Time for the 2nd SSMT verse, mine is Romans 12:10 from the NET: Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another

Many churches preach love and grace and not much else. Yes we live in grace and yes we are to love, but many times I hear Christians say the only thing they hear about love at church is from a few key verses which led to me search for verses containing the word love which led to my choosing Romans 12:9 for my first verse and 12:10 for my second.

Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.

I think as Christians we are most certainly to love all people, but we need to know how God wants us to love. We must not love conditionally, we must not love evil, we must cling to good, we must be devoted to one another and honor one another without seeking something for ourselves. We need to seek what God says about love for ourselves and not wait to hear what our pastor/priest/minister/Bible study teacher might have to say about it.

Ladies pursue God and real love because love is the greatest.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Rear View Mirror

I cannot believe Epiphany has come and gone, before you know it Bluebonnets will be in bloom! I am reading through the Bible in 90 Days (instead of a year) which means I am not bogged down in Leviticus because I read 14 chapters of it today and should finish it tomorrow. It is almost time for the second SSMT verse. Seriously, the holidays are so far back in the rear view mirror, all that remains are a few flecks of glitter on the floor which to date have shown great resistance to the mop and broom. Must be a signal to hire a maid...

The weather has caused me to be indoors a great deal over the last 2 weeks, as a result I feel a great need to pare down our belongings. We have too much stuff or as my English godson says - Surplus to Requirement.

Time to:

Sort through seasonal decorations - keep what I used this year, save the rest for a garage sale.
Donate books to the library and or Good Will.
Donate clothes that are too large.
Organize cabinets (Ugh)
Improve my knitting skills.
Cross books off my reading list.

I want to remain focused on the Lord and His plans for me as well as spend time with friends and family. Life has come with many thrills, chills, and spills just as it has for everyone. As we deal with sickness, disease, and loss - We must stay focused on the Lord. As terrible news is reported from around the world - We must stay focused on the Lord. Ladies, don't get stuck in the little things - Keep your eyes on Him!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing."

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Happy New Year

How is it January 1, 2015? Seems like I just celebrated July 4th, 2014.

I don't make resolutions, but I do set a few goals:

Spend more time in person with family and friends. In January 2013, Kathleen and I said we were going to get together more often. She departed this world in December of 2013. We saw each other at Bible Study that year but never found the time to meet for lunch or dinner and just catch up with one another.

Run another 5K or 8K with my girlfriends.

Be diligent exercising the entire year instead of fizzling when the heat arrives in southeast Texas which could be in March, April, or May. (It will remain through October or so.)

Get back outside and garden again, I've always loved it, but in 2013 I let grief intrude in my life and the result was ignoring something I loved.

Diligently take the vitamins prescribed by the doctor and not let a day or 2 or 3 slide by without taking them.

Find a senior citizen pas de deux class. (OK maybe not, ballet can still be a part of my life, but I am not so sure about overhead lifts.) Though I do hope to see my former ballet partner and have some fun in the ballet studio once more.

Be devoted to prayer and serving in the Kingdom.

Memorize at least 24 Bible verses with Beth Moore and the SSMT. I always do well at memorizing from January to May or June, have 12-20 verses under my belt and then I simply stop memorizing more.

Live a more Christ like life each day of the year.

I hope 2015 is filled with the things which really count in each of your lives: faith, hope, love, peace, and joy. Happy New Year ladies! To 2015 and the blessings to come.