LOOOOOOOOVE!

What is Love?

A feeling?

An action?

Or both?

Do you remember the "feeling" when you first met your sweetheart?

On your wedding day?

How about that first "love" in grade school?

How about your first pet? and then the loss of him or her?

How about when you first met that new baby face to face?

Have those "feelings" changed over the days, months, years?

Feelings can be fleeting things - they change with the wind sometimes!

LOVE is meant to be a CONSTANT!

Whoa!

What am I saying?

In this world we live in, marriages come and go .... children, siblings, and friends are written off!

How can LOVE be a CONSTANT?

God's love is constant! Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord that He never writes us off!

He loves us so much He sent His Son to the Cross for us! While we were still sinners He loved us sacrificially! How that humbles me! I hope it does you too.

John 3:16

Romans 5:8

Throughout Scriptrues we are given examples of how to "LIVE" LOVE... yes! LIVE love - that means "put it into action"!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us how to do that.

In recent weeks this portion of Scripture has been on my mind and I feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to memorize this! Today is the day to start that!

God's love for us is amazing! It is boundless, compassionate, eternal, and holy. His love is life-changing! May you bask in the love that He lavishes on you and, in turn, pour that love out on those around you this coming week!

Blessings sweet ones!

Ruthie

The Elephant In The Room

I read this poem today on a paper crafting blog. today was the anniversary of the death of the bloggers dear brother ... she wanted to remember him, to talk about him, to keep his memory alive. This poem is written from the perspective of the dear loved one who has been left behind!
Love you, Sweet Sister!

I feel it is very fitting to share this today.
It will be a week tomorrow since a dear friend left this world to be with his Heavenly Father! Many memories have flitted thru my mind in this past week and he has been present in our conversations... may it always be so!

The Elephant In The Room

There's an elephant in the room.

It is large and squatting, so it is hard to get around it.

Yet, we squeeze by with, "How are you?" and "I'm fine"...

and a thousand other forms of trivial chatter.

We talk about the weather.

We talk about work.

We talk about everything - except the elephant in the room.

We all know it is there.

We are thinking about the elephant as we talk.

It is constantly in our minds,

for you see, it is a very big elephant.

But we do not talk about the elephant in the room.

Oh, please say his name.

Oh, please, say "Gary" or "Bumpa" again.

Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room.

For if we talk about his death,

perhaps we can talk about his life.

Can I say "Gary" and not have you look away?

For if I cannot, you are leaving me

Alone ... In a room ... With an elephant.

*Terry Kettering*

May the God of all Grace fill your hearts with Peace today!

Ruthie

More Gifts From Him!

How amazing it is to look back on these gifts He has given to me! I am so glad I began keeping a record of them! You will be truly blessed by doing the same!

155. Playing "NERTZ" with silly girlfriends!

156. January 27 - Patio doors open - sun and fresh air pouring into the house! How I wait in anxious anticipation for Spring!

157. Young moms with oodles of children - seeking God in their hearts and homes - blesses my soul!

158. Faithful prayer warriors!

159. A loving hubby!

160. Sunshine - thru the dirty windows! :)

The Lord bless you and keep you this day!

Ruthie

Stand Up & Walk!

In Memory of Gary Russell -

The title of todays writing is what God has placed on my heart these past 2 days ... so I'm running with it!

My very dear friend lost her husband this past week to cancer... that is why I have been MIA lately. In the midst of his battle with cancer we experienced an amazing miracle within our church family ... [read "Miracles" posted on January 19, 2010 - where this man literally stood up and walked after 4 years as a quadraplegic].
Of course, the question always comes - "Why him and not me? Why them and not us?"
Only God knows the answer to that!
I'm believeing that after fighting the battle with cancer to the best of his ability -
with courage & strength he could only have received from the Lord - it was time for Gary to "stand up and walk" again!

Hallelujah!
He is walking on streets of gold, seeing Jesus face to face!
It is so hard to let him go - his family needs the comfort, peace, & strength that only God can give them at this time! Love you dear ones!
Sometimes our miracles are here on earth - and sometimes they occur in the heavenly realms!
I am so thankful that we can know that Gary is with our Heavenly Father now; that he is pain free and walking again; breathing deep lung-fulls of fresh, clean air!

Please allow me some liberty here - I wonder if there are beaches in heaven? If so, that is where he will be found! Walking on the rocks, looking for treasures!

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Job 19:25-27

Blessings on you today as you reflect on life and death - as you ponder the peace that is without explanation - as you pray for loved ones - as you give of yourself to those in your world.

RESTING IN HIM ....... Ruthie

One Thousand Gifts!

In the midst of life & death - with all that surrounds us - may we never forget to have a thankful heart towards our Heavenly Father!
He sustains and carries us - Praise His Name!

149. A stamping evening with the girls.

150. A nice clean bed to crawl into when the body is weary.

151. Fresh laundry - folded and put away.

152. Ice crystals on the trees - shining in the sun!

153. A multitude of geese heading to the river at dusk - honking with joy! A sound to behold!

154. An encouraging note to both hubby and I from a dear friend -

May you have a blessed day today!
Bathe yourselves in the SON ...
Love others with no expectations.
Be a blessing to someone today!

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

"And I Wait"

Here is a plea from David to God:
Psalm 5:1-3 (God's Word Translation)
Open your ears to my words, O Lord.
Consider my innermost thoughts.
Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, because I pray only to you.
In the morning, O Lord, hear my voice.
In the morning I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait.

The words that speak to me today from this pslam are "and I wait".
The dictionary defines 'wait' -
1) to hold oneself ready for an arrival or occurence
2) to be in expectation of something

I, too, ask Him to hear my words, my pleas; to consider my thoughts. I, too, lay my needs at His feet..... but do I wait?
Do I stop long enough to hear from HIM?
Do I sit in stillness and wait for His voice to speak to me?
Is my mind focused on Him and not on all the things I have to or want to do today?
Do I hold myself "ready for something"?
Am I waiting to hear from Him?
Are you waiting to hear from Him?

We expect Him to listen to us and to answer our prayers - somehow - but do we wait on Him?
Do we wait in quiet expectation to hear from Him?

He wants to teach, to guide, to give direction to, and to love us. He wants us to grow spiritually, to draw closer to Him.
He will speak - I could tell you many times when I've heard His voice - in my spirit - in my heart - and in my head! As I say that I wonder how many times I've missed it because I've not been " "waiting" - instead I've been rushing.
I pray today will be a day of waiting for you

• slow down - stop the rushing
• be still - turn off the TV and /or the radio; or the voices oin your head telling you that you need to DO something.
• read the Word
• listen - listen to the Word; to fellow believers; to the Holy Spirit's promptings.
• pay close attention

He WILL speak! You need to WAIT! Be on the alert! Thank You, Father for being patient with us! Have a blessed day today! May you KNOW that He has spoken to you today!

Resting in HIM, Ruthie

Thank You, Father!

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow"...

It is a beautiful sunny morning...
I am sitting at my computer with coffee in hand! Here is a "mug I "doodled" the other night! :)
My heart is filled with gratitude and love this morning ... for His salvation of me; for His love and for His work in me! Here are some recent additions to my "One Thousand Gifts" list... I hope you have started one of these for yourself!
140. A warm house.
141. the Abundance of my life
142. Peace
143. A puppy that makes me chuckle
144. Little Madison saying "I love you, Grammie".
145. My hard-working hubby
146. Sunshine after the snow
147. Miracles!

Have a blessed day!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie