Thursday, February 10, 2022

Porch #35 * Valentine's Weekend

 Welcome back to Porch
your go-to weekend companion. 
Embrace community.
Discover a fresh perspective. 
Grow your faith in Christ.
Get unstuck. 
Share your story.

💗

May I be the first to wish you Happy Valentine's Day 

You guys are the absolute best.  I am so grateful for your presence in my life.  

You bring tons of insight and kindness to the table.  You're generous with encouragement and the wisdom you've gleaned through the hard times.  Sometimes you courageously process what you're learning about life and faith.  Other times you make us laugh right out loud.  

We discover yet again that we're not alone.  We take turns mentoring and being mentored, praying and being prayed for.  Spiritual iron sharpens spiritual iron, grace births more grace. 

We're all students, no one's arrived, we're all a work in progress.  I trust you'll always find something here that will calm you, give you hope, and bring you closer to the Lover of your sweet soul.   

Please know that there's plenty of room at the table for you, especially if you're new to online conversation.   It's called the comment section.  And the welcome mat is out for you and your unique perspective.  Join us ... please?!

💗

If ever a holiday has the potential to make someone feel less than or forgotten, it's this heart-shaped one.  More than ever, isolation and loneliness have crept in unannounced and uninvited, leaving far too many souls unmoored from a sense of place and purpose.  

How 'bout we join hearts and commit to flipping Valentine's Day 2022 upside down and inside out.  What would it look like to show the love of Jesus in a tangible, creative way to someone you might not normally connect with?!  I can guarantee you won't have to look far to find someone who's in need of the unique encouragement that only you can offer.





It's a simple token of a boy's love for his mama, pieced together with childish determination, eager little hands, and sticky paste-in-a-jar.  The card is a bit worse for wear, edges worn, sepia tinged, red ribbons hanging on for dear life.  

The raggedly cut heart is a bit bruised and frayed along the edges.  But it still holds tight.

The little boy is now grown and met his bride half a century ago this summer.  He wears his mama's shade of hair, as do his daughters and many of his grandchildren.  

Those childish hands are now strong, capable, and always ready to mend and reconfigure, fix and assist.  They craft beautiful pieces of furniture and help build houses.   
 
The card has faded over time, even as the man has grown into a servant-hearted helper, a steady mentor, a lover of God.  

Protective.  Vigilant.  Wise.  Fun.  Generous.  And sometimes very tender.


💗

So this is my prayer:
that your love will flourish 
& that you will not only 
love much but well.

Learn to love appropriately.

You need to use your head
 & test your feelings
so that your love is 
sincere & intelligent, 
not sentimental gush.

Live a lover's life, 
circumspect & exemplary,
 a life Jesus will be proud of:
bountiful in fruits from the soul, 
making Jesus Christ attractive to all,
getting everyone involved 
in the glory & praise of God.
Philippians 1 
{The Message}

From my 💗 to yours ~
Linda
NEW KINDLE DEALS ADDED!


💗

 
💗

happy to connect with 
Jeanne/Lisa J 
Richella  &  Lisa

45 comments:

  1. We're all students, not arrived,
    we're all a work in progress,
    and though we think we've maybe thrived,
    that's really got to be a guess,
    for we can't see what Jesus sees
    (and Him we can't surprise!),
    unless we get down on our knees
    and look into His eyes.
    Do they sparkle with delight,
    or have we brought Him tears?
    Are there times we coulda might
    have danced, but for our fears?
    So much that we might understand,
    if we meet His gaze, and take His hand!

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    1. Oh this is a good barometer, isn't it, Andrew -
      'unless we get down on our knees
      and look into His eyes.
      Do they sparkle with delight,
      or have we brought Him tears?'

      I want to sparkle for Him ✨. Thanks for that nudge heavenward, friend.

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  2. Oh, that card . . . What a priceless memory to have of a boy's love for his mother. May we all try to make this Valentine's Day a better one for all by sharing the love of Jesus.
    Blessings, Linda!

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    Replies
    1. I bet he never dreamed that a million years later his wife would be sharing the love 💞! Happy Valentine's Day, friend. I hope each day finds you feeling stronger and more vibrant.

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  3. Oh gosh, I love the "challenge" here you have presented! Show the love of Jesus...really every day!

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    1. Amen. I'm challenging myself to push the comfort zone boundaries on this, friend 😉! It's too easy to stick close to home.

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  4. Happy Valentines Day to you too, and may we always show Jesus' love!

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  5. A very special man. I didn't know him as a boy, but I've watched him love and fight for his wife, children and grandchildren. What a godly role model!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Whoever you are, thank you. Yes, he is a papa bear when it comes to his family. Over time, I've grown to appreciate that protection more and more.
      🐻

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  6. "Loved" your latest installment, Linda. Sending much aloha love to you from the Garden Isle of Kauai ...

    * subscriber reply

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    1. Well, aloha to you, too ... I don't think anybody's ever said aloha to me before. I like it 😎!

      Have a wonderful time away!

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  7. Linda, when I read your blog I marvel at how much we have in common. From our book choices to how to enjoy winter ... I love reading glimpses into your lives. Thank you for it. I absolutely love every time I've read the same book or said the same things ... it happens often. You encourage me.

    * via snail mail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, I can't remember last time someone wrote me a long newsy letter. What a joy to sit by the fire and read the pages to Tim. Thank you so much for all your encouraging words. It means so much to me.

      You are loved and missed 💌!
      xo

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  8. Tim, The Poet!!! Love the little boy pic. Has he written you a poem or two? Yes, he is a fine example of a family man and blessed you are both to have each other.

