A simple reminder:
1 Corinthians 13 Reminder
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Choosing Joy
I am spending a few glorious (and warm) days at the beach visiting a dear friend. On the drive from the airport my friend told me about the island’s beach renovation project. The Corps of Engineers situated a big ship offshore a couple of miles north of us to suck sand from the ocean floor. They then push it through a pipe they progressively lay down close to the water. The Fresh sand is sifted and then deposited along the eroded shore, and then big trucks even it out. It is quite a production.
Unfortunately the crew set up shop right in front her place 3 days before my arrival. When they moved down the beach after a couple of days, they left a big pipe stretched across the sand in front of us, and– for a while– a plastic orange fence that kept us from approaching the ocean.
I had a decision to make.
This week I will choose:
Will I focus on the rusty pipe,
or the panorama of ocean and sky?
On the orange fence, or a shore free of beach walkers?
On an occasional beeping truck, or gull cries and crashing waves?
All through our lives we make decisions.
We choose.
To enjoy life’s beauty, or to be annoyed by its problems.
To appreciate what we have, or to wish for what we don’t.
To be content, or to be restless.
In our walk with God on this earth we choose
To trust, or to worry.
To be thankful, or to be dissatisfied.
To embrace joy, or to wallow in self-pity.
Thank you God, for
Your presence within and around me.
The magnificence creation before me.
The beauty of me – your ultimate design.
You – Your personality, intellect, creativity, compassion.
The incredible power you possess and restraint that you practice.
Thank you God,
For renovating my heart, just like this beach – restoring fresh sand, minus the debris.
For Your incomprehensible love, vast as the sea.
Thank you, that you have made it possible for me to choose You,
For me to choose Joy.
An Invitation
by Lydia Floren
Pictures are such a big part of our lives, aren’t they? In the last couple of years, I have enjoyed taking pictures, and then pairing them with a saying or verse. I call them “Sunrays” because they shine a little truth into my life. For example, this photo of a lava tunnel (basically, a big hole in a rock) I took in Maui, Hawaii, always speaks to me of how powerful God is. He really can make a way where there is no way.
Over the next few weeks, I am planning to post pictures of various scenes (primarily in nature) illustrating phrases from Psalm 23. Would you be willing to help?
An Invitation: Share your photos of Psalm 23 with us!
- Take some time to think about Psalm 23 (see below), maybe while spending time out in nature, and/or scrolling through old pictures.
- Pick out one or more favorite photos that speak to you in some way about these wonderful words.
- And then forward them to me via email, or simply post them on the Belovedlove Facebook page. (If you have time, include a few words about your photo, such as why you chose it, or where you took it.)
I look forward to hearing from you, and seeing a little of your world. And then passing that blessing along to many others.
Thank you! You are such a blessing to me!
Lydia Floren
“I thank God in all of my remembrance of you.”
Psalm 23
“The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Catch & Release
Catch and Release
by Lydia Floren
My friend Derek is really good at catching fish. He actually enters fishing contests (I didn’t even know there was such a thing) and wins. One time he won a truck—a new truck, mind you. In a fishing contest. Amazing. Now me? Not so much. I can literally count on one hand the number of fish I have caught in my whole life. (And not for lack of trying.)
Catch and Release
So frankly I have never quite understood the reason for catch and release rules – where you actually catch a fish and then throw it back in the water. This makes no sense. If I manage to hook a fish, by goodness I ought to be able to do whatever I want with it. (Not that I really know what to do with one when I catch it!) But apparently there are lots of people (like Derek) out there who actually catch enough fish that someone had to enact this “catch and release” rule, just to keep the fish population at a healthy level, so all of us other poor shmo’s might have a fighting chance of hooking our third or fourth lifetime fish.
My personal catch and release rule
But I have my own personal “catch and release” rule, that makes infinitely more sense to me. Here’s my logic: if I catch a fish, and I just leave it lying around – I don’t either cook it and eat it or put it in the freezer – pretty soon the whole house will start to stink. There are very few smells worse than the stench of rotting fish. My catch and release rule is very pragmatic:
If by some miracle you catch a fish, and aren’t going to do something with it, you better release it, so it doesn’t stink up the house.
Catching sin, releasing guilt
Lots of times, when I “catch” the truth that I have sinned, I let it hang around, stinking up my life with guilt and shame. Why? Maybe
- Pride. I can’t believe that I could do – or did do – something like that. So I deny it.
- Self-punishment. By some warped thought process, I think if I keep it around, and beat myself up enough, maybe that will make it OK.
- Control. I am trying to fix it myself. I worry over it, trying to figure out how to make it go away. Instead of fixing it, it just sits there. Stinking.
God wants us to catch, and then release our sin – to be free of it – every day.
