True Love, More Than a Feeling

What do you think about love? 

For me, Love has been a prevailing thought through this last decade. While continuing to ponder Love yesterday, I heard the phrase “More than a feeling” from the old Boston song. 

Love, the way most people define it, is an emotion of warm feelings one person has towards another person or thing. I agree, that is one definition of love. However, I propose to you Love, holy Love, really has little to do with warm feelings and more to do with actions, attitudes and thought processes. True Love, Holy Love is more than feeling; it is a way of living!

I believe Love will play a huge part in the Lord’s plans for 2009! However, what actions, attitudes and thought processes constitute Love? 1 Corinthians 13 defines Love according to God’s standard, and grasping Love’s true identity, deepens its concrete reality. Feelings are abstract, but Love has substance.

The substance of Love’s action manifests itself in patience, kindness, and good manners towards others. These actions as described in 1 Corinthians makes Love tangible and draws it out of the realm of feelings into a reality which touches others.

The substance of Love’s attitudes is evidenced by our attitudes towards others. Do we hold others up, preferring them to ourselves and rejoice in their triumphs, or do we envy their successes and gifts, feeling we should have the blessings and gifts God has given to them? Do we see the gifts in others and speak encouragement and life to those gifts, or do we constantly speak of our accomplishments and ourselves with an attitude of pride, believing in our hearts that we are somehow better than others? Are we selfless or selfish when faced with a situation which requires us to fight for others who are oppressed or hang on to what we feel rightfully belongs to us?

Love’s substance pays no mind to the response of others towards us, and certainly keeps no record of the wrongs acted out against us. The thoughts we consider indicate what kind of Love/love we have in our hearts. Do we rejoice when the Truth becomes evident and mourn when evil prevails, and do we know that Love's assignment protects, trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres?

Those of us blessed with the gift of compassion and mercy often interpret situations using our emotions as a kind of barometer; there is nothing wrong with feeling emotion as long as God’s Holy Spirit moderates them. Emotions are a good gift given to us by our Abba Father! God has emotions, deep emotions, and we, His sons and daughters, have been created in His image, therefore, we have deep emotions as well. However, be aware, that the god of this age knows us, and he is able to manipulate emotions. Be certain the Holy Spirit is guiding you and not the evil one when it comes to discerning situations and others by feelings. This kind of discernment is inferior to godly discernment and can lead to having a judgmental heart, which definitely is contrary to Love.

TRUE LOVE NEVER FAILS! Love makes no errors and lives through eternity. Love has always been and will always be, as it is perfectly expressed in the great I Am, Whose life on earth lived out Love! Holy Spirit empower us in 2009, and beyond, to live out True Love, Holy Love representing You as we move through the places and contact the people You place before us. AMEN!!!

Jesus...The Reason

Merry Christmas!

Light of the world You stepped down into darkness.

Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship,

Here I am to bow down,

Here I am to say that You're my God

You're altogether lovely Altogether worthy,

Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days oh, so highly exalted

Glorious in heaven above

Humbly You came To the earth You created

All for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship,

Here I am to bow down,

Here I am to say that You're my God

You're altogether lovely

Altogether worthy,

Altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross

I'll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

I'll never know how much it cost

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You're my God

You're altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You're my God

You're altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost

to see my sins upon that cross

Fountains of Living Water: Let Them Eat Cake!

I had a dream last night about a woman who was sitting at a kitchen table with a piece of white cake with coconut frosting in front of her, as well as a walkie-talkie on the table before her. (This woman is someone that I know in the natural realm who has the bad habit of grumbling and complaining.) All this woman could do was grumble about the last time she ate at a particular restaurant. She complained that they purposely withheld the cake from her. She was so distracted by the the apparent injustice, that she didn't see the cake right in front of her.

