One Last Time to Love

http://www.godvine.com/Mother-Hears-her-Daughter-s-Heart-Beat-One-Last-Time-649.html


As I watched this video I was reminded of my dear friend. I wondered if she was given the chance to hear her son's heart beat one more time, would she? Would her strong love for him beckon her to hear or would the raw feelings of loss surround her as turns away? Being allowed to hear again the heart that once beat so vibrantly in a loved one must cause your own heart to beat wildly. Oh the emotions that would be felt if the opportunity could arise, the joy of remembered laughter, the feel of a kiss on the cheek, the warmth of a smile. Could this remembered love overcome the fear of losing again?

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. I am encouraged by this verse, for it is God's perfect love, His pure, all knowing love for us that brings comfort. I imagine that my friend would leap at the chance to hear her son's heart beat one more time. If this were to happen, I imagine her listening and then sharing how Christ has carried her through the valleys of life and on to the mountain tops. For you see, my friend has learned that there is no fear in love, for it is His perfect love that cast out her fears to live and love again.

"How Deep the Father's Love for us...

...how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only son to make a wretch His treasure."

A wretch His treasure. Wow, who on earth would make a wretch his treasure? No one other than God, for He gave His only son to make this wretch His treasure.

Luke 7:44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

I thank God for making this wretch His treasure, for just like the woman with many sins was forgiven and loved much, so am I. To some this might seem as boasting, well in a sense it is. I am boasting in Jesus Christ for this lost soul was made His treasure.

Everlasting love

Jeremiah 31:3

³the LORD appeared to him^[a] from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Footnotes:Jeremiah 31:3 Septuagint; Hebrew me

The LORD has loved me, Laura with an everlasting love and has proven Himself faithful to me.

Today at church we were given an opportunity to bury our hurts by forgiving those who have hurt us. No longer are we to carry these hurts caused by others, but we are to lay them down. As we placed our cards of forgiveness in the box for burial, it became crystal clear to me that my unforgiving spirit created a huge emptiness between myself and God. I felt as if I had allowed His everlasting love to be replaced by fear, rejection, and loneliness. I long for His perfect peace to cast out fear in difficult circumstances, so now I choose to stand strong in the battle of rejection and loneliness by humbly laying down my hurts. As the clouds of doubt and confusion are cleared from my being, I find comfort knowing that my God was not far away, for He has loved me with an everlasting love and has proven Himself faithful to me.

The Help

"The Help" is a movie that brought me to tears, but also to my knees. The years of sacrifice those women made for other children inspired me in a way that caught me by surprise. I know my job as Director of the Academy is very important, but until tonight I had not surrendered my life to those kids. Driving home alone, I was overcome by the strong urgency to completely surrender to this calling. Being challenged in such a clear way was somewhat frightening. Yes, I want the best for the kids, but was I willing to surrender my all for them? How could I not? For I know God placed a desire in my heart months ago to work with children and parents. I wanted to be used by God, to help families thrive and not just merely survive. As I surrendered, I felt the hugeness of the task ahead, my tender heart beat wildly for I knew God was starting something new in me!

No fear in love, huh?

Lord, Use my kids for your glory!

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18