"God is right here with me and He is helping me." Jessica Boone


 
http://youtu.be/NEbGllYEzBE - I Will Rise  - Chris Tomlin

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.



Please continue to pray for Jessie Boone. Spring Break 2009 changed everything - except the incredible faith of the Boone family.  Well, maybe it did change.  I'm sure it's stronger now than it ever has been.  The Boone family and of course, sweet, sweet, Jessica, continue to put their hope and trust in the Lord.  

Here's last night's update from mom Lisa:

March 9, 2012 Friday, Out of the mouth of babes...



Thankfully, finally, Jessie has had some relief of the severe abdominal pain she has been suffering with since the procedure yesterday. Even with morphine and oxycodone, we couldn't get her comfortable at all. Finally this afternoon about 3pm her pain eased and she was able to walk up and down the hall and eat a little food. It was so good to see her sweet smile return and her face relaxed.

Dr. Kholi shared today just how painful that procedure was and would set her back a few days. This has completely dilated and opened the bile duct and a larger tube remains inside the bile duct and drains outside of her body. In a few days they will clamp it off to see how well her liver drains with the tube. This tube will stay in appx 3 months hoping the stricture will stay dilated after it has healed from being ballooned up. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. We are already thanking God for healing this bile duct with full and complete obedient dilatation for years and years. They have started a new IV antibiotic as her WBC have really jumped showing the possibility of some additional infection that may have been retained in some of that bile duct.

He told us to not be in a hurry to go home. So we continue to wait.

This afternoon as I helped Jessie stand to give her some relief from lying in the bed all day, I gave her a big hug and said, "Jessie Boone, we are getting better and better", and she said, "yes we are Momma Boone with God and with patience". I smiled and said yes....with God and with patience.....

And then she was walking in the hallway with PT and was getting light headed and very tired, I asked her if she was ok and if she was going to make it back to the room? She smiled and said, "Yes momma, I'm gonna make it cause God is right here with me and He is helping me."

Then later I received a text from a friend and Jessie said, "Who is texting you? I told her and she said,"What does she want?" I answered,"She wants to know how can she be helpful?" Jessie looked at me and says, "Tell her she may pray.... so sweetly and sincerely...and of course I told her and her response was, "That is jessie   sweet;)  praying praying praying praying praying praying"..

It is so evident that God is so close to those who suffer. He has held her, comforted her, taught her, led her, healed her, saved her, loved her, created her, revealed His truths to her.....

This momma's heart is SO comforted to hear those words out of her mouth in the midst of all she is having to endure...knowing 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 , the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."

Today in Streams I was reminded what the word burden means. It is described in a commentary as being "what Jehovah has given you". The burdens are God given, leading us to wait upon Him. And once we have done so, the burden is transformed into a pair of wings through the miracle of trust, and the one who was weighted down "will soar on wings like eagles" (Isaiah 40:31)

Throughout every day special moments happen where we are gifted to recognize God in so many different ways. I wanted to share one of those moments from today. After hours of suffering she had just gotten some relief and just woke up to be greeted by a couple of special friends from Coffee Creek. She was able to gently greet them. With them was a freshly baked loaf of bread ever so lovingly wrapped up in a cloth. The gift of bread brings forth so much. They had brought Jesus to us wrapped in swaddling clothes..As I held the soft bread, I was deeply reminded of how Christ used the simple gift of bread to teach us and remind us of how He feeds and sustains His people. "They recognized Him in the breaking of the bread". I recognized Christ in these beautiful women who so kindly and lovingly brought forth their offerings of love with the hopes of healing and restoration of one of their sisters. How beautiful are the hands and feet of Christ and how utterly blessed that He allows us to recognize Him in such simple ways.

We are thankful the last 24 hours are over and she is finally resting. We are thankful He continues to remind us and show us His presence with us through all things. We are thankful for the Body of Christ and how the prayers of His children are sustaining us. James 5:15 The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well, the Lord WILL RAISE HIM UP." We are thankful that this tube is in place and working. We are thankful for rest that is coming..We are thankful for the heart of Jessie and how beautiful and loving and faith filled He has made it to be... We are thankful for our neighbors who are "managing and loving our pets that we miss terribly". We are thankful for every word and every breath uttered to our loving God. We are thankful for the provision of all He is giving by His Great Right Hand...We are thankful to be reminded once again today...Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, plans for prosper, not to harm, that you may have a future and a hope...We are thankful for this Lenten Journey that we are not taking alone and good will be brought out of it cause as evidenced in nature....Spring always follows winter, Morning always follows night, Rain always follows a drought, and God is always Faithful to deliver His children. We give You ALL THE HONOR, GLORY, AND PRAISE LORD JESUS....amen and amen

Spring Break!

