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PRAYER, LIKE LOVE, IS HUMBLE

This past Sunday, we said that life isn't about me. We gain nothing in life, if we don't live a life of love. We can't really love until we look beyond ourselves. I don't think we can fully love without experiencing that author of love - Jesus. I think we can't full understand Jesus' love until we give it away. It's not about singing our own song because love is humble.Mark Batterson talked about prayer this week on his blog. It sums up the last couple weeks of this series about having a committed & humble relationship with God. He wrote this about prayer:

It’s about establishing a humility habit. We’re going to stop, drop, and pray. We’re going to hit our knees everyday!  Our MO isn’t ASAP–as soon as possible. Our MO is ALAT–as long as it takes.

LINSANITY JUST GOT BETTER

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

We're my weekly mind dump:

- Here we go with baseball! This is the year for the Tigers!
- I was looking at some new Tiger shirts at Dick's last night. I'll wait for my birthday in a few months.
- I find guys clothes boring....not saying I want to wear women's clothes. Just saying that t-shirts, polo's, sweatshirts, flannel or button-downs get boring. That's about all the options. Maybe I will start wearing suits??!?!!? I don't think so.
- OK Thunder are good but they will not will the title this year in the NBA. KD is incredible but if any time can limit him, OK will lose in a series.
- Looking forward to All-Star Saturday night!
- Gonna try and watch Lin & The Knicks tonight...and Person of Interest if it's new.
- I've been liking the show Alcatraz. I love shows with on-going stories that make you think.
- This is our future house - ok maybe just a dream house. 
- Shot the video this morning for Sunday. The filming of it is actually funnier. Love our staff at The Journey.
-  Went to the Station for lunch today. Haven't been there is a while. Bacon Mushroom Burger with oozy Bar Cheese=messy goodness.
- Steph took a sick day yesterday. She never does that. It seems like everybody is sick.
- There is suppose to be a snow storm tonight. Kzoo can get up to a foot. Muskegon forecast=1-2 inch. Crazy winter.
- Been running on my eliptical consistently. Feels good.
- This weekend: Habitat For Humanity Project with Journey North Network.
- Apple replace my 1st Generation iPod Nano for a brand new one. Got it in the mail yesterday. I guess the battery has started on fire in some rare cases. New one is small. Maybe I'll get one of the watch bands for it?!?!?!
- This years tax return is gonna go towards new applicances? Anyone need some a malfunctioning dishwasher, microwave, a broken dryer or a busted eliptical?  

Hope you have a great weekend! 

GOD + ME -

John the Baptist had a big following....like a million people on twitter in todays context. They thought he was great. He could have had a big head. He could have been jealous of Jesus talking away from what he was doing. He could have been proud, but he was humble. Love is humble, giving, sacrifical (like what we talked about on Sunday). John said these words about Jesus: He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:30).

HE MUST INCREASE. I MUST DECREASE. This is my prayer this week.

 

LOVE SONG

SUNDAY RECAP FROM FEBRUARY 19

LOVE SONGS WEEK 3

SONG LIST
Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
Love is Here - Tenth Ave. North
Love Invades - Robbie Seay Band
Lead Me to the Cross - Hillsong United
My Savior My God - Aaron Shust

RECAP
What is Love? (You have to bob your head and sing it) Today we looked at 1 Corinthians 13. Love isn't about singing our own tune in the mirror. Love is humble, giving, sacrificial. We see that in God's love for us and how he calls us to live (Philippians 2). It's about a call to LIVE TO GIVE - give your life away and look beyond yourself. Life will be empty without this kind of love (1 Cor. 13:3) and we can't truly have a relationship with Jesus until we experience His love working in AND through us. It's about knowing God's love and being known for love. It's not really a big news flash that love is giving & humble; but we all need to have reminders and gut checks to make sure we aren't just singing our own tune. Relationships aren't about give & take...just give (Eph 5:21). Whether it's your kids, spouse, neighbors, work place....live to give. So what's the lyrics to the love song of your life? What about with your relationship with God? It's not about me and singing my own tune in mirror; it's about reflecting God's love. It's about less of me and more of Him (John 3:30). 

VIDEO

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

Here's another addition of my weekly Thursday Thoughts on life, sports, food, family, media & more:

- Looking forward to speaking this weekend at The Journey.
- I've been working an a bunch of stuff coming up this spring. Never a dull moment at The Journey.
- What do I do when there's nothing on tv? Look at architecture & house plans.
- Steph really likes that Who Do You Think You Are? show. The history, story lines are interesting.
- Emma finished up her indoor soccer season. She got a participation medal. She was proud but also said..."Yeah, everyone got one". I think some healthy competition is good.
- Mike at Bitz Computers replace my cracked iPad screen. It's great. Like new!
- I'm not a big fan of this weather. I would rather it be 30 and everything frozen.
- Valentines Day was a trip for me: Eli's school party, a trip to Stephani's school to surprise her with some chocolates & flowers , then back to school for Emma's party.
- I can't seem to get enough coffee lately...tastes too good.
- Today for lunch: Grilled Cheese with Mac N Cheese on it. Amazing.
- It seems like everyone is sick every where I go. Makes me want to take a sanitizer bath.
- Wednesday night TV is good. 
- I've been enjoying LINsanity. Great to see a trend in humble & team oriented sport stars.
- Almost time for some baseball.
- Been thinking about some vacation ideas for this summer. 
- Hopefully can do some relaxing this weekend.

Have a great mid-winter break for all you school folks & families. 

CURRENT PLAYLIST

Here's some songs that have found favor with my ear buds:

YOU ARE LOVED

So today is Valentines Day - or as I saw on Facebook - Singles Awareness Day. Whether your dating, married, single, divorced, young or old, don't let today define you. Your value is not equivalent to your relational status. You are special, loved, valued, treasured, cared for:

No matter what that person said about you...
No matter what you've thought about yourself...
No matter how you've been treated...
No matter how you might feel...
No matter what has happened in the past...
No matter what...

God loves you. He always has. He always will. His love is unconditional & unending.
God loves you enough that He gave His son who gave His life because of His great love for us.
Why? So our relationships could be restored.
The God of all things wants to be connected with you.
You are valuable, treasured, loved.

Today might be a hard day. You might not always FEEL God's love, but don't let your relationship status define you. See yourself through the eyes of the one who created you. 

I shared some thoughts from Romans 8 on Sunday. Here they are again:

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

HOLIDAY TWEET FROM RICH WARREN

 @RickWarren

"I love u because.." or "I love u IF.." are both conditional love.

"I love u despite.." is unconditional - how God loves you.