... About Love

I am on a rotating schedule to lead prayer meeting at my church on Wednesday evenings.  The leader gives a short message.  On February 3rd, I led the prayer meeting.  Below is a copy of my notes of the message I presented that evening.  All Scripture is taken from the New International Version of the Bible.

Prayer Meeting - Wednesday, February 3,2016 - LOVE

With Valentine's Day just a couple of weeks away, I've been thinking about love

All of us want to be loved
What the world needs now is love, sweet love  It's the only thing that there's just too little of - 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David

à Love of God

·  God is Love - 1 John 4:16

The very essences of God is love - just as God is Holy; God is Righteous, God is gracious and compassionate, God is mighty, God is good, God is sovereign, God is merciful and forgiving, 

·  Fruit of the Spirit is Love - Gal 5:22

Fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace….

In a couple of prior Wed night services, I spoke about joy - One component of the Fruit of the Spirit is joy, another is love, God wants us to be filled and overflowing with His love, When we yield to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will begin to bear the Fruit of the Spirit.  Are we filled with His love?

·  So great is his unfailing love - Lam 3:32

Some of the saddest words - “I  don’t love you any more.”

St Paul wrote that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Rom. 8:38-39 - We will never heard God say, “I  don’t love you any more.”
God keeps His promises - People may fail us but God doesn’t - Because of His love, He wanted not one to parish; so He sent His son to die for us to provide salvation

·  what great love the Father has lavished on us, - 1 John 3:1 (lavished - generous, abundant, sumptuous, bountiful)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him -1 John 3:1

God has created us but we do not become children of God until we believe on His son, Jesus.  Once we become His child, we take on His characteristics -

When I first saw my daughter, Amy after she was born I said to her, "You look just like your daddy."  I has been fun watching her grow and seeing how much she is like him.

My Mother tells me I am a lot like my father and I have to agree.

So if God is love, are we “love”?

· ...so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:23

Here John records one of Jesus prayers - Jesus wanted all believers to be brought to complete unity and why - so that the world would know that God loved them - Is there unity among us - at the general church level, at the local level? Does the world know that God loves them?  What are we doing so that they will know?

· ... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Eph 3:18-19

We sang the song The Love of God - It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;

Filled to the measure of all the fullness of God - For something to be filled, it must be empty - we need to be empty of self and selfish desires -

à Love for God

·  what does the Lord your God ask of you but ... to love  him, Deuteronomy 10:12a

·  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind.’ Mat 22:37

Love: A Holy Command - by Oswald Chambers ----

We looked at the prayer of St. Paul (above Ephesians 3:18-19) Here is what is written to the Church in Ephesus  in Revelations  - You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. (Rev 2:3-4)

Relationships - Husband and wife
Personal Relationship with God - spending time with Him - reading His Word - What is He saying to me?
Hearing sermons - what is in it for me? - God knows who is going to hear the message

à Love Because of God

·  Do  Everything in Love - 1 Cor 16:4

Everything? _ Before you speak THINK -

·  Christ’s love compels us -2 Cor 5:14

Compels - a driving force - must do it

·  We love because He first loved us - 1 John 4:19

Earlier I stated we take on His characteristics

·  Love one another deeply - 1 Pet 1:26   

Deeply -

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:3-4
Book - What would Jesus Do?
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
I prayed and asked God to love others as He loves - to forgive, etc.

Atlantic Ocean – Photo by Lela

        The Love of God
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky
                                      - Frederick M. Lehman

 

 

... about a wig - spreading God's love

One summer evening in 2007 I attended Bowman camp.  At the end of the message as I was moved by the Holy Spirit, I went forward and knelt at the altar to pray.  I knew the speaker personally.  He had even stayed in my husband and my home when he had been the speaker at my church.  So I kept in touch with him and in July of 2009 I wrote him a letter.  Here is part of that letter:

You may recall that a few years ago when you were the speaker at the Bowman Camp, I knelt at the altar and asked God to use me, to work in and through me.  After the service I shared with you some of what was on my heart.  You recommended that I get a copy of the book, "Just Walk Across the Room."  Since that night God has begun a great work in my life.  I am truly amazed.

 

I had gotten a copy of the book and one thought in the book was to look for opportunities to spread God’s love in small as well as big ways, perhaps doing nothing more than giving someone a smile.  And so I began to look for those opportunities.  I would like to share a recent one with you.