Today, ask God to show you where you have sinned, and then catch it: Admit it to yourself and to Him. Choose to receive His forgiveness. Let Him take it – and you – off the hook.
And then release it. Let it go. Let go of guilt and shame, of regrets and should-have’s. Let go of the idea that you can make this right on your own. Let go of control, and let God lead you in how to be permanently rid of this sin-habit, so it doesn’t stink up your life.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Choose Life
by Lydia Floren
Easter is all about life. Nothing says “life” like budding flowers, and chirping birds, and greening leaves, so it makes perfect sense to celebrate Easter in the spring. “I came,” Jesus said, “that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 19:10) This abundant life is not just about heaven. God invites us to experience this rich life now. Today. Everyday.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we have the option of living an abundant life. But God doesn’t force this on us. We get to choose whether to embrace God’s love and follow Him, or to continue on our own destructive path.
This is a choice between life and death, as Deuteronomy 30 points out:
I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life. Deut. 30:19-20
This Easter, choose life: live the life you were created to live.
Resolve to
- Love God
- Listen to His voice
- Hold tight to Him
And then keep making that choice over and over again. Because the Lord IS your life.
Real life begins with Him. Real life can only be found in Him.
Porch Time
by Lydia Floren
It is hard to say goodbye to summer, especially up here in the North Woods.
Summers in Wisconsin are exquisite, and we Wisconsinites spend as much time outdoors as possible this time of year. For the Floren family, this means a lot of porch-time.
Our back porch, extending from our house’s second story, is surrounded by woods. Sitting on the porch is kind of like perching in a treehouse:
Light filters through the trees. Multicolor greens drape the woods. Birds chatter song in surround sound, as a breeze whooshes through the branches. A chipmunk skitters across the deck, and a chickadee lands on the bird-feeder only to flit off a moment later.
It is easy to appreciate God’s beauty when enjoying the outdoors, but God’s beauty is more profound than just the lush green of a Wisconsin summer. God’s true beauty shines in His character.
- His goodness. The utter lack of evil in His existence.
- His power to overcome evil.
- His grace to forgive, and to replace lies with truth.
- His commitment to stay with us/within us now and for all eternity.
- His gentle care for each of us, accepting us right where we are, and providing what we need, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.
- His direction, leading us in the next step.
- His compassion, tenderly cherishing each of us, and consistently loving us no matter what.
- His companionship, providing company for us through our day.
We’ve said goodbye to summer up here in the cold, cold north, but we need never say goodbye to the One who created it. In every season His beauty shines within us, and all around us.
Morning Joy
God gave me a beautiful gift this morning, as I was driving down the interstate.
It was 6:30 a.m., and I was in a hurry – it was going to be a long day. As I rounded the final bend before my exit, a spectacular vista met my eyes: a pink/purple dawn spread out over a distant blue ridge, which was draped in wispy clouds. It reminded me of the Smoky Mountains – of home.
“Quick, get out the camera and snap a picture!”, I told myself. No. Not a good idea at 70 mph. Just enjoy. Soak in the beauty of the moment (and try to keep an eye on the road)!
That sunrise was a gift at the beginning of a difficult day. It was as if God was saying,
“I am here. All is well. Enjoy.”
He says that to me a lot, actually. In all kinds of ways. Too many times, I don’t see. Or I see, but I don’t stop to give thanks. (I’m a slow learner.)
You know, on those days that I do notice God’s ever-abundant gifts, and choose to thank Him, something wonderful happens. JOY settles over me like mist on a mountain.
In Your presence is fullness of joy! Psalm 16:11
Live Grace — Invite God In
by Lydia Floren
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelations 3:20 NASB
At some point in your life, God knocks on your door, and you recognize that knock. You realize that He is real, and that He loves you, and that you need Him.
You have two choices:
1. Keep Him out. You can choose to keep the door to your heart shut tight. He will respect that choice. He is a gentleman. He won’t force Himself on you, no matter how self-destructive your decision might be.
2. Let Him in. You can choose to open the door to your heart. Maybe the reality of your need–and of God’s presence—has eclipsed your hesitation, and you decide to open your life to Him. Here is a way to do that:
Open the door by praying GRACE:
Invite God in. GRACE: Give thanks, Release, Accept, Continue, and Enjoy.
Give thanks:
Thank You, God, that You are real, and good, and powerful, and loving,
Thank You for giving me life, and the ability to make my own choices.
Thank You that You are committed to loving me, and every other person You have created, whether I choose to accept or reject that love.
Thank You for helping me see that I need You. That I can never make myself perfect. Thank You for showing me my sins, not so that I can beat myself up about them, but so that You can free me of them.
Thank You providing a way to make things right with You, by sending Your son Jesus, and allowing Him to die so that we could be free of shame.
