Love From India
Last week I received an email that has almost rendered me speechless. It was a nice email from a kind soul in India reaching out to let us at Light Love Hope know the impact we have had on their life. They spoke such sweet words asking us to continue to share about God as there is such idolatry in India.
I sat there after receiving this email allowing it all to soak in. Our little blog has traveled the world in the short time it has been in existence. India! Who would have ever thought that it would have been that far reaching and would have left an impact. Yet, from the words written in that precious email, it’s true.
It really struck me that the blog is truly world wide. While we know that people can access it from around the world, to know that it truly has occurred and touched someone’s heart and soul FOR CHRIST … wow. That is humbling in and of itself. Then it makes you really think about the words that you type out on this screen. You can’t take your responsibility lightly here at all when you’re trying to share God’s LIGHT in this dark world … God’s LOVE to those that may not have been told before nor have come to know His unconditional love personally until now … God’s HOPE to hold on to in hard, bitter, and trying times. Oh, the impact this email has had on my heart since receiving it!
We all have a testimony inside of us. We all have stories that matter that are crying out from the depths of our souls to be heard. They all matter. Every single one!
We try to share on this blog and be as authentic as we can about real life matters and things that grip your heart. This isn’t just a feel good blog where we casually write things we pull out of thin air. These things that we’ve written about on the pages of this blog have happened in our lives, our friend’s lives, and our families. It matters. It needs to be told. But what’s more is that God needs to be honored and glorified in all that we say and do because ultimately, it is not about us any way … it is about GOD!
To know that someone in India is begging for more of God … from someone like me that feels so inadequately prepared. I’m not a bible scholar, but then again, maybe I don’t need to be in order for God to use me. Because He has … and He is … and He will continue to as long as I submit to Him and allow Him to work through me and share the words that He gives me. And I will.
This one email sharing how our blog has impacted their life in turn impacted mine. I realize I have a great responsibility now more than ever to speak about God and to share what I know about our Father in Heaven. I can only hope I share enough and word it just so that others may be drawn closer to Him and have that true relationship with Jesus Christ so that they, too, may have the gift of eternal life that is theirs as long as they believe and accept Him into their hearts.
Life changing words of a short email in the form of love from India left a mark upon my heart, and I thank you, Dear Reader. I truly thank you.
Let’s Go To The Movies!
Valentine’s Weekend had everyone saying, “Let’s go to the movies!”
With Fifty Shades of Grey in theatres, the parking lot was packed in our area! But, my husband and I did not go to the theatre for that movie. Instead, we went to see Old Fashioned. If you haven’t heard of it, let me just share that it is a faith based movie that upholds good morals and values. I encourage you to go to a theatre near you to watch INSTEAD of going to see the other more controversial movie.
In a way, I was saddened by seeing the number of people flocking to see Fifty Shades of Grey. They were even selling alcohol – wine – in our theatre, which they have NEVER done before! Why now? Just because of this movie where the male is supposed to be some high powered executive with jets and an out-of-control fetish? Why roll out the red carpet for that?
No, I have not seen the movie, but I did read the books. That is why I feel I can speak about this with knowledge. I’m not just a Christian passing judgment on something I know nothing about. I admitted in a previous post that I read the books. So, I feel I have a right to express my opinion yet again.
The thing is that there were people by the masses coming out to see this movie. Sex sells. We’ve known that for quite some time. It just saddens me the number of people that could not wait to get in to see a movie that borders on being X-rated. Surely if they had followed the book completely, it WOULD have been rated XXX.
I’m so glad there was an alternative in the theatres for those that wished to see a more refreshing love story. If anything, the main character in Old Fashioned wouldn’t even go into the same room alone with a woman. It wasn’t that he was gay or even a prude. It was that he had a past where he was involved in sin, but he found Jesus through the help of an ex-girlfriend as they were parting ways. She gave him a Bible, and once he began reading this Bible, he could not get it out of his system. It was one thing to not know what the Bible said and to make fun of it just being a combination of “stories” (sadly, I have known people to say this in real life). But, once you read the Word for yourself and it soaks into your being, there is no denying that it impacts your life.
There were a few slow spots in this movie, but all in all, it was a GREAT movie, and I would recommend you go see Old Fashioned before any other movie out there right now. Yes, it was that good!
I won’t spoil it for you. I try never to do that.
What I would like to know is, why didn’t they roll out the red carpet for the Christian movie? While I appreciate the alternative movie they had playing at the theatre, it would have been nice for the Christians to have been catered to the way everyone else was when they rushed to the doors to see the other sex packed movie.
Old Fashioned. I wish we could flood the theatres with people going to see THIS movie. While there was a good crowd in the theatre when we were there for this movie, it wasn’t packed like I had hoped. Maybe we can change that. Care to join in on seeing a wholesome movie? If so, consider Old Fashioned.
Speaking Her Love Language
Guys, are you having trouble speaking her love language? If so, there is a book specifically for men as they seem to need it spelled out for them a little more than women do in this area. The book is by Dr. Gary Chapman entitled The 5 Love Languages For Men. It is similar to the original Love Languages book that Dr. Chapman wrote some time ago, but this lays it all out for us men folk and breaks it down so there is no way possible for us not to “get it” now.
Dr. Chapman breaks it down so that by the time you finish this book, you can speak fluently in Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gift Giving, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Not only that, but there is also a section on working through anger together as well as the art of apologizing, which is huge!
What have I, personally, learned while reading through this book? I now know which items are high on my wife’s list and what makes her feel the most loved, which is of the utmost importance. I used to think that Acts of Service was high on her list, yet now I’ve realized that she really craves Quality Time and Physical Touch the most. In addition, I would surprise her with gifts here and there, and while she does like that, that is lower on her list than I originally thought as well. What surprised me the most is that while Words of Affirmation are high on my list, they are not on my wife’s list. When she prioritized the list so I would know what makes her feel the most loved, Words of Affirmation was LAST on her list. When I asked her about this, she said it is because while you can “say” things to make someone feel loved, actions speak louder than words!
Something that stood out to me was when Dr. Chapman spoke of quality time leaving you with lasting memories. Also, another thing that resonated with me was that people are “listening” but not actually “hearing” what someone is saying. He gave practical tips to get you started so that you focus more on “hearing” what is being said instead of waiting for your chance to respond. Also, don’t do things while your wife is talking. Focus solely on her and let her share about her feelings. Validate her!
If you’re not convinced yet, feel free to comment below if you’d like your very own copy of this book. It’s packed full of useful information on how you can fill up your wife’s love bank. And if you incorporate these things into your marriage, your wife will not be disappointed! This book will ensure that you’re well on your way to speaking her love language!
~Dusty, Shirley’s husband. 🙂
