Mike Sansone

To Love, Live, Learn, and Lauch

Love Aware: Day 1

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O Lord, I know you’re there,
Actually here, and always. Everywhere.
And yet I desire, as you must too,
for me to draw and grow ever near to you.

In your word I read,
By Spirit’s guidance I feel,
And all evidence shows
How Jesus lives for real.

I’ve fallen short many times,
to show my faith and wonders.
I’ve made mistakes big and small,
Some permanently damaging blunders.

This morning a gut-check:
Your voice says, “Do these 100 days,
Do so unto God as audience,
Make a joyful noise with praise.”

“To shine a light so others can see
What comes out from me to you
Provide an obedient example,
So others might love me too.”

To grow in love, draw immediately near
God is and always had been hear
Abide vulnerably without fear.

Note: Love Aware is my take on #The100DayProject

Love Aware: The 100 Day Project

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Love Aware Day 1

Today begins The 100 Day Project, a celebration of making.

Reading about #The100DayProject, this caught my eye:

A process of surrender, a practice of showing up.

Quickly and crystal clear, as if hearing God’s voice, I knew what my project would be.

Surrender and Show Up

I love the Pslams. A combination of prayer, praise, confession, and love letters to God. Looking at Psalm 100:

  • Make a joyful noise
  • Serve the Lord with gladness
  • Come before Him with singing
  • Know that the Lord is God
  • Enter with thanksgiving
  • Bless His name

My project? Love Aware – 100 days of love letters to God.

With great anticipation, I am looking forward to the transformation sure to take place during this love affair I call Love Aware.

Among the “Whosever”

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Open Bible

I went to support a friend.

An Amway meeting. Not some gathering in a living room or even a hotel conference room. This was a large, 4-day weekend event at a national arena. A convention filling the arena. And I found a seat in the rafters.

Open-minded, I could see my friend’s enthusiasm and focus on his new promise for success. I also knew I was missing something, though I wasn’t sure this kind of thing was my cup of tea.

I went each day and found my nosebleed seat. I brought reading material. I did some writing. Supportive.

On Sunday morning, a star performer in the region began talking about how his front lawn had become his monument, his idol. He worked hard on his job every day, then came home and worked hard on his home and family every day. Every day. And then he found out something.

Here it comes, right? The big fireworks finale about this wonderful company on the last day of the convention, right? Nope. That’s not what he found (though he did eventually find the company).

The last two words I heard him say: Jesus Christ. I don’t know or don’t remember anything else he said, though he talked for another 20 minutes.

It was as if someone had grabbed my guts, heart, and brain and began wringing me out like a saturated sponge. I did hear the altar call and made it downstairs in the midst of my tears and spittle. They handed me a small New Testament and a sheet of paper listing a few verses I should read. Included in those verses was John 3:15 and the word: Whosoever.

That whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Whosever includes me (and you).

I took the next day off and was at the Christian bookstore early. I listened to every preacher on the radio and found some good old Southern Gospel music to calm my fears and imaginations. On fire to make up for lost time (I was 34 years old), I devoured everything I could get my hands, eyes, and ears on.

The friend who invited me to the convention may have no idea what has transpired since that day. The service I’ve been privileged to do, the preaching I’ve been honored to give, or the years of struggle and trial for His name sake. While I’ve made plenty of mistakes and errors that didn’t glorify God, I strive to learn and apply His word in my heart and my life.

Thank you Jesus, for salvation. And thank you, Ted, for that invite almost 20 years ago.

Tame Wild Imaginations with Captivating Music

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empty bench dark night

Wild imaginations. How do they take hold so fast? Past pitfalls. Present problems. Perceiving possibilities. It’s almost like the devil has a joystick controlling my thoughts.

But he doesn’t.

In 2 Cor 10:5, I am reminded:

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

As best as I can, as early as I can, I grab hold of Scripture, a verse or from a song. Music becomes a way to tame the wild imaginations of past and present and help bring focus back to those things that are good (Phl 4:8).

Here are three songs that help me most often:

More Than Ever – Gaither Vocal Band

Only a Shadow – Misty Edwards

Take My Hand, Precious Lord – Tennessee Ernie Ford

What music or verse tames your wild imaginations?

Photo on Pixabay by Desertrose7

Spring Around, Fall Over – Mattress Turn Days

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Mattress Turn Days

I’ve never really liked April Fool’s Day or Halloween. Pranks and Practical Jokes. Masks and Scares.

Some people don’t like Friday the 13th in such a way, they don’t leave their house.  It’s not that bad in my case. And now, it’s much better.

