
It's been a good week so far. As I mentioned, I got my hair cut on Monday and I love it and I like the salon and got to know the owner a bit. I will definitely go back! How nice is it that I had success on my first try? Yesterday was a little different. I went to get my massage and something happened that I didn't expect. Let me say first that I really like the massage therapist and she did a great job, but my body reacted in a way that wasn't so good. I got extremely sick the minute I sat up and got off the table. I mean, I could hardly walk, let alone drive. I made it to the church just a block down and my husband drove me home. I was lightheaded and nauseous, and I spent the rest of the day in bed. I've had several massages before this, and I always know that I can expect soreness and a little headache afterwards. The only difference this time was that it was the longest one I've had (an hour) and she focused on just my neck and shoulders for the whole time (per my request). The only reason I brought this up is to see if any of you ever had similar experiences. My sister is also a licensed massage therapist so maybe I'll hear from her. I did drink plenty of water, before and after, but I hadn't had anything to eat before I went. I just don't eat that early, so it didn't occur to me to do so. Anyway, I feel much better today, and I have relief from what was done, so that's good.
On to a new day! I plan to get out for a walk, try to finally get things set up in my craft room (an ongoing thing), and hopefully make an apple pie. We were given a lot of apples and I need to use them! How about you? What's your day like?
Devotion
I really like how the author of today's devotion breaks down this wonderful passage about God's love! I have to confess that I never really thought about it this way before. What an encouragement! Have a WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY ladies!
"How Would You Describe God's Love?"
CBN Ministries, Shadia Hrichi
Have you ever felt as if a sermon or Bible passage had been aimed directly at you? Imagine that you I really like how the author and a friend read or hear the same message. Almost without exception, each of you will be personally impacted by God’s love and truth in profoundly unique ways. It is no coincidence that the Bible describes the Word of God as, “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12).
The Dimensions of God’s Love
In Ephesians chapter three, we are challenged to try to grasp the “width, length, height, and depth” of God’s love. Sometimes when I read this illustration, I picture Christ as the carpenter. Carefully constructing His Church, He positions each person in their proper place, at the proper time, in the proper order. He does this so that together, we support and strengthen each other as we become vessels of God’s love in a hurting world.
But at other times, my heart and mind may gravitate to one particular aspect. Over the years, each one has seemed to jump off the page at one time or another. They serve to remind me of a specific attribute of God that speaks to my heart in my current situation. How about you?
How Do You Envision God’s Love?
- Consider length. It may remind us of God’s faithfulness. It is an awesome and humbling joy to realize that God has been, and will continue, watching over the full length of each of our lives, beginning from before we were conceived, through birth, life, death, and even beyond the grave!
- Width serves to remind us of God’s omnipresence: at any given moment, God is involved with every detail of our lives. Carefully orchestrating each one with perfect precision so that despite the difficulties, we might draw closer to the One who has loved us since before time began.
- The depth of God’s love may cause us to reflect on the fact that God knows us fully and completely, even better than we know ourselves. It may bring to mind the fact that Jesus was willing to leave His heavenly throne, suffer death on a cross, and be raised to life. As a result, He is able to meet us even in the darkest corners of our hearts.
- And lastly, height lovingly lures the mind and spirit of each one of us to bask in God’s holiness and sovereignty. To be reminded that He is above all things and yet, though He created the entire universe and everything in it, the greatest object of His affection is us.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is." Ephesians 3:18 NLT
“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 1:9 NLT