"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." -John 15:12-13
I have to admit it, I am a sucker for a sappy love story. Gone With the Wind is easily my all time favorite movie, and others on my list would include Casablanca, It's A Wonderful Life, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables.
Weird list? I suppose.
But they give me that warm fuzzy feeling that makes me come back to them over and over again. Perhaps it is because they remind me of the people I used to watch them with, (siblings, family, close friends) but I also think it is because they are incredible love stories.
It is a quote from Anne of Green Gables in particular that I have come to cherish as my personal reminder of love. I could almost quote this movie word-for-word from start to finish-as could my sisters and mother. (Here I insert a large apology to my little brother.)
Anyway, in the movie, Anne is an orphan taken underwing by a brother and sister who never got married and had families of their own. Anne doesn't know how to pray and as Marilla is teaching her about God and prayer, she says, "God does not want you for a fair-weather friend."
I never really thought about what that meant until years later, and then it hit me like a brick and stuck. Loving God, loving family, and loving friends only when they are perfect, only when life is going your way, only if they never hurt you, and only when it is convenient isn't really love. And it isn't what Christ wants for us.
Love comes in so many different forms...sometimes it is fast and overwhelming, sometimes it kind of sneaks up on us, no matter how we find it...there is power where there is love. And if you can truly show unconditional love in this world to all the people around you (spouses, children, family, close friends, acquaintances, even enemies) it has the ability to change the world...and also to change you.
In Anne of Green Gables, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert set out to change Anne's life for the better and in the end it was their hearts and lives that were blessed.
A few years ago, I made the decision to love like this...like Christ. It isn't easy, it doesn't always come naturally, and it isn't without effort. In fact sometimes it takes a conscious choice to tell myself to love them anyway...but its result has overflowed my life and awakened my soul. See the thing is, God doesn't want us to love him only when life is going according to our plans....not just as a fair-weather friend. He wants a love that is deeper. And he wants us to love people the same way.
To love another with complete abandonment, without counting wrongs, without counting faults, is the most freeing, most powerful feeling you could ever have. And the truth is, you are loved like that. It's in the greatest love story that ever existed. A love story in which a man gave his life so that YOU might live.
So make the choice. Choose to love.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
When Hank Eats Your Seatbelts
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11
I think the expression is "getting the rug pulled out from under you", but in our house it's "getting your seatbelts chewed up". Let me explain...
My beautiful little family is new to the world of biking as a pastime. This summer we frequented Craigslist until we had outfitted everyone in the family with a bike appropriate to their own height and ability. (As usual, I am proud of my thrifty finds.) Well, also from Craigslist, we adopted a dog-Hank the Husky/Lab mix.
Hank was in pretty rough shape when we found him. He was missing most of the fur from his neck, had quite a few large scars, and was pretty anxious when left alone. I fell in love with him immediately. (God gave me a heart for those that need me.)
It just so happened that our first family bike trip coincided with our first overnight with Hank. We were heading up to Redwing, Minnesota to ride some trails and all were very excited. Not being the greatest planners out there, we figured we would find somewhere to stay when we arrived, but what we found was that none of the hotels allowed pets.
So, we had two choices:
1. Try to sneak Hank into the hotel or...
2. Hank would sleep in the van.
Seeing as Hank is almost a 100 lb. dog, we opted for number two. (On a sidenote for all you animal lovers, I love dogs. We made sure that he had plenty of exercise during the day, food and water, and was in no danger of overheating.)
When I went out to walk Hank early the next morning, it wasn't pretty. Hank had eaten through 7 of the 8 seatbelts in the van. Talk about feeling panicked! Hours from home on a Sunday, have to go back, no way to travel safely.
I find this dilemma to be the perfect analogy to when we lose our security in our lives one way or another. Have you had that feeling? Maybe you've just been diagnosed with cancer or you've found out you can't have children. Maybe you've experienced the death of a loved one or you've lost a job and can't find work. Maybe your spouse has had an affair or you've gotten in a fight with someone you care about. Whatever it is, Hank has eaten your seatbelts, you've lost your security, and you don't feel safe.
What do you do?
In the seatbelt situation, we called our car insurance provider. With very little faith that something like this would be covered, we called them up. To our surprise, it was! (And a good thing because the final bill came to $1600!)
What do you do if it's one of those bigger things? Call your REAL insurance provider. In other words, call on God for help.
I have found in every moment of fear and helplessness, God has come through in the end to take care of things for me. And as I look back? He sent help while I waited. It doesn't always feel like help is coming and it is hard to hold onto faith, but if you are paying attention you will notice strategic people put into place to help see you through the hard times. Family that supports you through everything, a co-worker that helps make sure you have a positive start to your day or lends an ear at the end of a rough one, a child that throws their arms around you just to make sure you know you are loved, an old buddy that stops by to visit on his way through town, a church full of people who make you feel welcome, a spouse who loves you unconditionally...all provide you with strength. And I believe that all are strategically sent to remind us that help is on the way. That God is there to take care of you when mayhem strikes your emotional life...and he is 100% dependable.
I think the expression is "getting the rug pulled out from under you", but in our house it's "getting your seatbelts chewed up". Let me explain...
My beautiful little family is new to the world of biking as a pastime. This summer we frequented Craigslist until we had outfitted everyone in the family with a bike appropriate to their own height and ability. (As usual, I am proud of my thrifty finds.) Well, also from Craigslist, we adopted a dog-Hank the Husky/Lab mix.
Hank was in pretty rough shape when we found him. He was missing most of the fur from his neck, had quite a few large scars, and was pretty anxious when left alone. I fell in love with him immediately. (God gave me a heart for those that need me.)