Everyone looks forward to Spring Break.  Lots of fun things are planned, mission trips, ski trips...
One ski trip in 2009 is where everything changed for Jessica Boone.  Please pray for safety for our children and families this coming week.  May the Lord watch over their coming and going... 

The Lord will watch over your coming and going...

http://youtu.be/0vdLi8h-xdI - Dependence - Jamie Slocum

I hope you all are encouraged by Lisa Boone's updates on her precious daughter, Jessie.  It never ceases to amaze me that the people who seem to have the most strength are the ones who are going through unbearable circumstances yet put all their trust in the Lord.  They depend on Him completely.

I love that Lisa used Psalm 121 in her last post. That was the Psalm that God put on my heart as I read Lisa's post yesterday.   Isn't it amazing how God uses His Word to bring comfort and encouragement?    His Word is living and active.  When we read the Bible, it's just like we are having a conversation with our Father.  As we open His Word, He gives us advice and instructions on how to manage any situation.  Isn't it shame we go to Him and His Word so infrequently?

Lisa obviously listens to His Voice often.  Her updates are full of godly wisdom that He has planted in her heart over the years.  She read, studied and meditated on His Word when all was well, before Jessica's terrible accident.  Now, from the abundance of her heart, she speaks life into very difficult circumstance.  Jessica does this same thing.  Even when she was in pain and distress, she speaks God's truths.

Luke 6:43-45
⁴³ “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

And just as God promised, knowing in advance what was to come, He went before, preparing Lisa and her family - He went before them making the way straight, evening out the bumps. 

In this passage from Deuteronomy, God's promise is to the Israelites, but is it any less a promise to us, His choice possession?  We are His children and He will do for us what He did for the Israelites.  Nothing takes God by surprise.  He is omniscient and He never sleeps, and He's never too busy or distracted away from anything that concerns us, no matter how insignificant we may think our problem is.  Our Father is loving and kind to His children and He goes before us preparing our way so that we can get through any obstacle.  God doesn't promise that it will be easy - in fact He promises it will NOT be easy.  But He also promises to be give us everything we need to face any challenge He allows.

Deuteronomy 31:8
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Lisa and Jessica Boone 2011 - what a miracle Jessie is!
What a testimony to God's faithfulness!

Update on Jessica Boone from last night:

3-8-2012 -  2nd Biliary Dilatation


Posted 12 hours ago

As I am watching over Jessie sleep I am peering out of the 7th floor huge window at Baptist. l lift up my eyes to the heavens...Where does our help come from? Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip..He who watches over you will not slumber nor sleep...The Lord watches over you...The Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon at night. The Lord will keep you from all harm...He will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both NOW and FOREVERMORE....

How comforting to read these words and know as we watch over her...He is watching over us...and never sleeps.

She is out of surgery. The procedure to dilate the biliary duct and place a larger tube went very smoothly. But it took all day to get there. There were all kinds of unexpected delays, doctor changes, questions of whether it was safe to do today. She had been NPO since midnight and all she wanted was a drink of water. We just kept looking to where our help comes from and asking Him to close the door if it wasn't to be today (He will not let your foot slip)....to say No if this different doctor wasn't to be the one(The Lord is your shade at your right hand). Over and over....step by step.....Lead us in this Lord for truly we have no idea and are totally dependent upon You. (The Lord will keep you from harm).. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both NOW....and forevermore. As the day kept progressing....at the last minute another door would open.

She is in alot of abdominal pain tonight. With careful positioning and pain medication we hopefully will minimize her discomfort tonight. Dr. Lee, the interventional radiologist who did the procedure, spent an inordinate amount of time with us after the procedure walking us step by step through the procedure showing the films of the procedure so we absolutely understand completely exactly what he did and what to expect. A gift we didn't expect but one we so thankfully received.

