No greater love than to be selfless

When I was in college, I sang a solo for two consecutive years during the Lenten season. The song is entitled “No Greater Love” by Rachael Lampa. But I will admit that I can never claim to have sung such a powerful song with the effortless musicality that Rachael does. Anyway, I’m reminiscent of this song after having had another inspiring devotional moment with my husband this morning. We’ll never understand how great love can be than to willingly lay down our own lives for our friends.

Today’s devotional reading discusses the power and merciful grace of selfless love. As a very self-centered, attention-hoarding individual that I am, selfless love is something I’m still trying to accept and apply in my daily life. I’m blessed to say that my husband standing by me and loving me unconditionally despite my mistakes and past is just a mere fraction of the kind of selfless love God gives to each of His children.

What really speaks to my heart today is the simplicity yet uniquely difficult challenge to give love in a selfless way. After all, I believe God did not create us to love selflessly by nature. How many of us can honestly say our loyalty is gripped by a genuine concern for others…before ourselves? I know in many instances, I cannot claim such a stance. But selfless love in merciful beauty shines through us in so many different ways.

For those animal lovers and pet owners who are guilty of treating our furry friends as equally important as our human companions, you all show a devout sense of selfless love.

For those philanthropists who deeply involve themselves in a cause to benefit the nameless many suffering from a debilitating disease, your efforts publicly display a selfless love.

For those mothers and fathers who work tirelessly ‘round the clock to support their children in their education, health and well-being, it’s no doubt you live selflessly for your child.

For the men and women bravely serving our county, your patriotism through your call of duty exudes a selfless love to the umpteenth degree.

…and so on and so forth…

Selfless love takes on so many different faces and so many different forms. The true beauty of God’s selfless love that He would like us to give to others as He always gives to us can take a lifetime for each of us to wonder why.

But take a moment today and challenge yourself to give and love selflessly. It doesn’t matter how big or how small the gesture may be. Put yourself second and put someone else above your priority. Although we’re not built to naturally do so, there is no greater love that you can show than this.

Six months down...three more to go!

My husband and I took our "baby bump" pictorials this past weekend. I can't believe I'm six months along in my pregnancy!

We had such an amazing time with our photographer, Rhiannon Lee (www.rhileephotography.com). I thought each moment she captured, whether posed or candid, was just beautifully done. I just have to share them with the world. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy them!

The greatest gift

I have a journal that I jot down the verses in scripture that seem most compelling to my life and this journey I’ve chosen to take. I just skimmed through it and stumbled upon my notes from the Our Daily Bread devotional on July 15th. Psalm 71 was the featured reading, and today it speaks so loudly to my heart.

My husband and I are blessed to be experiencing this new life growing within me. It’s been a healthy pregnancy thus far, and I pray God continues to protect Baby and me. I’ve written in a previous post that this pregnancy came as a shock. Although my husband and I have been trying to become pregnant since we miscarried back in January, it was a huge surprise to realize God wanted to give us a new life in our marriage right now. Truly it happened in HIS time…not in our own.

I believe this pregnancy came to us now as both my husband and I, for the first time, are going out of our way to seek spiritual guidance and wisdom. Never before have we cared so much to work towards a righteous Christian life. Ever since we decided to follow this challenging path, the rewards have been so great.

But I must admit the greatest gift of all is not just this pregnancy. I believe God’s greatest gift is the opportunity He’s given us to pass along the lessons learned to our precious baby. I believe the timing was strategically planned to allow us to see a miracle performed before our very eyes. There is no perfect time to have a baby…but there is perfection in God’s perfect plan and timing. It’s a miracle we became pregnant when we did…so soon after painfully losing our first baby-to-be.

Today we’re still facing challenges and victories within married life, family life, church life and social life. But in everything we overcome as well as every joy we’re blessed to experience, there is always a spiritual lesson learned. Each lesson can and should be handed down to the next generation. We were put in such a place to live, love, lose, learn and then to spread the good Word that binds all experiences to one sole purpose – to realize our life is not our own.

