Mountain View

“A mountain view can literally take your breath away. Getting a clearer view of God can do the same. Here at the Warming House, you’ll find truth that will help you know and understand who God is and how He feels about you. What you find here may cause you to live your life a little differently.

Last year, I scrapbooked a "love letter from God" for our daughter on Valentine's Day. I wanted her to be affirmed, encouraged, and rooted in the truth of how much God cares for her. Although they're simple truths, they are truths that we all need to be reminded of from time to time, so this week I'd like to share the contents of that book with you. Here's God's love letter for you . . .

Happy Valentine’s Day to my sweetheart!

I may have created the universe, but you are one of my favorite creations. I designed you in a very special way for a unique and wonderful purpose.

“You made all the delicate inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it. Psalm 139:13-14

You are absolutely beautiful! In fact, I am overwhelmed by it.

“The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.” Psalm 45:11

I think of you all the time. You consume my thoughts.

“How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!” Psalm 139:17-18

My love for you will never fail. I love you with an everlasting love.

“How precious is your constant love, O God! All humanity takes refuge in the shadow of your wings. You feed them with blessings from your own table and let them drink from your rivers of delight.” Psalm 36:7-8

“Yet day by day the Lord also pours out his steadfast love upon me, and through the night I sing his songs and pray to God who gives me life.” Psalm 42:8

I would rather die than live without you.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16

I want you to be with me forever so I promise you eternity with me.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

“In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

Princess, I’m overjoyed that you’ve accepted my invitation to become a part of my royal family.

“In love, He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” Eph. 1:4-5

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

“And since we are his children, we will share his treasures – for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours too.” Romans 8:17

I am delighted with you and continuously rejoice over you.

“He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

I love you more than you can imagine. I know it’s hard to believe, but I love you as much as I love my own Son.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are – I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.” John 17:22-23

Nothing can separate you from my love - nothing! Nothing you do, nothing you say, nothing you think, nothing you look at can ever make me stop loving you.

"Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

I know other people have failed you, but know that I will always be faithful to you. I will never fail you. I keep my word and fulfill all of my promises. That’s who I am and I’ll never change. In other words, you can count on me. I will never let you down.

“I, the Lord, do not change . . .” Malachi 3:6

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

“The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.” Psalm 145:13

You are my treasured possession. Never forget it!

The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his child, his treasured possession. Deuteronomy 7:6

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is my love, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all my fullness. Eph 3:17-19

Fireside

Join me by the fire for conversations about how to nurture your family and create a warm and inviting home for family and friends.

When I was ten, my father divorced my mother. Understandably, my mother was deeply and grievously hurt by his infidelity. She allowed her pain to fester and bitterness soon consumed her. I can remember her telling me on a number of occasions that my father didn’t just leave her, he left me. In her pain, she told me that he couldn't possibly love me or my brothers. If he did, he would never have left us.

No matter what a dad has done - no matter what his character is like - children love their dads and desperately need to believe that their daddies love them. Single mommas, do everything you can to communicate to your children that their daddy does in fact love them. This is going to be difficult and painful for some of you because your ex-husband's actions may not line up with what you're saying - but say it anyway for the well-being of your children.

All of our children need to know how much their Heavenly Father loves them as well. As a parent, it's important to point them to His love as often as we can. This is a very effective way to guard their hearts with truth. (You can use this week's blog as a tool if you'd like to.) If an earthly dad doesn't affirm his kids or invest in them, their sense of personal value can be severely damaged. But be encouraged! Our God is a perfect Father who will never fail or abandon your children. I can attest to the fact that God has the power and the desire to fill the gaps, holes and cracked places in our hearts and our children's hearts too. He's certainly done it for me.

Pinecones and Twigs

Just like gathering nature’s treasures on a hike through the woods, you never know what you’ll find here – a great read, an inspiring photo of nature, or maybe the latest bargain. Check out this spot at The Warming House for something fun.

There are a couple of things I found online this week that made me smile. The first is this cozy mug hugger. Perfect for a chai latte or hot chocolate at The Warming House! I love the color and the big button. It's eco-friendly too. So cute!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62512790/valentine-cup-cozy-red-mug-sleeve

And how about this? A smitten mitten - something I had never seen before. This cozy mitten allows you to hold hands inside the mitten.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63244587/black-smitten-mitten-with-red-heart-hold

In honor of Valentine's Day, here's my "watch list" of great romantic movies. Feel free to post a comment sharing your favorite movie.

Gone with the Wind (Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable)
Pride and Prejudice (Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen)

Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant)

South Pacific (Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi)

While You Were Sleeping (Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, and Peter Gallagher)
Ever After (Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, and Dougray Scott)
The Notebook (James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Rachel McAdams)
My Fair Lady (Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn)

Meg Ryan's Romantic Comedies (You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, Kate & Leopold)
A Walk to Remember (Shane West and Mandy Moore)

A Steaming Hot Mug

Stories of Compassion to Warm your Soul from the Inside Out

Submit your stories (150 word maximum) to warminghouse@
gmail.com and I will select some each week for publication on this blog. Your stories must fall into one of the following three categories: 1) Stories of a time when you experienced God’s compassion directly or through the actions of another person; 2) Specific things you’ve done to teach your children compassion; or 3) How your church or someone you know has demonstrated the compassion of Christ in your church or outside its walls. Can’t wait to hear (and share) your stories here at the Warming House!

A small way we've taught our kids about compassion is through greeting cards. Our family frequently sends cards to people we know who are having a birthday, getting married, struggling with health issues, or grieving the loss of someone they love. Instead of signing the card on behalf of our entire family, we pass the card around to our kids. We tell them who it's for, why we're sending it, and have them sign it personally. This helps them look outside of their own little worlds to see the needs of others.

Watch for mission trip scholarship finalists in my next blog!

Stay warm and cozy . . .

Lisa