How I know He loves me

My father passed away a few years ago, and in all my growing up years, I don't remember him ever saying he loved me.  He was physically present in the home, as he was a high school teacher, and home every evening and summers.  But he wasn't very involved in my life.  In fact, I sang from the time I was in third grade until after high school and he never attended any concert.

But, you know what?  I always knew he loved me. 

Perhaps it was a combination of little things, like the way he counted my freckles, or called me "Denny" when I walked in the room.  He took me to Walgreen's and bought me my first "rock and roll" album:  Tom Jones' "What's New Pussycat" soundtrack.  (Obviously, neither one of us knew what rock and roll was).  He even tried to buy me "go-go boots" once.  Unfortunately I ended up with white ones that only came halfway up my calf, when I really wanted black ones that came to my knees.  But he tried.

There's someone else who I know loves me.  Even though I've never heard His voice say the words, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, God loves me.  How?  It's the little things:

Today a quail sat on top of my fence and cooed.

My roses are blooming, and the fragrance is better than any perfume.

There is a cool breeze.

I'm enjoying the sweet taste of Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes .... (My husband bought me some syrup so I could make my own)

My dogs are lying at my feet.

I could go on and on. Sometimes, especially when I'm feeling overwhelmed, it's in the little enjoyments of life, the things that make me smile, that I experience God's love. Oh, there's lots of other ways I know God loves me, but today, I'm celebrating the little things. And I'm realizing the importance of surrounding myself with sweet touches that speak of God's love.  And then taking the time to enjoy them.

I'm also celebrating my friend Lynn Cowell, whose first book has just been released.  It's called "His Revolutionary Love" and it's a celebration of God's love for women, especially young women who might search for that love in the wrong places.

In celebration of Lynn's  book,  Proverbs 31 Ministries is partnering with Children's HopeChest to place this wonderful new book into the hands of girls who desperately need to know how truly loved they are. For every copy of this life-changing book purchased May 2-4 on Proverbs 31 Ministries or  Amazon, we will purchase a copy for a girl who likely would not be able to obtain one (up to $10,000)!

I hope you experience God's love today.  Instead of looking for it in the big ways, try looking in the little things.  And stop for a moment and just breathe it in.  It's there.  I promise.

How do you know God loves you today?  Take a moment and post a sweet little thing you enjoy, and I'll select someone at random to win a pretty packet of sticky notes.  Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you, or check back on Thursday when I announce the winner.

Grace & Peace,
Glynnis

These "cars" don't last forever

Last night I was praying for several friends facing serious health concerns.  Two are waiting for test results ... a most anxious place to be at times. 

As I prayed specifically for their bodies to be healed, I got a vision of a car.  The message was our bodies are like a car.

If I were a car, I would like to be something sleek like a Jaguar.  However, God has made me more like a Suburban.  Solid, and with a big enough lap for teenagers to still sit on.  (See, there is a positive for those big hips I've got!)

As I thought about the comparison of our bodies to cars, I asked the Lord why He picked a car?  Because they don't last forever, was the answer.

This led me to a thought that pops into my head now and again, and that's why God didn't make our bodies to last forever.  Actually, I personally think He did.  I think at creation, when God walked on the earth, He made our bodies to be perfect and live forever.  I don't think death was in His original plan. 

But then sin entered the world through choice.  Sin brought death to us: spiritually and physically.  And God removed His physical presence from the world because of sin.  Of course, we have Jesus to restore what we lost.  Praise God!

But at that moment when sin entered the world, God allowed our bodies to have a closing date.  Here's the reason why:   If we stayed here on earth forever, we would never be with Him.  God wants us with Him. 

Years ago, a friend once told me that we place much more value on life on this earth, than God does.  Life has value - don't get me wrong.  But it's not the best thing that will ever happen to us.  Eternal life with God is the best thing.

So, we've been given cars to drive around for awhile.  And cars don't last forever.  But we do. 


In His Love,
Glynnis

Five ... no six ... things I love about Christmas

It's going to be a busy week for me.  I'm finishing my book (thank you to everyone who has prayed for me.  It's been truly miraculous how God has answered those prayers.  I'm almost done.  Praise God!)

My two youngest sons wrestle Wednesday night, Thursday night and all day Friday.  Then on Saturday I travel north to Cottonwood to speak at a women's Christmas lunch, and stay over night to speak to their church on Sunday.   And God again miraculously showed up as I finished my second talk this past weekend.  

In the midst of the busyness, I wanted to remind myself of things I love about Christmas.  I want to treasure those moments that could slip past me in my focus to get everything done.  You see, I've realized there really aren't that many really BIG moments ... but there are hundreds of small moments. 

It's when I pause, even for a minute ... to notice ... to breathe in the beauty ... to wonder .... to hope ... that's when the magnificence appears.  There are divine moments all around.  I just need to stop long enough to see.

So, here are  five, plus one, things I love about Christmas.