For twenty-five years I had worked as a programmer/analyst.  For most of those years, I followed the suggestions of dressing for success.  I wore business suit and heels and had a professional hair cut.  However, I am not a morning person and to get moving in the morning is difficult for me.  Most mornings, I would be running late.  So I decided to buy a wig and when I didn’t have time to fix my hair I would wear the wig.  Later, dressing for success went out the window and business casual dress was allowed in the work place.  My wig ended up all but forgotten in the back of a shelf in my closet.

In Feb of 2009 I was laid off of my job as a programmer/analyst.    In Oct 2009, I started working as a Customer Service Rep for an insurance company that provides Medicare supplement insurance to people on Medicare.  I have talked to thousands and thousands of people all across our great land.  I was totally out of my comfort zone on this job.  My talents lay in my being a programmer/analyst.   However, each day as I struggled with my job, God opened my eyes in ways that I had never imagined to a real and hurting world.   And so I began praying for my customers.  I have told countless number of my customers that I would pray for them.  At least two asked me to pray for them and one customer asked me if I were a Christian and he told me I was angel.

It was then that I remembered that wig in the back on my closet.  I got it out and all the cleaning and styling products that went with it.  I decided that the very next customer that called and asked if a wig would be covered by the health insurance because they had lost all their hair due to cancer treatments I would offer them my wig.  Within days of my decision, a lady named Jane called and asked if wigs were covered.  I had to tell her no they were not.  So I offered mine to her.  She gave me her email address and asked if I would send her a picture of the wig which I did.  Here is her reply. 

The Wig

Surprisingly, I have often worn my hair in such a style   and with summer highlights the color is not too far off.   If you want to send the wig, I will try it and return it if I cannot use it.  Mailing address… With thanksgiving for your thoughtfulness.

And so I mailed her the wig along with all the accessories and included one of my photo greeting cards that I had made.  In it I told her I would pray for her.  

Until the day I retired, I struggled with my job but God had helped me - one day at a time.   For Jane, He gave me the opportunity to spread some of His love by offering her my wig and for others He had given me the opportunity to let them know someone cared and was praying for them.

… about Friends and Family

This past Christmas, I mailed A LOT of Christmas cards via the United States Postal Service.  Since the onset of the internet, there are several ways I could have send my greetings electronically; but I decided to go the old fashion way - how nice to open our mail boxes and find something besides bills or junk mail!  I was amazed at the number of cards I mailed; but I wanted everyone on my mailing list to get a card from me.  At least one person in the household receiving the card has had an impact on my life.  I would not be the person I am today had our  paths not crossed in our journey through life.

My father’s ministry and my career took me to different places within the United States, outside the United Sates and within Pennsylvania.  Having lived and worked in so many different places I have met a lot of wonderful people whom I would have never met otherwise.  Others I became acquainted with at the churches I have attended.  Some I have known for a long, long time and others for a very short time.  Never-the-less, I am glad I have known each one!  It’s interesting though, some on my mailing list I have never met.  Their names were added to a prayer list that I received; so I prayed for them, sent a note to them letting them know I was praying for them, and added their names to my mailing list.   

Others are on my mailing list because they are family and I love them dearly.  Some family members were added to our family at birth and others were added through marriage.  As our family has grown over the years, it’s been harder and harder for all of us to get together at one time.  My oldest daughter Melissa was so excited when she and all her cousins on the Walker side of the family were at her aunt Lena’s wedding last May and she was able to get a picture of all of them together.  When my aunt Doris passed away in November of 2014, I got to see my two cousins that I hadn’t seen in some time. 

How awesome it is that so many people have been a part of my life - to have gotten a hug, a smile, a word of encouragement or instruction, a note in the mail, an email, a greeting on Facebook (sorry, I’m not on much) a Christmas card, a thank you, a comment: you’re in my thoughts and/or prayers.  The list could go on and on.  I am truly blessed and thank God for everyone who has been a part of my life in both small and big ways!

Hartranft Family 2015 Christmas Picture

 

… About Encouraging Scripture Verses #2

Gems of Truth 2 - God Chose You! 

When I was a teenager, I attended youth camp.  I loved being there and enjoyed many of the activities in which we could get involved.  One such activity  was softball.   Everyone who wanted to play lined up and the captains of the teams started picking their team members.  The captains took one look at me and shook their heads.  I was tall and thin and appeared a bit awkward I guess.  One by one the team members were chosen.  I remained the last and went on my team by default. I was assigned left fielder.  When one of the guys on our opponent’s team got up to bat, he took a good look over the whole field and decided to hit the ball to me.  He must have thought the “scrawny” girl in leftfield wasn’t going to catch his ball. But I proved him wrong!  Little did he or anyone else for that matter know that I had been a topnotch ball player on my school’s team back home!  I caught that ball and he was out!   And when it was my turn to bat, I hit a home run.  Boy was the opposite team’s captain sorry he hadn’t chosen me!  

