Only You

I love you

I need you

Your mercies are new

You call me

You rise me

I’m taken by you

Always rewarded

Never thwarted

Never leave me blue

I’m empty

You feed me

A hearty stew

Guard down

Walls down

Wholeness to brew

Praise you

Taste you

Nothing else in lieu

Cleanse me

Change me

Pull the bitter root

A new day

A new way

Cock a doodle doo

Throwing up H-A-T-E

Shirin: 7 years old

Mom: thirty7 years old

Two creative silly billies are alone together in the car, on the way to church…

Shirin:  (As mom pulls the car out of the garage) Mom, you know how Jesus came to save us from our sins?

Mom: yes

Shirin: Well what if he didn’t come yet.  I mean I know we are not Jewish but I’m just saying he didn’t come YET and we had to get rid of our sin by throwing it up.

Mom:  So when you throw up you’d be like, “Blaaaaa, oh there goes stealing!”

Shirin: (Laughter) Yea and like, “Blaaaaaaa, there goes hate!”

Mom:  (Even bigger) Blaaaaaaa-ya-yaaaaaa, Jealously!

Shirin: (Louder) Bllllllaaaaaaaa-ya-ya-yaaaaa, Bad Sport!

Mom:  Or what if you fart it out!

(Belly laughter from both)

Shirin: You could fart it out, or poop it out.  Tooooot! And the fart is like a puff of green smoke that says “Gossip” See ya!  Don’t ever come back!

Mom: Yea, good bye Rage, come back when you get some Self Control.  Or you could sweat it or it could be like ear wax!

Shirin: Yea and you get a q-tip and when you pull it out instead of ear wax you see a word that spells Cheating.

Mom: Or (Blowing noise) you could blow your nose and you see the word Jealously.

Shirin: (Blowing noises)

Mom: (Barf noises)

Shirin: (Farting noises) Or when you get a cut you can bleed H – A – T – E.

Mom: And when it’s all out, all that sin, you’re empty and hungry.

Shirin: Yea, but not your tummy.  Your heart is hungry.

Mom:  So instead of an apple tree you would see a Love tree. And you can pick some love.  Mmmmm, that sure does taste good.

Shirin: There can be a special tube that brings the Love to your heart.

Mom: Yea, you know in the inside of the stomach, instead of going to the intestines there can be a door.  And there can be body police to direct traffic.  “Mean spirited, this way, your going to be pooped.  Self control, right in here, a heart waits for your arrival!”

Shirin: Yea poop out that sin!

Mom: So a Love tree and in the garden instead of pulling up garden carrots you pull up Garden Self Controls.  Mmmmm!

Shirin: And instead of Lettuce it’s a head of Gentleness

(After parking the car in the church parking lot they get out)

Mom:  Look Shirin!  It’s a Love tree!  (Walking up to an invisible tree)  Here’s some love for you (Like picking an apple) and one for me!  Cheers!

Shirin:  I already ate it!

(Laughter)

Mom: (Taking Shirin’s hand and walking up to church) Good thing we don’t have to throw up our sin on our own.  Good thing Jesus did come and took care of our sins on the cross and He’s changing up our heart every day with kindness, goodness, gentleness…

Shirin: (Squeezing mom’s hand) Yea, good thing.

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23

All You Need is Love

Michelle's take on it...

I’ll never forget one Sunday when the pastor of our church broke out singing a Beatles song in the middle of his sermon.  “All You Need is Love, all you need is love! It’s easy, Love is all you need.”  It was a sermon on Love, not his ability to sing thank goodness.

Being a second generation Beatles fan I can easily get a Beatle’s song stuck in my head.  That song ran through my brain for the next several weeks.  Then, as if that was not enough, everywhere I turned a quote or a concept about Love slapped me across the face.  Ya think maybe I was getting a lesson on Love?  I guess God is a Beatles fan too… All You Need is Love!

In the book THE ULTIMATE GIFT Jim Stovall writes this:

 “Some people are born into wonderful families.  Others have to find or create them.  Being a member of a family is a priceless privilege which costs nothing but love.”

Awe, how sweet!  It cost nothing but love.  All You Need is Love!

In the book THE LITTLE THINGS ARE THE BIG THINGS, Lorle Campos writes this:

“We all crave being loved and never outgrow the need to know we matter to someone else…. Fun facts about Love:  Our bodies react to love and affection by releasing oxytocin, which lowers levels of stress hormones and reduces blood pressure, improves mood, increases tolerance for pain, and speeds up the healing process.  More effective than most medicines you can get at the drugstore.  Even feeling gratitude or watching others do loving things triggers the release of Oxytocin.”

Oh, so it works better then most medicines!  I’m all for that!  Forget the prescriptions. All You Need is Love!

I heard Chelsea Cameron (yes, wife to that late 80’s / early 90% teen heart throb Kirk Cameron) once ask:

“Did you know that LOVE can cover a multitude of mistakes?  Love your children and they will say, ‘My mom didn’t get everything right, but she did loved me!’”

If my two happen to be saying that at the time of my funeral, I hope the song being played in the background is by the Beatles. All You Need is Love.

What’s more, it just happens to be a command from God, you know… the one in charge of like, everything!

1 John 3:18

“Dear children, don’t just talk about love.  Put your love into action.  Then it will truly be love.

John 13:34 and 35

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Sing along with me people!   All You Need is Love…. All You Need is Love…. It’s easyyyyyy!!!”

WAIT!  HOLD ON!  Easy?  No way!  Who said it is easy?????  Oh yea, it’s easy to fall in love when all those sexy hormones are at play. Gerrrrrrr!  But are hormones the bases for love?  Is it a feeling or an action?  Can love be “turned on” like a light switch and “turned off” when the bulb burns out?  Is it a noun or is it a verb? 

For the really tough questions I like to go back to my roots.  The Movies!  Let’s find the answer from my favorite movie of all times, THE PRINCESS BRIDE.  The Impressive Clergyman has the answer…

The Impressive Clergyman:  Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam…  And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva... So tweasure your wuv.

Maybe not The Impressive Clergyman.  But Inigo Montoya knows the answer…

Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Never mind!  Not Inigo.  But Westley!  Oh yes, he must have the answer…

Westley: I told you I would always come for you. Why didn't you wait for me?
Buttercup: Well... you were dead.
Westley: Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.

Sweet, but I don’t think it’s the answer to my question.  Buttercup…

Buttercup: I will never love again.

We need a more reliable source and better roots!  Enter The Great Love Chapter in the Bible; First Corinthians 13:1-8.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. “

Wait wait wait!  Pause the quote.  Here it is, the answers we are looking for, but I think we need the mommy michelle translation for it to really hit home.  Said another way…

If I give my child direction, answer my husband’s question or call everyone to dinner but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of folding clothes and can fix broken toys and place band aids on boo boo’s, and if I have faith that can put a colicky baby to sleep, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all my time, energy and money to diapers, feedings and walks to the parks, and surrender my body to sagging boobs, grey hairs and lack of manicures, but have not love, I gain nothing.

OK, un-pause the quote.  First Corinthians 13:1-8 continued…

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

And the answer is (drum roll please)… Love is an action, a verb and something that can not be burned out because it never fails!

Time for a pop quiz.  See this is educational as well!

Question 1: Michelle knows that All You Need is Love.  So she tells her husband that she loves him but then tears him down with her words and actions.  Is she…

A) Loving him?  B) Being a hypocrite?

Question 2: Fill in the blank.  Love __________ protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.

A)    Always  B) Sometimes- when things are going well / when kids behave

Question 3: If Michelle’s deeds are done with the wrong heart, what is nothing?

A) The deed, she is still A-Okay   B) She is nothing

Question 4: Fill in the blank.  All You Need is ___________.

A) Shopping   B) Love

How do you think you did?  (Answers B, A, B, B) 

I know that it is a strange concept to think that our love feelings do not determine or define our love for a person; rather it’s our love actions.  I’m not saying the feelings are no good.  Feelings are often strengthened and deepened only after the actions.  It seems ironic to act loving before anyone else does.  To return a curse with a blessing.  To be the first link in a new love chain.  Not to wait to receive before you give.  It seems strange and against our nature.

Well it is.  It’s against our sinful nature.  But when we go for it out of obedience it’s like we are putting off our old self and putting on a new one.  Being dead to our old ways and alive in God’s ways.  And God’s ways are always best for us, always for our good!  He promises that we will reap what we sow.  And when it seems too hard to love that certain unlovable person, know that your actions are sweet smelling sacrifices to Him.  It is not unseen and He will bless you for your obedience. Because All You Need is Love!

I don’t want to leave you with mere talk and a Beatles song stuck in your head.  So let’s do it! 

Michelle’s 3 Action Steps

(This is a workshop as well)

1. Ask yourself, “What would I do right now for so-and-so if I were feeling madly in love with him/her?”  And then do it.  Not just once, but again and again.  