When the calendar turns to April 1 or October 31, all I have to remember is to Spring Around or Fall Over.  It’s Mattress Turn Days. Our mattress stays fresh and free of dips and dimples.

On April 1, we rotate our mattress around so the head becomes the foot. On October 31, we flip the mattress over. Bottoms up.

Now, instead of dreading a practical punk’d or scary synthetic spider, I look forward to #MattressTurn Days.

Remember: Spring Around or Fall Over.

Photo on Pixabay by JamesDeMers

 

A Virtuous Woman

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Angela Sansone Proverbs 31

A Virtuous Woman. One of noble character.

The Bible points out in Prov 31:10 that such a woman is more valuable than rare gems, and must be hard to find:

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

We hear about “strong” women and “hard-working” women. I’m not sure I agree with the labels in blanket form. A woman is a woman. Is someone who is not a “strong” woman the opposite of such?

Much of what is written in Proverbs 31 lists some of these better traits and behaviors. Maybe the verses in this chapter are the resume of a virtuous woman. Or maybe …

After all those listed, in Prov 31:30 we read, in part:

 …but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

I believe a Proverbs 31 woman (or man) is sold out, given up, and surrendered to God. Not just waiting on God with patience, but waiting on God in service.

The things a virtuous woman does, what she believes, how she behaves, what she says – are because of and in hopes to please God.

It is a blessing to be married to such a woman. She is pictured here. Praying on a rooftop, on foreign soil.

Living a life in faith and of obedience – to God. Virtuously. Victoriously.

Just Enough

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Daily Bread

Just Enough.

In my life, there have been times when I’ve had plenty and others that I’ve been penniless. Through both kinds of seasons and all of the in-betweens, I’ve come to realize a most powerful, freeing prayer in Scripture.

Proverbs 30:7-9, which reads:

Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

See that second one? Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me. Not more, not less. Just enough.

Too many times in life, our thinking (worrying?) might extend beyond tomorrow into months in advance.

When we learn to pray in Luke 11:3, we ask for daily bread, not an annual supply.

Just Enough.

Note: For more reading on this, I highly recommend Will Davis‘ book, Enough: Finding More by Living With Less. A humbling and freeing read.

Fear of Others is a Trap

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shadow figure of a man

I get afraid sometimes. Of what others might do. To me.

Part of that fear is remembering the things that have been done to me in the past. And it magnifies the fear. A big lurking shadow grows larger the longer I consider it.

And the fear, if I let it fester and grow, will slow me down to a full stop. It’s a trap, set by the enemy. When fear starts creeping in, I do my best to put all my focus and trust in God.

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. – Prov 29:25

It’s not about proving myself. To me, rather than prove I have strength to overcome, I’d rather prove God’s strength and power.

Hey, there can’t be a shadow without a Light (Psa 23:4), right?

Besides all that, there are these:

  • The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? – Psa 118:6
  • If God be for us, who can be against us? – Rom 8:31
  • The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. – Heb 13:6

The name of the Lord. A Strong Tower of Safety.

Fear?  Don’t give in. It’s a trap. And – It’s Only a Shadow

Is it Confidence or Conceit?

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child of confidence or conceit?

Confidence or Conceit?

Whenever I’ve thought too highly of myself, I’ve been proven wrong by humbling circumstances.

Rather than a ‘Look what I can do’ attitude (Isa 5:21), things work out better when I carry on with the belief that ‘I can do all things through Christ.’ (Php 4:13).

When it’s going good – It’s not because of me, it’s because of Him.

If I find myself getting offended (Psa 119:165), I soon realize I’m being filled with my own pride.

In Prov 28:11, we read:

The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

Are we filled with confidence or conceit?

Even if I get a pat on the back (from someone else, not myself), I try to reflect the credit up (so as not to reject it altogether).

Through Jesus, I can be securely confident. On my own accord, I am foolishly conceited.

Truth-Telling With Love

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Zipper falling

Which would you prefer? Would you tell your dear friend the truth – or hope someone else does it?

It could be as simple as a zipper falling or as complex as a bad behavior pattern. Would you do the telling?

If you don’t tell them, do you really love them?

Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Prov 27:5)

Matthew Henry’s commentary of this passage reads:

The physician’s care is to cure the patient’s disease, not to please his palate

So it goes with love. Reveal, rather than conceal, truths to those you love.

On the other side, receive such words from one who loves you, knowing the intent. I wish I would’ve in so many cases of loving rebuke. While it may not have seemed so then, I am grateful to those who loved me so much to tell me the truth.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Prov 27:6)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend. With loving intent and risk, telling truths with love.