All of her labs are balancing, all her organs are functioning, all of her ducts are now draining, and she is safe in His arms.. What more could we ask for? So thankful for the blanket that has kept her wrapped so tightly. The blanket of prayer and love that is spread so lovingly by you. Thank you for yet another day in His house, in His hospital, in His World, In His Hands....It is all gift....May we continue to stretch out our hands to You, as our souls thirst for You like a parched land...let us hear of YOUR STEADFAST love in the morning...for in You , we put our trust( Psalm 143)..Thank you for the "soaking grace" over Your land and over Your children...amen and amen...

Had it not been the Lord who was on our side...

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;


4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;


6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;


8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

http://theacappellacompany.com/haditnotbelo.html



Jessica and a little friend December 2011.
Jessica had a skiing accident on Spring Break in 2009. 
She nearly died several times due to the traumatic
nature of the brain injury she sustained.  What a
powerful witness she and her family have become
to those who have followed her story.

 This is the link to the song - "Had it not been the Lord who was on our side" by The Acapella Company.  I'm sorry that I can't just send the song link to you but it's worth .99 to have this beautiful song on your play list.  I hope you will purchase it and listen to this song of hope.

So many of my friends are going through difficult, long term struggles. Honestly, I don't know how they keep going day after day, except for one thing - they trust God.

I read Lisa Boone's update on Jessie this morning. She is always such an inspiration to me with her wisdom and faith. I thought of the Akeman Family and all they are facing and I thought of other dear friends who have been fighting battles for years, with little relief. I pray that each one of them can see God's Presence, that they can feel His
constant love and comfort and the unsurpassing peace that comes from resting in Him - no matter what.

Paul endured so much suffering and pain yet he kept his eyes on Jesus. Paul had an
encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Meeting Jesus, face to face,
changed his life forever. Nothing else mattered after that - only that He get the message
to everyone. Jesus is the Son of God!

Though he struggled daily, he knew Heaven was worth it.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9


7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Here's the latest update on Jessica Boone. Please continue to pray.  I know we are all so busy with our lives.  So much to do... things that we just absolutely must get done... but please take a moment to pray for all those people who are facing challenges and illnesses. They had things that they had to get done, too, but now, their lives are on hold, consumed with the struggle they are facing.

 Our busy, active lives can be changed in a moment by an accident, illness, disease, a broken relationship...  Don't let yourself become too busy to pray for those who are hurting.  It could be you, next time, who needs the prayers of your friends and family.  Then all those things you are so concerned about getting done - they won't matter at all. 

3-7-12 Wednesday

Posted 9 hours ago

We decided we would turn in early last night for bed. So at 800PM...lights out. The Boone family was done with Tuesday. So we thought.. Soon after the CBC we had been waiting on all day came through and her hemoglobin was at a critical level of 6.8 which would require a transfusion of blood now. By midnight blood was hanging, vital signs were being taken every 15 minutes and we were thankful for the blood that someone had generously donated. Shortly after Jessie wanted to go to the bathroom. Bill and I both got up to help her and to maneuver all the tubes and poles. Without warning she passed out and hit the floor. By His Grace and Mercy and her angels...she wasn't hurt.

So needless to say there was little sleep last night...and lots of assessments and monitoring.

His mercies are new every morning. She ate a huge breakfast, her sodium looked good which means the diabetes insipidus is resolving itself. Her liver enzymes and bili were a little elevated today which means a procedure tomorrow where the radiologist will go in and dilate the tube in her liver and possibly place a stint. If this doesn't help things flow better they will reattach the bag to her liver drain and allow the bile to come out into the bag.

This am devotion in Streams...We were harassed at every turn...(2 Corinthians 7:5) Boy did that sound familiar...Yes Lord I thought, we have been harassed at every turn..And it goes on to say..

"One of His purposes is to show us His all-sufficient strength and grace more effectively than if we were free from difficulties and trials. Another purpose is to bring us to a greater awareness of our dependence upon Him. God is constantly trying to teach us how dependent we are on His Care alone. This is exactly where Jesus Himself stood and where He desires us to stand. We must not stand with self made strength but always leaning upon Him. And our stand must exhibit a trust that would never dare to take even one step alone. This will teach us to trust Him more. There is no way to learn of faith except through trials. They are God's school of faith, and it is much better for us to learn to trust Him than to live a life of enjoyment. And once the lesson of faith is learned, it is an everlasting possession and an eternal fortune gained. Yet without trust in God, even great riches will leave us in poverty."

