SHINE ON US

SUNDAY IN THE SON

I have to say that the song lyrics below for this week's song connecte wonderfully with this month's scripture and next month's scripture that starts tomorrow. Notice the emphasis on the bolden words below.

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SHINE ON US

song lyrics

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Lord, let Your light

Light of Your face

Shine on us

That we may be saved

That we may have life

To find our way in the darkest night

Let your light shine on us

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Lord, let Your grace

Grace from Your hand

Fall on us

That we may be saved

That we may have life

To find our way in the darkest night

Let Your grace fall on us

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Lord, let Your love

Love with no end

Come over us

That we may be saved

That we may have life

To find our way in the darkest night

Let Your love come over us

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Let Your light shine on us

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HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... AND MY SISTERS...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY - PART TWO

CATCH UP AND MUST DO

Each year, Dottie, on the right, plans, organizes, and executes our Secret Sister name drawings and yearly "revealing party". Today, was the day!

Each year, everyone hopes that Dottie has their name because she makes a handmade afghan as part of her gift for her secret sister. This year, Melva was the blessed recipient!





Each year, we all bring two gifts. The first one I brought for the person whose name I had. The second gift was a thank you gift for the person who had my name. Each sister did the same! Somebody HAD to guard the gifts... Fran and Debbie did a great job!





We also all brought food! So, first we ate and fellowshipped!

Dottie led us in a devotional and then gave each of us a crocheted snowflake! Many joked about it being an appropriate gift as a reminder of the enormous amounts of snow we have gotten recently. Donna's house and Dottie's planning and gifts set the stage for a great and encouraging time for all.

We had a special visitor! Cathy joined us! Praise God for answered our prayers! It's just been several weeks since Cathy's head was shaved and doctors went in and put a shunt in to drain fluid from her spinal column. It gave her head instant relief from her constant migraines. What a treat for all of us to have you with us, Cathy!



We looked on as each secret sister was revealed. There were many surprises. It was unusual, but there were two sets of two who had each others names. Debbie had Cindy and visa versa. Florence had Stephanie and visa versa.

Dottie plans to surprise two sisters with afghans this year! She's a tall order to follow! But, then again, thanks Melody... you were an amazing secret sister!

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HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... LIKE A MOMMY "WORKS" ON HER CHILDREN...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY - PART ONE

Catch Up and Must Do

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I am choosing to post twice today! Later on, I'll have things to share once I spend some time with my Pitman sisters. I guess you can say, "let's have ketchup on our eggs for breakfast and mustard on an evening burger".

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For right now, join me in considering our role as mothers. Just as our God lovingly works on us, we "work on" our children. Of course, our children are God's workmanship, but we are His helpers in the process.

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Our verses in Ephesians remind us of God's...

• LOVE
• MERCY
• GRACE
• LIFE
• SALVATION
• HELPS
• HOSPITALITY
• FRIENDSHIP
• CREATIVITY
• WORK ETHIC

I get an almost daily illustration of this when I go to my daughter-in-love, Jacqueline's, blog and see her chronicle Chloe's growth and development. I see a mommy who is very invested in her daughter. She gets great joy in seeing her develop in the positive areas. She knows the need for correction and discipline in the negative areas. Her posts of this week and the two brief videos are such a reminder of God's love for each of us! Be encouraged by Jacqueline's blog by clicking here.
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Chloe's high level of curiousity for things that are not safe or appropriate for her will get correction and discipline from her mommy:

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Chloe's budding passion for books will get much positive encouragement from her mommy:

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Deuteronomy 4:9-10

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"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely

so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen

or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.

Teach them to your children

and to their children after them...

...hear my words so that they may learn to revere me

as long as they live in the land

and may teach them to their children."

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Jacqueline's posts of this week and the two brief videos are such a reminder of God's love for each of us! Be encouraged by Jacqueline's blog by clicking here..
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HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... THROUGH MY WORLD WIDE FAMILY...

I love the worldwide family of God! I'm thinking of those of you who come to this blog on a regular basis from Albania, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Sweden... I am in awe that God is in the hearts and minds of people all over this Great Globe! I love what we have in common... the Christ connections...

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Yesterday, I shared with you a poem that I was recently inspired by. I also told how I connected with the author and received an email of permission to use the poem from her. Making this connection this week reminded me of several other "connections" I've made over the years, but particularly one. Last night, as we sat together watching the Olympics, Steve said that my experience this week reminded him of another time over a decade ago. Yep! We were thinking of the same thing!