I’m so thankful for this beautiful pregnancy because I know it’s my calling as a mother-to-be to equip this baby with moral values, spiritual wisdom, hope and faith in God’s ultimate plan. As Christ followers, we’re all called to spread God’s miraculous powers to the younger generations. As soon-to-be parents, it’s our choosing to answer that call.

Singlehood

My alarm wakes me up every morning, and yes, I’m guilty of snoozing it. Instead of music blaring to get me out of bed, I have the tuner set to Christian talk radio. Yesterday morning I heard a message that made it hard for me to fall back asleep. The message was in regards to being single and finding the perfect spouse. I know a few single men and women who are searching for their life partners. These folks are still praying and looking for the perfect mate they can grow old with.

My heart goes out to those who I believe are good, God-fearing people but just can’t find the right person to share their life with. What struck me was when I heard that single men/women are believed to find their perfect mate when serving the Lord. From what I understand, if you’re in a capacity of serving the Lord, then you’ll successfully find the ONE.

For those who are single and seeking with faith that God has your perfect mate already lined up, heed these words. You will find your mate when serving the Lord…in whatever capacity that may be.

Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito - Nov. 13th Cowboys Stadium

We’re doing a raffle prize drawing for a pair of tickets to the Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito boxing event at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, Nov. 13th. Each raffle ticket costs $25 and you can enter as many times as you want. The more tickets you purchase, the greater your chances are of winning. The total value for the pair of tickets is $223.56. The seats are located in Section 129, Row 3 seats 5 and 6.

Once again, you can enter to win this pair of tickets for only $25…while also helping a great cause! With each raffle entry, 100% of the proceeds will benefit Umphress Road UMC’s Building Project Fund. If you’re interested to purchase a raffle ticket, you can pay by cash or check made payable to Umphress Rd UMC. For further payment instructions, please see contact info below:

Stanley Ignacio, Jr. (signaciojr@gmail.com)
-OR-
Rowena Ignacio (rignacio121@gmail.com) or facebook.com/rowena.s.ignacio

Deadline to enter is Wednesday, Nov. 10th at 5pm. The winner will be selected at random during Wednesday worship service at Umphress on Nov. 10th.

God bless, and Go Pacman!

I am second - Josh Hamilton's riveting story

I praise and thank God for the role models we have in this great country. Congrats to the Texas Rangers for making history. In case you're living under a rock, the Rangers are heading to the World Series for the first time in their franchise history. Amazing!



Have you heard of the advertising campaign entitled, "I am second?" Josh Hamilton plays left field/center field for the Rangers. He's a phenomenal athlete. But did you know he's a devout and publicly practicing Christian?

To hear his testimony and to now understand how he got to the pinnacle of his baseball career blows my mind. His life was hellish at one point during bouts of his sinful addictions. God gave him the greatest adversity so he had no other choice but to seek God for help and for guidance. Leaving a life of sin after having lost his parents in a fatal car accident and temporarily losing his ability to play baseball, Hamilton had no other choice but to look up for the answers to his life.

Last night, he showed spiritual humility in his post-game victory interview. He admits and believes that his success is not his own. For without God's grace, he wouldn't be where he is today. The success in his baseball career is not because of his performance. It's simply because he recognizes his gifts and talents are all being used for a greater purpose. I have goosebumps after learning what God had in store for Hamilton in order to make him rely on nothing but His love. Look where he is now.

Lord, help us all to realize our potential by understanding that it's not about us in the greatness of our accomplishments. After all, we all come second to your greater love and awesome power.

Wisdom in the company you keep

My husband and I were talking about how friends in our lives handle devastating news. There are those friends who put aside their own feelings to offer their help and comfort to a soul in need. Then there are those friends who can’t see past what’s in it for them and choose to cause further harm rather than selflessly help when faced with adversity.

Have you been blessed by a friend who makes the effort to see you in the way God intended for you to be…despite whatever wrongs you’ve committed? Do you have a friend who patiently gets on their knees to pray with you while asking God to change your heart or wrongful ways? Do you have a friend who walks beside you in your life journey unconditionally not expecting anything in it for them? If you have that friend, then you are BLESSED! They are the ones to cherish and although you may never be able to repay them for their kindness, just ask God to somehow return the favor.