Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-7
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day and Sunday, the 15th being 6 years to the day since I met my husband, I am reflecting on this scripture. I know everyone "quotes" this scripture and in my opinion (haha) mis-uses it, I am really trying to decipher it and bury every single word of this deep in my heart. Marriage is more than just a vow to my husband, it's a covenant with God. God has intended for the love between a wife and husband to be an unbreakable bond and more than that... the love should be a mirror image of His love for us.

Lately, I have been watching my husband get back up on his feet and chase after God. This has brought an overwhelming desire in my own heart to want to serve God and my husband more. As I watch him grow closer to the Lord, my cup begins to run over. I want to obey God's word here. I must be patient and kind. I cannot be envious, boastful, or prideful. I will strive to not be rude, selfish, easily angered, or keep any record of wrongs. I will not delight in evil, but rejoice in truth. I will try to protect, trust, be hopeful, and persevere. I realize that I am human and will fail. But I must strive to obey.

This scripture is so powerful. It demonstrates that without LOVE, we are nothing. Without LOVE, even our faith and works are meaningless. How can I have the faith to move a mountain, but not love my enemies?

Stumbling

Why does it always feel like when you start drawing close to God, the devil comes in and starts filling your mind with doubts and you start losing trust and faith in the Lord? You know that this is how the devil works, he doesn't want you to draw near to God... so please stop letting him come in and sway your faith. You need to stand firm and not be moved by anything other than the One that created you and wants to use you for His glory. Stand Firm, I say. I can't stand to see you start picking yourself up off the ground, and as soon as you seem to get your footing, you try to find God and call on Him, then you just take of sprinting.. away from Him. He wants to use you... so stop for just a moment and allow Him to do His work in you! You know when things get tough, God is working. If things are easy.. then you should check yourself because the devil doesn’t want anything to do with a lukewarm Christian or a non-believer. You must learn to accept His blessings. Ask and you shall receive. Right? So receive with appreciation and thanks. Give thanks to God Almighty, not only has He saved your soul from condemnation and hell, He blesses you DAILY! Just try to see His blessings, no matter how large or small they may be, be thankful and I promise you.. He will continue to provide all of your needs. He loves you. The same way you love and provide for our daughter, His love for us is even more than that and He wants you to be happy, but more than anything, He wants you to know that He is God, and He is in control. So let Him be in control of your heart and mind and stop trying to do things on your own without Him. You know that nothing will ever work out if it’s not of God. Just sit back and let Him work. It’s simple. Don’t make it harder than it should be. Pray, read His word, seek His face, and I promise, you will find all that you are looking for. He promises you that!
I will always be by your side through the good times and bad. God is going to use us.. together. But we have to be as one for Him to do anything through us. We can’t be going in different directions. Knowing the devil will fight to rip us apart, we must stick together. For us, for Him, and for our baby girl. Life gets so hard sometimes, I feel like laying down and giving up, but I keep looking for God and that is what gives me strength to keep going. I have faith in God. I can feel His presence in our lives and because I know of His love for me, I can face each day. Sometimes when I try to picture the future and think of things I would like to have, my vision gets blurry and distorted. I cannot see where God will lead me from one day to the next. But the key is to trust that wherever it is, it’s exactly where He needs me to be. He will use me where I am. I don’t have to pick up and go somewhere to be used. I have realized that to be used, it doesn’t have to be in some big glorious way that will put me on top of the world for everyone to see. Where God uses me.. is in the little things. I don’t expect anything from Him. I know that He owes me nothing and I owe Him my life. So I have to lay it down at His feet daily, and surrender to His will in my life. I cannot hold anything back from Him. It’s all His. “all I’ve got, all I am, all my dreams, all my plans.. I’m holding back, I’m holding nothing back from You. I surrender it all, I lay it before You, for all of my days, I give You the glory. My heart and my soul, I give You control.”
Pray, Seek, Listen, Do, and try not to fall. But if you do, let Him help you back up.