A Heart Overflowed

Agape:

[ah-gah-pey, ah-guh-pey, ag-uh-] 

noun, plural agapae 

 [ah-gah-pahy, ah-guh-pahy, -pee] (Show IPA), agapai 

 [ah-gah-pahy, ah-guh-pahy] (Show IPA), for 4.

1.

the love of God or Christ for humankind.

2.

the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love ofGod for humankind.

3.

unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications;brotherly love.

4.

love feast (defs 1, 2).

The 6 am sun burst has peeked over the hills, spilling into our home and kissing my cheeks a good morning. The smell of coffee and the fields full of 4 O'clocks have me in a chipper mood, that and reading this verse over and over again, hiding it's truth in my heart for the day ahead:

"If you keep my commandments you will abide in My Love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His Love." -John 15:10

The thing about God's love is it is no ordinary Love; it is Agape Love!  It is not a feeling; it's a motivation for action that we are free to choose or reject. Agape is a sacrificial love that voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomfort, and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return. We are called to agape love through Christ's example: "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).

We are to agapao God (Matthew 22:37), our neighbor (Matthew 22:39), and even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-46). We are not to agapao money (Matthew 6:24), darkness (John 3:19), or men's approval (John 12:43).

The New Testament has over two-hundred references to agape love. Here are a few.

Matthew 24:12: With increased lawlessness in the end times, concern and caring for others will fade.

Luke 11:42: The legalism of the Pharisees, even their sacrifices, did not reflect a love of God.

John 13:35: The Christian life is characterized by sacrificial agape love.

John 15:9-10; Romans 13:10: When we agape love God, we show it by obeying His commandments because His commandments teach us how to love others.

John 15:13: The greatest demonstration of love anyone can give is to die for his friends.

John 17:26; Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22: Agape love comes from God, not our own effort.

Romans 5:8; Revelation 1:5: It was agape love that caused Jesus to sacrifice Himself for us.

e love God if we don't obey Him. It is impossible to love God while ignoring what He says. The two are inextricably connected, as Galatians 5:14 says: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:1: It is not loving to lead another into sin.

Colossians 3:19: Men are called to show agape love to their wives.

James 1:12; 2:5: Love of God will result in rewards in heaven.

2 Peter 2:15; 1 John 2:15: It is possible to sacrificially love something that is not godly.

Although 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the chapter on love, there is no book that speaks more about agape than 1 John. Two important themes come out of 1 John. The first is that it is inconsistent and false to claim we agape love God while not agape loving other believers. We cannot love God without loving brothers and sisters who also love Him. The second is that it is inconsistent and false to claim we agape love God if we don't obey Him. It is impossible to love God while ignoring what He says. The two are inextricably connected, as Galatians 5:14 says: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

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Oh dear Lord I pray that you fill my heart with Agape love for you and your commandments. That you weed out any idols in my life that are choking out the Love for you and your children. I pray with a discerning heart to see your Word to it's fullest potential, that my heart is a mirror image of yours! 
That my life is a "Love Feast" For you dear Lord! In Jesus' Name!

Speaking of Love, my oldest son, Noah recently received the Holy Ghost a Jr Camp with our church and was baptized two weeks later in Jesus' Name!

My heart has been singing in praise for this answered prayer of mine that I have been praying since he was just a few weeks old in my tummy! We celebrated by enjoying  ice cream, singing to our favorite songs, and praying together a prayer that was prayed with me when I got saved!

Oh Noah, the hopes that I hope for you, the dreams that I dream for you; in Christ, they are that you hold steadfast to His love, His Word and His promises and His Blessings will be exceedingly abundant to you my dear, precious son.

Ephesians 3:20-21

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In other news my precious girl has been growing like a little dahlia! Her legs are so long I feel that when I pick her up they cover my entire body! She is beginning to talk so much and express herself in ways that are so clever, for instance, yesterday while reading a little golden book called, Baby's House she was pointing at the the baby getting in the tub and then slides down from my lap and scurries into my bathroom where her and Austin usually have a bath every night. She runs up to the tub and grabs, then turns to me and says baaa "bath." 

A smart little cookie I tell ya and I exclaim to her father over the phone and we both nod in agreement of her being borderline genius perhaps! (hehe)

She also loves taking up Kitchen play, ever since her daddy put her adorable pink vintage kitchen together she has been banging the pots and the pans and testing out the shuttings of the refrigerator door and oven...it is the cutest sight to see her in her own little mini kitchen.

And one last thing she seems to love to do, as seen by example, is petting and talking to all of the beautiful blooming flowers this Summer. Our favorites being the sunflowers who stand tall and proud at 8 and 9 feet tall. I cut a few smalls ones to gift to our pastors wife for her birthday and I gently caressed the pedals and said, "pretty yellow sunflower, Aslynn" and her little fingers gently touch the tips of the powdery, yellow flower as opposed to batting every other thing she comes into contact with, so I will encourage her and say "Good girl! Gentle.." and in return I am rewarded with the cutest dimples and three toothed smile. 

