough for me, but I want to trust you with all my burdens, especially my loved ones across the globe. I love you! Because of Jesus I can pray! Amen.

#nothing Let's be it together.

God is love and EVERYTHING,

Vanessa

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Thoughts, Floods, & Promises

Do you ever think? Of course you do. 

I mean do you ever just think? How about for long stretches of time? Well, this thinking-thing is a hobby of mine and has been for as long as I can remember.

my best thinking face 

Sometimes to make this hobby more interesting I'll ask others,  "What are you thinking?"
I am and always will be completely mystified at anyone who responds with a simple "Nothing." 

Actually chances are good that I won't believe you if that's your answer.

Ryan (that's short for "my superhero husband") is well acquainted with this hobby of mine so he no longer ever says, "Nothing." when I ask, "What are you thinking?"

Here's an example from the other night:
Me:"What are you thinking?"
Ry: ________________________ (you can pretty much fill in the blank with whatever husbands say to make their wives blush).
Every once in a while Ry will throw a proverbial curve ball... the other night he asked,"Do you ever think about _______________?" (I actually can't remember exactly what he said)
Me:"No." My quick blunt answer was unsuspected.
Me: "Do you ever think about how we are going to decorate a nursery someday?" (No I'm not pregnant, no I don't know when we are going to have kids. Yes everyone I know and their dog are having kids and yes perhaps I frequent Pinterest so perhaps that's why I was thinking about such things...)
Ry: (equally as quick and blunt) "No."


Its night as I write this; I can't sleep. And I'm thinking about that conversation and Noah's Ark, because that's what I imagined I'd decorate a nursery with. Notice the past tense .... I've been reading about Noah in the Bible, and in this book called, Patriarchs and Prophets. Sure I've read it before but I'm just realizing, it's not the happy story one sees plastered in a nursery.

The other day the county that I live in had flood warnings, due to days and days of heavy HEAVY rain. Flood warnings aren't a pleasant thought either.

The good in Noah's story is the same good that is found in my story (and coincidentally your story) and that good is in God's promises.
They're so functional, those promises are, that I suppose they're worth plastering all over a nursery. God's promises are also something to fill your thoughts with.... 

Here's some verses worth thinking about:
Phillipians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Genesis 9:12-14 "And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,  I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” 

^{Deuteronomy 6:5-9 "}Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

It's time for my scattered thoughts to come to a close... but before they do, may I just remind you that God has a proverbial rainbow for you, no matter the storm you're facing... God and I promise you that!

God is love,

Vanessa 

The Perfect Hired Hand by Betty Rayl

The Perfect Hired Hand by Betty Rayl

The hardest working man around

Is one I thought could not be found.

When work needs done you'll find him there

With smiling face to do his share.

To fix the fire he'll pack in wood

Before you ever say he should.

He'll take the sheep back to the fold

Long before he's ever told.

He herds the cows, so big and mean

And if he's scared it's never seen.

When things break down, then you're in luck. 

With wrench in hand he'll fix your truck.

And he's the proudest guy alive

Whenever he's allowed to drive.

He'll feed the chickens, milk the cow,

If it needs done, just show him how.

And housework's not beneath his skill,

He'll fold the laundry with a will.

He'll grab the broom and sweep the floor,

Wash the dishes, and lots more.

Messy floors? Don't get up-tight.

The vacuum cleaner's his delight.

In doing chores, don't think he's slow.

He's atomic energy about to blow!

He's a "man of few words" as they say,

But his happy grin will cheer your day.

Doesn't smoke or chew, what can I say?

The hired man bathes every day!

When he gets spruced to go to town,

He's 'bout the best dressed guy around.

High stepping boots, new suit and tie,

The ladies think he's "quite the guy".

He does drink some, but still he's nice.

The bottle is his only vice.

This hired man's a dream come true,

And Ryan Dale is not quite two.

by proud Grand Betty Rayl, 1982

Here's the card that the poem was in...

That Ryan Dale is now 32 and my husband. My mother-in-law says it seems just like yesterday that Ryan was two...

I can't believe that my little nephew is already two... and I suppose before I know it he'll be 32... 

time flies...make the most of each day!!! 

Psalm 20:4 "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed."

Happy New Year and may God bless your time on this earth!!!!! 
Gods is love,
Vanessa