The Miracle of Love

I've been giving a lot of thought this week to the miracle that is love.  We all experience love in some form at some point in our lives.  The truest form of love is the love that is from God our Father.  I was inspired by this weeks study in our small group from Francis Chan's "Forgotten God".  Though the chapter was not specifically about love, it did stand out to me as a theme throughout each section of the chapter.  He poses the question at the end of the chapter "ask the Holy Spirit this 'Who can I love for You today?'"  Wow! 
Many of us seek miracles, wait for miracles, or pray for miracles only to overlook that the greatest miracle is the love we show to those who do not know God, so they can become fully devoted followers of Christ.  That is a great miracle that is often overshadowed by the "seen" miracles of physical healing, financial breakthrough, marital healing, etc.  Let's be a "miracle" in someones life today.  Ask God to show you who He wants you to love today. 

Love is such an important subject to God.  He inspired the writers of the bible to talk about close to 400 times!  It seems like He wants to get His point across to us!  Here are just a few reminders:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Colossians 3:14 - And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Father God, I am so thankful for Your love.  You have given the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus Christ, and have made me Yours.  I thank You for Your love that is in me, and that I can be that miracle for someone today.  Show me, Lord, who can I love for You today?

Reflections and Hopes

This is the eve of Luke's 6th birthday.  I can remember being so nervous six years ago as I was about to deliver Luke by scheduled C-section.  I had to be at the hospital by 5a.m. so they could get everything ready for surgery.  I was most nervous about the epidural of all things.  That went amazingly well!  In fact, after Luke was born, I thought to myself, I could do that 6 more times.  I may be a little biased, but he was absolutely THE MOST beautiful baby boy I had ever seen.  He was so tiny and perfect.  We called him our peanut.  Those first few months were so precious as a family of 3.  Todd was working for himself and was home all the time.  I recovered from my c-section and he took care of both of us.  I remember holding him in the middle of the night one night and thinking, this is going to go by so fast.  I prayed over him that night. 

I love Luke so much.  He's so tender-hearted, sweet, loving, interesting, funny and wise little boy.  He has a heart of gold, and really cares about the feelings of others.  I pray that he will always walk with the Lord, that he is wise beyond his years, and that he is full of God's love to share with others.  I pray that he is taught of the Lord and great is his peace and undisturbed composure.  I trust that God has a purpose and a plan for him that he will know at an early age and pursue with all of his efforts.  I pray that he will always be quick to forgive, slow to be angry and wise with his words toward others.  He is my special boy, and I love him so much.  I am so grateful that God chose Todd and I to be his parents!   

Back to Life

I'm not going to jump and shout that I'm cured of depression and I'll never experience it again, but I will rejoice that I seem to be responding well to medication, exercise and lifestyle changes.  I feel more at rest, no matter what is going on, and my kids are the direct beneficiaries of that!  I also feel more focused, less stressed, and less anxious!  Praise God for His faithfulness and direction!  He has guided me through the storm. 

God has been especially good to me by blessing me with beautiful women who encourage me and have given me some laughter and good memories.  I hope to be saying that 20 years from now about the same beautiful women!  I couldn't ask for a better husband as he has been so gracious toward me, and has given me the time I need to get better and any quiet time I've needed.  He truly loves me "as Christ loves the church".  He is absolutely the BEST!!!! 

I hope to be back on a regular posting schedule soon.  I'm sure once school starts that I'll be posting often.  This is the first time I'll have Luke in school all day, and Jacob will be at MDO 2 days a week!  WOW!  I have lots of hopes for those times, but we will see what I get done.  :)