Usually this is just a quiet activity that I complete at my desk, as my children have set aside different times for their letter writing.  The past week my children and I have been reading a book together that was HARD.  It prompted many discussions, and it drove us to the Bible.  And what we found there I wanted to share with the girls we sponsor through Compassion (I write to the girls, Builder writes to the boys and young men).  Here is what I wrote this month;

Dear Precious Child

Over the last week my daughters and I have been reading a story that caused us to look into the Bible, to read about what God thinks about each of us.  In Zephaniah 3:17 we learned this:

Life is full.
Life is hard.
Life is good.

The fullness, the hard and the good continue on.  And each day strength and joy for the day is found in His amazing grace.  Hallelujah, He is risen.

“>

gifts counted, 57-79

Another reminder that I am hopelessly lost without Christ

Forgiving community, Mom’s welcoming smile,

The reminder of what I am learning when I start to self loathe, Sisters working together, Illness short lived, Marble tile and new paint over a complete remodel,

Birthday parties, Fellowship between churches, Rain, Inspiration to write and create,

Friendships near and far, A photograph of two precious daughters and one grandbaby, in our mailbox at church, Safe travel, My girl behind the judges table, Eggrolls, fried rice and stir fry all from our kitchen, A weekend in the middle of the week, no activities this usually busy day!, A plan for next fall, Learning to let go and know that it is “enough”

Quiet afternoons for writing, Lunch dates with my Beloved, Goal planning with our daughter, looking forward together,

Cousins, nieces, grandparents celebrating together

This part of child sponsorship is continuing to produce benefits in our home.  While we write letters of encouragement, it’s the letters we receive that seem to work a change in us.  The opportunity to “know” these kids, to see that while they live in a very different set of circumstances, they are JUST LIKE US.”  A kinsmen ship has developed.  An ownership of this family ministry is blossoming in each member.  With each letter that goes back and forth, we are the ones blessed to be in these relationships!

Visit the site if you are interested in learning more about child sponsorship through Compassion International.

</

Chapter 9, Walk in Love

 How would one imitate God, look like God?  What is the defining characteristic of God that would identify one as an imitator of God? 

Reading on in Ephesians 5 there is the answer, “And walk in Love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us.”

Love is the identifying characteristic.  Could this then be true then, that an absence of love is at the root of every sin that I commit?

Elyse says this in chapter 9 of Because He Loves Me   “Every sin we commit, either by omission or commission, is a failure to love as we have been loved.”
and this
“Covetousness is the belief that one hasn’t been fully loved in Christ”

Unbelief that I have been fully loved produces covetousness. A failure to love as I have been loved means my love has been misdirected.   My love has been focused wrongly, and my affections are given to an idol, leaving me empty, short tempered, self abosorbed.

Colossians 1:12  … giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

1 Timothy 2:1  Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

To my current understanding, recognizing the love of God produces gratitude, which then enables a person to walk in love, becoming an imitator of God. 

Has anyone else noticed a constant theme of gratitude coming up in their life?

Exodus (as I’m working though a plan to read through the Bible this year)
Tales of the Defended Ones
Sweet Sanctuary

And I am still working on;
Because He Loves Me, you can read my thoughts here, here, here and here
The Peacemaker
Peacemaking for Families

And added to the list;
The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
The Last of the Mohicans

Hopefully in April I’ll wrap up a couple of those.  It will take some discipline to not add any more until a few of these are completed.