What Love Really Means.

He cries in the corner where nobody sees,
He’s the kid with the story no one would believe.
He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please...
Could you send someone here who will love me?”

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become.
Who will love me for me?
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love,
What love really means.

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She’s the woman whose husband has run away
She’ll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner then he would’ve stayed
And she says...

Who’ll love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love,
What love really means.

He’s waiting to die as he sits all alone,
He’s a man in a cell who regrets what he’s done.
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul,
“Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home.”

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said, “I know you’ve murdered,
And I know you’ve lied,
And I have watched you suffer all of your life.
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...

I will love you for you,
Not for what you have done or what you will become.
I will love you for you,
I will give you the love, the love that you never knew."


- J.J. Heller "What Love Really Means"

**Thanks Glory for sharing**

Veteran's Day

We had three kids loaded into the red wagon all bundled up shielding their eyes from the bright sun. It was parade day. To say that it was sunny would be deceitful, Oregon winter sun is cold...very cold. We made our way down to the parade route with all of the other townsfolk. Once we found a break in the sidewalk Kyle Beth, Brayden, & myself all sat on the curb to get a better view...& when you're four years old having a good seat to chase the parade candy is always a good thing. The little boy sitting with his family next to us was holding a bucket of cheetos & it was clear that he enjoyed them as he gave me a big cheesy faced smile & pointed to the oncoming motorcycles. A fighter jet flew overhead & the kids gazed in excitement (while covering their ears). We were celebrating all of our local (& national) Veterans. One of these days the kids will understand that weight of that celebration & Kyle Beth will be able to thank her daddy for all of his hard work & service for our country. So to all of our Veterans our there...I express my sincerest, heartfelt thanks.

Don't Give Up.

Tonight I had the pleasure of traveling to Portland with a group of friends from my church to hear Pastor Chris Hodges from Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama preach. Not only did we develop a few good nicknames along the way (that one's for you Space Invader), but Pastor Hodges brought a great word tonight. He began by telling us the story of Church of the Highlands & informed us that, despite what people may believe, it wasn't an overnight success- He went through a lot of battles to get to the point where his church is reaching an average of 15,000 people any given Sunday. He used the story of Joshua to affirm that God's promises for us don't come overnight- we have to battle & push through in order to get to that place.

I, like so many people, hate the travel process. I want things to be easy now instead of having to be patient & wait- the perfect job, finishing college (praise the Lord that one's done!), getting married, among others. The trouble with wanting things now is that I lack the maturity that's gained in the process of me reaching my destination. "If you don't like the travel process you're never going to get to the Promised Land."

In Joshua chapter one, God makes a promise to Joshua that He's going to give them a vast expanse of land (the Promise Land, aka Israel) & that He's going to make Joshua a success. Skip ahead to chapter twelve, we find out that Joshua & the army had to defeat thirty-one kings in order to gain the Promised Land. That's a LOT of battles...& they weren't all won overnight. It takes perseverence to finally come into God's promises.

God told Joshua to "be strong & courageous"...He knew the journey wouldn't be easy, but it would be rewarding in the end if Joshua continued to push through to the end. So my challenge for you (...& me) is to keep pushing through & leaning on the Holy Spirit as you work to come into the Promised Land that God is going to give you.

a note to the man who eventually wins my heart.

It would be in your best interest (& mine) if you can sing & play "Wonderwall" by Oasis...just a little tip in advance.