    Valentines Day is a man made holiday and it doesn’t bring me down cause I am manless. Not even into Galentine’s Day either——Cultural things I find easy to ignore. But that verse from the Message Bible is quite to the point especially unveiling sentimental gush, making Jesus attractive to all and loving appropriately. Niiiizzzeee

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes, nothing says it like The Message. Such appropriate words for this 'manmade' holiday and all our culture shouts at us about so-called 'love' 🤦.

      Thank God His Word goes right to the heart of things. And your quote here will be a great perspective shifter to many of our sister readers -> 'Valentines Day is a man made holiday and it doesn’t bring me down cause I am manless.'

      You're an incredible friend and I'm so grateful that you continue to speak truth into my life. I'm always glad to share your insight here.

      Have a good one.

      Delete
  9. I love the card your husband made. Such a treasure to still have it after so many years. And I appreciate your challenge to be intentional in showing love to others too. There are so many people who need that. Happy Valentine's Day to you!

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    Replies
    1. Happy Valentine's Day right back to you, friend! How do you celebrate this in Scotland? Is it real commercialized like here in the US?
      🧁

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    2. Thanks! I think Valentine's Day is maybe a bit more low key here. Couples buy cards and little gifts and maybe have a nice dinner together but I think that's about it.

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  10. What a precious treasure, the card your husband made so many years ago! Fragile, yet so very precious! I love your suggestion, find something to do for someone to show the love of Christ... will do!

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    1. It's always a good thing when we throw a challenge out on the table because the one who's encouraged others has to go there, too! 😉

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  11. Such a beautiful rewording of Philippians 1. It brought the words to life again for me. Thank you for your love and prayers for me, friend. Much appreciated and needed! May you have a special Valentine's Day celebrating with your sweetheart.

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    1. And may sweet memories and deep hope fill your heart and mind as you make your way through this weekend, friend. You know I'm praying 💐 ...

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  12. Happy Valentine's Day to You also Linda. may you and your hubby and family experience the love that never dies...His love...in spades!

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    1. His love binds us all together in good times and bad. Yep.
      👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

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  13. What a wonderful tribute to your husband, Linda. Also, your comment section is my favorite. :-)

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    1. Yeah, I love a good conversation, too, friend.

      Sure wish you and I could do that in person, ya' know? 👩👩

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  14. I may have mentioned here before, but week after next I'll start mentoring two or three young women at our church. Your wise words near the top of this post spoke to how I'm feeling about this ministry: Mentoring is not a one-way street. "We take turns mentoring and being mentored, praying and being prayed for. Spiritual iron sharpens spiritual iron, grace births more grace." I'm going to copy this down and share these ideas with them at our first get-together. Thank you, Linda!

    We're all students, no one's arrived, we're all a work in progress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Nancy, I'm so glad that what's happening here fits right in with what's happening in your ministry. Thank You, Lord, for doing that for us!

      I'd love to hear more about the mentoring you're doing. I think most of us are craving a much deeper connection than we're experiencing. Sometimes we know that to be true ... and other times we just know that something is missing and we're not quite sure what that is.

      Thanks for taking us there today, friend. Bless you 🙌🏻!

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  15. That valentine calendar/card absolutely melts my heart. Oh, never let that one go!

    I hope you and your husband have a wonderful Valentine's Day -- every day. This is such a lovely tribute and such divine food for thought. Enjoy the celebration tomorrow!

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    Replies
    1. Food for thought can be good for helping us clarify what we really value, what's most important 💡.

      Appreciate that phrase, Jeanie.

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  16. Just a heart melting post dear Linda! Happy Valentines day! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    Replies
    1. 💞 I bet you had a wonderful time with your family, Cindy!

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  17. A love-filled post. That sweet Valentine ... oh my. Sending love to you and all gathered on the porch!

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  18. I love Valentine's Day. It's a good reason to eat chocolates. Chocolates are so romantic. She bought me two ties for Valentine's Day. I suggested we go out for a meal at a roadside cafe on the motorway. They serve cheap road-kill. I wore one of the ties to celebrate. As soon as she saw it she said, "What's wrong with the other tie?"

    God bless.

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    Replies
    1. mmm ... a good question ... what neckwear is most appropriate for a romantic roadkill meal 🤔 ...

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  19. Amen! May each day be a day where we seek to love the lonely and world-weary travelers we encounter. A smile, a kind word, a helping hand go a long ways towards making people feel acknowledged and loved!

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    1. Yes, every day, some kindness for at least one other soul.

      Bonus points 😇 for many kindnesses for many other souls!

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  20. I love the way this is written: "You need to use your head & test your feelings so that your love is sincere & intelligent, not sentimental gush." So many people forget to use their head and heart in this thing called love. Head + Heart = Healthy Love.

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    1. Head + Heart = Healthy Love.

      Yvonne, this is good math, plain and simple 🔑!

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  21. Happy Valentine's day, Linda! Love your take on this holiday. While it is fun to encourage romance, there are so many hurting souls out there who need love. My heart was burdened for those recently divorced or struggling in their marriages, as my daughter truly struggled with this day, after receiving her final divorce decree less than one month ago. She tried making it special for her little two year old daughter, but seeing pictures on FB of her friends celebrating with their husbands truly broke her heart.

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    1. Donna, I'm so very sorry for what you're daughter, her little girl, and you are experiencing. FB and Instagram can be a killer, so hurtful, rubbing salt in those tender wounds.

      May God give you peace as you walk through this difficult transition with your family, friend.

      And may He help us to be more discerning with what we share and the reasons why we share it.
      💔

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  22. You are such an encourager!
    Blessings!

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