It just so happened that our first family bike trip coincided with our first overnight with Hank. We were heading up to Redwing, Minnesota to ride some trails and all were very excited. Not being the greatest planners out there, we figured we would find somewhere to stay when we arrived, but what we found was that none of the hotels allowed pets.
So, we had two choices:
1. Try to sneak Hank into the hotel or...
2. Hank would sleep in the van.
Seeing as Hank is almost a 100 lb. dog, we opted for number two. (On a sidenote for all you animal lovers, I love dogs. We made sure that he had plenty of exercise during the day, food and water, and was in no danger of overheating.)
When I went out to walk Hank early the next morning, it wasn't pretty. Hank had eaten through 7 of the 8 seatbelts in the van. Talk about feeling panicked! Hours from home on a Sunday, have to go back, no way to travel safely.
I find this dilemma to be the perfect analogy to when we lose our security in our lives one way or another. Have you had that feeling? Maybe you've just been diagnosed with cancer or you've found out you can't have children. Maybe you've experienced the death of a loved one or you've lost a job and can't find work. Maybe your spouse has had an affair or you've gotten in a fight with someone you care about. Whatever it is, Hank has eaten your seatbelts, you've lost your security, and you don't feel safe.
What do you do?
In the seatbelt situation, we called our car insurance provider. With very little faith that something like this would be covered, we called them up. To our surprise, it was! (And a good thing because the final bill came to $1600!)
What do you do if it's one of those bigger things? Call your REAL insurance provider. In other words, call on God for help.
I have found in every moment of fear and helplessness, God has come through in the end to take care of things for me. And as I look back? He sent help while I waited. It doesn't always feel like help is coming and it is hard to hold onto faith, but if you are paying attention you will notice strategic people put into place to help see you through the hard times. Family that supports you through everything, a co-worker that helps make sure you have a positive start to your day or lends an ear at the end of a rough one, a child that throws their arms around you just to make sure you know you are loved, an old buddy that stops by to visit on his way through town, a church full of people who make you feel welcome, a spouse who loves you unconditionally...all provide you with strength. And I believe that all are strategically sent to remind us that help is on the way. That God is there to take care of you when mayhem strikes your emotional life...and he is 100% dependable.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
The Ultimate Fan (Jesus and the Hawkeyes)
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength."
-Mark 12:30
We were sitting on our couch yesterday watching our Hawkeyes play a pretty good football game-excited about how things were going and the lead we were holding. Then the familiar happened...the young quarterback, who undoubtedly had played a great first game in what will hopefully be a fun career to watch, threw an interception that ultimately led to a score for the other team and losing the game within the last couple minutes of play.
"NOOOOOOOooooooooo!"
And yet, I wake up today and I'm still a Hawk fan.
How many of us are loyal fans? Day-in and day-out we take a stand by what we post on social media, by what we choose to wear, what we read about, and what we take time out of our day to watch; we are standing up for the team we are devoted to.
What would happen if we all showed that much passion and devotion to what we believe in? In Jesus?
I have always been a Christian by the meaning of the word. I believe that Jesus is God's Son and my only ticket to Heaven.
Reflecting a little on my life, however, not long ago I realized that I don't give it the same stand I used to when I was younger. What happened to me?
When I was younger, those who knew me knew what I stood for. I was always respectful of others' opinions about things, but they didn't have to ask what I thought. It was thinking about this change in me along with God pushing me to depend on him that led to this blog of mine. I've been asked why it has to be a "Christian blog" and the answer is simply this: I want to be that girl again. I don't want anyone to wonder what I stand for. I am proud to be a Jesus fan day-in and day-out because when it comes down to it, Jesus does the same for me.
It doesn't matter if I throw an interception and blow the game. It doesn't matter how many mistakes I make in my life, his devotion to me is endless. It's timeless-loyal beyond measure. He is an Andrea fan inspite of me.
He is a fan of yours inspite of you. And he longs for you to give him the same passion. The same devotion.
-Mark 12:30
We were sitting on our couch yesterday watching our Hawkeyes play a pretty good football game-excited about how things were going and the lead we were holding. Then the familiar happened...the young quarterback, who undoubtedly had played a great first game in what will hopefully be a fun career to watch, threw an interception that ultimately led to a score for the other team and losing the game within the last couple minutes of play.
"NOOOOOOOooooooooo!"
And yet, I wake up today and I'm still a Hawk fan.
How many of us are loyal fans? Day-in and day-out we take a stand by what we post on social media, by what we choose to wear, what we read about, and what we take time out of our day to watch; we are standing up for the team we are devoted to.
What would happen if we all showed that much passion and devotion to what we believe in? In Jesus?
I have always been a Christian by the meaning of the word. I believe that Jesus is God's Son and my only ticket to Heaven.
Reflecting a little on my life, however, not long ago I realized that I don't give it the same stand I used to when I was younger. What happened to me?
When I was younger, those who knew me knew what I stood for. I was always respectful of others' opinions about things, but they didn't have to ask what I thought. It was thinking about this change in me along with God pushing me to depend on him that led to this blog of mine. I've been asked why it has to be a "Christian blog" and the answer is simply this: I want to be that girl again. I don't want anyone to wonder what I stand for. I am proud to be a Jesus fan day-in and day-out because when it comes down to it, Jesus does the same for me.
It doesn't matter if I throw an interception and blow the game. It doesn't matter how many mistakes I make in my life, his devotion to me is endless. It's timeless-loyal beyond measure. He is an Andrea fan inspite of me.
He is a fan of yours inspite of you. And he longs for you to give him the same passion. The same devotion.
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