Revelations13's blog: "what is love?"

" God has given you one face, and you make yourself another." (~William Shakespeare ~ )

" Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." ( ~Judy Garland )

" People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

" Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

" We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves."

"Be the artist you were born to be."

" It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."

" Be what you are. This is the first step toward becoming better than you are. "

" I am only one, But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do The something that I can do."

" Wherever you go, go with all your heart."

" To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to."

" So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."( Gen 1:27 NIV)

A child is a butterfly in the wind,
Some can fly higher than others,
But each one flies the best that it can,
Why compare one against the other?
Each one is different,
Each one is special,
Each one is beautiful.

" I'm the only one in all creation who
has my set of abilities
My unique combination of gifts, talents,
and abilities are an original symphony."

" WE ARE GOD"S MASTERPIECE "

(Something to think about...)

God made us all unique,
Born in a world of talents,
Giving us one each,
Helping us all to balance.

But sometimes these are used wrong,
Sometimes we forget to thank God,
When in his arms we should belong,
Singing and chanting "I love you God."

So let those who haven't found theirs yet,
Tackle their way through life,
Give them the joy of knowing they can't regret,
In using for wrong and right.

Even when we're feeling low,
Or think there's no way out,
We think we have no way to go,
Not knowing what you're about.

Finally we pull through,
Because you're our only hope,
we know it's you we'll never loose,
You give us the strength to cope.

So as you made us all unique,
Giving us different talents,
Help us to find one each,
So we can truly balance!

" AM I THE POTTER "

(A Devotional...)

" Yet, O LORD , you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."( Isaiah 64:8 NIV)

This past weekend, I was able to watch a potter work. He gave a brief description of the process of taking a lump of clay and turning it into a useful item. The image of the words of Isaiah resonated inside me, as I intently watched the potter. The clay is first centered on the board, then the board spins very fast, as the clay is shaped into a rough form. As the process near the end, the wheel slows ever so slowly.

I thought of my own journey with God. When I first really understood what being a Christ-follower is all about, I felt life spinning fast. Like a sponge, I wanted to soak up everything I could about God, His Word and His Son. After 20 or so years, the pace of growth has slowed. As I watched the potter nearing the end of his art, I thought, "can't you speed that thing up!?"

Are you like me? Do you ask God to hurry up? Get on with finishing me, God! Help me to be what you want me to be, and help me fast! Then I wonder, am I truly asking God to help me be what He wants me to be?

Look at the verse below:

" You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?( Isaiah 29:16 NIV)

I ponder if I am really saying, "God hurry up and make me who I want to be!" See the difference? Make me who I think I should be. We are then assuming the role of the Potter - and not the clay. Can we, the clay, say to the Potter, God, "You know nothing about me, make me like this, not that?" When will I let God be God? When will I just be the clay, and let His loving hands shape me and form me, mold me and hold me? Stubborn, aren't we?

" THE CHILD WITHIN "

I got that look from my daughter again the other day. It is the look that says: "Dad, will you please just act your age?" You see, my daughter is growing up fast and is on her way to becoming a beautiful, young woman. Even though she is still a teenager she already has the maturity and wisdom of an adult. I, on the other hand, have been busy enjoying my second childhood ever since my first one ended. It seems strange to my daughter then that sometimes she appears to be the older and more grown up of the two of us.

What my daughter doesn’t realize, though, is that I used to be a child, teenager, and young adult myself. I can distinctly remember what it was like to be each one of them. In fact, all three of them still live on inside of me. I can still choose to be anyone of them I wish. While I know then that I have to be an adult most of the time, I also know that being a child is a lot more fun.

Children are so much closer to their love. Children are so much closer to their laughter. Children are so much closer to their joy. Children are so much closer to their light than we adults are. They seem to know instinctively what most of us have forgotten: that God loves us and wants us to be happy in our lives here. That is why no matter how old, tired, and wrinkled this body of mine may get, inside of it there will always beat the heart of a child. Our souls may be eternal, but I see no reason why they can’t also be forever young.

