Animated by Love
In John chapter 13 verses 34 and 35, Jesus says, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Jesus transforms the original concept of loving - from loving your neighbor as yourself - to loving just as Jesus loves. This implies a kind of love where someone is even willing to lay down their life for another. Dramatic yes, but not often required from us today. However, what is required is a selfless focus on another person that requires dying to ourselves and our need to be the narcissistic center of our universe.
Darryl mentioned the phrase, "animated by love" in his sermon yesterday. I wrote it down in my Bible in John 13 and this morning I woke up thinking about it once again. When God wakes me up early, it is usually a sign that a blog is percolating!
In thinking about the idea of love, I remember an illustration about excellent loving that I have recorded in my life goals. It goes like this:
Imagine each person I interact with wears a strip of litmus paper on their forehead, designed to reveal the presence of love or hate in me - and all the gradations in between. Now imagine watching that litmus paper - as I encourage or discourage, lift up or tear down, make an emotional deposit or withdrawal.
This kind of visual aid holds me accountable to myself for my attitudes and reminds me of my continual dependence on God to supply me with a never-ending stream of unconditional love from His reservoir.
To animate something is to give it life. What a beautiful picture is created in my mind when I think about my spirit filling up like a balloon with God's love - full of vigor and zest. BTW - When you blend vigor and zest (my favorite "Z" word) you get an intense effect of enhanced enjoyment!
So, in essence, both people are blessed by animated love - the giver and the receiver. The more love I pour out - the more rich, vigorous and zesty my life becomes. Imagine our world if everyone operated this way! We would all be stumbling over each other to love anyone in sight and the world would be a very different place!
John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
I've been thinking about predictability...
Holly Linda DelHousaye's Rules to Live By
Maybe you are a fan of NCIS like I am and you have heard Leroy Jethro Gibbs refer to his rules, an extensive series of guidelines (50+) which make up a code that he lives by and teaches people he works closely with.
Apparently, when Gibbs met his first wife, Shannon, she told him at their first meeting that, "Everyone needs a code to live by." Years later, after their marriage, Gibbs began writing his code of rules down, keeping them in a small tin inside his house.
I discovered that some fans pay such close attention to every detail in the NCIS scripts, that they can actually point out which programs make references to the individual rules, their rule numbers and even when there are discrepancies.
With all this stimulation to think about rules of engagement with life, I have been evaluating if I have a code of rules that I live by and what they are. I discovered, of course, that I do have a code that guides me but I have never taken the time to write my thoughts down before.
The last couple of days I have been busy gathering a few of my personal rules and, if you don't mind, I would love to share them with you:
Rule # 1: Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.
Rule # 2: Wherever you are, be all there.
Rule # 3: Don't just take up space - make your life count.
Rule # 4: Pay attention when God speaks.
Rule # 5: If you can bless a worthy person, do it.
Rule # 6: Respect authority and submit to it.
Rule # 7: Hang around good people and they will rub off on you.
Rule # 8: Chase every detail down when people are involved.
Rule # 9: Stick together - it's safer!
Rule #10: If you can pray with someone in the moment, do it.
Rule #11: When faced with a choice to encourage or discourage, always encourage.
Rule #12: Value compassion - it brings people together.
Rule #13: Embrace informal authority as far more valuable than formal authority.
Rule #14: Use the HUG - SLUG - HUG approach if forced to correct someone.
Rule #15: Understand that being the boss leads to even more restraints - not less.
Rule #16: To be successful you must build a strong support system and maintain it.
Rule #17: Cherish laughter - it is an instant vacation.
Rule #18: If you are in charge of a meeting, end at the posted time.
Rule #19: When you lead, do so excellently by being diligent and careful.
Rule #20: Life brings strange twists - adapt!
I know there are many more where these came from. I am wondering if I will eventually have 50+, too, that will help others know me and what I value. I think Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fascinating character and so, apparently, do many others. We are drawn to someone who stands for something instead of falling for everything!