As she continued to complain, her grandson, who was filled with joy, played with his friends across the street. He had a walkie-talkie which he occasionally used to call the woman's name in an attempt to change her focus. In an attempt to clear up the reception, I took the plug and raised it up in the air and attached it to the metal light frame. The voice of the child was now very clear and he was calling the woman's name, but she did not hear him. Not only did she have the cake before her now, but she also has a child who loves her dearly. The woman was preoccupied to the point where she could see none of these blessings.

This world is full of hurts and injustices, and all of us have been hurt at one time or another. The deepest hurts and injustices have come by the hand of those we have trusted, and we have been wounded to the very depths of our souls, BUT I believe the Lord is saying..."It is time to let go of the past injustices and forgive those who have hurt you. For by rehearsing the past, you are blinded to the blessings right in front of you."

It really doesn't matter who was wrong and who was right; That's for Jesus to decide. What matters now is that forgiveness flows from our hearts...a daily, moment by moment, choice to forgive. Jesus, empower us to forgive from our hearts!!! Amen!!!!

Colossians 3:13 (Amplified Bible)
"Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]."

The Reason For the Season?

One of my awesome students sent this to me via e-mail. I'm sorry to say that this lie has infiltrated our nation. I encourage all of you to respond to "Happy Holidays" with a bright and cheery, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penney's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,
not Happy Holiday!*
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Christ is 'The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

(Philippians:4:13)

As Two More States Institute Assisted Suicide, Many Doctors Take Pledge to Only Promote Life

by Aimee Herd : Dec 18, 2008 : CL Staff – Citizen

…doctors who have a pro-life stance, need support.

According to a report by Citizen Link, more doctors are pledging against the physician assisted suicide laws recently passed in both Montana and Washington.

Spokesman for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Alex Schadenberg, noted that doctors who have a pro-life stance, need support. (Photo: take-the-pledge.com)

"Some of the physicians in Oregon opposed assisted suicide," Schadenberg said, adding that some then changed their stance to a neutral one after it was legalized.

The pledge reportedly underscores some of the wording in the Hippocratic Oath, by stating:

• I will treat the sick according to my best ability and judgment, always striving to do no harm. Whenever I care for a terminally-ill patient, I will provide optimal comfort care until natural death.

• I will also support my patients' wishes not to prolong the dying process with futile treatment. I will never give a deadly drug to anyone even if asked, nor will I suggest suicide.

• I will always affirm and guard these ethical principles with integrity, recognizing that every human life is inherently valuable.

In addition to doctors, there are similar pledges for medical caregivers and just concerned citizens as well. To access the Pledge website, CLICK HERE.

Dear Blog Readers,

I encourage you to pray!!! Life is precious, whether that life is a child in his mother's womb, or a person diagnosed with a terminal illness. Pray for the doctors who choose life. Pray for nurses who are accused of lacking in mercy because they choose NOT to give a lethal overdose of pain medication. Pray that blind eyes would be opened to the spirit of death, which is behind this legislation.

Father, I bring this issue before Your throne. One Word from You chases away the darkness. Allow Life physically and emotionally displace areas overrun with death. Allow Life eternal fill up this nation who is under God!! All for the glory of Jesus!!! AMEN!!!!

With Love,

Beautiful Grace

My Snowflake

I made this snowflake tonight. Thanks, Joyful Stamper!

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin

The Trumpet by Bill Burns --
December 15, 2008:

Hear what the Spirit says. As you gain knowledge and understanding of the fourth watch, you will realize that you are on a fast track to the end of the age. It is important that you rise up and enter into that which I have provided for you. Come, I say. Come through the door into the heavenly realm. You will now establish your position in the Kingdom of Almighty God, and there your reward lies. Come with faith. Come with joy. Come with expectation. Come and be what I have called you to be. Allow the eyes of your spirit to be opened so that you see My purpose for you. Destiny will unfold in measures that you can barely understand. You must receive that which I am doing if you are to grasp the reality of this present work within My kingdom. Some of you, My people, need to make a course correction from the position that you have set yourselves in, for you have misunderstood. You thought you heard Me clearly when, in fact, you heard your own will and emotions speaking to you. Now is the time to get back on track within the confines of My purposes. Listen, and I will speak to you and bring revelation and understanding of these corrections. Set yourselves before Me and open your ears. Do not allow your emotions to rule, says the Lord.

Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns --
December 15, 2008:

I had a really quick vision of someone pulling taffy, it started with one lump and then was pulled into two lumps. The lumps were still connected but getting really thin in the middle. And, the Lord was showing me that this is how the things of the past will be separated from the future. We cannot take stuff from the past into the days ahead. Past issues will become a dim memory. We will no longer experience the pain of these events, but neither will we forget. They will simply become history. We are now in transition as we are being separated from the bitterness of our personal history that has held us in bondage, so that we can be healed and move forward.

Mom Update

Dear Praying Friends,

I brought mom home from the hospital yesterday!! Thank You, Jesus!!! She is much better, but it is obvious her leg is not completely healed from infection. She remains on two antibiotics until the 18th. Please pray that this infirmity cycle is completely broken in my Mother. With each infection and hospitalization she become weaker and weaker, which leaves her susceptible to another infection. Also, please pray that she would be able to get off of all the medications...there are side effects that I believe may be causing her to be weaker.

Thank you for caring!

I found this list over at TCC. I've accomplished 40 of these things in 44 years. Does anyone want to take me to Africa, the Middle East or Europe? ;)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed/hiked a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (not medically confirmed)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (as a young girl, I was all by myself)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Witnessed a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise - going in March!
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching - twice!
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar - just last weekend at a wedding reception.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades - camped there for a week without hot water!
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone - (I accidentally bit a fork while eating pumpkin pie and broke my jaw)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life- (Performed abdomenal thrusts on a woman choking)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous- (If meeting members of the Christian rock bands, Thousand Foot Crutch and Red count)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - (twice)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

My Boys: Consecrated and Fire

This soccer ball was designed and created by Consecrated for his brother, Fire. Isn't it awesome?

This simple animation was created by Consecrated for one of his classes at The Art Institute of York. He has almost finished his second term with 4 more terms until graduation.

I'm proud of Consecrated's talent and diligence!!

The following videos are my boys and their friend, DL. Consecrated is on the left, the tall blond, and Fire, the red head, is playing the djembe. I'm blessed by their musical abilities.

Update on Mom

Hello Prayer Warriors,

I just spoke with Mom's internal medicine doctor. She definitely has septicemia, which in layman's terms, means the cellulitis in her leg has spread to her blood and has traveled throughout her body. They don't have the final report as to the assaulting organism, but are currently treating her with broad spectrum antibiotics (antibiotics which kill numerous types of disease-causing organisms). She has been diagnosed with thrombocytopenia (a fancy way of saying her platelets-the cells which aid in blood clot formation-are low).

The huge praise is that her heart remains in a good rhythm!!!! Yeah, Jesus!! Another huge praise is that her kidney (remember she only has one) function is normal!!!!! Yeah, Jesus!!

Please continue you prayer for complete healing of this infection...this time it was potentially life-threatening!!!

I appreciate ALL of you!!!

Love,
Beautiful Grace

Plant and Animal Cell Drawings by Fire

Fire's assignment was to draw a plant cell and an animal cell. I'm pleased with his work (so is his biology teacher)!

Mom in the Hospital

Hi, Dear Praying Friends,

I received a call from my Dad last night around 9 pm. Mom was not responding normally to him again. Strongman and I left church and headed for my parent's house. It turned out that Mom had a fever of 104 degrees. Her leg looks red again and she does have burning with urination. Obviously, she is infected again!! The huge praise in all of this is that previously with any type of infection, her heart would go into atrial fibrillation. This time her heart rate stayed normal. Thank you, Jesus!!! She was admitted to the hospital a little after midnight for IV antibiotic therapy. She was still pretty out of it when we left around 2:30 am.

Please pray that this hospitalization cycle is broken and that her heart and body remain healthy!!!

Thank you for caring!