Don’t be afraid to live with the joy of a child. Don’t be afraid to love with the heart of a child. Don’t be afraid to laugh with the delight of a child. It is your childlike soul that will light the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is your childlike heart that will bring you to oneness with God. It is your childlike spirit that will fill your life here with happiness. Let the child within you out then. You may get that look from time to time, but the joy is worth it...

" ONE DREAM, ONE HOPE "

To be somebody is having a dream
That consumes you like a fire
Giving you no rest but
Motivating you to make great sacrifices.

Preparing you for bold initiatives
Stirring you to adventurous living
As you are pursuing your dream with joyful hope.

To be somebody is having great dreams
Not only for yourself and your own people
But having dreams on behalf of the underprivileged,
And having dreams for your affluent society
Of the many suffering and hopeless in the world.

When you are dreaming great dreams
Of a changed society and a better world
You will lay down your life as a seed of hope.

As a fruit that has matured; everyone will see
That you are really someone with compassion
For you are not living for yourself but loving others...

" POOR LITTLE BUTTERFLY "
(Something for the heart...)

"Poor little butterfly," the young girl said. "Poor little butterfly."

Then reaching down slowly so as to not scare it away, she slid her tiny fingers underneath, urging it to step upon her hand.

It would appear to anyone that this delicate creature was lifeless leaving behind remains of what once was.

But not her. She sensed something. She knew right away that there was indeed some life left in this most fragile example of God's work.

The butterfly nearly tumbled onto her hand, wings folded straight up, apparently unable to fly.

Then, perhaps it was the warmth of her hands or the welcoming response to the attention it was given, but the butterfly began to walk slowly up to her palm.

"Poor little butterfly," she repeated again as she brought it closer to her face.

"If I could kiss you I would, " she said.

The butterfly, appearing to respond, slowly opened its wings, to reveal its beautiful designand colors. Now open fully, the child brought it closer and gave an angel's kiss of love.

Just off in the distance watching this precious moment, her grandmother walked toward them.

"Oh, you have found it," she said. "I was waiting for it and wondered where it was."

The child looked a bit surprised and said. "You were waiting for this butterfly? Why?"

"It is sent to remind us," grandmother said.

"But it is dying. I feel sorry for it. Don't they fly away when it gets cold?"

"Yes, they do. But one is always chosen to remain behind," she said.

Maybe this was just grandmother's way of softening the the truth so that the child would not be saddened by the thought of the butterfly dying. But what unfolded here was an incredible moment, an opportunity seen and taken to teach a lesson of love.

"Why would they choose to be left behind?" the child asked as she gently stroked the butterfly.

"They don't choose to be, they are chosen," she told her.

The child looked down again and held it closer.

"It is a great honor to be chosen. The story goes that God realized that when winter comes color disappears. The color of the flowers fade into the earth and all the delicate butterflies leave for warmer places. So, God decided that one should remain to remind us of the beautiful world He has created and the promise of Spring's return."

The child looked down and then lifting her head slowly, she whispered, "And I found it, grandmother."

"Yes, and with that you have a great responsibility," she said as she held the young girl's face in her hands.

"What?"

"You must now take time to see God's colors in the darkness of winter. You must be the sunshine. You must help those who have forgotten how beautiful life is, to see the color of God's love for them."

"Oh, grandmother. I don't know how to," she said.

"It is simple. Be yourself. People believe only what they see. Like the flowers and butterflies. But God makes people beautiful inside. It is up to us to bring that beauty out by loving each other, helping each other and when we find someone who has fallen, just like that butterfly, it is up to us to pick them up, carress them and care for them. For one day it may very well be His Chosen One left behind."

The child moved closer to her grandmother as they sat admiring God's messenger.

Take time to see the beauty, the colors of God in the people around you.

