I have always known that the trials in our life are meant to draw us closer to the Source of Life - to God Almighty.
But I never truly experienced this truth until recently.
I am discovering that the pain I am going through now has a purpose. I am not an accident, and neither is life meaningless. Everything in this life has meaning and a purpose behind it. I can rejoice in this knowledge, and rest in the peace that comes from trusting that God is in control. I know this sounds a bit cliche, but it is the truth.
The Lord has been awakening my heart. He has been drawing me near to Him ever since I let go and surrendered. Ever since I realized that I can't possibly do this alone.
When the unexpected happens, and you find yourself desperate for something, or Someone to be your hope, to be that anchor that you need, He is there. He is always there.
Some days, I feel myself beginning to panic, as I think of all the worst possible scenarios that can occur as a result of the dark and confusing time I am in. But then, a Scripture comes to mind as the Lord reminds me of His presence. And then my breathing returns to normal. He is there.
Because truthfully, no matter what happens, God is constant. He will never leave me, and He will never stop loving me. Reminding myself of His promises does wonders to calm my aching heart and to banish the anxiety that would otherwise eat me alive if He wasn't there to hold me up.
"I am restless, until I rest in You."
-Audrey Assad, in her song Restless
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Love That Never Ends
What is love?
My husband and I had an interesting, albeit heated conversation the other day regarding love. Particularly unconditional love. He claimed it doesn't exist. Not even in the Bible.
At the time, I was too flustered to quote Scripture (I know, I know...) but reflecting upon our conversation throughout the week, a verse suddenly came to mind:
"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
--Romans 5:8
While we were still sinners.
Did you catch that?
He loved us even when we were wicked, sinful creatures. Beyond hope.
Is that not unconditional love?
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."
--1 Corinthians 13:4-7
To me, unconditional love is the only true love.
Where would we be without it?
There is no fear in love. (1 Jn. 4:18)
My husband and I had an interesting, albeit heated conversation the other day regarding love. Particularly unconditional love. He claimed it doesn't exist. Not even in the Bible.
At the time, I was too flustered to quote Scripture (I know, I know...) but reflecting upon our conversation throughout the week, a verse suddenly came to mind:
"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
--Romans 5:8
While we were still sinners.
Did you catch that?
He loved us even when we were wicked, sinful creatures. Beyond hope.
Is that not unconditional love?
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."
--1 Corinthians 13:4-7
To me, unconditional love is the only true love.
Where would we be without it?
There is no fear in love. (1 Jn. 4:18)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Marriage in Today's World
The marriage relationship is the greatest human display of God's love. And many people are watching us: our spouse, our kids, our friends, indeed an entire world desperate to discover a woman who loves with such intensity that it's courageous. In her, they see Jesus.
"We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Remember Jesus loved us first. He is teaching us to do the same, beginning with our husbands. I am convinced this is the way of the Lord.
--Lynn Donovan & Dineen Miller, in Winning Him Without Words
In a world where fewer and fewer people are living according to God's plan, a good marriage is truly a rarity. A successful marriage is nothing short of a miracle.
May God grant us wives the strength to love our husbands with an unconditional love, and may our commitment to our marriage be unwavering.
"We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Remember Jesus loved us first. He is teaching us to do the same, beginning with our husbands. I am convinced this is the way of the Lord.
--Lynn Donovan & Dineen Miller, in Winning Him Without Words
In a world where fewer and fewer people are living according to God's plan, a good marriage is truly a rarity. A successful marriage is nothing short of a miracle.
May God grant us wives the strength to love our husbands with an unconditional love, and may our commitment to our marriage be unwavering.
Father God, be glorified in our marriage!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Hope
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
-Romans 15:13
I have been reading a beautiful book called, Winning Him Without Words, by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller. This is a book that gives hope and encouragement to the woman who finds herself in a spiritually mismatched marriage.
Because, you see, my beloved husband is an atheist.
However, God is good, and daily He empowers me to love my husband with all of my heart, respecting and honoring him as if he were a believer - as if Christ lived in him.
He is a wonderful man, full of amazing qualities, and I am forever thankful for him.
But, like all marriages, we have our ups and downs.