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From 1995 to 2002 I owned a company that created and made inspirational angel jewelry, christian greeting cards, and christian framed prints. The name of the company was "Ten Thousand Angels". I hired up to 35 stay at home moms to make the products and had a manager, bookkeeper, stockers, packers, and shippers. All 4 of my kids worked for me after school in some capacity or another. I still did this while teaching at the college level. It was a full, fun, and crazy time!

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One day, my business manager informed me that I had a message from the songwriter of the song, "Ten Thousand Angels" and he wanted me to call him back. My heart stopped! My mind immediately went to the negative. Oh, no! I thought for sure he was calling to say he had all the rights to that name. My mind even raced to thoughts of a possible law suit! I've worked hard over the years to not think the worst first. That day I thought the worst first! I was very nervous to call him back.

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What a delightful conversation I had that day with Ray and Millie Overholt! Have you ever noticed that when people truly live out their christianity that their lives and words exude LOVE, MERCY, and GRACE?!?!!! That day, their words gave LIFE to the hearer - me! They said that they had heard of my company and were so excited that we were using the name from the song. They encouraged me to use whatever part of the lyrics I wanted to share the gospel story with the world. They said they were getting old and it was such a blessing for them to know that others would use the words of this song to teach others about Jesus. Notice the words in bold? Ray and Millie made the Ephesians 2 connection for me!

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Over the next few years Ray and Millie called occasionally to "get a report" of how we were doing... how we were sharing the gospel. They wanted to remind me that I had their blessing and that they were so thankful for my work. What encouragers! Ray passed away in September 2008. He was a man who modeled for me some of the concepts of our Ephesians 2 memory verses. He thought and perceived things in The Heavenly Realms. The words He penned live on!

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Ten Thousand Angels

Words and Music by Ray Overholt
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Matthew 26:53

"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father,

and He shall presently give me

more than twelve legions of angels?"

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They bound the hands of Jesus

in the garden where He prayed;

They led Him thro' the streets in shame.

They spat upon the Savior

so pure and free from sin;

They said, "Crucify Him; He's to blame."

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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.

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Upon His precious head

they placed a crown of thorns;

They laughed and said,

"Behold the King!"

They struck Him and they cursed Him

and mocked His holy name

All alone He suffered everything.

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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.

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When they nailed Him to the cross,

His mother stood nearby,

He said, "Woman, behold thy son!"

He cried, "I thirst for water,"

but they gave Him none to drink.

Then the sinful work of man was done.
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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.

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To the howling mob He yielded;

He did not for mercy cry.

The cross of shame He took alone.

And when He cried, "It's finished,"

He gave Himself to die;

Salvation's wondrous plan was done.

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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.

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HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... TO THINK LIKE A CHRISTIAN... IN HEAVENLY REALMS...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

It's been quite a few years since I learned that "christians aren't perfect... they're just forgiven!" It is refreshing to know that God sees me so differently than I tend to see myself. Scripture tells me that I am not to think as the world thinks, but think in heavenly terms... heavenly realms... In fact, no matter how broken and messed up my life becomes, God can take it and work with it and let light shine out of a "cracked pot" for His glory. Sometimes I read something that reminds me of that!
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A little over a week ago, I read something that did just that. It made so much sense to me! It was attributed to Dr. Maya Angelou. I started to post it on two of my blogs, but I was "nudged" to be careful. So, I googled the poem, only to find that it was online a lot, yet it was attributed to several people or listed as anonymous. Upon further investigation, I went to snopes.com only to find that indeed Dr. Angelou did NOT write it and it was being illegally sent around the internet with some of the original words changed up or missing.
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I was able to contact the author. Yesterday, I received a gracious email from her, giving permission to post the poem here. My prayer is that it will touch you like it did me. It's transforming!

WHEN I SAY, "I AM A CHRISTIAN"

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting, "I’ve been saved!"
I'm whispering, "I get lost!
That's why I chose this way"

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I don't speak with human pride
I'm confessing that I stumble—
Needing God to be my guide

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong
I'm professing that I'm weak
And pray for strength to carry on

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting that I've failed
And cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I don't think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
Asking humbly to be taught

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are all too visible
But God believes I'm worth it

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache,
Which is why I seek His name

When I say, "I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority...
I only know I'm loved

Used by Permission
Copyright 1988 Carol Wimmer

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... TO DO GOOD WORKS...

WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY
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Scripture uses the words:

• "heavenly realms" (NIV) or "heavenly places" (NASV) only 5 times and they're all in the book of Ephesians (1:3; 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12)
  
• "incomparable riches of His grace" only once (Eph. 2:7)


• "God's workmanship" only once (Eph. 2:10).