You, too may find the " Poor little butterfly !"

" THROUGH EYES OF GRACE "
(A poem...)

To be somebody is looking for grace

And not be blinded by needs or shortcomings

It is to see God at work in people

Rejoicing in the small beginnings.

Marvelling at the faith of the trembling steps into new grounds

Appreciating the budding potential

- in people longing, dreaming and believing.

When you can flow with the grace of God

In whatever measure you find it in people

You will be able to help them grow

Bringing out the best in them.

Stirring them to aspire for more

Provoking them to love and good works.

You are somebody when you see people

Through the eyes of grace

Then you enable them to see themselves.

Through the eyes of hope and faith

Ignoring the failures and dreaming of new adventures

As they rejoice in the incredible wealth of grace and kindness...

" CROOKED LITTLE SMILE "

(A touching story...)

He was struggling to tie his shoes. I was struggling with whether I should help him

I did. He was embarrassed, but grateful.

"I really appreciate your help," he said quietly. Never looking directly at me, I thought perhaps he was uncomfortable with needing the help.

"It was nothing. I just thought it would be easier for me to reach it," I said. "You looked a little frustrated."

"I guess you could say I was a little bent out of shape over it," he said.

I didn't know whether to laugh or not. He was crippled by something. His arms and legs were twisted terribly and his coordination to do what I would consider an easy task, lacked desperately.

I have met many people with "different abilities" who use humor openly as a way to ease the difficulty some people have with dealing with them.

I smiled and said, "I'm glad I could help."

He was an older gentlemen, thinly built, white hair and the most incredible smile. His clothing was perfectly matched, very up to date and because of his condition, a little larger than they normally should be. I believe it was more comfortable and easier to manage in a larger size.

His spinal curvature was so bad that he was forced to look down most of the time. Except when he made a wise crack. He always managed to steal a glance looking up to see how you reacted to his comments. I believe he enjoyed doing that to people.

Still kneeling by his wheel chair, I felt comfortable there.

There was an awkward silence as we both waited for the other to continue the conversation. I waited because I wasn't sure he wanted to talk.

"Nice sneakers," he said.

"Thanks, no one ever complimented me on my sneakers before," I said.

"No one has the view of the world I do," he replied.

I laughed this time.

"So, tell me about the world as you see it," I said.

"Well, I can tell if someone is comfortable speaking with me or not. Most people can see it in another's eyes. I see it in their feet," he said.

"How can you tell by their feet?" I asked.

"People who are nervous keep fidgeting around, moving their feet, wiggling their toes. If they are impatient with me I see them tapping their foot. So I just let them go. I don't want to make people uncomfortable," he said.

"What about me? Was I uncomfortable?" I asked.

"No. I could see your compassion in your eyes. You see, you came down to my level. I was the one who was nervous," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't normally have someone looking in my eyes. Even my friends stand or sit when they speak to me," he said with a sigh.

"They have no idea what they are missing," I told him.

"This old crooked face of mine is nothing to brag about," he said.

"But that smile. That smile is so big, I can't see anything else," I told him.

"Ah yes, my smile. I painted it on there just for me. Even though most people don't see it, it reminds me that things aren't as bad as they seem," he said.

"That's quite an attitude, my friend," I said.

"Well, I'm your friend now am I?" he asked.

"Yes, I consider everyone a friend until they prove me otherwise. Many have. I'd rather treat someone as a friend and keep them as one, then to treat them as a stranger and they remain so," I told him.

He smiled.

"Well, as I always say, "Things are always looking up in my life," he said.

There was a pause and we both started laughing.

"Hey, now I can sing that country song by Garth Brooks", I said.

He took a deep breath and asked, "Okay, I'll bite. What country song?"

I sang to him..."I've got friends in low places."

We both laughed until we had tears in our eyes. I don't know about him, mine were because he was such a blessing to me today.

" A WOMAN'S BEAUTY