Valentine's Day

This past year has been a year of great hardship for Dave and I. Sorry I haven't written in a while - going through our latest trial. But God is good and faithful! He will guide us through this. I digress, this year at Valentines all I can really think of is how mighty and powerful...and loving our God is. The perfect example of this love is the woman who was going to be stoned.

She was committing adultery when the Pharisees caught her. They brought her to Jesus to test Him - but He gave a great example of love.

John 8: 2-11 - Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him, that they might have [something] of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with [His] finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard [it], being convicted by [their] conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest [even] to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

Really though, who are we to not accept people? Think about it everyone - what is the real meaning of Love? Is it just to accept people you like or those you don't? I know that I am faced with this daily. I challenge myself daily to see the good in people, to see them the way Christ sees them.

During this Valentine's holiday, I challenge you my friends - Love. No really love someone - just for the simple fact the Christ loves them.

Think about it - who are you to not love someone Christ loves? Of course, when I talk about loving someone I just simply mean taking time out to say "hello, how are you today?" and really care.

Great Faith

There have been many stories of great faith; but only one sticks out in my mind. The woman who was diseased for twelve years.


Luk 8:43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,

Can you picture her pain? This is how I saw it.

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Abigail was in tears, twelve years was way too long to have to go through this pain. She was always in pain. The nights were filled with her agonizing screams as she clutched her blood soaked sheets. Each day was filled with doctors doing awful things to her, in hopes of healing this poor woman. Pain was her constant companion.

With her money now completely gone; she had nowhere else to turn. No more doctors, no more faith healers. No more anyone - she was all alone. Her family and friends shunned her, believing she received disease because of her sin.

"I cannot do this anymore," she said in determination. Struggling to walk because of her pain, she went into the kitchen and picked up a knife. "I cannot deal with this pain! I will not be shunned any longer!"

As she went to kill herself, she heard voices. She turned to see her neighbors talking outside; she was overhearing their conversation.

"Yes, they say he is the Messiah," said one "He is doing great miracles amongst our people! Did you see Elizabeth? She can walk!"

"I heard he is coming to the village today, we must go out to meet this Jesus!" said the other.

She stood up and began to walk out to meet this man who they called the Messiah. "This man will heal me. He is the Messiah!" She tried to walk as fast as she could, but had to stop frequently because of her pain. "I must keep going, because he will save me. He will see me and have pity on me, and save me." Tears were running down her face - because of the joy she felt at meeting her healer and because the pain was getting worse.

She had never felt this much pain; it was as if her body didn't want to be healed. "I must continue walking, so that I can meet my healer."

As she turned the corner, she saw a large crowd of people. "It's Jesus," was all she heard over and over again.

She started to maneuver the crowds, trying to get closer to him. A strange thought popped into her head, "What if he is too busy? What if he won't heal me?" she quickly pushed that thought out of her mind. "All I need to do is merely touch the hem of his garment to be healed."

As she moved closer, she was over taken by him. She began to cry, there was something about him that made her think..."I want to be near him."

She reached out her frail hand and touched his garment...

Luke 8:47-48 ...came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' " But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

Brother of The Bride

I have a younger brother, and when I was recently married he was strangely quiet. I say strangely because he always has something to say about everything. I understood though, he was losing his sister. Well, I talk about this because I recently say this old spot from Hallmark its from Leo Burnett. This cute 2 minute spot follows the brother of the bride throughout his sister's wedding. This poor guy who more often than not, should probably just keep his mouth shut. But with a little help from Hallmark, he makes his sister's day priceless.

Oh, and did I mention this spot is among 5 spots nominated for the Commercial Emmy this year? If you haven't had the pleasure of watching it yet, check it out below. It's worth a giggle... and a small tear. Here's to all the brothers out there - younger or older.