Love One Another

I read a quote today that really got me thinking.........

Lie = If people really knew you, they wouldn't love you.
Truth = If people really knew you, they could really love you.

I believe this quote can be applied in our lives is a couple of different ways. But, the more I thought about it the thing that began to stand out was that God knows me better than anyone and HE knows......

Sometimes, I act like a brat. Sometimes, I pout and whine. Sometimes I throw gigantic pity parties for myself. Sometimes, I’m rude to my husband. Sometimes I’m rude to my kids. Sometimes I am rude to my friends. Sometimes, I am rude to strangers.   Sometimes, I feel like skipping church. Sometimes I worry and stress over all that I have to do.  Sometimes, I'm selfish with my time and my resources. Sometimes, I ‘m lazy and don’t do my job very well. Sometimes I overreact and make a big deal out of something stupid. Sometimes I yell. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes, I cuss.  Sometimes I am a very poor reflection of Christ.  Sometimes I need to ask for forgiveness. (Okay a lot of times) and lots of times I need to forgive. The list goes on and on........ In so many ways I am a mess. A big fat mess that makes so many mistakes, and I'm sure makes some people wish they didn't know me. 

 Satan and the world would want  for me to believe that I’ve messed up too many times before, that my actions prove I’m a crazy nut, hypocrite, or  I don’t really have it in me to be the woman of God I desperately want to be. But when I stop long enough to get out of my woe is me moments, and truly be still and listen to God…..He talks. He longs for me and all of us to understand He loves us in our humanity….our imperfect, flawed humanity. He loves me even as a repeat offender as much today as the day I was born. God doesn’t see my sin and my mistakes when he looks at me he sees me as I really am: CHOSEN, FORGIVEN AND LOVED.

Which makes me full of gratitude and awe that He can love me so much even when I am such a mess. This fact makes me want to strive harder to have my actions and life glorify HIM in all that I do. Accepting His  perfect love also challenges me to be more like HIM. I want that passion to care about others. I want to really know people, to extend grace, mercy and forgiveness. But, I especially want the desire to love them like HE loves me. 

Oh, how our lives and our world would change if we really loved like Jesus loves....

"....Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another...people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.." John 13:34-35

Bloom Where You Are Planted....My "official" Chamber of Commerce speech

My absolute favorite season is spring. Spring is a time of optimism, the promise of all things new, and it’s the most beautiful time of the year! Some of my favorite places in Elgin are the Adopt A Spot landscaping projects that local organizations and businesses are maintaining. It amazes me how it seems there is always something blooming!  

Which got me to thinking……….what if we all bloomed where we are planted? We all live in Elgin for different reasons, some of us grew up here and never left and others moved here because of our jobs or families……… but whatever the reason we are here,  we all have the opportunity to make a difference in our community and make Elgin a better place to live.

I am reminded of the story that many years ago there was a group of ladies whose goal was to make Elgin the Crepe Myrtle Capitol of America.  They planted hundreds of trees in Elgin parks and public spaces. Now I’m not sure if the title was really their motivation or they just wanted to beautify Elgin, but either way through their actions of planting crepe myrtle trees around our city it has left Elginites with so much beauty to enjoy. But most of all they left us with the inspiration that things we do today can make a difference in the future.

Your calling might not be to plant trees, but you can plant imagination and creativity in a child’s mind by being a storyteller at the Library, or volunteering at your child’s school. Perhaps you can plant ideas as a member of the many boards and commissions that help develop policy for our city. The city council is always looking for interested people to serve in these areas. Maybe you are blessed with a compassion for those less fortunate and want to help at the Community Food Pantry, Advocacy Outreach, Relay For Life, or Elgin Caregivers an organization that offers transportation to the elderly for doctor appointments. There are many worthy organizations in our community that would welcome your volunteer service.

I realize sometimes it is easier to just not get involved. We all have legitimate reasons why we can’t commit the time or energy.  But one thing I know for sure, we all can make a difference. We are all blessed with talents and skills that we can use to make Elgin a better place to live - not only now but for generations!

This spring, bloom where you are planted! 

My Bible Study Group Friends

I love my Bible study group! Every Monday I get to spend it with some incredible women. As I looked around the room last night, I started to get a little weepy. This group of women have come to mean so much to me. They have filled a place in my heart that I didn't even realize needed to be filled. They encourage me to study scriptures more intensely, they inspire me to love extravagantly, to forgive more freely, and live more faithfully.

 The most crazy thing, most of these women in this room I didn't even know this time last year! Yep, they were not even on my radar. Sure,I'll admit  I "knew of" some of these ladies, but I didn't really know them until the last 6 months. Even those ladies I did know and would consider friends....the friendship has just gotten so much sweeter these past few months.

That fact amazes me....How God will bring people in our lives for a purpose. How He uses our past and present circumstances to bring glory to Him.   I have no idea what God has planned for me in the future. But with any journey there will be some sadness and joy, love and heartbreak. There will be strangers that will become friends and friends who will become strangers. But all of it is in His hands. So here is to Zion and to a God that loves me and is weaving a beautiful story - my story -  that is simply wonderfully unfathomable!