From Winnie the Pooh to My Heart

 Sitting in the clinic's waiting room with my little girl after getting her preschool booster, she asked me to read her a story.  How could I say no?  She had just been so brave!  I pulled her up onto my lap and settled her against me to read the story that had caught her eye.  Winnie the Pooh's Brave Adventure.  Perfect title for such a day as this.  As I read her the story, I came across a most perfect line.  So perfect in fact that I stopped reading, grabbed my notebook and wrote the words down.

"Then Christopher Robin told Pooh,

No matter what, you must always remember this; 

you are braver than you know,

stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."

I then looked my daughter in the eye and told her the very same thing. 

She looked back at me quizzically (a little concerned maybe that her mama was losing it?!) and politely asked me to keep reading.

I did, but I thought about those words all morning and can just picture Jesus saying them to us, his children.  Every day.  Jesus, our best friend, saviour, teacher and greatest cheerleader, wants us to never forget how special and amazing we are to Him.  Always.  No matter what.  Especially when we don't believe it ourselves.

It never ceases to amaze me the wonderful ways God uses to speak to my heart.

Jesus, thank you for using this story to speak to me this morning about your incredible love for us.  May we never forget how brave you have called us to be, how strong you have made us and how special you know we are.  And may we always know and trust in your perfect love for us.

Because He First Loved Us

We had a beautiful Easter, complete with a scavenger hunt, lots of treats and smiles.  The kids were so excited.

A wonderful worship service provided opportunity for me to reflect on the essence of Easter and the unbelievable, sacrificial love of Jesus.  I always do a pretty good job on special days of focusing on putting my faith into action.  Easter was no exception; I spent the day loving those around me just a little bit more.  But even after knowing Jesus for more than thirty years, I benefit from daily reminders of how He desires me to be His hands, feet and heart to this broken world.

This morning I was listening to a beautiful CD by a wonderful Christian artist named Cheri Keaggy.  All the songs are amazing, but it was the title track that really spoke to me. 

Why did Jesus die for me? 

What does his death really mean?

What difference should it make in my life?

The answers I believe can be found in the simple words below.

Because He First Loved Us

We will stop and help when someone's in a bind.  If we see a need, we'll try to make the time.

And while others think of reasons not to love.  We love because He first loved us.

We are quick to say I'm sorry when we're wrong.  And instead of holding grudges we move on.

For we know the Father's grace will be enough. We love because He first loved us.

We don't seek revenge instead we seek peace.  When life strikes a blow, we turn the other cheek.

We will perservere when others would give up.  We love because He first loved us.

Teach us to love when we don't get it right.  So when the world looks at us they will see the light,  Teach us to love and to lay down our lives.  So they'll praise our Father in heaven.