1. Watching my children make Christmas lists.

2. Seeing a Christmas stamp on a card-sized envelope and knowing someone thought about me.

3. Christmas lights on houses. 

4. The smell of pine.

5. Hearing "A Strange Way to Save the World" ... and crying over the beauty of the gift we received.

The last thing I love about Christmas is the thoughts that enter my mind more at this month than any other. It's not a small thing at all, so it didn't really fit in with the other small things.  But a thought always starts small.  This one I let grow until it consumes me.

The ultimate humility and sacrifice

of Christ

to come to earth as a baby

only to die

at our hands  ...

... so we could live.

In His love,

Glynnis

It's Going to Take More Water

Life in the desert is hot, hot and hotter.  Water is precious.  Shade is valuable.  In fact, it can be the cause of parking lot battles.   Some kid could make a great part-time income charging for shaded parking spots in the summer.  I would pay.

I was raised here, and have conservation in my DNA.  In fact, no water is wasted.  Ice is poured into dog water bowls and pasta water is cooled and given to the thirsty plants in my yard. 

Last summer was hot earlier than normal. As the temperature climbed, our plants wilted. My roses are particularly sensitive to heat.  The buds try and open, but are fried to a crisp within hours.  During the summer, most plants just maintain. 

Each morning that summer, I sat at my kitchen table, looked at my crispy rose bushes and dreamed of England.  Or Portland, Oregon.  Seattle, Washington.  Or anywhere roses thrive in the summer.  Not that I would trade my home for a flowing rose bush in June, but it was a nice daydream. 

Then one morning, sitting at that same kitchen table, looking at that same rose bush, I noticed some new growth.  Green new growth.  It was startling fresh in relation to the rest of the struggling bush. 

A quick comment to my husband revealed the reason.  He had increased the watering just that week.

As I thought about that rose bush, the Lord spoke an interesting truth to my heart.

"It's going to take more water to grow in the heat."

Aaahhh ... I thought about the heat of my life.  Sometimes the fire gets turned up under me.  Circumstances are more difficult.  Emotions more painful.  Relationships stressed.  I'm surprised by challenges I didn't see coming. 

During those times, I maintain.  It's all I can to do hang on.  There's not a lot of new growth.  Wilting.  Frying.  Dying.  But not new. 

I'm going to need more water during those hot times.  You see, my regular watering routines aren't enough when the heat gets turned up.  Sometimes, I just need more.  Living water.  Like what Jesus offered the woman at the well one hot, dusty day.

The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."  John 4:9-15 (NIV)

My truth for today:  When life is hot, I need more water.  Jesus' living water.

Time for a big, thirsty drink. 

In His Love,

Glynnis

Knowing God as Daddy

Today I've got a devotion running on Proverbs 31 and Crosswalk.com.  The title is "Can I Call You Daddy?" and I wrote it after watching a television show where a daughter knew her father would come and rescue her from her latest trouble. 

I shared some about my father in the devotion, but I'll share a bit more personal information here.  Although   my dad was physically present, he was not emotionally invested in me or my little sister at all.  When I write that he was physically present, I should clarify that meant present at home.  I sang all my growing up years, from third grade on, and my dad never once attended a concert.  He wasn't involved in my life at all.

You may not understand this, but I never thought badly of my father for that.  That's just how it was.  I'm a realist.  I never was bitter or resentful.  I accepted my father for who he was, and accepted what he was able to offer.

Instead of looking for affirmation and attention in other places, as many young women do, I become independent.  I learned to not really depend on a man ... any man.  Including God. 

Although I loved God with all my heart, I never expected anything from Him.  I never thought He would be interested in me or my activities.  I never thought He cared about my choices or wanted to help me make them.  And I never thought He would come to my rescue.

It has taken me years to understand what it means to have a Heavenly Father.  And honestly, I'm still not sure I really understand.  Or, that I can really respond to God like a daughter.  It feels sort of stiff and awkward at times. In my prayer time, I start by calling Him "Daddy" and slip into calling Him "Lord."  It's easier. 

And yet I know I'm missing out on a deeper relationship by not exploring what this means. So I'm pushing through the awkwardness, and learning what it means to have a heavenly Daddy.  At my age that seems kind of silly.  But, the truth is I'll be learning about God until I meet Him face to face.  He's that big.  So I guess it's not crazy to be exploring something new about God now.

The bottom line is we all are affected in one way or another by our earthly fathers.  So maybe it's good to evaluate that relationship, and see how it's affecting our relationship with God.  I bet God likes it when we want to know Him more.  And I'm confident He prefers me humbly seeking His help, rather than aloof and independent.

I wrote the prayer at the end of the devotion from an honest place in my heart.  I'll end this blog post with the same prayer.  I hope you'll join me in praying it.

Dear Daddy, how I long to fully understand Your love for me. I know in my head You are a tender father, but my heart still doesn’t understand. Please reveal Yourself to me as a caring daddy. Help me to overcome all barriers I have to living like a chosen and precious daughter of yours. I want to know You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.



God bless you,
Glynnis

Life is sweet, but heaven will be sweeter

*** Alert ***** I have actually included photos in this post. Could it be that I'm going to figure this thing out after all???

On to my thought for the day ...

