Vignettes of Love, Part 4 of 4—YOU Are Love, Post #17

February 25, 2014

Vignettes of Love, Part 4 of 4—YOU Are Love, Post #17

Thank you for peaking with me this month into the lives of three loving, Godly couples and families. Today’s last “love vignette” glimpse is all about you.

You are loved and are made to love. No matter if you are married or single, you are loved because “God is love.” (1 John 4:16b NIV 1984). Jesus and His Love are really the cornerstone of Christianity.

Some people think Christians are conservative rule followers. It’s not like that at all. Love is the divine glue that binds us together, giving us the freedom and deep desire to be more, to serve and love others, to do our best.

You know what Jesus said were the two most important laws to follow?

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.“ (Matthew 22: 37-40 NIV 1984).

Isn’t it wonderful and such a relief to know that the two most important “rules” Jesus wants us to follow are to love Him wholeheartedly and love others. By the way, our “neighbor” is everyone.

My pastor told a story recently to illustrate the point. A Christian pastor was on an airplane trip and happened to sit beside a Muslim leader. The Muslim leader began talking with the pastor and a discussion began on the different points of their perspective faiths. People around them started listening and even stood up to watch them and hear them more clearly.

The debate became so heated, the Christian pastor paused, took a deep breath and looked the Muslim leader directly in the eye. He said, “I will convert to Islam if you can tell me you love me more than I love you right now.” The Muslim leader was silent. They shook hands. Debate over.

Many of you may be familiar with the well-known “Love Chapter” in 1 Corinthians 13, often read at weddings. Let’s look at this passage carefully, differently and challenge ourselves.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV 1984).

Now for the challenge. In this passage, replace your own name with the word “Love” and read it aloud. Whew. It’s a tall order. I sure do fall short of living this.

For Valentine’s Day this year I gave my precious Mom a card. Inside I wrote her name in this passage. For those who know my beloved Mom Maxine Jordan, she is June Cleaver and Jesus all wrapped up in one beautiful package. She lives this. She is love.

“Maxine is patient, Maxine is kind. She does not envy, she does not boast, she is not proud. Maxine is not rude, she is not self-seeking, she is not easily angered, she keeps no record of wrongs. Maxine does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Maxine always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Maxine never fails.”

Dear one, you are loved and you are love. Let’s live it out loud. Let’s live love.

Reflect:

–How will you love more with your heart, starting today?

–Do you love the Lord? If so, do you love Him with your head or your heart? Are you ready to love Him more deeply?

Renew:

–“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” (Psalm 33:22 NIV 1984).

–“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God…And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him… We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4: 7, 16, 17, 19 NIV 1984).

Recharge:

–Which people or strangers will you demonstrate love to this week?

–Open you Bible and read some daily from it. Feel the Love pouring forth on you.

February 11, 2014

Vignettes of Love–Part 2: Dawn,Chris,Carson and Zackary, Post #15

What do you do when life throws you a curve ball? Dawn and Chris know how to handle curve balls. They have always been such a precious couple in my life. They met when they were 19 years old at college and were inseparable. We as Dawn’s best college friends knew they would marry. They married right after college, in 1995. They epitomize–back then and today– a Christ-centered marriage.

For almost 20 years, their whole marriage, Chris has awakened daily at 6am to have his quiet time and Bible reading, and eats breakfast with his family, then he leaves for work. They pray together, laugh together, work hard together, and have fun together as a family. Life often seems so perfect in the calm before the curve ball.

Their curve ball came in 2003, when Dawn was 30 years old. While enjoying their two-year-old son Carson and pregnant with their second child, Dawn was diagnosed with colon cancer… Just typing those words brings tears to my eyes, recalling the shock. How could someone our age have colon cancer, especially Dawn who was pregnant?

A prayerful decision was made to operate. When the growing baby in her womb was five months along, anointed doctors made an incision from her breasts down to her pelvis. The nurses held that baby outside of her body while 13 cancerous inches of her colon was removed, then gently placed the baby miraculously back into her body. Miracles never cease.

The surgery was not the worst of the battle. Her incision down the front of her body had a difficult time healing because, as the baby grew inside of her, her skin and stitches stretched tautly. Dawn could hardly stand up straight because it hurt too much to stretch her healing incision. Not only could she not stand up straight, she also was not supposed to pick up her beautiful two-year-old son Carson.

“These are the times that try men’s souls,” echoed in my heart from A Tale of Two Cities.

How did we respond as Dawn’s friends? What did we do? We prayed and rallied around her. We all came to Charlotte, took Dawn out for a spa day with a manicure/pedicure, then rented a hotel suite to have a slumber party. She was real in telling us all the details. We were real to listen. To cry with her. To laugh with her (although it hurt to laugh, she loves to laugh). To hug her. To hear her. To let her know we love her and value her.