A Morning Over Pancakes, Flowers and a Lap Full of Toddlers

As I sit here at my desk with the early morning sun on my face, warm coffee and eggs + strawberries steaming hot; my two year old helping himself to my our breakfast, while Aslynn lay curled up in my lap trying to wake, I seen a tiny window to jot a few thoughts down before the day unfolds it's heaping to do lists. 

Pancakes are on the table for the boys adorned by all of the beautiful flowers that my seven year old picked for me yesterday. If there is one thing Asher loves most that I am sure about, it is seeing my reaction to his next find. 

His heart so soft and selfless, encourages me to want to strive for such a kindness.

Something else I am feeling quite anxious for: time.

Each day is fleeting more so than the one before and the hours just wisp on by. I lay my head down at night and I am still trying to catch my breath. My anxiousness is a sure sign for me to start slowing down and manage my time a little better.

I want to be able to read more than one book with my little ones. I want to be able to help Noah with a math problem, and enjoy a day at the creek without being burdened about what I didn't finish at home. I want to be able to sit and have a full conversation with my husband without my mind wandering. I want to be a part of our church more, and put more time into the friendships I have and cherish.

The Photography business has much to do with the consumption of time as I took on without realizing, 7 weddings this Spring and nearly two session a week every week!

Seven is a bit too much and has drawn me to my computer all of hours of the day.

I have been forcing myself to step away and take mini breaths, enjoy small moments with my kiddos, cuddle, make dinner, sweep the floor, swim.

However, after finishing wedding number five, I have come to the harsh conclusion that my sacrifice is going to have to come from taking pictures. 

I love capturing beautiful images for people, but I don't want this precious season of life to skim away while I am editing picture after picture.

I want to be a part of every milestone, every achievement, accomplishment, new discovery and the list is infinite!

My children will be adults before I have time to really blink an eye, and how regretful I know I will be, if I didn't take the time to really relish in their littleness, their innocence, their childhood.

I won't be able to photograph maybe two weddings a year and two sessions a month.

I think that is the minimization that I desperately need to feel congruent with my family. 

I have made so many wonderful friendships through this small business of mine, and I hope to be able to still photograph most of the families I have had an acquaintance with! But I only get one shot at this whole mothering jig, and I want to savor in the sweetness of it all. Being a mother is the greatest blessing, how sheepish to think I missed out on the most imperative highlights of their childhood.

Of Celebrations, Treasured Memories and a touch of pink

So far it has been a busy Spring which has habitually carried over into Summer.

Lately I have felt the need to press pause more often than not, for the days just come and go and now seem like only a blur.

Because of so much going on this year, we were about a month short in celebrating Aslynn's first birthday. However, it was nothing short of magnificent; everything pink and girly and quaint. She'll never remember, but it is a treasured memory for all those who love her dearly that will tuck it deeply in the corners of their heart in celebration of praising a happy + joyous milestone. 

It has truly been a remarkable year; one that we'll hold on to in the years to come!

A Morning Over Pancakes, Flowers and a Lap Full of Toddlers

It's been a year of wonderful, of grace, of a mirror image of his love for his children; a year of sunshine, of happiness, of milestones and firsts; it's been a year of tears and laughter, of growing, changing and discovering. It's been a year since my little peanut was born and she is beautiful, sensitive, loving and everything I always hoped for in a little girl.

Aslynn Tatum, you are one!

She is especially fond of her brothers, as they love to love and hold and protect her. They talk to her just like a baby would want to be talked to. She loves to walk around and discover things by trying them in her mouth. It is an ongoing effort to keep the floors clean on both of our ends.

She has two bottom teeth and two more that are making their grand appearance on top, though I doubt she finds them to be anything but grand, as it has caused lots of comfortableness, fussiness and sleepless nights for both her, myself and dad.

She loves to clap and sing, and will dance on cue. She loves be tickled especially this little piggy.

She squeals a tiny squeal every time daddy walks in the door from being on the road, but then soon after, she is looking for me. <3

I love her dimples and smile. I love how when she does smile, her eyes smile as well, and her pig tails give her that extra little spunk of girly-ness. I love her demeanor and how dainty and elegant she is.

I have found my heart to be so full this past year with Aslynn a part of our family. My love for her is so eminent, I often find it hard to imagine a time when I didn't love her...I don't think there is one. 

It is different having a girl after four boys for she has needs they never had, and she has a sensitivity about her, that the boys did not ever acquire. It's new and beautiful and wonderful and even indescribable, and am filled with elation just thinking about the years to come and this precious gift that God has bestowed on our sweet family.