2. Go Shopping!  Purchase the book THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES.  Find out how your loved one best receives and gives Love.  We all gravitate towards one or two of these “languages”. 

3. Do michelle's All You Need is Love activity. Put love into action right now in your very own home. Grab some post-its.  Put them around your home for your family to find.  On your Husband’s steering wheal: “you are sexy”, on your daughter’s pillow, “Thanks for doing the dishes,” In your son’s lunch, “SMILE!”  On your husband’s toilet “Have fun!”   Daughter’s homework folder “redeem this for one ice cream cone”.  Son’s night stand “You make me smile, let’s play cars together”.  And on your husband’s TV watching chair, “Meet me in our room at 10 PM, clothing optional”.  You will be surprised to see how easy it is to brighten up someone’s day with just a little bit of loving kindness. 

And finally, don’t give up!  Our view is limited, God’s view is eternal!  Is it really so bad to have a song stuck in your head that reminds you that All You Need is LOVE!  Everybody now…

See You Later, Alligater

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful…”

SHIRIN: 

In the next room Shirin could hear her dad and mom with her brother.  She knew that in just minutes it would be her turn and then they would say good night to her.  She let her mind start down the list, one by one. “Fox, cow, duck, fly, raccoon…” Oh I hope I can remember them all! She thought. Shirin could hear her dad’s voice through the wall reading a book to her brother.  “Oh man!  Remember… bug, bird, pig…” She heard her mom’s voice start to pray.

“Thank you Lord for Frederick’s big smile and dimple.  You have made him full of compassion and respect.  Thank you that he loves music and rhythms.  May he use his gifts and talents for you.  Bless him with courage…”

Shirin did not want to be the one to forget.  She kept recalling all the animals.  Come on!  Another one, a new one!

Her dad opened her door. “Ok baby doll, it’s time to go to sleep.  Get into bed and pick out your comfy.”  Shirin looked at all of her stuffed animals and chose Lamby to sleep with.  Lamby was her very first comfy as a baby.  Shirin’s dad put out the lamp, put on the nightlight and sat next to her on the bed.  Forgetting the list Shirin remembered several things she needed to tell her dad.  “Daddy I need help with getting past level 9 on supper Mario brothers, can you help me?  I mean not now because I know we don’t play during the week, but if I don’t get it taken away can you help me on Friday?  Oh and my singing monkey needs batteries… and guess what happen at lunch today…  you know Lukie and I made up a song for being in the second grade and it goes like this…  it was so funny…”  Her dad enjoyed her talking.  But after a while he gently made the transition.

“Ok, it’s getting late.  We can talk more tomorrow.  Let’s pray.  Dear God, be with Shirin tonight as she sleeps.  Watch over and protect her…”

Shirin could hardly follow along.  Her brain became too busy thinking of animals again.  Her dad finished up his prayer as her mom came into the room.  “Did you pray with her?”

“Yes he did but can you pray too mama?” Shirin said.  Her dad grinned and kissed her on the forehead.  “I love you dada.”

“I love you too baby girl.”  He walked out of the room.

Shirin’s mom sat on the bed.  “Dear Lord, thank you so much for Shirin, how she is so confident and sure of her self.  Thank you that she is silly, social and so giving.  May she be a firecracker for you Lord.  Bless her with discernment and wisdom…”

Shirin’s mind wondered. Alligator, crocodile, baboon.

“…In Jesus name, a-man.”  A kiss on the forehead and it was time!

She looked right at her mom with a smirk, “See you later, alligator.”  Shirin’s mom smiled real big and giggled.

“After a while, crocodile” Her mom said as she walked to the door and stood in the door way.

“Too soon, baboon.  Too soon, raccoon”

“Hey,” her mom playfully objected.  “That’s two!”

“Don’t go too far, sea star” Shirin giggled.

Quickly Shirin’s mom added “Good bye, fly.”

Back and forth they went…  “Good luck, duck.  Take a bow, cow.  Stay on the course, horse.  Stay funky, monkey.  Don’t gawk, hawk.  Give me a hug, bug.  Stay out of the fog, dog.  Go jog, hog.  Do a jig, pig.  Don’t be a turd, bird.  Out of the sandbox, fox.  Go away, stingray.  Good night, mite.  Time to bail, snail.”

Oh no!  It was Shirin’s turn!  No, she didn’t want to be the last one… What was that new one she thought of?  Oh yea! “Be real, eel.”

“Oh, that’s a new one!  Good one.  Ummmmm.”  Her mom thought.  “Be firm, worm.”  Her mom was so good at this. Oh wait, they forgot one…

“And there you went, elephant.”  A good one to end on.