This reading reminded me once again to count it all gift, no matter what, for He is gifting us with trust and faith which is an everlasting possession and an eternal fortune.

I was blessed by my prayer group coming up this evening and meeting in the chapel of the hospital instead of the church. To be able to sit with them and pray scripture...Such a precious time and a deep reminder of How His Spirit gives us Life in so many ways.

Jessie was blessed to feel good enough for her small group of about 6 girls to come and visit her in the hospital. This is their night to gather as a group and study God's Word and grow into young women of God. They came bringing cards and ice cream. She was so happy to see them. Thank You God for these special young ladies and their leaders for their loving example of friendship and sisterhood no matter what happens.

Tonight as I was riding up on the elevator from the cafeteria a nurse got on and was greeted by another nurse who said, Hey...are you working with us tonight. She smiled and said no, I am going to 7. The other nurse said, Man, I wish you were working with us on 4. And I gently intruded in their conversation and said, Not me...we need good nurses on 7 too.. She smiled and nodded and got off the elevator with me. We talked very casually and then parted our ways. Her soul was gentle. Just a few minutes ago, Jessie's evening nurse came in bringing her evening meds and to do an assessment...There she was,the nurse I had just met on the elevator. She smiled so big and said...Hello, Jessica, My name is Bridgette. Your mom and I have already met. We were both enjoying this moment of realization and she said..."That is why you must always be kind to others....You never know who you are going to encounter later down the road. We both in union of spirit nodded in agreement.

What a beautiful thought to close with tonight as the Boones are going to bed. American Idol is over, the shower is done, the pills given, the beds made....

We must always be kind...for we never know when we are entertaining an angel, or a future nurse, or a mom of a future patient, or....or....or..... God's gift to us tonight? Bridgette, a gentle soul, with a sweet preview of what was to come as she gently reached out to Jessie and overtook her care. Thank you God for those big ole hands that always hold us. For being reminded again You are always a step ahead of us preparing the way. You have already got Jessie's procedure ready for tomorrow. Thank you for never sleeping and always being present in every moment. We love You and give You ALL glory honor and praise. God Night...


Blessed be the Lord, who would not give us up. 
Blessed be the Lord, for His unfailing love...

The snare is broken and we have escaped. 
Our hope is in the name of the Lord. 
Blessed be the Lord!

http://youtu.be/H-bUYmepKws  - Sanctuary


My friend, DeeDee, reminded me of this beautiful song.  Her timing was perfect because I had just been reading in James and been feeling the need to empty myself of anything that was not of God. 
I wanted God to prepare my heart so that I could be a sanctuary for Him.

The book of James will probably not make you feel great.  At least, it doesn't make me feel very good about my walk with Christ.  But it does encourage me to keep trying... to trust God to bless me if I just will follow His directions.  Trusting God will manifest itself in obedience.  James calls us to be more than believers.  He calls us to be doers of the Word.

James, the author and brother of Jesus, tells us to stand firm when trials and temptations come our way.  He says listening to God's Word isn't enough.  We have to obey what we hear - that's how people will recognize that we belong to Christ. Obedience means trusting God enough to follow where He leads us - even when it's hard, to obey Him even when we think our way is better.  Obedience has nothing to do with "earning" our salvation.  Obedience reflects true faith.  If I'm not obeying God, where is my faith?

In chapter 3, James describes two kinds of wisdom. Wisdom that comes from God and "wisdom" that is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  How can you tell the difference? 

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.



17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

I'm afraid I may be leaning on earthly "wisdom" too often.  Envy and selfish ambition in my heart try to push out the wisdom that comes from God - peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere - that's what needs to fill my heart.  LOVE.

Galatians 5:6b NIV 
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.


Seems like it always comes back to love. 

People will know that we belong to Christ when love like He loves.  True faith expresses itself through love.  We treat others well because we love.  We obey God because we love Him, who first loved us.  We love others because our love for Him overflows to those around us.  So if we truly love, how can we quarrel and fight and seek our own way?  James says we have to submit to God.

Submit Yourselves to God

James 4

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.


4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”


7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.