In fact, it is during our most difficult times that my faith and trust in the Lord has grown immensely. When trials come, I turn to Him, seeking to be nourished by His Word and comforted through His promises. His faithfulness is perfect, and His love abounds. He has given me an inner peace that surpasses all understanding and a love that goes beyond even the strongest human love.
The verse I quoted above is one that authors Donovan and Miller include in an opening chapter. It has been incredibly comforting to me, as I remind myself of the riches found in our great and holy God.
And with Him, there is hope. There is always hope.
-Romans 15:13
I have been reading a beautiful book called, Winning Him Without Words, by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller. This is a book that gives hope and encouragement to the woman who finds herself in a spiritually mismatched marriage.
Because, you see, my beloved husband is an atheist.
However, God is good, and daily He empowers me to love my husband with all of my heart, respecting and honoring him as if he were a believer - as if Christ lived in him.
He is a wonderful man, full of amazing qualities, and I am forever thankful for him.
But, like all marriages, we have our ups and downs.
In fact, it is during our most difficult times that my faith and trust in the Lord has grown immensely. When trials come, I turn to Him, seeking to be nourished by His Word and comforted through His promises. His faithfulness is perfect, and His love abounds. He has given me an inner peace that surpasses all understanding and a love that goes beyond even the strongest human love.
The verse I quoted above is one that authors Donovan and Miller include in an opening chapter. It has been incredibly comforting to me, as I remind myself of the riches found in our great and holy God.
And with Him, there is hope. There is always hope.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Your Love
I have to admit something to you.
I feel so inadequate.
The decision to start a blog did not come easily. I battled with it for months.
Would my thoughts really make an impact? Would it be worth it?
My heart has been in deep pain recently. I worry I won't have anything uplifting to say.
But even in life's hurts and disappointments, our God is there.
Perhaps that is why He wants me to write.
Perhaps that is why my blog's theme is Love.
He loves us through our trials. He is there with us even when we don't feel Him.
"Let Your steadfast love be upon us, O Lord, even as we hope in You."
-Psalms 33:22
I feel so inadequate.
The decision to start a blog did not come easily. I battled with it for months.
Would my thoughts really make an impact? Would it be worth it?
My heart has been in deep pain recently. I worry I won't have anything uplifting to say.
But even in life's hurts and disappointments, our God is there.
Perhaps that is why He wants me to write.
Perhaps that is why my blog's theme is Love.
He loves us through our trials. He is there with us even when we don't feel Him.
"Let Your steadfast love be upon us, O Lord, even as we hope in You."
-Psalms 33:22
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Journey
The Lord has been taking me on a journey. A journey to show me what is truly important.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
-Matthew 22:36-39
My story began less than five years ago, when the Creator of the universe ignited within me a desire to know Him. Not just mentally, but intimately. Like a lover desires to know her beloved.
This journey took me to places I had never known before. I let go of certain things I knew my Beloved did not like, and added practices I thought would please Him. I met people who encouraged me on my quest, people who loved Him as I did.
I sought Him diligently, and He sought me too.
Then, suddenly, my journey came to a stop. In my desire to know Him, I lost track of what love is. I stopped seeking Him. Exhaustion and weariness overcame me. Fear struck.
But He did not stop. He sought me. He continues to seek me.
He picked me up, and into His arms I ran.
His perfect faithfulness never ceases.
Oh, how He loves us so!
It is here my story resumes.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
-Matthew 22:36-39
My story began less than five years ago, when the Creator of the universe ignited within me a desire to know Him. Not just mentally, but intimately. Like a lover desires to know her beloved.
This journey took me to places I had never known before. I let go of certain things I knew my Beloved did not like, and added practices I thought would please Him. I met people who encouraged me on my quest, people who loved Him as I did.
I sought Him diligently, and He sought me too.
Then, suddenly, my journey came to a stop. In my desire to know Him, I lost track of what love is. I stopped seeking Him. Exhaustion and weariness overcame me. Fear struck.
But He did not stop. He sought me. He continues to seek me.
He picked me up, and into His arms I ran.
His perfect faithfulness never ceases.
Oh, how He loves us so!
It is here my story resumes.
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