The Blessings of Love in the Rain of life.
In recent weeks, we have discovered Joel Osteen, lead pastor of Lakewood Church, in Houston Texas. He has his own Sirus Radio station, as well many Top New York Bestsellers list books. He and his wife pastor one of the biggest churches in the US, with over 40,000 people. He is an evangelist that preaches about God's blessings in our lives. He speaks of God's promises for our lives, that we are God's children, and God truly wants the best for us, not just the mediocre, but the best for us.
For years of my life, I spent thinking that God has forgotten me, so many "Bad" things had happened in my life, and I spent much my time harboring bitterness and cultivating blame for the hurts that people caused in my life. I have been reading Joel and Victoria Osteen's Wake Up to Hope Devotions I am amazed just in the first few days of reading it how much it has blessed me. What I love about Joel Osteen, he makes you think, makes you want to go into action for Christ, to live a better life. I love what he has to stay, but He misses much of the Gospels teachings. I love also to listen to Rick Warren, and Max Lucado. Both Men are steeped much deeper into the theology and teachings of the Bible. Joel although a refreshing breath of fresh air, has been a catalyst for great and good change in our personal lives, we feel called to look deeper and be steeped in God's word. This has been a long time coming, and it is overwhelmingly good.
I have witnessed in a matter of weeks a transformation of sorts, from my husband. I am truly blown away by his courage, his growth in his faith in just a matter of weeks. For a long time, we have been trying to figure out God's plan for our lives, and we are still on this journey. We have been praying God's Blessings over our lives to open the gates that need to be opened and close those that need to be closed. It has been mind-blowing, just how many floodgates God has been opening in business, personally, and spiritually.
But here is the thing. As my husband was praying over his fields, crops, and family. A storm hit our farm, like many around us. Ripping our crops to shreds, as the hail battered it. We were angry, after all the praying we do and hope that the crops will be bountiful, and trying to trust that God will provide. I think God allowed that storm to remind us, that He wants us to trust him even when all hope seems lost. A few of our fields are stellar ( the got missed by the storm) this year, we have not had consistent rains in years in the summer months, often fearing drought instead. At the end of the season when the crops come off it will likely even out, and the crops that were hit have got rain since, and have somewhat recovered.
When we walked the very lonely road of infertility it was so hard to trust His plan. All I wanted was a baby, I cried out to Him, I kneeled down and sobbed. Hannah in the Book of Samuel was not crazy but had what we called Infertility Brain. It causes such heartache and fear, and yet you press on, all you can see in your heart is that baby. I wanted to do every possible route we could to up our chances, putting more and more pressure on myself, and my husband. I was not until, I got to the point of having our second baby after, losing 6 of our embryo's, that I gave up. Our first daughter born through IVF, the only surviving baby from 9 Embryo's we had, I was still in FULL ON infertility Brain, until long after her birth. I could not trust God's plan. My mom had passed away when our daughter was 7 weeks old, I just couldn't understand his plan for my life. I was defeated, weary, and needed something else...Him. In my life. He surprised us with the next 3 girls in our lives, Naturally conceived. I guess giving up( surrender) worked not only in my own body but in my soul. Giving up my pride for the Promise of new life. New life in Him, the old self is gone and the new has come.
Even in the rain, of my life God had blessings lined up, ready to be poured out. When my sister in law died a little over a year ago, I remember trying to find a reason, I could not understand His plan in all this. There is no reason that I can see still even now. But what I do see is the blessings that he has given us even in this rain storm. Our youngest daughter was born just a few weeks after Kate's death, and I remember feeling just like I did when my mom died. I have such huge blessings on one hand and on the other complete devastation. In this rain, we are having to find shelter under His arms, wrapped up in His grace. That's what he wants from us. Our world is broken, who knows it better than Him, but he wants us to fall apart in his arms, to cry, to give him the hurts, yell at him once in a while because that means we are seeking a relationship with Him. He can't bless us truly until we trust him. We can't trust him unless you have walked through fire with Him, and come out the other side, and realize he is still there.