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Notice the words in bold in our scripture for the month:

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Ephesians 2:4-10

"But because of His great love for us,

God, who is rich in mercy,

5 made us alive with Christ

even when we were dead in transgressions-

it is by grace you have been saved.

6 And God raised us up with Christ

and seated us with Him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the coming ages He might

show the incomparable riches of His grace,

expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith-and this not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God-

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are God's workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do."

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This week, as we memorize verses 9-10, we'll remind ourselves that God is working on us to stretch us and grow us into His image for a purpose. As we live in heavenly realms with Him, even now, He has good works for us to do. The grace that is awaiting us is so rich that it can be compared to nothing else!

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Ephesians 2:4-5

"But because of His great love for us, God,

who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ

even when we were dead in transgressions-

it is by grace you have been saved...

Ephesians 2:6

"And God raised us up with Christ

and seated us with Him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus...

Ephesians 2:7-8

"...in order that in the coming ages

He might show the incomparable riches of His grace,

expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith-and this not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God-" ...

Ephesians 2:9-10

"...not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God's workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do. "

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May our good works begin in our hearts and homes! I pray that we will all be able to embed the truths of this scripture deep in our hearts. If you haven't had time to view the two most recent videoes on this blog, I encourage you to do so. Scroll down to yesterday and Sunday to view them!

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HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... TO BE A HELPER...

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This month, on this blog, we've been working together to memorize Ephesians 2:4-10. As we look at verses 9-10 this week, we see that God reminds us that we are His workmanship. I am so thankful that God does the work and allows us to be co-workers... helpers. In fact, did you know that there are only two types of "helpers" talked about in scripture? First, the Holy Spirit is the christian's Helper. Second, woman is also called a helper. What an honor to wear the same name as the Holy Spirit! It is the Holy Spirit who helps me to...

1. ...know that I only need God's approval.
2. ... desire to have a servant heart.
3. ...understand that life is about loving God and loving others.
4. ...comprehend that life is not about who wins the most academic prizes, it's about having God's wisdom.
5. ...be convicted of my sin and be transparent enough to share my struggles with others.
6. ...to think other worldly... in heavenly realms... and understand that the last become first.
7. ...grasp forgiveness so that I can learn to show grace.
8. ...know that my things belong to God.
9. ...remind myself that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
10. ...keep pointed toward Christ when no one else will!
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I have such an honor to be my husband's helper! As part of that role, I help our children. I am not the same person I was in 1981 when I became a mother for the first time. God has continued to mold and shape me into the helper who He has wanted me to be. Today, I am thankful for the Biblical challenge that this video gives us all to be helpers! Be sure and pause the playlist above before viewing this short and wonderful video!

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HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME...CHISELING...

MEDITATION MONDAY

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Our church family is reading through the Bible in a year this year. We are now on the book of Numbers. As Dan continued the theme of "Building Up the Church Family!" he talked with us about complaining... whining... grumbling... arguing... Why is it so hard for humans to be thankful in all circumstances? I read a FB post on Friday that I connected back with as I thought about Dan's words and the stories in Numbers. Here is part of that FB post:

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"...trials keep me strong,

sorrows keep me human,

failures keep me humble...

only my faith, family and friends keep me going!!! "

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If that is true, then why are we... am I... not more thankful? Maybe we're wimps! Maybe we just can't take it when the going gets tough. Maybe it's easier to preach than to practice!

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In Numbers 11, the story goes like this:

1. The people complained about their hardships


2. The LORD had enough of their complaining and sent down fire from heaven


3. The people kept complaining and began saying, "If we only had meat to eat!" because they were tired of eating manna (a type of bread with coriander seed) that God provided for them every day.


4. EVERY family was wailing!


5. The LORD became angry! Moses was troubled!


6. The LORD had Moses gather 70 leaders. The LORD gave them His Spirit that He had given Moses so that they could help Moses in leading the people.


7. The LORD had them tell the people that He had heard their prayer and that they would be getting meat every day for 30 days. This was no small task since the number of people in the wilderness with Moses was 600,000 men plus women and children.


8. The LORD created a wind that blew quail in from the sea all around the perimeter of the camp... 3 feet deep and "as far as a day's walk in any direction".


9. The people greedily hoarded as much quail as they could for their families.


10. The LORD was so disappointed in their actions that He sent a severe plague.


11. They named the place KIBROTH HATTAAVAH because that means "the burial place where the people craved food.".

I used to have those words on my refrigerator. They will return their again today:

KIBROTH HATTAAVAH

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God, as you keep working on me... chiseling on me... help me to be GRATEFUL NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES... Teach me to give You the glory! Teach me to live in the Heavenly Realms!

