I have a post I wanted to share but my IOS updated last night and now everything is running at the speed of a turtle.
So for today, I am sharing this little piece of advice I keep by my desk and try to follow on the daily…
Based on 1 Corinthians 13
God pours His love into us and His love is like this:
Love is patient and kind
Love is not envious
Love does not show off
Love is not full of pride
Love is not rude
Love is not selfish
Love is not easily annoyed
Loved is not being annoying
Love doesn’t think badly of others
Love does not celebrate someone else’s suffering
Love looks after the well being of others
It has been suggested that we plug in our own name into the Love Is verses of 1 Corinthians 13 so…
God has poured His love into Laura and His love helps me:
Laura is patient and kind
Laura is not envious
Laura does not show off
Laura is not full of pride
Laura is not rude
Laura is not selfish
Laura is not easily annoyed
Laura is not annoying
Laura doesn’t think badly of others
Laura does not celebrate someone else’s suffering
Laura looks after the well being of others
If you plug your name in and kind of cringe at a few of those, welcome to the family of mankind.
Look at it as a declaration.
Read them as a challenge to yourself and to remind yourself what it looks like to love like God loves.
And if you think you never would ever celebrate someone else’s suffering, think about the times you have thought someone got what was coming to them…just saying.
Something to aspire to and now it’s off to deal with the new IOS…I shall need to read through that list again a time or two in the process <3
Today’s post needs a little warning introduction. I am sharing info for locals who might be looking for a fun way to get together with other ladies for a short book club opportunity. But don’t tune out here if you aren’t local, a lady or think you like to read.
My hope is I am sharing information for not only the women who go to our church or perhaps know friends who attend and are looking for a way to connect with others on a little deeper thought level this year.
BUT it also is something others around the country or world, or fellows who read this, might want to try in your own circles.
Our women’s ministry is launching a book club this week. Three book titles are being offered:
It’s Not Supposed to Be this Way by Lysa TerKeurst Author Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances and shows readers how to live assured when life doesn’t turn out like they expected.
The Land Between by Jeff Manion The Land Between provides fresh biblical insight for people traveling through undesired and difficult transitions. God desires to meet us in our chaos and emotional upheaval, and he intends for us to encounter his goodness and provision, his hope and guidance.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek Start With Why is a business and leadership book focused on building organizations, leading movements, and inspiring people by starting with one question: “Why?” While this book is not faith-based, it can certainly inform those of us who follow Christ as we lead and influence others. There is no greater why than all that God has called us to.
You select a book that sounds interesting and perhaps invite a friend to read it as well. Groups will be offered to meet up one time after you read the book and just discuss your thoughts and impressions. If the groups end up being too large, we will break up into smaller groups and if you want to make your own group by inviting friends and just having a get together at your home or a third place, super great.
We did the prototype for this a couple of times with just the ministry team and from my experience I can share that I ended up reading a couple of books I probably would never have picked up.
I learned some things, it wasn’t a huge commitment and sitting around the Mosaic Cafe for an hour and a half just for one evening with some women of various ages was a blast. We laughed and got serious and just had a great time.
For this session I am reading the Simon Sinek book. It has been an interesting look at business in America. While it is not a Christian book, it has applications to the Church that I am making notes about.
Yes, I will most likely be sharing my thoughts with you here AFTER we finish the study in the Book Club fashion.
Can you see how this would be such a great way to develop a deeper friendship with someone, though?
I think of how we sometimes get together with people and never get beyond the same conversations. This is a wonderful way to grow and learn together with others.
And if you are not local, consider picking up one of those title and inviting a friend or five to read it with you and then meet and discuss…one time…over snacks.
Those who know and love me well know that I have a thing about my hair. Our children will testify that I will grab the hat off of a child’s head to cover my own hair on a water ride. They have been known to hoist their own coat over my head as they call out, “Save Mom’s hair!!”
From my husband down to the youngest, each one knows that true love includes alerting me to the fact that I have a “hole in my hair.”
In Reimer-speak that means that somehow the wind, humidity or 40 winks I just caught on the couch or riding shot gun in the passenger seat of our car has created a space in my hair where my scalp is now exposed.
I have often explained to those who might think I do not have the thin, fine hair that I indeed do have that with product and time and utensils, I create the illusion of hair. But anyone who has seen me after a bike ride (helmet nightmare) or first thing in the morning or a day on the beach or after a humid windy day will concur. I have zilch hair.
I also sometimes have a hole in my spirit.
Places where the barest parts of me are dangerously exposed to the elements.
Even I am not aware of how desperately I attempt to cover these until one of my people who love me well offers a kindness I didn’t even know I needed.
This morning I shared a frustrated disappointment in myself to Russ in passing.
He didn’t try to fix it.
He just offered a kind word from his own perspective about me and then he encouraged me to keep up the efforts I have been exerting to become better and eventually I will see the results I am hoping for.
It made all the difference to my day.
I had been defeated.
His words changed my trajectory to see that I am making progress. Slow, perhaps unnoticeable, but definite; progress toward a goal that matters to me.
Today you and I will most likely run into people with holes in their hair, jeans, mittens…and hearts.
Let’s be gentle and careful with our words.
I speak to myself as much as anyone.
Blessings friends.
You are deeply loved <3
P.S.
If you made it this far…that pic at the top was one of the most stunning episodes of bed head I have ever mustered up. I sent that pic to the kids and they responded with the following pictures…I love our family. They are just the right kind of crazy <3
