Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

I am feeling really down today.  No particular reason I can put my finger on just a not-so-good day.

Recently I started reading a blog again that I used to follow closely.  And have remembered why I quit reading it.  I start reading the comments and get all caught up in the 'hate' commenter's she has.  And it gets my blood pressure up!  And then I discovered the blog that is dedicated to discussing her and tearing her apart.  Then I checked out another well-read blog and found she has a site of 'haters' too.  It gets me down. 

On the way home today a vehicle went tearing around me.  They got slowed down by the next vehicle who was going between 55 and 60.  Not too slow by any means.  When they were finally able to pass they made an obscene gesture out the window to the other driver.

It got me down.

This world is so depraved!

And it's supposed to be the month of love.

(Hearts made by my girls...)

Where is brotherly love?  Where is courtesy?  Where is patience?  Where is kindness?

(...and hung on the tree we used for our Christmas tree.)

Why do we all think of ourselves and what WE have going on over everyone else? 

Why are we so quick to say that the lady over on that blog is lying?  Have we walked in her shoes?

Why do we think WE have all the answers and could certainly straighten out everyone else if they would just listen to what we tell them????

Because of sin.  This world is a fallen world.  A depraved world.  A dark world.  A lost world. 

Let's stand up and LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS!   Let's shine a light of LOVE, Christ's LOVE, everywhere we go, to everyone we meet.  Because who is our neighbor??  Everyone we come in contact with.

Love them as Christ loves them.  Love them as we would love ourselves.  That gets pretty sobering if you sit and ponder it a bit.

Love the people who show hatred for the bloggers I enjoy reading.  Love the guy who doesn't know any better on the highway.  Love the lady in the check-out lane who yells at her kids because she is so overwrought.  (they were cuties but had WAY too much energy)  Love the impatient, love the unkind, love the seemingly unlovable.  It's only possible with Jesus' love in us.

And to bring it even closer home - love your teenager when she tells you she thinks you are stupid, love the 8 year old when she throws a fit and cannot be reasoned with, love the 6 year old when she refused to eat the food you fix.  Be patient.  Be loving.  Be kind.  Be Christ-like.

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."      1Peter 4:8

                                                                 

What are your thoughts on Loving your neighbor???

Decor

Our tree.  $16 from Meijer.  The only one I found that didn't have cheesy ornaments already on it.  And while I knew I could take them off it seemed silly to be paying for them.  So I was very happy to find this one with no ornaments on it.  My girls were delighted to have a tree to decorate!!

I was delighted to find a way to use one of my new urns.  It just seemed so sad to me to have them tucked away unseen till spring.

The white cupboard just doesn't work very well in the living room anymore now that we have the piano.  But I haven't found a way to get rid of it yet.  Anyone interested?  I'd sell if for what I paid for it - $90.  I love it and I hate to give up the display I have with it but it just isn't working.  I've got an idea that will work - once I find a new home for this one!

Fontanini.  Love.

Boxwood starts.  These have been so fun to decorate with!  Have to water them but it's worth the effort:)

Notice my couch in the background!!!  I FINALLY got it slip covered and I'm liking the look of my living room much better.  It's much easier to put up with the cupboard that doesn't really fit - till I find it a new home!

Painted branches.

I found this Baby Jesus at The Little Shop in Verona.

The cool tinsel was from Target this year.  If they still have it get some.  It's worth it!

The ironstone bowl I found at Betty's Antiques.  I was rather excited about it!

White ornaments were also found at The Little Shop in Verona.

The weekend of their Christmas Walk Open House was a VERY productive shopping trip for me!

26 inch wreath made by 'Consider the Lilies'.

She does the most beautiful work and her prices are unbelievably reasonable!

'David' found a new spot for the holidays.  He never complains about being moved around.

Brooding and silent, he's quite the catch!

My living room now.  I want to reupholster the chair to the right.  And eventually reupholster the couch.  For now it's SO much better.  And it's so long!  Wonderful for naps - not that I ever take one of course.

Vintage church and clear ornaments stuffed with shredded antique sheet music.

Metal Nativity from the days of  'The Clay Pot'.

I really miss that shop!

Tiny trees.  I love trees!

White Nativity.  I got this one for my birthday back in May - from my Mom.

We found it after Christmas last year on sale.  Glad we got it!!  Thanks, Mom:)

Bowl full of cute ornaments.

'In the Cross of Christ I Glory!!'

Another shot of Baby Jesus.  Just 'cause He's so cute!

Porcelain white flower candle holder that's never held a candle.

My stairway.  I've missed having something hung on it.  But garlands are kind of a mess and I haven't done them for a few years.  This year I've gone all out with the burlap stuff!  It's been so fun.  It drapes and molds, and tucks, and folds, and is just so cooperative!  LOVE!

I made some ornaments earlier in November out of old music paper, crafting paper, and old maps.  It was too early to decorate for Christmas at the time but I was in the mood so I made ornaments.  I didn't end up using very many of them myself, but I took some of them to a friend when I helped decorate her house.  I'll share some pics of that sometime soon too.

My cupboard in my sewing/craft/school/computer room that holds crafty stuff got straightened and then got a few added Christmasy touches.  Nothing fancy but it was kind of fun.

A little quirky but I like it:)

Shelves in my sewing/school/craft/computer room.  These were about the last thing to get decked out so they kind of got the leftovers.  But I worked on it for awhile and I like it.

So do YOU decorate for Christmas? If you didn't notice I kind of enjoy it:)  I got to help 2 friends decorate their houses this year, helped decorate our church sanctuary, and am planning to help another friend next week.  Want help?  Give me a call!