He first loved us

Yummy Valentine's Day cookies that got eaten up before the actual day!

Happy Valentines Day, dearies! I hope this day finds you all surrounded by a loving family, and sharing your love with others. As we think about today, the holiday for love, let us not forget the Greatest Love of all.

Love. It's crazy! What is it? Is it an emotion, a choice, a lifestyle? It is multi-faceted. Love for family, for friends, for spouses, for God. We even find different kinds of love, if you will, in the Bible. However, I think the best way for us to define love and how it relates to us is this: 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.                                   (1 John 4:7-11)

I like to call that the "love chapter." 1John 4 is absolutely terrific! In that passage it gives the message of the Gospel: God loved us and sent us his only Son so we can live. It reminds us that we are sinners, and that we did not love God, but He loved us. Notice how it uses the word beloved. John's use of the word means: very dear, esteemed, favorite, and worthy of love. Wow! Continuing on in the chapter we see what life is like when we have the love the Lord and His Spirit living in us:

 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us.  (1 John 4: 17-19 emphasis is mine)

That last sentence gives love a whole new meaning to me. We learn in just eight simple words that the source of all love is from God. He created it, and gave it to us. That is the only way we can love, and we learn from Him. 

Dear friends, on this "love" day let us not get so wrapped up in mushy cards, candy, chocolate, and flowers that we forsake our First Love like the church in Ephesus did (Revelation 2:4). On the contrary, we should remember constantly the ultimate source for love- our Heavenly Bridegroom Jesus- and share His love with those who need it. 

Love your secret admirer, Libby (well I guess it's not a secret anymore!) :D

Howdy Friends!

It seems that since 2011 has been upon us, I haven't posted yet! The new year so far has been full of many new blessings and changes. I have also realized that I am terrible at taking pictures, as I hardly have any to share of our recent happenings. 
Some fun news is that we have been honored to receive the Stylish Blogger Award from Miss Frannie over at Authentic Virtue ! Thank you Frannie!
If y'all can wait just a second, I'm going to go get my camera and put the pictures on the computer to see if I have any worth sharing.  :P

Alright, I found some! 

Auto-timer, take 1...looks like I'm dancing!

The temps dropped on Christmas night so we bundled up for a walk!

I got to go visit my elementary school....happy memories!

Dad and I went to OKC to celebrate my lovely Grammy's birthday!

Hmmm...wonder what they could be....

I know these are overdue, but I was so excited with how they turned out I just had to share them!

 

Well with the New Year, here's what's happenin':

1. Co-op started! Emmy has: basic Chinese, Personal Finance, and study hall . I help teach 1st grade art, Drama, and Study Hall
2. I started helping on Mondays and Wednesdays at a Christian school where a sweet lady from my church is the principal. I help in the 3rd grade class, mostly with a little girl who lost her leg in a car accident and needs help getting caught up. It's such a blessing to get to spend time there and I hope I can be a blessing to the teacher and the 3rd graders. (there are only about 15!)
3. Emily is learning choreography for Beauty and the Beast ballet and getting ready for a trip to New York!
4. I have been reading 1 Samuel-2Kings in order to get ready for a mission trip to Arizona next month.
5. Last Saturday, we visited Medina Children's Home and had a wonderful time of fellowship and service with the teens there. (we picked up trash along the highway, and found some interesting rubbish such as a cowboy boot and a skull of some animal. [: )
6. And the most important news of all.....

             .....WE ARE MOVING! To Colorado Springs. Daddy had to go early so he left on Monday, but we won't be going until sometime in June. He'll be able to come back a few times. As much as I wish we could just up and leave, because i'm so excited, we must stay behind a while longer for co-op graduation and to sell the house. 
This move is such an answer to prayer. The Lord couldn't have chosen a better location for us to move. We have always loved His creation up in Colorado. The honor, praise, and glory all goes to Him for His unfailing faithfulness. Have a blessed week my friends! I'll try to post more often!