1 John 2:4-6 - Whoever says, “I know him”, but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him..
Mark 12:29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
My first question was, when was the last time I told God I loved Him? When did I raise my hands and voice in worship of Him? The answer should be every day, not just on Sundays. Thank you God for the reminder. Help me to show my love to you more and more each day.
The second question is how am doing I at loving my neighbors? I'll have to admit that I struggle more with this commandment. 1 John 4:20 says "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."
I want to think that I always love my neighbors, but sometimes that isn't the case and to say otherwise would be lying. For example, this morning I went to an auction and found myself getting irritated with those around me. I am extremely allergic to tobacco smoke. I get nauseous and get horrible migraines because of the smoke. Within about 5 mins. of arriving at the auction, I could feel the migrane coming. I kept moving to get away from the smoke but, my smoking neighbors all seemed to want to stand right next to me. When the pain got too bad, my son had to drive me home where I spent the rest of the day laying down with throbbing pain. I'll admit I wasn't feeling very loving towards these neighbors.I was definitely thinking unkind thoughts. Finally, I asked God to forgive me for my bad attitude, and to fill me with love for these neighbors. It was then that the headache started to ease.
All I have to say is I hope there is no smoking section in Heaven or if there is, God takes away my allergy to it!!
Miesje's challenge is: create a card or project that uses something real or natural on it - twine - burlap - shell - sand - etc.
My card was made with REAL flowers. Really they were weeds, that were smashed and embossed. I also made a bookmark.
I posted this tutorial yesterday on how to do embossed-pounded flowers.
Thanks Miesje for the the challenge to use something REAL.
Our sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs
Check out their blogs to see what wonderful creations they have for you to see.
Candace
Diane
Helen
Jerusha
Kris
Linda
Michelle
Miesje
Peggysue
Sandie
Traci
This song by Audrey Assad spoke to me this week. I loved the chorus before I even thought about this week's devotion... don't lie to yourself. oh my soul... LOVE YOUR GOD!
I know you will be blessed by it.
Fab inspiration in word and creativity. I so hate smoke too Marilynn... at work, I sit beside a window and the cigarette smoke from people outside sometimes wafts through and it's awful! It even comes through the old window seals.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Totally and completely real - I love it! I really liked your sharing too - great explanation of the verse. Thank you for always sharing yourself so wonderfully! You are such a gift. Have a peace-filled week!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your card and bookmark today Marilynn (well I love all your creations every week!) The pressed flowers is such a pretty technique. NO, I'm pretty sure there will NOT be cigarettes in heaven as they are man-made not God-made and nothing good comes from them that the good Lord won't give himself. I'm very thankful for that too as I hate that kind of smoke too. Now, campfire smoke I kinda like LOL. Beautiful song--thanks for sharing!! *Ü* Have a wonderful week my friend.
ReplyDeleteYour comment made me laugh, I'll be in that section with you or we'll both be handing each other cold compresses to get over our migraines! What a wonderful new technique, I love new techniques and am itching to try yours! Maybe the next one will include "smashed cigarette butts?" :) beautiful work MariLynn!
ReplyDeleteI can understand your abhorrence of the smoke - and it is so difficult not to transfer that to the smoker!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, both your thoughts and your creativity.
Blessings
Maxine
Of course, you already know how crazy I am for your card and bookmark. They really are just stunning. But I wanted to tell you again what an amazing job you did with this technique.
ReplyDeleteHi Marilynn! Your card and bookmark are both beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial, too! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHi MariLynn! I absolutely love this technique, it gives me a reason to smash something and make it into something beautiful. I saw some leaves on my deck this morning, and almost ran them through my cuttlebug, but needed to get ready for church. You did great with your tutorial too! And no, I don't believe there will be any smoking going on in heaven, thank goodness! Have a blessed week!
ReplyDeleteBoth pieces are lovely! What an amazing technique! I want to try it soon too! Thanks for giving the how-to's. Blessings to you, Marilynn!
ReplyDeleteMariLynn - there is no doubt about it - YOU ROCK with techniques - I am going to have to check this one out - no doubt about it! Your projects are divine - thank you for your devotional too MariLynn - food for the soul and a challenge to the inner man! God bless you Sistah! {{{hugs}}}
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog post today and it made me think about a few things that has been going on in my life lately. Life can get stormy at times and the people around us seem to make a bad situation worse. But what I had a hard time figuring out was that they can't take away my sunshine. I am the only one that has that power. We choose how we re-act to any situation. I would have been very upset with people around me smoking a few years ago and I am like you it makes me sick. I have latey learn that they don't have the power to steal my joy even if I had to go to bed for a while. I am the only one that can change the way I re-act and how my heart feels toward my brother. I really needed to be reminded of all this today and your blog was just what I needed. Thank you and I also enjoyed the tutorial on the card yesterday. I am going to try it soon!
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative! This technique for pounding flowers is very intriguing and gives such a beautiful look! Your card and book mark are wonderful! Thanks for the reminder about God's commandments. I, too, tend to get irritated (very easily) with people and that really isn't showing them God's love, is it? ;) Have a great day!
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Beautiful creations with your "pounded flowers" technique! Love them!
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