My most profound blessing I have ever received is 3 words. I LOVE YOU. When those three words come from the mouth of my parents, siblings, husband, kids, it is like taking a breath of fresh air, no matter where my heart was that moment. Those 3 words make me feel like I am truly alive. No monetary amount, gold, silver or beautiful home, or vacation can compare to the power of love. The first time my children say I love you is a magical moment. All those long sleepless nights, dirty diapers, and dealing with temper tantrums are worth it all. I say I love you A lot. To my kids, to my spouse, too many of my family members, I have not been very good at saying to God sometimes. God longs for us to Cry out to Him and say I LOVE YOU at the top of our lungs. Love is so powerful. Why? 1 Corinthians tells us what love does. 1 John 4, tells us what Love Is.
1 Corinthians 13:3-7( The Message) If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr but I don't love I have gotten nowhere. So no matter what I say, what I believe and what I do, I am bankrupt without love.
Love Never give up
Love cares more for others than for self
Love doesn't want what it does not have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force its self on others,
Isn't always "me first",
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back
But Keeps going to the end.
LOVE NEVER DIES.
1: John 4: 8 The Message: The Person who refuses to love does not know the first thing about God because God is love, so you can not know him if you don't love.
1 John 4:17-18 (The Message)God is Love. when we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way love has run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us so that we are free from worry on Judgement day--Our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed loved banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life--fear of Death, fear of judgement-is one not fully formed in love. We though are going to love--Love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
In all the hardships I have personally faced, Love is what has carried me. Knowing that I am deeply loved, by the one and only King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. God is Love. Let that sink in, in the context of 1 Corinthians 13. Without His love, we would have no hope, our deepest relationships would falter, death would have victory, worry and fear would have the upper hand, and joy would be fleeting. In the rain of life, the pounding storms, the horizontal winds, and the downdrafts of fear, God Loves me. God has a plan. In the letter that Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 29:
" This is God's word on the Subject:...Verse 11: "I have it all planned out--Plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for". "When you call on me, when you come and pray, I will listen." When you come looking for me you'll find me. " Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed ( God's Decree)
I have struggled very deeply in the last number of months with many things. I am constantly wrestling with my thoughts, and emotions, with my past, and future plans. Daily we swing back and forth on major decisions, and we are seeing the blessings that God is pouring out on us, yet it is not always easy to discern where God is leading, so he pours out blessings of renewal, so that strength can be gained by knowing Him more deeply and soundly. His love is Never failing. God has us covered in his garment of Love so that even when the clouds of uncertainty hang above our heads, we can be prepared with the most important tools. Love, Faith, and Hope.
Laura Story- Blessings Click on the Link to Listen to one of my favorite songs!
Blessings.
Deeds K
 |
| A rainbow after the Storm( just outside our home) |
For years of my life, I spent thinking that God has forgotten me, so many "Bad" things had happened in my life, and I spent much my time harboring bitterness and cultivating blame for the hurts that people caused in my life. I have been reading Joel and Victoria Osteen's Wake Up to Hope Devotions I am amazed just in the first few days of reading it how much it has blessed me. What I love about Joel Osteen, he makes you think, makes you want to go into action for Christ, to live a better life. I love what he has to stay, but He misses much of the Gospels teachings. I love also to listen to Rick Warren, and Max Lucado. Both Men are steeped much deeper into the theology and teachings of the Bible. Joel although a refreshing breath of fresh air, has been a catalyst for great and good change in our personal lives, we feel called to look deeper and be steeped in God's word. This has been a long time coming, and it is overwhelmingly good.
I have witnessed in a matter of weeks a transformation of sorts, from my husband. I am truly blown away by his courage, his growth in his faith in just a matter of weeks. For a long time, we have been trying to figure out God's plan for our lives, and we are still on this journey. We have been praying God's Blessings over our lives to open the gates that need to be opened and close those that need to be closed. It has been mind-blowing, just how many floodgates God has been opening in business, personally, and spiritually.
But here is the thing. As my husband was praying over his fields, crops, and family. A storm hit our farm, like many around us. Ripping our crops to shreds, as the hail battered it. We were angry, after all the praying we do and hope that the crops will be bountiful, and trying to trust that God will provide. I think God allowed that storm to remind us, that He wants us to trust him even when all hope seems lost. A few of our fields are stellar ( the got missed by the storm) this year, we have not had consistent rains in years in the summer months, often fearing drought instead. At the end of the season when the crops come off it will likely even out, and the crops that were hit have got rain since, and have somewhat recovered.