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If you haven't had the opportunity to watch the video from yesterday: GOD'S CHISEL, I hope you take time to do it now! And, while your at it, learn our theme song from this week and sing it:

He's still working on me!

To make me what I ought to be...

It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,

The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.

How loving and patient He must be!

'Cause He's still working on me!

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME

SUNDAY IN THE SON

Ephesians 2:9-10

"...not by works,

so that no one can boast. .

For we are

God's workmanship (masterpiece),

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do. . ."
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TESTIFY TO LOVE... DOUBLY BLESSED...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

CATCH UP AND MUST DO

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I am so sorry I missed our lunch date! Steve was in Tabernacle, NJ speaking at a men's retreat. When he left on Friday, he was very tired but said that he would call me on his way home if he felt up to meeting somewhere to eat. Over the years, we get ourselves in a lot of trouble when we assume. I assumed that he meant for dinner. I had gotten up early in the morning and had worked for almost six hours on "school stuff" when my cell phone rang and it was Steve saying he could meet me at Texas Roadhouse in 30 minutes. What? I was still in my p.j.'s and TR is 20 minutes away. I'll just say that I had more than a burger for lunch and did no blogging!

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There are two things that I feel I must share with you. Two blessings:

BLESSING 1:

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Here are Bob, Susan, and Ashley. I asked you recently to pray for them and big sister, Grace. It's been quite a week for this family~ As I've traveled all over South Jersey I've kept my Blackberry close by to keep informed of how things are going. Let me share this:

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Grace has had migraines for 7 years much like our daughter Jessica. A little over a week ago doctors found what they suspected for a while - a tumor on her pituitary. Wednesday she had surgery to remove it! They broke her nose to go in that way but her opening was too small. They had to cut through her gums. They were eventually able to get "a lot of stuff" out of there that was even touching her optic nerve. She was put in critical care and then on Thursday went back to surgery to repair the port for her meds... Here are a few recent quotes from Susan,

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FRIDAY:

"Grace is out of Critical Care!

She is in the neuro-unit...uncomfortable,

but doing pretty well.

She may be up for visitors tomorrow..."

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SATURDAY:

"Good day!

Grace is in ... neuro care.

She is ready for visitors!

She just wants everyone to know

that her face/nose is swollen

and she doesn't like that.

I think she looks great!

...So very pleased with Grace's progress!

... She can't wait to get the packing

out of her nose which will be on Monday!"

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MORE TODAY:

"OK.....

news just in!

Grace is going home TOMORROW!

If you want to see her, come today!!"

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"GRACE IS HEADACHE FREE SINCE

WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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Susan, thank you for keeping us updated! Grace, we continue to pray! You are God's workmanship. He loves you dearly! We'll understand more about pain and suffering at the end of this journey!

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BLESSING 2 (or should I say x2):

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We won't be doing the countdown with Brenda for her twins to arrive. In the night, while I was sleeping in NJ, Brenda was giving birth to her twin sons in Okinawa. Brenda, I know I speak for your friends here in NJ, in NE, KS, MO, and all over this globe by letting you know that we have and will continue to pray for you! April 2008 does not seem that long ago! Now "L" is a big sis! Rest when you can! Let all those new friends help out. Know that we love you!

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If you're interested in keeping up with Brenda (if she even has time to blog anymore) you can access her blog over on the right sidebar where I still have her listed with my other Pitman "sisters-in-Christ".

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Brenda, I remember all the times you articulated, so well, that you did not know if God had designed you to be the mother of more than one. He must have! He does not make mistakes! You are His workmanship! Your hubby and children are His workmanship! As I think about the next week on this blog and some conversations I've had with you there is only one theme... one song.... that comes to mind that captures the essence of our former discussions AND the last part of this blog's SCRIPTURE MEMORY for the month: HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME!

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TESTIFY TO LOVE... FAIR, FIRM, CONSISTENT LOVE...

As we build on our discussion from the last few days of "testifying to love", today let's focus on "How to REALLY love your child". That's actually the name of a book by Dr. Ross Campbell, a christian psychiatrist specializing in young children.

