LOVE LETTER

There are readers of this blog who have been with me for years and there are those who recently joined our fun and games.  Depending upon when you started reading and, if you knew me before I began blogging  (a long time ago--I think I am on my 3rd or 4th blog) you may or may not know the person behind the blog face.  I change almost as often as I seem to move--SIGH!   Once again I am using the book I am reading as my inspiration.  I hope this gives you a hunger to read it since it has been one of the best books I have read in a while.  That report is coming--I am over half way finished--but it is a book which requires relishing--NOT a fast read.

One certainty is the deeper we know the writer--the more we will understand their written word.  Once again--the advent of the internet has not been the friend of the hand written letter.  There are so many forms of communication today including podcasts, chatrooms, and other social platforms that written communication is slowly dwindling to a trickle.  Hopefully, the more I write--and you read---you will begin to "know" me and understand the nuances and meaning behind what I am trying to say.  You will understand when I am being tongue in cheek without me having to tell you.  My intent will be crystal clear and you will understand where my thoughts come from and what motivates them.  The more we are together--the better we will know each other--especially if you are a regular commenter who gives me the opportunity to know you.

  I have an old letter written by my Daddy to my mother during WW II when he was stationed in the European theater.   I can almost hear his voice when I read it and know the very tone his endearments would have.  If I showed you the letter, you would think it was sweet---BUT since you did not know my dad---it would not have the same deep emotional meaning it does to me.  The better we know the writer--the more we understand the meaning and tone behind the flat words on the page.

God's Word is a letter to us---a letter filled with His great love for us.  The more we get to know God---the better we will understand His letter to us.  With time spent with Him seeking Him, communicating with Him, we will grow closer and closer to understanding His intent--and motivation.  His great love for us---His Beloved.  I pray we all can read His Word and take the time to ponder Who the author is, what our history is with Him, and remembering His intent.  I pray it will become God's precious love letter to each and everyone of us.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love:

therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."

Jeremiah 31:3

THE IMPORTANCE OF WISDOM

 FINALLY, we have been able to restart our Sunday School class at church.  I will admit, I probably would have continued to watch services on line without the prodding of our meeting.  As I sat there and listened to the "introduction" of the book we are studying--the why, where, who, history of the time, I was reminded of how important it is to sit with those more wise and reap from their study and experience.  Surely this is one of the important reasons we are called to meet together.  After the introduction, another teacher taught the first 8 verses of the book.  THAT WOULD BE ONLY 8 VERSES.  This is called an exegesis study of the scriptures.  Taking verse by verse and examining the text.  Every time I have studied The Word this way, my understanding has deepened.

During the class, we were reminded of Paul's emphasis on  faith, hope and love.  We turned over and examined the love chapter ~ I Corinthians 13 to understand exactly what love is.  I had a friend with me who is no longer able to drive and when we left church she imparted another nugget of wisdom on me.  She reminded me the "Love Chapter" of the Bible is a description of what God's love looks like and what we should strive for.  None of us humans are really able to get this right---only God is the perfect model for how love should look.

SO, I am reminding me & you, Dear Friend to find someone who is wise and can teach you. Sit and listen, ponder, process and apply what you learn from your teacher.  AND THEN---MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL---find someone you can teach the truths you learned to.  THAT is the beautiful  New Testament model of evangelism.

40 The student is not above the teacher,

 but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

Luke 6:40

PROTECTION

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Today's blog~

Here in the Deep South, summer is not to be taken lightly.  A little side note (geography lesson), when you are a short distance from falling into the Gulf, that is the Deep South.  Once you cross the Arkansas  state line headed north, your claim to being Southern begins to grow dimmer with each mile.  By the time you get to Missouri, all of us from the Deep South consider you just north of questionable Southern ancestry.  😆

Back to the subject, we do not take the sub-tropical heat lightly here in Louisiana.  We do not step out into the oppressive humidity without our protection.  I ALWAYS slather on  sunscreen.  The sun is no laughing matter here.  I have suffered many a sun burn to the point of having blisters during the pre-sunscreen days.  I paid the price of neglect of being protected from the harmful rays of the sun by having skin cancer and of course the wrinkles which come with over exposure.  Lesson learned--I slather on the highest number protection I can find these days.

I also have paid the price for neglecting to protect my eyes from the bright rays of the sun.  It is a proven fact that lack of protection leads to the growth of cataracts.  I have had surgical removal of cataracts from both eyes.  I do not step outside without my sunglasses these days and many times with the addition of a hat.  The more we protect our eyes, the less likely we will suffer these consequences.

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We also have to worry about the mosquitos, ticks and chiggers when heading outside.  They are looking for a free meal courtesy of an uncovered appendage.  When you spend as many hours as I do in the yard and garden, you can become the buffet line for the swarm of insects which flourish here in the humidity.  I have a container of this~

by every door leading to the great outdoors.  I do not enjoy being the gourmet treat for every flying and crawling blood sucker waiting for their next meal, so I spray every exposed surface with insect repellent.

Obviously I go to great lengths to protect myself from the dangers associated with living here in the beautiful sub-tropical state of Louisiana.  Always mindful of the dangers surrounding me, I do not take them lightly.  Instead I am careful to always be aware and protected when entering the great outdoors.

Should I not also protect my heart and soul when stepping into the world?  As I trek down life's pathway, should I not know the truths which will protect me from evil and harm?  What can I do to protect myself from the dangers of the world?

Our protection comes from God's Word.  A Good Book of instructions on how to negotiate the dangers of this world and live the abundant life.  That and God's gift of His Holy Spirit are our sources of protection in which we should  immerse .  He has provided all the protection we ever need.  It is up to us to take full advantage of His protection.  It is always at our fingertips.

"So do not fear,

for I am with you,

do not be dismayed,

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10