The “I Love You” sign has been part of our family tradition for a very long time flowing from the days of yesteryear when Irene, Jocelyn and JoAnna became proficient in sign language.  To this day, every time we part ways we quickly flash each other the I LOVE YOU sign.  It’s become a staple to the literal expression of our LOVE LANGUAGE to each other.

It was a good day for Irene because she was able to connect with both of her daughters!  Jocelyn and Irene spent some time on the phone this morning and of course Jocelyn lives close enough that she comes by the house several evenings a week to check on her mom.  JoAnna flew in early this morning and sang at the funeral of a Monte Vista Christian High School classmate who recently lost her 7 month old daughter.  Irene was able to spend some additional time with JoAnna before we took her to SJC so she could return in time for a pending evening event and for scheduled activities again tomorrow in S. Cal.

One literal expression of our family love language is the I LOVE YOU sign.  We’re so grateful that God has also given us literal expression of His love language by sending his son to die on our behalf.  He flashes the I LOVE YOU sign to us every time we think of the cross.

Caminando con Fé
Dave

Continue reading

It is my experience that many people have misunderstandings or misrepresentations of who God really is.  Two traditional concepts might include ….

A “genie in the bottle” that should grant our every wish
A grumpy old man that’s pointing his angry and accusing finger

However, to the contrary, did you know that God takes great DELIGHT in you?  Did you know that he promises to quiet you with his LOVE?  Did you know that he will REJOICE over you with SINGING?

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zeph 3:17

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment today and enjoyed breakfast with Sue Martinez.  She flouted the nausea and had a productive day decorating the house with holiday accents.  We had an early dinner at Carpo’s with Jocelyn who provided the remarkable photo titled, “A Smile from God”.

Irene, too, has a “signature” smile that represents an abiding Holy Spirit and the hope for healing and restoration.  What we believe is this …. that if God DELIGHTS in us, LOVES us and REJOICES over us with SINGING, which we know he does, we’re very confident that he’s doing it with a smile!!

Caminando con Fé
Dave

Continue reading

You keep him (or her) in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he (or she) trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4

It’s no secret that Irene’s name means “peace”.  And that she is.  The manifestation of peace in her heart is a clear indication that the Holy Spirit resides in her.  Who else could go through this type of journey and still be optimistic and expectant about the future?

Irene is purpose driven, trusting Jesus and truly looking to the future with confidence. Today she purchased her 2008 calendar and continues to re-organize around the house.  For years I have nicknamed her “MO” which is a silly acronym for “mission organization”, clearly referring to the television program that helps disastrous homes get their lives under control by showing people how to organize their space more efficiently.  Irene is so organized that she labels just about everything …. even my color coordinated socks carefully positioned in descending order of the dresser drawer!!  (There’s a reason that my life is so organized …. now you know why!!!)

Nausea withstanding, she’s had a satisfying day.

Because Irene’s mind and heart is on the Lord and she trusts him so, He demonstrates his presence in her life with his “perfect peace”  …. and she was certainly named correctly at birth!

Caminando con Fé
Dave

Continue reading