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Some words in his book have reminded me of some very important things that I learned along the way in parenting that were and still are HUGE. I'll give the principle that I have learned over the years and then I'll give a comment of Dr. Campbell's on the subject:

1. I MUST LEARN TO SHOW LOVE IN MY CHILD'S LOVE LANGUAGE. My children may not feel genuinely loved by me because we speak different "love languages". Dr. Campbell says, "Tom knew of his parents' love and concern for him and never would have told you otherwise. Nonetheless, the incomparable emotional well-being of feeling completely and unconditionally loved and accepted was not Tom's."
2. FIRST CORINTHIANS 13, AGAPE LOVE, NEEDS TO BE THE GOAL. He says, "The foundation of a solid relationship with our child is unconditional love. Only that type of love relationship can assure a child's growth to his full and total potential. Only this foundation of unconditional love can assure prevention of problems such as feelings of resentment, being unloved, guilt, fear, insecurity. We can be confident that a child is correctly disciplined only if our primary relationship with him is one of unconditional love. Without a basis of unconditional love it is not possible to understand a child, his behavior, or to know how to deal with misbehavior."
3. EYE CONTACT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO REAL LOVE. Dr. RC says, "A child uses eye contact with his parents (and others) to feed emotionally. The more parents make eye contact with their child as a means of expressing their love, the more a child is nourished with love and the fuller is his emotional tank."
4. PHYSICAL CONTACT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO REAL LOVE. Dr. RC emphasizes, "Surprisingly, studies show that most parents touch their children only when necessity demands it, as when helping them to dress, undress, or get into the car...You seldom see a parent on his own volition or out of the blue take an opportunity to touch his child. I don't mean just hugging, kissing, and the like. I'm also talking about... to touch a child on his shoulder, gently poke him in the ribs, or tousle his hair. "
5. FOCUSED ATTENTION IS FOUNDATIONAL TO REAL LOVE. Dr. RC continues, "Eye contact and physical contact seldom require real sacrifice by parents. Focused attention does require time, and sometimes a lot of it... our full, undivided attention in such a way that he feels without a doubt that he is completely loved. That he is valuable enough in his own right to warrant parents' undistracted watchfulnness, appreciation, and uncompromising regard. In short, focused attention makes a child feel he is the most important person in the world to his parents' eyes."
6. DISCIPLINE THROUGH THE EYES OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. This love must be fair, firm, and consistent. Dr. RC points out that, "in order for a child to respond well to discipline, we parents must give him what he needs. A child can learn well only if he is happy, feels safe, content, confident, secure, accepted, and loved."

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TESTIFY TO LOVE... STRETCHING EXERCISES...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

Rubber bands in your desk drawer are not fulfilling their purpose unless you take them out, stretch them, and let them do what they were meant to do! I often take out a rubber band and put it around my wrist to remind me to stretch... be flexible... think outside of my comfort zone... Yet, each rubber band has the limit that it cannot be stretched beyond before it snaps.

Notice the rubber bands in the pictures below. Four of the rubber bands are each wrapped around one item. The fifth or middle rubber band has been stretched, tugged, and manipulated to expand around two items. It may not have been easy, but it is certainly doing what it was made to do - hold things together!


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A caterpillar has to do a whole lot of spinning, stretching, and growing to make the transformation and become what it was designed to be...


It takes time and patience for beauty to come out of "ugliness"...

A beautiful, flitting, and flying butterfly is a caterpillar that has been stretched to it's limits and beyond....


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A tiny egg, when fertilized, begins to stretch and grow toward what it was designed to become...

At some point, it has stretched and grown so much that it becomes uncomfortable and to the "breaking out" point. Such is the case with our "transformed mom" friend, Brenda. Brenda is pregnant with twin boys and is scheduled to deliver in 18 more days... on March 8.
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What about love? How does a person stretch and grow to have the transforming kind of love that is for enemies? Surely, if a rubber band, a caterpillar, and an egg can stretch and grow to fulfill their purpose, then what about me? Isn't love my purpose? I have come to the conclusion that it is GRACE and MERCY that help me to understand transforming agape love.

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Many years ago, Steve and I were feeling very judged by some people and things kept going from bad to worse. A wise and Godly man gave us some advice, "Choose to love, no matter what!" I have been on that "choosing to love" journey for over 25 years with the same people. It was giving "my enemies" GRACE UPON GRACE, MERCY UPON MERCY, again and again, that today finds me in a good relationship with them. I had to stretch, look at things from different perspctives, be kind, be patient, stretch some more.... giving GRACE AND MERCY helped me to fulfill my purpose in life... TO LOVE.... I testify to that!

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I am here to tell you that heeding that one bit of advice is why today I can say that I TESTIFY TO LOVE. (It was the rubber bands of GRACE AND MERCY that allowed it to happen).

"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 perseveres. "

1 Corinthians 13