I make a choice each day to submit to His will in my life.  I put all my trust in His loving and compassionate Hands.  I firmly resist the lies that the enemy would have me believe.  I turn the battle over to the Lord, because He's already defeated my enemy.  I just have to remember that.
I also throw myself on His tender mercies which are new every morning.  Every day I acknowledge how much He's done for me and How much He continues to do on my behalf.

I have to choose to empty myself of earthly wisdom and understanding before God can prepare me to be a vessel He can use.  Each day, I  make a choice of which master I will serve. Almighty God or the Prince of this earthly temporary world.  I choose the One who loved me enough to send His Son to take my punishment.  I choose Holy God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, my heavenly Father.

Oh, Lord, prepare me to me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for You. Less of me, Lord, and more of You.

http://youtu.be/SZ-fghqc8Oo - Inside out - Hillsong

Being still for just a moment...

http://youtu.be/EPDPUoxylP4 - Be still my soul - Selah


"In His goodness He chose to make us His own children by giving us His true word.  And we,
out of all creation, became His choice possession."  James 1:18 NLT

I have a confession to make.  I've been letting my busyness keep me from time with my Father.
I hate it, but it happens so easily.  I look at my list of things to do and think, "If I just do this or that one little thing first, before I sit down with God, then my mind will be clear and I can focus on what's important."  But the problem is one little thing leads to another little thing and before I know it, the day is gone and I'm too tired to sit at His feet.

This morning, in the middle of my mess and my list of things to do, I have decided to put Him first.

I picked up "Treasury of Praise" by Ruth Myers and flipped through the pages to find a prayer that fits my life at the moment, and this is what I found.  I hope it will remind you, like it reminded me, God has me right where He wants me to be at any given moment.  Instead of stressing over bumps in the road, I will seek His purpose and trust His Plan.  He can use every single bump for something good, if I just keep my eyes on Him and step out in obedience - even when it's not easy...even when it doesn't make sense to my little human brain.

Where I am
Thank You that You have me in the place You want me just now... that even if I got here through choices or indifference or even rebellion, You knew my mistakes and sins before I ever existed, and You worked them into Your plan to draw me to Yourself, to mold and bless me and to bless others through me.  Thank You that, even if I'm here through the ill will or poor judgment of other people, all is well; for in Your sovereign wisdom You are at work to bring about good results from all those past decisions, those past events beyond my control -- good results both for me and for others.  Thank You again that You meant for good the terrible things that happened to Joseph, who was sold into slavery, exiled to a distant country, and later sent to prison on false accusations... and that through all this You had him in the right place at the right time for highly important reasons.  I'm glad, Lord, that You are the same today- well able to work things out for us, to turn evil into good. I stand amazed at the complexity and mystery of Your wisdom.  How safe it is for me to trust Your reasons for acting (or not acting) and Your methods of working!

So I rest in the fact that You have me in this place for this day, and I praise You that You will faithfully guide me throughout life to just where You want me to be, as I seek to do Your will.

And most important of all is my place in You.  How delighted I am to have You as my dwelling place where I can settle down, feel secure, and be content anywhere on earth.  You are my blessed Home, "where I can enter and be at rest even when all around and above is a sea of trouble" (Andrew Murray).  How my soul delights to hide in the safety of Your presence... to take refuge in the shadow of Your wings, to eat at Your table, to drink my fill of the river of Your delights.  How blessed I am, my King and my God, for You have chosen me and brought me near, to live in Your presence, to behold Your delightfulness, to see Your counsel...

And to think that I will dwell in Your house forever!

Psalm 105:16-22
16 He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food;


17 and he sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.


18 They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,


19 till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the LORD proved him true.


20 The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.


21 He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,


22 to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.

After all Joseph had been through, when confronted with the very brothers who had started the whole downward spiral of his life by selling him to slave traders, Joseph answered with mercy and wisdom when his brothers were so afraid that he would have them put to death:

Genesis 50:20 NIV
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

We can trust Him to do what's best in every circumstance.  There's nothing that comes into my life that has not first been filtered through His amazing love.   No matter what the trial, Christ will provide the strength I need to face what comes.
 
Romans 11:33 NIV                                                                                                                                33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Psalm 91:1-2 NIV
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.


