SHARING GOD'S LOVE

SATURDAY, August 18
John 15:16-17 (The Message)

"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil.  As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.  But remember the root command: Love one another."  T

     Our world is filled with winning and losing, with the uncertainty of acceptance - the current political campaign and election, job applications, trying out for teams or drama roles.  Think about American Idol and all the reality shows where the nation votes with cell phones.  Even Facebook have Friend Requests.  We wait to be chosen, to be accepted.
     God said 'I chose you'.  No wait, no worry.  God wants me on his team!  My current team is a Habitat community of love and service.  Our coaches are God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (with team leader Mark as well!)  We are all on this team and chosen by God for this work.

d365GO! 
"Life together means we live in community with all types of people.  This is not an easy task, and God understands it is not easy for us.  Yet we are still asked by God to be people with open arms, willing to hug, love, and accept the dirtiest, weirdest, poorest, richest, sickest, meanest people.  Life together, with all the different types of people in the world, is messy and interesting! 
God wants us to experience life together, not life separated.  Be alert!  Be open!  Love!"

FRIDAY, August 17  

1 John 4:20-21  (The Message)

"If anyone boasts 'I love God' and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar.  If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see?! The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people.  You've got to love both."  

     Brother, sister, friend, enemy, neighbor next door or unknown across the world.  They are all included in this command. They all reflect the face of God.   But we shouldn't treat this as an order or directive - do this or else!  We should see this as a guide book to knowing and becoming more like God.  If we practice loving everyone, even those who are less than lovable, we come to know God better.  If we practice love, even when it is inconvenient or impractical, we will be blessed to see Jesus in everyone we meet.
     Loving people is what we are practicing each day we gather in work for Habitat.  We will find the job easier and less tedious when we look up and see the face of Christ in the homeowner, or in the face of the one we are working with side by side.  May we look today as we practice loving our brothers and sisters, and in so doing, feel the presence of God.  
I will use this as my devotional on Saturday morning prior to beginning our work.  

THURSDAY, August 16  "Hidden Treasures"

1 John 4:10-11  (The Message)

"This is the kind of love we are talking about - not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.  My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other."  

     Certain people are easy to love.  They tend to be accepting, selfless, and happy.  People flock to be around them.  But others?  They are different, unlike us, critical, and don't bring out the best in us.  God loves them too!  God's love is unconditional - he loves beneath the surface, beneath the flaws, to the beauty, the treasure that lies within each of us.  Our job is to love like that.  As we pick up our hammer and tools, we must also figuratively use our pick axe to dig for the hidden treasure in those we serve, in our co-workers, and in ourselves!
     May we reach out in friendship and love to all.  This will form community as God intends.  People have remarked again in the Habitat community here about the change in homeowner JB since a hand up has been extended to him, about the change in a reclusive young man last year.  Treasures in all!  Let us love enough to uncover them!

WEDNESDAY, August 15
 "Looking for the Best" 
1 Corinthians 13: 7
"[Love] puts up with anything. Trusts God always.  Always looks for the best.  Never looks back. But keeps going to the end. "  (The Message)
     "It's hard to trust anyone when you feel like you are in competition with everyone."  This line from Patricia Lyons in d365.org today struck me.  How often this seems to define our society - one of an undercurrent of distrust because if they get their piece, I might not get mine. Ouch.  That is such a lonely and stressful way to live.
     I like the way The Message puts "hopes all things" as always looking for the best.  People like to be around an optimistic, hopeful person, who tries to see the top half of the glass at all times.  That is a fun person to work with.  My goal is to be that optimistic, cheerful person - with my co-workers and with the homeowner.
     I feel muscles this morning!  Today will be a good test....how well can I work this pace day in and day out for two weeks?  Put a smile on my face and let's go!!

TUESDAY, August 14   "Keeping Score"
1 Corinthians 13:6   (The Message)
"[Love] doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel.  Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth."
     It seems like keeping score and carrying grudges is so the norm of our society.  We can't let go of what someone else did to us at some point.  Even in the recent Olympics, the big news of the day was the 'medal count'.  I so much more appreciated the individual stories of athletes who had overcome odds, regardless of nationality.  God doesn't keep score, God doesn't rub it in when we err, God forgives and loves.  Why can't we figure out how to do it right?
     Past mistakes, whether our own or those of others only weigh us down.  Let us rejoice and feel the freedom of God's forgiveness and love.  Let us treat others the same.
     Today we begin work at the "SMITH" house.  The owner is a crotchety old man (according to Habitat) who is slowly coming out of his shell.  At least he will open the door now!  We will be repainting the house - according to the 'rules' of the local housing homeowner's association, which is all of Pagosa.  Fortunately the HA is now doing a better job of taking pleasure in the truth of assistance rather than handing out fines when the house didn't meet their score!
     Our group has met, appears to be a light spirited group of dedicated workers.  We are the only rookies at this point, with one other couple on their second build.  A community is growing and developing.

MONDAY, August 13  "Practice God's Love"
1 Corinthians 13:5  (The Message)
"Love doesn't force itself on others, isn't always 'me first'.  Love doesn't fly off the handle."
     How can I practice this kind of love in the weeks ahead with new people I am just meeting?  People I will work beside.  By taking the time to know them first, to not interrupt (a bad habit of mine), to listen and be patient.  The love chapter is a great reminder of how to respond and treat people when you work together in community.
     We have met just one couple from our group so far.  Barb and Mike are from outside of Phoenix.  I love their email address: saltandpeppertwo.  Barb is a bit more reserved, but Mike has been over to talk several times.  He shared the internet password with me as I have yet to check in (the gal is never in the office!)  Today, the rest of the group will gradually pull in.  We meet tonight for a potluck to get to know each other and begin to build our new community in service.  An exciting day ahead!  May I call to mind the love chapter in my actions today to practice God's love.
Note:  I am going to go ahead and post even when I don't have the scribbles ready.  There may not come a picture everyday, but I will try to share my thoughts.  The scribbles may suddenly appear days later....who knows!  (God does!)

PAUSE!  "God's presence and call often show up in unexpected places and at surprising times.  We should all be changed by God's presence each time we encounter God.  Have we sensed God asking us to do something differently in our lives?  We must have the courage to say YES!  May we be the presence of Christ today, as we give back and share our lives with others."  
d365.org writer: Patricia Lyons

SUNDAY, August 12    "Sharing Love"
1 Corinthians 13:4  (The Message)
"Love never gives up.  Love cares more for others than self.  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head." 
     Much of the next two weeks will be working to show and share God's love.  It will be exciting if the text for this week proves to be all of 1 Corinthians 13 - the total description of what God's love looks like in action.
     Love never gives up.  When the job gets hard, the temperatures hot, the task confusing, keep going.  If I don't know how to do it, ask and find out, but don't quit!
     Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  We are going to see some posh RV's pull in with lots of bells and whistles!  We are going to see mega mansions on the hills surrounding Pagosa Springs.  Be content.  God has provided just the trailer and life for Rick and I.  It's all we need.
     Love doesn't strut or have a swelled head.  We shall be welcoming and open, receptive to learn.  We don't know it all, especially me when it comes to carpentry skills, etc.  Build up others first.
     This is a time to practice God's love.  Let's do it!