::growing our girls....with audrey hepburn::

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

— Audrey Hepburn

can i just step on my soap box for a minute?
our girls are growing up too fast. they are exposed to much more at an earlier age. i was talking with a friend the other day who shared that she saw her five year old daughter looking in the mirror doing the "hiney glance." you know what i'm talking about...the one where you look in the mirror and then turn sideways and give an over-the-shoulder glance at your rear to make sure it looks okay. yeh...we all do it.

audrey hepburn speaks volumes. i hope to direct my kiddos to focus on the beauty that can be found in everyone and everything. i hope to help them focus on helping others instead of wanting everything they see for themselves. i hope they will know that beauty comes from within. i hope for a positive self-image that does not stem from make-up and fancy clothes and hair that is just right.

but in order for her to learn these things...she must see it in me.

whatcha think mama's?

::loving god & loving others::take #4

***

this week we've talked about

::loving god and loving others::

 and how that looks different from one person to the next.

i was super encouraged by krystina, rachel and arielle as they shared their takes on the topic.

now for the living it out.

god doesn't want to change the world without us.

grace and peace sweet friends!

::loving god & loving others:: take #3

***

monday i wrote a post entitled ::you might NOT be a christian if::

i touched on the topic of relationship with god.

how one doesn't look like anothers.

it is your individual, unique, special {relationship}

so i have asked arielle of a beautiful journey to give us her take on

 

::loving god & loving others::

 

{photo}

 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…..As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."' john 15

These have to be some of my favorite verses on love. How can we truly love others if we are not abiding in Christ? When we love the Lord with all our heart, the fruit of our relationship with Him will be seen. However, when we try to love others in our own strength we will easily become weary. When we abide in Christ, we are going to be satisfied. We will desire and want others to know the love that He has for us. Loving others is an overflow of our heart when we love Jesus. Spending time in His presence and in prayer will be seen by the way we live in our day-to-day lives. The joy and love of Christ will be seen in the way we live our lives.


Having a busy schedule can sometimes hinder us from truly spending time in His presence, I know this to be true in my own life. But if I want to really show others the love of Christ- my husband, my son, my family, and those I don't even know- I must get away for a bit and spend some time in the Word. There is a joy like no other when we love God first, and abide in Him- and from that overflow, love others.


- arielle

**
abide in Him and from that overflow, love others.
awesome thoughts arielle! thanks for sharing.

how are you loving god & loving others today?

::loving god & loving others:: take #2

***
monday i wrote a post entitled ::you might NOT be a christian if::

i touched on the topic of relationship with god.

how one doesn't look like anothers.

it is your individual, unique, special {relationship}

 

so i have asked rachel of No.17 cherry tree lane to give us her take on

::loving god & loving others::

Love God translates into Love Others.

The idea of loving God is so much more than just a one-on-one relationship. When I think about loving God, instantly thoughts of "morning devotions, worship CD's, Bible studying" jump into my mind. I think about cultivating my personal relationship with the Lord and weaving it into my daily life. Living "in love" with Christ.
That is what "Loving God" can look like to me.
But, when I REALLY think about it....Loving God IS loving others.


Loving ALL of the person.
Loving the good, the bad the ugly.
Loving the unlovely.
Loving the non-Christian.
Loving the angry and bitter.
Loving someone who doesn't love you.
Loving people who are difficult.


When Jesus was walking the earth, He didn't cherry-pick who He would love. He loved freely and without reservation. Because that is what God IS. He IS love. He loves all. In spite of them
So...if I call myself a Christian. If I claim to love the one that is love Himself....I must love others.


No picking.
No choosing.
No holding back.


Just love.
All love.

***
he did't cherry pick who he would love.
i love that statement. loved just flowed out of jesus. he genuinely loved people. all of them.

how are you loving god and loving others today?

::loving god & loving others:: take #1

monday i wrote a post entitled ::you might NOT be a christian if::

i touched on the topic of relationship with god.

how one doesn't look like anothers.

it is your individual, unique, special {relationship}

so i have asked krystina of lollipops to give us her take on

::loving god & loving others::

When I think of loving God and loving others, I immediately think of

 "the fruits of the Spirit"...

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:19-26 NAS

It is hard to not live by the flesh but instead walk in Jesus with the "fruits of the Spirit". These are the ways to love others - and when we do, we in turn are loving God. These fruits are important to me as a parent. I want to model these everyday so my children will see proof that the fruit is good. I love the fruits of the Spirit, it is such a profound, clear picture of how to love one another.

***

{these are the ways to love others and in turn we are loving god}

i love this and whole heartedly agree.

how are you loving others today?