Dawn, Chris, and Carson came to Charleston to visit and stay with me two months later. By this time she was seven months pregnant. I remember us going to Fort Sumter and Dawn trying to push Carson in his baby stroller, and she couldn’t stand up straight. We heard the ferry boat whistle indicating that we needed to get on the boat. Dawn ran like “ET” with baby stroller while Chris ran ahead with our tickets. We laughed so hard. We had so much fun. Dawn laughed through her pain. Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.

Dawn delivered baby Zackary on Mother’s Day 2004, the miracle boy. We say he was “born again” on the day he was birthed. Dawn began chemo two weeks after he was born and couldn’t breast feed. Both Zackary and big brother Carson have hearts of gold. They are good boys, good students, are good role models. I love them as I would my own children.

Dawn and Chris go on date nights often, and go on “Celebration of Life” cruises each year on the anniversary of her cancer surgery. They savor every moment. Dawn and Chris are such an inspiration, and their marriage is one of dying to self and living for God, each other, their two sons and others–even when life throws you curve balls.

Christian Broadcasting Network’s “700 Club” featured Dawn and Chris’s story in December 2012. Enjoy their poignant feature video clip now by clicking on the link below.

The 700 Club–Baby Born Again, featuring Dawn, Chris and Zackary

Reflect:

–Why does it seem sometimes that bad things happen to us? To draw us closer to God?

–Please comment below.

Renew with One of Dawn’s favorite verses:

–“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9

Recharge:

–What can you learn from Dawn, Chris, Carson and Zackary?

Resource:

— http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/Carrs121206.aspx

February 4, 2014

Vignettes of Love–Part 1: Jim and Jeanette, Post #14

For the month of February, it is on my heart each Transformational Tuesday to share different snapshots of precious, unconditional love, like God’s love. Please let me know what you think and how you feel afterward. ..

Although they lived several states away from each other, God planned their 1984 meeting in a Washington, DC hotel lobby. She had just had lunch with President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush. He was attending a Mensa (the High IQ Society) convention. The attraction was instant. Their conversation flowed easily. Their mutual deep faith dominated all other similar character traits. Without hesitation, they knew they had a love connection and would see each other again. The telephone lines between Michigan and South Carolina began to sing.

Jim and Jeanette married within the year, a blended family of six adult children. He moved to Charleston, where she lived. Jeanette served as a Charleston County magistrate; Jim owned a construction company.

We belong to the same church, so I witnessed their deep love for each other. I noticed the way they gazed at each other so deeply and adoringly. The way he still opened the car and other doors for her after all these years of marriage. The way he still pulled out her chair. The way he walked beside her on the sidewalk, closest to the street. Watching them I knew, I know, love, chivalry and romance are alive and well. They both served the church as elders and deacons and as leaders in Presbyterian Pilgrimage, a wonderful faith-renewal weekend experience.

Fourteen years ago Jeanette was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Jim didn’t skip a beat. Jeanette retired as a judge in 2007, and Jim retired early from his construction business to take care of his beloved. I was amazed yet not surprised when I found out in 2011 that Jim and Jeanette had published a collection of her stories in Notes From A Reluctant Magistrate.

In October 2013 Jim was diagnosed with leukemia. His first thought was not about himself but about Jeanette and how she would be cared for as he took chemotherapy. His regimen was intense, staying seven straight weeks in Roper Hospital. They made the decision to have her stay in the Presbyterian Home in Summerville. With their son Tim visiting her with an IPad and Jim having his, they were able to Facetime, which was bittersweet for both. As soon as Jim would receive a clean bill of health, he would go home and prepare to pick up Jeanette from the Presbyterian Home. He would hardly take any time to build his strength back…

The story continues…today Jim is back in the hospital with one more ten-day round of chemo. He is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant from his brother in March. Jeanette is being well taken care of in the Presbyterian Home, and they talk as often as they can. Jim’s faith is strong, and he believes he will be healed. Both Jim and Jeanette’s gentle determination is an inspiration to all those around this couple. Keep praying. I believe in miracles, do you?

The Love Chapter from 1 Corinthians 13 epitomizes Jim and Jeanette’s sweet love. “[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8 NIV 1984).

Reflect:

–How does your marriage or relationship show unconditional love?

–What can you glean from Jim and Jeanette’s marriage? Please comment below.

–Do you believe in miracles? Name a miracle(s) in your life.

Renew:

— Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself….Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (Ephesians 5:21-33 NIV 1984).

Recharge:

–What will you do differently to love sacrificially in your marriage or relationship? Please comment below.

Resource:

–Buy a copy of Jeanette’s book: http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Magistrate-Jeanette-Mullen-Harper/dp/1463560540

–Prayerfully consider attending a Presbyterian Pilgrimage weekend. http://www.scpresbyterianpilgrimage.org/