Maybe you are a fan of NCIS like I am and you have heard Leroy Jethro Gibbs refer to his rules, an extensive series of guidelines (50+) which make up a code that he lives by and teaches people he works closely with.
Apparently, when Gibbs met his first wife, Shannon, she told him at their first meeting that, "Everyone needs a code to live by." Years later, after their marriage, Gibbs began writing his code of rules down, keeping them in a small tin inside his house.
I discovered that some fans pay such close attention to every detail in the NCIS scripts, that they can actually point out which programs make references to the individual rules, their rule numbers and even when there are discrepancies.
With all this stimulation to think about rules of engagement with life, I have been evaluating if I have a code of rules that I live by and what they are. I discovered, of course, that I do have a code that guides me but I have never taken the time to write my thoughts down before.
The last couple of days I have been busy gathering a few of my personal rules and, if you don't mind, I would love to share them with you:
Rule # 1: Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.
Rule # 2: Wherever you are, be all there.
Rule # 3: Don't just take up space - make your life count.
Rule # 4: Pay attention when God speaks.
Rule # 5: If you can bless a worthy person, do it.
Rule # 6: Respect authority and submit to it.
Rule # 7: Hang around good people and they will rub off on you.
Rule # 8: Chase every detail down when people are involved.
Rule # 9: Stick together - it's safer!
Rule #10: If you can pray with someone in the moment, do it.
Rule #11: When faced with a choice to encourage or discourage, always encourage.
Rule #12: Value compassion - it brings people together.
Rule #13: Embrace informal authority as far more valuable than formal authority.
Rule #14: Use the HUG - SLUG - HUG approach if forced to correct someone.
Rule #15: Understand that being the boss leads to even more restraints - not less.
Rule #16: To be successful you must build a strong support system and maintain it.
Rule #17: Cherish laughter - it is an instant vacation.
Rule #18: If you are in charge of a meeting, end at the posted time.
Rule #19: When you lead, do so excellently by being diligent and careful.
Rule #20: Life brings strange twists - adapt!
I know there are many more where these came from. I am wondering if I will eventually have 50+, too, that will help others know me and what I value. I think Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fascinating character and so, apparently, do many others. We are drawn to someone who stands for something instead of falling for everything!
Monday, May 16, 2011
I've been thinking about birthdays...
62 CANDLES
Today, May 16th, is my birthday but instead of singing 16 Candles by Roy Orbison, I've been hearing 62 Candles by Darryl DelHousaye! Here are his new words to an old original:
Happy birthday, happy birthday, baby
Oh, I love you so
62 candles make a frightening sight
Way more bright than your eyes tonight (than your eyes tonight-oh!)
Blow out the candles, try to huff and puff
Call 9-1-1 when it gets too tough (when it gets too tough)
You're only 62 (62)
But you're my middle age queen (you're my queen)
- He redeemed himself here -
You're the prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen (I've ever seen-oh!)
62 candles in my heart will glow
For ever and ever for I love you so (for I love you so)
You're only 62 (62)
But you're my middle age queen (you're my queen)
You're the prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen (I've ever seen-oh!)
62 candles in my heart will glow
For ever and ever for I love you so (for I love you so)
For I love you so!!!
Birthdays are birth anniversaries that remind me to celebrate the goodness of God. They are opportunities to break out of my normal routines, kick up my heels, and openly express how satisfied I am with my life.
This has been a good day! I have been deluged by friends on facebook. With uncharacteristic spontaneity, Darryl and I had breakfast together at The Original Pancake House this morning. I opened a beautiful Nordstrom's package I had been holding until today to find a fabulous leopard bag from a generous friend.
My mailbox was jammed with thoughtful cards. I feel blessed!
It has been said that a wise husband makes his wife's birthday cake large enough to make it memorable but small enough so it cannot hold all the candles! I say let it all hang out! Make it large enough for all the candles! 62 candles really don't make a frightening sight - they just make the festivities extra, extra bright!
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