love must be sincere.

hate what is evil.

cling to what is good.

outdo one another in showing honor.

rejoice in hope.

show hospitality.

be patient in affliction.

be faithful in prayer.

bless those who persecute you.

rejoice with those who rejoice.

mourn with those who mourn.

live in harmony.

do not be proud.

do not be conceited.

Do not take revenge.

leave room for God’s wrath.

do not be overcome by evil.

overcome evil with good.





i didn't write any of those words. they belong to another. and no, it's not 1 corinthians; it's romans 12, shuffled around a bit. and it's true. to love and really love, to say that you are someone who loves means putting aside your own desires for those of another. it means letting go of anger and showing kindness. it means rejoicing with someone who is happy when you're not so happy. it means laying aside your joy to mourn with someone who is mourning. it means holding fast to goodness. it means no hypocrisy. it means love is not a feeling. it is action.

i cringe every time i hear someone equate love with a feeling. you're selling yourself short. you're cheapening love. and if there is no action behind the word love, it's not love at all.

this is love in action. this is true, sincere love.

ebenezers and milestones

"Here I raise my ebenezer, Here by Thy great help I've come."
Come Thou Fount by Robert Robinson

The term "ebenezer" is not a common one and usually congers up images of Charles Dicken's character Ebenezer Scrooge and a grumpy, old codger of a man. The truth of the term is beautiful. Ebenezer comes from the Hebrew "Even Haezer" meaning "Stone of Help". In the book of Samuel, Samuel places a stone down in an area where a battle had been won calling it, Ebenezer, and remembers God's help to the Israelites in defeating the Philistines and the reclaiming the Ark of the Covenant. Samuel states, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

What a remarkable and memorable year 2010 was. I do raise an ebenezer. At a later age than most young women, I was married to a man I am most grateful for, a man I fall in love with more and more. I listened to my husband's prodding and the internal artist God has created me to be and submitted a poem to a contest and won 4th place. I fell ill for a while only to find new healing. With N by my side, we walked 10 miles, something I hadn't been able to do since first becoming sick 3 years ago.

I now look back at the milestones to see how far I've come, how far "we" have come, and I know with certainty, it could not have happened as it has without God's help. I cannot take credit. I start this year, knowing that the past successes,recoveries and joys have come with help. Not just a little help. By HIS good Grace.

oh, to Grace how great a debtor, daily i'm constrained to be...