Obedience

Seek and You Shall Find

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:13

Have you ever lost something and tore up the house looking for something, perhaps for days? That was me today. I had misplaced, and emphasize misplaced a few objects, four to be exact. I looked for at least week for these objects and over the course of the week I found them one by one. Now, you can’t tell me that God isn’t in the details of our lives. He helped me, He guided me to my missing objects. And no, it’s not luck, it’s not coincidence, it’s is all God. Why, do I believe this?

I searched for days looking for a Valentine my mom made me, a bookmark my aunt made, a battery charger for my phone (y’know the ones you carry with you to charge your phone on the go?) and a trinket box I needed for a craft project for an event at church. All these were very valuable to me, but the trinket box with scripture stones inside is what I really needed for a meeting this coming weekend. I prayed each time to find these things and one by one, I found them over the course of the week. Believe what you want but it’s no coincidence. I believe God taught me somethings through this.

  1. He hears our prayers. There are numerous verses from Old Testament to New about God hearing our prayers and answering our requests. Check them out here.
  2. Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” God cares about what I care about and some of my lost items are treasures and some I really needed to find.

It was nagging me, killing me not to able to find these items. And each time I found one, it was in a place I didn’t expect to find and when I was looking for one in particular, I found one of the other ones. The trinket box was the last one I found and I totally forgot I used it to elevate and small lamp that was sitting low in a box on my armoire. I was freaking because I didn’t want to make this again. So I prayed again, in desperation. I began to comb all the places I had looked one more time, maybe it was in plain sight I was overlooking it. Then for the third time I looked on top of the armoire and saw the lamp on something, and there it was. Thank you Jesus!

One more verse popped in my head, about the woman and the lost coin, Luke 15:8-10 – “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (NIV) Funny thing was I wanted to tell my friend I found the trinket box then I couldn’t find my phone. **smacks head**( I did find it buried under my Bible. And I know the rejoicing here is about sinners repenting, but it does refer to something lost and found and rejoicing).

I began to think about Jeremiah 29:13 – “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” If we look for God WHOLEHEARTEDLY we will find Him. My search for these items was urgent, desperate, I was determined to find them. I began to think, do I search for God like this? I do read His Word daily, but am I doing it wholeheartedly, desperately, urgently? Many times I am distracted by to do lists, bills, housework … I’m sure you can relate.

How do we seek God with all our heart? What does it mean, what does that look like? Stay tuned for the second half as I explore this more. Please let me know if is this is something you struggle with and what seeking God wholeheartedly means to you.

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, share and follow me on social media. Until then Anchor in Hope!

Love Languages

What Does Valentine’s Day Mean to You?

Thank you to all who have followed me here and on YouTube the past week where I showed ways to wrap up the Five Languages of Love as actual tangible gifts.

Over the years growing up Valentine’s Day has had different meanings. As a kid, It was those cheap boxed die cut cards that every kid in school passed out to almost everyone. I would make cards for my mom and dad. I guess I have been making greeting cards for sometime now, lol, and my mom would always say “Roses are red violets are blue aren’t you glad God loves you.” When I moved away, even after I was married she’d cut out a read heart and write that little poem on it.

As I became an adult and being single I began to dread Valentine’s Day. I thought it was because I was unattached, no steady boyfriend at times that I would dread it. But even if I happened to have a boyfriend at the time, it was still looking back, uh, unfulfilling. I thought once I was married, it would be different, I would look forward to it. Well, I have been married 30 years this coming spring and I’ll admit it’s not as dreadful but there is always that pressure to get the perfect gift, the grand gesture, the wow factor. Even if you’re single there’s still pressure, right? The traditional, expected dozen roses that are waaaay over priced this time every year, the box of chocolates. Diamond sales go up, nothing wrong with getting engaged on Valentine’s Day. But can we be a little more imaginative, unexpected, more original?

Honestly, I don’t need a calendar to tell me when to express or celebrate my love for anyone. So with that off the table, less pressure more room for originality and creativity. Singles, no matter how old you are, you don’t need a boyfriend or a girlfriend to celebrate Valentine’s Day. You have family, friends? Gather!!!! High schoolers go to proms in groups. Gather your family, invite them to dinner, do the same with your friends. Take photos and make memories.

Husband’s, wive’s can we be more imaginative? Can we think outside the chocolates and roses? Does it have to cost an arm and a leg to express your love? Does it have to be February 14th? Why not all year long? Download the coupon book, make twelve coupons for an adventure every month. Try a new recipe and cook dinner together once a month. Consider your loved one’s love language this Valentine’s Day. Get creative, be imaginative, create memories and experiences.

The greatest gift of love was given to us by God Himself and it wasn’t on February 14th. We celebrate His birth, death and resurrection. God expressed His love for us by giving us His Son. He sacrificed His only Son for us. Jesus gave His life, His blood and rose from the dead three days later for us so that we could live in eternity forever with Him. God’s gift of salvation cost Him everything so it could cost us nothing. It’s free, all we have to do is accept it. The greatest gesture of love, the greatest example of love, His sacrifice. What an expression of love!!

Love Languages, Uncategorized

Love Language – Acts of Service Day 2

Acts of service can be a powerful way to express love and care in relationships. Taking note of the little things your loved one needs or dislikes and offering help or assistance demonstrates thoughtfulness and consideration. Paying attention to their schedule and offering support or taking on tasks they may find burdensome can also strengthen the bond. Creating a coupon book with personalized acts of service can be a creative and meaningful gesture to show your love and appreciation.

Offering to pick up their dry cleaning or assisting with repairs, cooking, or gardening can be thoughtful ways to help someone with a busy schedule. It shows that you are paying attention to their needs and are willing to lend a hand in areas where you have expertise or skills.

But how do wrap up acts of service and put a bow on it? I got that! A coupon book. You can download this printable, personalize and customize, make as many coupons as you want, bind it (binding can simply be staples) and pair it with chocolates or flowers or maybe cook a meal and present it as a complete package. This way, not only are you offering acts of service, but you are also presenting it in a visually appealing and thoughtful manner. Additionally, the inclusion of a small gift like chocolates, flowers, or a home-cooked meal adds an extra touch of appreciation and makes it a complete and well-rounded gesture of kindness.

Learn more about love languages and gain better insight about yourself through these quizzes.

Scroll down to download this free printable

If you aren’t familiar with the 5 Love Languages, pick up a copy of Gary Chapman’s book any where books are sold. Be sure to watch day one’s video on words of affirmation.

Please leave your comments, like and subscribe you’d be doing me a loving act of service : ) and I’d love to hear what you will do for your spouse or loved one and how you presented it.

Uncategorized

February 8, 2021 – 1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:8

Download the image to your phone as wallpaper or print it out to keep in front of you to help you memorize scripture.