Do you know or remember that song from Bobby Sherman?
Julie, Julie, Julie, do ya love me?
Julie, Julie, Julie, do ya care?
Julie, Julie, are ya thinkin' of me?
Julie, Julie, will ya still be there?
You can see more lyrics at Lyrics Mode
Sometimes, I believe God is asking me "Julie, do you love me?" just like when Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?"
And instinctively I answer, "Yes, of course, I love you."
Yet in this world one might ask, "What is love?"
For me, the answer is in "Good Friday".
As Christians, we speak about how much God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on a cross for our sins.
On Good Friday, we experience a little bit of that time when God leaves us. We take away the things that symbolically or spiritually connect us with God. It is then when we can get a sense of the love we have for God. On that day we face our emptiness, our nothingness, our weaknesses and we can briefly though only by human interpretation experience what our life might be without God.
It is then when we experience that awe and understanding of how much we need and trust and love God.
When He rises on Easter morn-we experience that joy not just in a service but intimately (if we let it) within us. Then I can confidently respond to God when He asks if I love Him not just out of instinctive goodness, fear or respect. I can respond based upon a bigger view of love that "Yes, you are my Lord and I love you!"
One more thing about "Love"-kind of silly perhaps but try singing the song lyrics above but replace "Julie" with your name. Generally, one sings a song to someone, right? But as you sing this song, can you answer, "yes" to the one who is singing it to you? Do you love yourself? If you read my earlier post on "It is what it is" you might have caught the inference that you are a reflection of God and as you love yourself-you reflect that love to God and to others.
Blessings, peace and love!
JulieD
Showing posts with label A-Z challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A-Z challenge. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
C is for ?
When I was first considering what I should write about for the letter "C" I thought of several things that are important to me including 'we are a church', first communion and community. Yet, I have chosen another word, "compassion".
Recently, I wrote a reflection for lent about reflecting on the passion and finding compassion. That reflection was a very "human" reflection. This post will not be a repeat of that reflection.
This morning as I was waking up and I was in that place where I wasn't quite sleeping but I wasn't really awake either and I felt something stir within my soul.
It was a flicker of hope. I felt as if someone had whispered in my ear, wake up, today something BIG is going to happen and it is going to be very, very good.
After a few minutes, I realized I wasn't really fully awake yet because my thoughts were jumbled between dreaming about what the "big" thing was going to be and thinking "big" doesn't start with "C" and I need to blog about something starting with "C".
As I woke up further, the idea of "big" took hold. Something "big" is going to happen today and I may never know what that "big" is but suddenly I wanted to get up and start my day. I wanted to sing songs that praised God and it felt great.
That stirring of hope led to anticipation and wonder and awe. It led me to marvel at the possibilities of how God in His compassion is going to do something "big" today as He does everyday-to take care of my needs and yours, too.
Though I may not fully know what the 'big' thing is I do know one thing. When I put my trust and faith in God, the anxieties that have troubled me have been lessened and they have been replaced with awe, with joy and with peace and He usually tries to make me laugh.
His compassion as He looks after us and tends to our concerns and needs is bigger than any human can perceive or give in return. Yet when I have allowed His compassion to reach me and I accept it, I am filled with a desire to try to offer Him thanks and praise for the "big" of today and tomorrow and forever. Amen.
May today you experience and be blessed with the touch of God's compassion and love.
JulieDD
Recently, I wrote a reflection for lent about reflecting on the passion and finding compassion. That reflection was a very "human" reflection. This post will not be a repeat of that reflection.
This morning as I was waking up and I was in that place where I wasn't quite sleeping but I wasn't really awake either and I felt something stir within my soul.
It was a flicker of hope. I felt as if someone had whispered in my ear, wake up, today something BIG is going to happen and it is going to be very, very good.
After a few minutes, I realized I wasn't really fully awake yet because my thoughts were jumbled between dreaming about what the "big" thing was going to be and thinking "big" doesn't start with "C" and I need to blog about something starting with "C".
As I woke up further, the idea of "big" took hold. Something "big" is going to happen today and I may never know what that "big" is but suddenly I wanted to get up and start my day. I wanted to sing songs that praised God and it felt great.