We read in the Scriptures, For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,  (1 Thessalonians 1:4 NIV) and But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.   He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NIV)

One evening I was watching a video tape on the life of missionary Jim Elliot who was brutally murdered along with four other missionaries by the Auca tribe in Ecuador.  Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, her daughter Valerie, and Rachel Saint, another missionary’s wife remained in Ecuador. In time they led many of the Auca tribe to the Lord.  As I watched the video, I asked the Lord why He had allowed me to be born and live in the United Sates where I heard about Him and His love and why I had not been born in some other country such as Ecuador where no one had heard about Him.  I heard His Spirit whisper to my spirit, “Because I chose you.”

At a camp meeting many years ago I knelt at the altar and told the Lord He could use me any way He saw fit.  I wanted His love to flow in and through me.  Since then I have been amazed at all the ways he has used me - through my hobby of taking pictures of his awesome creation and making them into encouraging photo cards, through speaking engagements and personal contact.

Unlike the camp softball team captains who did not chose me to play, God chooses each of us for His “team.”  He has a special plan and purpose for our lives that no one else can fill.  He loves us and wants us on His “team.”  If you have never opened your heart to the Lord to be chosen by Him, why don’t you do so.  You will be amazed at what he may chose you to do!



 

… About Encouraging Scripture Verses #1

Lela & Kate

On April 25^th, I had the privilege to share some of my favorite Bible verses as Gems of Truth at the Spring Ladies’ Luncheon at my church. The Scriptures are so encouraging; so I decided to share them as a posts on my blog. I trust that you, the reader, will be encouraged too.

Gems of Truth 1 -God takes Delight in you - “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

One of the joys I have had as a grandmother was rocking my granddaughters and singing to them. I would sing “Jesus Loves Me”, “Oh, How He Loves You and Me”, and other children songs. Just as I took great delight in my grandbabies, how much more God takes delight in us! (Note: the word “great.”) He is might to save. God saves us from sin, from heartache, from worry, from depression and so much more! He will quiet you with his love – Many times when I rocked those tiny, little ones they would be fussing and sometimes crying. But as I gently rocked them and sang softly to them, they closed their eyes and became quiet. There must be times when God wants to quiet us, for us to rest in him and He does so with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing – When we repent of our sins, there is rejoicing in heaven (Luke15.) This is the only Scripture that I know of where God sings. And He does it by rejoicing over you! Wow!


 

... About Father's Day - 2015

Lela getting a hug from her father
while doing a skit at church

Sunday, June 21, 2015 is Father's Day.  It will be my first Father's Day without my father, Marion Lee Walker, Sr.  Daddy passed on to glory on May 31, 2015 at 3:31 pm.  I had taken Mother to church in the morning as I usually do. We had just arrived home from church,  I had just gotten lunch ready for her and had no more said “Amen” to saying grace, when the phone rang. My father’s nurse was on the phone telling us Daddy had taken a turn for the worse and we should come to the nursing home where he resided. My mother and I called my brother and sisters and we all went to the home. Daddy was unresponsive; but we each took several minutes and had a special heart-to-heart talk with him. We sang wonderful hymns until he went to his final reward. I was so glad we were all able to be with him and to have time to say our goodbyes.
 

Lela with her father
in Colorado Springs, CO

I do not grieve for my father. During the last months of his life he had been suffering a lot. It had been so hard to visit him and see him that way. He had certainly lived up to his name - he was indeed a "walker" and loved to walk. He loved numbers and had calculated he had walked thousands of miles in his life time. But his body had been ravaged by a horrible disease. He was only able to take tiny steps and only with a walker.  He had other health issues as well and I wept as I watched Daddy nearing heaven’s shores.  I prayed with him that it wouldn’t be long until he got there and our prayers were answered.  However, I do miss him and will always cherish the special times we had together.

Lela with her father
on Grand Cayman



My first memories of Daddy were when our family lived on the Island of Grand Cayman. As a father, Daddy had to apply disciplinary measures at times. His favorite for “the twins” was to have Lena and I sit facing each other and not say a word. (He loved the hymn Blessed Quietness!) And for the two of us, who loved to run and play and what one didn’t think of doing the other did, having to sit and not talk was a tough order. But not all was negative. I loved going on hikes with Daddy and picking berries. But my all time favorite memory is our hot dog roasts over a campfire. To this day, we still get together as a family – children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, spouses and friends, and enjoy roasting hot dogs. I never eat a roasted hot dog without thinking of Daddy. 