When we walked the very lonely road of infertility it was so hard to trust His plan. All I wanted was a baby, I cried out to Him, I kneeled down and sobbed. Hannah in the Book of Samuel was not crazy but had what we called Infertility Brain. It causes such heartache and fear, and yet you press on, all you can see in your heart is that baby. I wanted to do every possible route we could to up our chances, putting more and more pressure on myself, and my husband. I was not until, I got to the point of having our second baby after, losing 6 of our embryo's, that I gave up. Our first daughter born through IVF, the only surviving baby from 9 Embryo's we had, I was still in FULL ON infertility Brain, until long after her birth. I could not trust God's plan. My mom had passed away when our daughter was 7 weeks old, I just couldn't understand his plan for my life. I was defeated, weary, and needed something else...Him. In my life. He surprised us with the next 3 girls in our lives, Naturally conceived. I guess giving up( surrender) worked not only in my own body but in my soul. Giving up my pride for the Promise of new life. New life in Him, the old self is gone and the new has come.
Even in the rain, of my life God had blessings lined up, ready to be poured out. When my sister in law died a little over a year ago, I remember trying to find a reason, I could not understand His plan in all this. There is no reason that I can see still even now. But what I do see is the blessings that he has given us even in this rain storm. Our youngest daughter was born just a few weeks after Kate's death, and I remember feeling just like I did when my mom died. I have such huge blessings on one hand and on the other complete devastation. In this rain, we are having to find shelter under His arms, wrapped up in His grace. That's what he wants from us. Our world is broken, who knows it better than Him, but he wants us to fall apart in his arms, to cry, to give him the hurts, yell at him once in a while because that means we are seeking a relationship with Him. He can't bless us truly until we trust him. We can't trust him unless you have walked through fire with Him, and come out the other side, and realize he is still there.
My most profound blessing I have ever received is 3 words. I LOVE YOU. When those three words come from the mouth of my parents, siblings, husband, kids, it is like taking a breath of fresh air, no matter where my heart was that moment. Those 3 words make me feel like I am truly alive. No monetary amount, gold, silver or beautiful home, or vacation can compare to the power of love. The first time my children say I love you is a magical moment. All those long sleepless nights, dirty diapers, and dealing with temper tantrums are worth it all. I say I love you A lot. To my kids, to my spouse, too many of my family members, I have not been very good at saying to God sometimes. God longs for us to Cry out to Him and say I LOVE YOU at the top of our lungs. Love is so powerful. Why? 1 Corinthians tells us what love does. 1 John 4, tells us what Love Is.
1 Corinthians 13:3-7( The Message) If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr but I don't love I have gotten nowhere. So no matter what I say, what I believe and what I do, I am bankrupt without love.
Love Never give up
Love cares more for others than for self
Love doesn't want what it does not have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force its self on others,
Isn't always "me first",
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back
But Keeps going to the end.
LOVE NEVER DIES.
1: John 4: 8 The Message: The Person who refuses to love does not know the first thing about God because God is love, so you can not know him if you don't love.
1 John 4:17-18 (The Message)God is Love. when we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way love has run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us so that we are free from worry on Judgement day--Our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed loved banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life--fear of Death, fear of judgement-is one not fully formed in love. We though are going to love--Love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
In all the hardships I have personally faced, Love is what has carried me. Knowing that I am deeply loved, by the one and only King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. God is Love. Let that sink in, in the context of 1 Corinthians 13. Without His love, we would have no hope, our deepest relationships would falter, death would have victory, worry and fear would have the upper hand, and joy would be fleeting. In the rain of life, the pounding storms, the horizontal winds, and the downdrafts of fear, God Loves me. God has a plan. In the letter that Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 29:
" This is God's word on the Subject:...Verse 11: "I have it all planned out--Plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for". "When you call on me, when you come and pray, I will listen." When you come looking for me you'll find me. " Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed ( God's Decree)
I have struggled very deeply in the last number of months with many things. I am constantly wrestling with my thoughts, and emotions, with my past, and future plans. Daily we swing back and forth on major decisions, and we are seeing the blessings that God is pouring out on us, yet it is not always easy to discern where God is leading, so he pours out blessings of renewal, so that strength can be gained by knowing Him more deeply and soundly. His love is Never failing. God has us covered in his garment of Love so that even when the clouds of uncertainty hang above our heads, we can be prepared with the most important tools. Love, Faith, and Hope.
Laura Story- Blessings Click on the Link to Listen to one of my favorite songs!
Blessings.
Deeds K
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