Her mom started to close the door. And then paused, “Hit the road, toad.”

They both broke out in laughter.  “Your good mom!”

With a smile, “See you in the morning honey.  I love you!”

Feeling satisfied with their good night sayings, “I love you too ma ma.”

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 15:13

Singing the Night Away

“In peace I will lie down and sleep…”

MISSY:

The most beautiful humming caught Missy’s attention as she lay in her bed.  She had started to doze off when soft songs filled her ears and her imagination.  Forcing herself to pull away from dreaming she shook off her sleepy.  Focus on the here and now to hear that lovely sound, she told herself.  Fading into dreamland would mean missing this gentle calming of her spirit.

It was her mother humming along as she tidied up after a busy day.  Missy heard her mom’s voice grow stronger as she walked by her room and put folded towels in the hall closet.  She heard it fade a bit as she moved to other areas of the house.  It was soothing.  When her mom was far from her room Missy anticipated and waited for her to walk close.  Oh how soothing it was to hear her mom’s voice sound so sweet.  It was healing to take it in; a sanctuary of safety to sense her mom’s submission to peace and abandonment of chaos.  Missy listened intently as her mom walked by her room again and into the bathroom.  Now the songs echoed off the bathroom tiles.  Like food for her soul.  Missy took in a deep breath, breathing in what the songs offered to her heart.  Out of the bathroom and into her mom and dad’s room the hums faded again.  Missy waited for her mom to come back down the hall.  Silence. 

Missy was wide a wake now, waiting for her mom to come back.  Her awareness shifted to the silence all around her.  Out of  the stillness she heard some noise.  She knew it was not real, but it sounded real.  Like a small whirlwind of noise from the day.  Slightly agitated at the interruption she tried to make out one particular part of the sound, but it seemed to be a bunch of particulars all jumbled together.  Her baby sister Candice insisting to be called Candy and not Candice, Her little brother Ralphy crashing his cars together on the floor, her older sister Sherry trying to teach her how to finish a sentence, her dad coming home from work.  Her mom washing the dishes.  Memories from the day piled onto each other. Each and every experience swishing together in her mind.  It grew louder in the stillness of Missy’s room.  She looked at her older sister in the bed next to hers.  Sherry was asleep. The lights were off.  She knew the room was silent but noise from the day flooded her head.  Louder and louder it grew.  Chatter of playing with her siblings, laughter, cries, cars driving by, birds singing in the trees.  Missy turned over and covered her ears hoping it would help.  Instead more layers piled on.  School, paint falling, teachers talking, lunchtime, dinner table, grumbles, stern frustrations.  On and on and all at once with no logic or order at all.

“Mom,” Missy’s own voice silenced the room.  She waited for her mom’s response.  “Mom!” she could feel the sounds of the day creeping in to invade again, but this time even more disorganized with no way to make sense of it.

Missy’s mom peeked her head in.  “Yes Missy.”  Silence again.

“Uoo sopped singin”

“Yes, I stopped singing because I’m done with my chores.”  Missy’s mom moved closer to Missy’s bed to tuck her in again.  “Ralphy wanted me to sing so I told him I would sing a little while I finished some chores.  I’m done now.”

“Oh pease oh pease don’t sop.” Missy pleaded.

Missy’s mom sat on the edge of the bed.  “I’m ready to go to sleep myself”

“I willy like it too.  Pease find moe choes to do?” Missy grabbed her mom’s hand.

“I’ll find a little more to do.”  Kissing Missy’s hand her mom added, “But you need to let yourself fall sleep.”  Missy held onto her mom’s hand tighter.  “Let’s pray.  Dear Jesus, help Missy have a peaceful sleep tonight.  A-man.”

Missy’s mother walked out the door and started to hum once again.  Like before the songs soothed the atmosphere in the room.  All the layers of the day disappearing.  Missy’s body relaxed.  Her mom’s tender touch to every note filled the space.  Missy thought that her mom might be making up chores to do, she might even have nothing left to put away.  But she didn’t mind.  Singing the night away, Missy thought.  Her mom walked by opening and closing cabinets, sharing her pleasant hums.  This time Missy did not want to hear it end so she gave into her body’s urge to drift into dreamland praying that the serene sounds would follow her there.  She allowed the songs to be more and more.  A slight awareness that her mom had stopped singing did not interfere with her mind replaying the tunes over and over again until finally it was part of her thoughts.  And ultimately, part of her dreams.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8