There are many benefits to getting older. For example, I've finally discovered that I look better in warm colors: cream, brown, olive green, etc. Seems I was incorrectly "color draped" in the 80s and wondered why I was never completely satisfied with clothing purchases. (I thank my friend Shari Braendel for lovingly showing me my true colors ... not to be confused with the Cyndi Lauper song of the 80s)

Also, the negative opinions of others don't throw me into a tizzy any more. While I wouldn't have ever called myself a people pleaser, I could chew on a negative comment for weeks, allowing it to cause all kinds of internal conversations and turmoil.

I've also accepted some truths about myself, and that's really good. I can stop trying to be what I was never created to be - and that's a relief. I like to say, "The more I'm me, the better I am at it."

There's one other blessing of getting older, and it's that heaven looks more and more appealing than it did when I was younger. Don't read this wrong - I'm not ready to go today. I love my life and love serving God here. It's just that I don't dread the thought of leaving this earth like I once did.

One of the reasons for this shift in my thinking is coming into closer contact with the depravity of this world. Recently, I've walked down some paths with friends who have been horribly mistreated, abused and degraded. And their children have too. It's painful wrong.

As I get older, I also realize our bodies weren't meant to live forever. Disease afflicts us, just as it did my sweet sister Helen Ann. Just last week she had breast cancer surgery, and I got to spend a few days with her this week. (She lives in another state) We rejoiced to hear that the cancer hadn't spread, but she is left with a radical scar as she took an aggressive stance against this intruder. And she'll keep fighting with chemo starting in March.

So as I spend time at home today, I'm reminded of the sweetness of heaven.

And yet, God has not left us on this planet to suffer. He has nestled all kinds of sweetness into the world to show us His love. The most important evidence of His love is that He lavishly offers Himself. He offers us extravagant grace, kindness and comfort. What a gift.

On this Friday afternoon, I'm focusing on some of God's other gifts to me, and have taken some photos of sweet things on this earth that make me smile.

My daughter Cathrine is the only one who let me take a photo of her. She loves to watch tv on Friday afternoon, since we keep it off during the week. We have to pry the remote from her hands. My children make me smile.

I love red transferware. I've only recently started collecting it, and it's so lovely to create a vignette using pretty things.

I adore pink roses ... well actually all colors of roses. This is my favorite of all my roses. Its fragrance is pure and it holds its petals the longest.

This is our dog, Kona. She's a Siberian Husky, and has all the quirks of the breed - she yodels instead of barks, talks back, doesn't come when we call, is the worst watchdog in the world, runs instead of walks, and we are hopelessly in love with her.

There is so much more that makes me smile. My husband is one of them, but he refuses to have his photo taken. He's out running right now. I'm so proud that my 48 year old husband runs marathons and has done a half-triathlon. He'd love to qualify for the Ironman in Hawaii some day.

That's what's making me smile today. If you post some photos on your blog about what makes you smile, please let me know so I can come visit you.

Now I'm off to the post office.

In His Love,

Glynnis

3-Minute "I Love You's"

It was a very difficult week. Without naming names, everyone in my immediate family had either diappointed me or hurt me somehow during the week. By Saturday night I was very weepy. Although there had been forgiveness and restoration, I was still sad.

I love my family beyond words, but honestly, sometimes life in close quarters with others is very hard. I never take for granted what I have, but I wonder why it's so difficult at times.

So Saturday night as I lay in bed, even prayers came hard. Lord, I asked. Can you please give me a reminder that You love me? Just a small one. Just a sign that You are there? That was what I could manage, and then God blessed me with sleep.

This morning, I woke up before the 5:45 a.m. setting on my alarm clock. The reason for getting up so early? I sing on the worship team for the 8:30 service and we practice at 7:30 a.m. My oldest two sons (age 16 and 14) lead worship for the 5th and 6th graders at 8:30 and so they practice at 7:30 too. Plus my youngest son runs sounds for his brothers.

So Sunday mornings are early, and our habit (if we get out the door on time) is to stop at QT for something to eat or drink. Yes, I know that's not the healthiest thing for my kids in the morning, but I try and make up for it during the week.


I believe God woke me up early on purpose to make sure we got out the door on time. Because as I pulled into QT, I caught a glimpse of the most amazing sunrise in the rear view mirror. It was stunningly beautiful. Streaks of crimson blazed across the sky. I pulled into the parking space, got out and turned around ... sighed and smiled. Thank you, God.

The vibrancy of colors was gone in minutes, but the gift God gave me ... the reminder of His love ... stayed with me all morning.

So I got to thinking, what could I do when I need to remember God loves me. Here are some things I can do in 3 minutes:

1) Get up early and watch the sunrise.

2) Cut some roses from my garden (yes they bloom in Jan. in AZ) and breathe deeply.

3) Buy some roses or other flowers and breathe deeply.

4) Listen to my favorite song. here's a link to one of mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6zdihmwy1M

5) Remember how God protects and defends me. Another link to a great skit and song: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

6) Read God's love letter to me. Read Romans 8. Here's a link to that chapter on Biblegateway.com: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208&version=31

I'm much better today. Friday was bad, but God was already planning Sunday. Sound familiar? Halleluia!!!

In His Love,

Glynnis