That stirring of hope led to anticipation and wonder and awe. It led me to marvel at the possibilities of how God in His compassion is going to do something "big" today as He does everyday-to take care of my needs and yours, too.
Though I may not fully know what the 'big' thing is I do know one thing. When I put my trust and faith in God, the anxieties that have troubled me have been lessened and they have been replaced with awe, with joy and with peace and He usually tries to make me laugh.
His compassion as He looks after us and tends to our concerns and needs is bigger than any human can perceive or give in return. Yet when I have allowed His compassion to reach me and I accept it, I am filled with a desire to try to offer Him thanks and praise for the "big" of today and tomorrow and forever. Amen.
May today you experience and be blessed with the touch of God's compassion and love.
JulieDD
Friday, April 1, 2011
The A-Z Challenge (A) = All
This post and several to follow are part of a blogging challenge called the A-Z challenge. Bet you didn't see that one coming? Yes, that is a sad joke for April Fool's Day but if you knew the year I've been having so far you might even laugh at it just because I made an effort to tell a joke. lol
Anyway, for the challenge I am supposed to blog about a word that starts with the letter "A" today. I picked the word "All" as in "What's it all about?"
The thing is that question keeps popping in my head and I keep pushing it out. You see, as I said this year has been stressful and seems to be increasingly stressful with each day. I can't control what is happening and therefore I feel that the answer to the question is irrelevant. In the big scheme of things-i.e. from God's perspective this is just one of those times I have to trust Him and I do. This doesn't mean what is happening isn't painful, it is at times. However, there are two images that keep my concerns, fears and anxieties in check. Let me share them with you. Feel free to remind me of them if I start whining too much. :)
One day as I was considering and praying about our current situation, I stumbled upon an online meditation that made me grimace. The main point basically said God wants you to know, Julie, that your situation is like a woman giving birth and you are in the birth canal. After I nervously chuckled and gave a great big Okayyyy, I then gave a raised eyebrow look to heaven, sighed and thought if there are going to be a lot more contractions, I might need an epidural. lol
Actually, I thought the comparison to our situation was pretty close to accurate and I think it was meant to be encouraging-something like a light at the end of the tunnel is coming. However, for me it is not the light at the end of the tunnel that is comforting it is the knowledge that once the difficulties pass, and they will, we will be delivered into the competent hands of our Father and His plan and that all is well.
The other image is of God as a Master Gardener transplanting perennial bulbs. When he put in the shovel to dig us up-that hurt, a lot. Now, we are in His hands being lifted up in this situation and soon we will be where He wants us to be. In the meantime, all is God's and all is well.
So, that's ALL for now. God Bless!
JulieD
Anyway, for the challenge I am supposed to blog about a word that starts with the letter "A" today. I picked the word "All" as in "What's it all about?"
The thing is that question keeps popping in my head and I keep pushing it out. You see, as I said this year has been stressful and seems to be increasingly stressful with each day. I can't control what is happening and therefore I feel that the answer to the question is irrelevant. In the big scheme of things-i.e. from God's perspective this is just one of those times I have to trust Him and I do. This doesn't mean what is happening isn't painful, it is at times. However, there are two images that keep my concerns, fears and anxieties in check. Let me share them with you. Feel free to remind me of them if I start whining too much. :)
One day as I was considering and praying about our current situation, I stumbled upon an online meditation that made me grimace. The main point basically said God wants you to know, Julie, that your situation is like a woman giving birth and you are in the birth canal. After I nervously chuckled and gave a great big Okayyyy, I then gave a raised eyebrow look to heaven, sighed and thought if there are going to be a lot more contractions, I might need an epidural. lol
Actually, I thought the comparison to our situation was pretty close to accurate and I think it was meant to be encouraging-something like a light at the end of the tunnel is coming. However, for me it is not the light at the end of the tunnel that is comforting it is the knowledge that once the difficulties pass, and they will, we will be delivered into the competent hands of our Father and His plan and that all is well.
The other image is of God as a Master Gardener transplanting perennial bulbs. When he put in the shovel to dig us up-that hurt, a lot. Now, we are in His hands being lifted up in this situation and soon we will be where He wants us to be. In the meantime, all is God's and all is well.
So, that's ALL for now. God Bless!
JulieD
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