Father thank You that You are real, and that You love me.
I choose to invite You into my life right now.
Release:
Thank You for releasing me from guilt.
Thank You that You know every wrong thing I have thought or said or done, and that You have loved me through it all.
Thank You that You have made provision for those wrongs through Jesus’ blood sacrifice.
Thank You that Your forgiveness is complete: You wipe everything away.
I choose to release my sins to You.
Accept
Thank You for accepting me just like I am–right where I am–and loving me.
Thank You for accepting me as Your child, and protecting me and caring for me.
Thank You for accepting the reality that, as much as I would like to think otherwise, there will be times in the future when I will wander away from You, and will need a fresh dose of Your grace.
I choose to accept Your love and forgiveness, which frees me from guilt and shame.
Continue
Thank You for Your continued presence, with me and within me, throughout the rest of my life.
Thank You for Your calling– to love You with all my heart, and to love myself, and to love my neighbor as myself.
Thank You that You will continue to guide me in fulfilling that calling, and redirect me if I head down the wrong path.
Father, I choose to continue, to follow You every day.
Enjoy
Thank You for enjoying me.
Thank You that You value my company.
Thank You that You love to give me good gifts, and that You scatter them throughout my day and life.
Thank You for inventing laughter, joy, love and relationships.
Thank You for the gift of hope: that I can welcome the day with anticipation, knowing You are working all things to good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.
Thank You that with You I need never be afraid.
Father, I choose to enjoy each day with a grateful heart.
Just so you understand: praying GRACE is not something you just do just once. It is something you do over and over again. And every time you pray GRACE, God refreshes your faith and restores your soul.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3
“Good” gets a bad rap. God is good.
by Lydia Floren
The word “good” often gets a bad rap. “Good” might mean unapproachable, perfectionistic, hypocritical, obsessive compulsive, squeaky clean, self-righteous, pompous.
A “good person” might bring to mind a “goody two shoes”, teacher’s pet, brown-noser, self-righteous prick or a clean freak.
Does anyone really want to be good, or to be around good people? Well, yes, I think we do, because we know that “good” really means honorable, trustworthy, kindhearted, selfless, genuine, approachable, giving, humble.
When we hear “God is good”, what image surfaces? A tall white-robed man holding out a stick, frowning down at us? Is God that harsh, unapproachable, difficult to please, and downright mean-spirited guy we sometimes think He is? No. Definitely not. God is no monster.
God is not out to get you: He is out to bless you.
Remember the aftermath of 9-11? Being afraid to open mail, being suspicious of unaccompanied suitcases in an airport? You would not accept a package, and certainly not open one, unless you trusted the sender. We are every bit as hesitant to trust God sometimes, believing at some level that He really is out to get us, like a bait and switch scheme. Know this: You cannot receive and open the gift of abundant life God has given you without first accepting that God is truly good. God is not out to get you. He is out to bless you.
Here is the truth–God is good: God is loving, joyful, peace-loving, patient, kind, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.
God is
- forgiving,
- generous,
- creative,
- tenderhearted,
- respectful,
- strong,
- honest,
- protective
No one will love you more or take care of you better—both now and in eternity—than God. He is totally trustworthy. There is no evil in God. None.
It is safe to follow Him. In fact, you are safest when you follow Him.
“God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 NASB
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 NASB
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. ” Hebrews 11:6 NLT
Q: What does God is good mean to you? Share your story below.
The Difficulty of Blessings
by Lydia Floren
Blessings can be much harder to handle than hardship. When God blesses us, if we do not immediately (and often) acknowledge that it is Him at work, we can quickly come to believe one of Satan’s whispered lies:
“You know, God had nothing to do with this. You did this yourself. You deserve this.”
We abandon God’s leading and return to our old way of thinking: God is not good, He does not care. We reject our growing connection with Him—our focus on following Him– and resort to self-dependence.
“I must do what I think will make me happy, and will make me feel good about myself.”
So, in good times as well as hard times, it is helpful to remember:
- What we think will make us happy—pleasure, power and pride—only makes us more miserable. The momentary rush from these things is replaced by long term emptiness and gnawing discontent.
- When our lives are spent trying to impress or please others–or ourselves–we are enslaved in the worst kind of way.
- The only way to joy, contentment, peace, purpose, and long-lasting blessing is to follow the Father who loves you more than He loved His own son’s life. And to do so with an attitude of anticipation and trust.
- That means accepting “no” and “not now” exactly in the same way we accept “yes”: with gratitude, knowing that God IS good, and DOES have your best in mind, and fervently wants you to overflow with joy and contentment and the passion of a high calling.
- God loves, loves, loves to give good gifts to His precious children. And He knows what is truly good.
God loves you. He really does.
What do you do to remind yourself that God truly has your best interest at heart?