Lela enjoying a hot dog roast with her parents,
her twin sister, Lena and her brother, Lee 

Somewhere along the way, Daddy became my friend. During the past few years, as I took on the role of one of Daddy’s  caregivers, I became very close to Daddy. Daddy and I both love to read and my favorite times with him were when I took him to bookstores. He could browse for hours and I would just sit and read waiting for him. We would go to the Country Buffet to eat. I was very sad when the day came and Daddy could no longer go to the bookstores.  Other times we would go out for supper after a doctor visit.  His favorite meal he ordered was crab cakes.  From now on I'll always think of him when I eat a crab cake. 

Walker Family - 1962 - Salisbury, MD

When I starting my speaking ministry, Daddy was my "biggest fan."  He would come and hear me whenever he could and would say his loud, "Amen!"  He told my sister, Elda that a dream of his had come true, that one of his children was a preacher. He also told her that one of my messages was the best he had ever heard. I was so humbled by his remarks. The last time I spoke at church on June 10th, I missed seeing Daddy there. I believe he is now part of that great cloud of witnesses we are surrounded by that we read about in Hebrews 12.



Lela with her
father - 1970

Lela with her father
 repeating her marriage vows
at Wilbur and Lela's 10th
Wedding Anniversary

I am grateful I had opportunities to thank Daddy for teaching me about God and His love. Daddy had a lot to do in shaping and molding me and I am the person I am today because of the impact Daddy had on my life and for that I am so thankful!



One of Daddy's favorite expressions was, "I find this fascinating..." and then he would share what it was.  The Scriptures tell us, No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.  1 Corinthians 2:9.  I can just picture Daddy walking through heaven and discovering all those things and saying, “I find this fascinating..."



Lela with her father - 1985
20th Reunion on Deal Island

Daddy loved to tell everyone he met, "You are someone special, Jesus loves you!"  Some years ago Daddy had asked my twin sister and I to speak at his Memorial Service.  I said I would; but wondered how I would be able to.  I knew it would be a very emotional time.  I decided to use You are someone special, Jesus loves you as my theme.  Loving the Lord, Jesus as I do, I did not find it difficult at all to share on the day of Daddy's Memorial Service how much Jesus loves everyone.  It is truly a message we need to be sharing with everyone we meet.  Perhaps Daddy has now met someone in heaven with whom he had shared that awesome news.  I find that most fascinating!

Lela with her father at
Lela's College Graduation

The day Daddy passed on the glory, as I said good-bye to my father, my friend, I was his little girl once again.
 
Daddy, I remember the first time we had to be a part.  We had just arrived in the United States from Grand Cayman where we had lived for four years.  I was six years old at the time.  You went to Kentucky to see your family and the rest of us went to Pennsylvania to see Mother's family.  I missed you so much and I cried and cried.  I feel the same right now.  I know I shall see you again some day and we will never be a part again.  I love you!

 

… About Resting



The other day my husband, Wilbur and I were outside working in the yard.  All at once, I heard the chirping of a flock of hundreds of birds.  Looking skyward, I saw the birds descending upon the limbs of the trees surrounding our property.  The birds were flying in unison and landing on the trees in unison.  If there was a leader among them, I could not tell.  But it was obvious that the whole flock was in agreement. It was time to rest.  So rest they did.

“Go get your camera,” Wilbur told me.  "They will be gone shortly!"

So I ran into the house and grabbed my camera.  Once I was outside, I aimed my camera toward the trees and starting shooting.  Wilbur was correct.  Just as quickly as they had landed they were taking off flying north.  I just kept on shooting.  And then they were gone!  The whole event had taken only a few minutes.

A lover of nature, I found this incident most amazing.  Where the birds had come from,   I did not know and where they were going I did not know as well.  But they knew.  They were migrating north now that the long, hard difficult winter was over.  During their trip north, they knew they needed to rest.  As they flew over the trees in our woods, the branches were most inviting; so they took a short break.  But they had not reached their destination. So they were off and on their way in no time at all. 

Just as those birds were making their journey north, so you and I are on a journery though life.  If we have invited Jesus into our heart and life, He is making the journey with us and are destination is heaven.  There may be times when the way becomes hard and difficult and so Jesus says to us - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

If your journey is not easy, accept Jesus invitation.  Just as that huge flock of birds, rested in our trees; so we can rest in Jesus.  And just as the birds took to flight after they had rested, we too can continue our journey with Christ after we have rested.  I am sure the birds reached their final destination.  They knew where they were going and how to get there.  As we journey with Christ, we are sure to reach our destination of heaven for Jesus knows where we are going and how to get there.

So take a rest every so often along your journey and make haven your final destination!