2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
 
http://youtu.be/FSXzDiGpYZ8 - It is Well

LOVE my enemies? Do I really have to do that? 

Matthew 5:44-48
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. ⁴⁷ If you are kind only to your friends,^[t] how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. ⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

John 14:34-35
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”




I have written devotionals about love before.  It's something that God puts on my heart often, and I think I know why.  I don't love very many people the way Jesus loved everyone.  It's something I have to work at and fortunately, the Spirit is more than willing to help me change my attitude so that I can love more deeply, more unconditionally.

Last Sunday while I was getting for church, I was listening to Dr. Charles Stanley.  His messages almost  always motivate me to strive for a closer walk with God.  Sunday was no exception.  This Sunday's message got my attention.

His lesson was on love.  Not just any love, God's love - agape love. 

I know most of you have heard sermons on agape love.  You know it's the truest form of love.  It's unconditional love with no expectations.  Agape love is unselfish, understanding, forgiving and sacrificial.  At least that's what Dr. Stanley said, and I agree.   How do we know how to love like that, with agape love?  We follow Jesus, and we make it our goal to love like Jesus loves. 

What do we learn about agape love from Jesus?

1.  Agape love is unselfish.  Jesus put others before himself every time.  Even on the cross, His concern was for His mother and His dear friend, John.  But He took it one step further, His concern was for the thief who in the last hours of his life turned to Jesus.  In the middle of his own unimaginable pain and anguish, Jesus cared more for others than himself.  But he not only thought of the thief on the cross, His thoughts were on you and me.  He died - not for his own sins but for our sins.  He could have "called ten thousand angels to come and set Him free", but instead He suffered and died so that we could be saved.  He showed unselfish love.   What this shows me is that I may have to suffer when I love like Jesus.

2.  Jesus taught me to love with understanding.  He taught me to look past the outside to the heart of a person.  There are times when I'm confronted with someone who is hard to love.  Maybe this person is demanding of my time and attention.  Maybe he/she is offensive in some way, or maybe he/she is self-centered or tries to control me.  That makes it harder for me to love that person, right?  But agape love requires that I look past those irritating habits and ask myself a few questions:
     a.  What is their background? What experiences have they had that  might cause them to act this way?
     b.  Did someone hurt them physically, emotionally or mentally?
     c.  What kind of parents did they have?  Were they criticized and put down, made to feel like they had no value?
     d.  Were they dominated and controlled all their lives?  Did they feel helpless to stand up for themselves?

What do I really know about the people I find so hard to love?  Would I feel differently if I looked at them through the eyes and compassion of Jesus?

http://youtu.be/P5AkNqLuVgY  - Give me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath

3.  Jesus showed forgiving love.  How many times has He been willing to forgive my betrayals and my rebellious ways?  Does He forgive but not forget?  Does He constantly throw all my failures back in my face?  Nope!  That's the enemy, not Jesus.  When Jesus loves, He forgives - my wrong doing is just like it never happened.  He wipes away all my sins.  All my sins!  And He no longer holds them against me.  If I love like Jesus, I have to not only forgive but forget.

I know what some of you are thinking.  "Carol, you can't just forget when someone continually does you wrong!  You can forgive but you should not forget because they'll just do it again."  Right?  Wrong.  Jesus said forget.  He removes our sins as far as East is from West.  That's what I have to do if I'm going to love like Jesus.

4. I think the hardest part of agape love is that fact that it is sacrificial.  Jesus laid down His own life, He forgot His own needs, He gave up everything for us.

John 15:13
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Is there anyone for whom you would lay down your life?   I can name of few people I would gladly die for. But am I willing to give up my life as I know it for someone else?  Do I love enough to lay my life aside?

I couldn't help but think of our friend Tillman.  Tillman is a very active, high energy man.  He's always been an athlete - never one to come home from work and sit in front of the t.v. with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other.  He and his wonderful wife, Barbara, were two people who loved each other very much,  and that love overflowed to those around them.  They were so quick to welcome people into their home for a hot home cooked meal.  But they did more than that.   Their home became "home" to several  young men who were training at the police academy in town.  During the weeks of training, these guys had to be away from their own families, so Barbara and Tillman became their Terrell family.  Everyone loved Barbara and Tillman.

But Barbara started having some symptoms, weakness, stumbling a little. It was so unlike her.  She was quite an athlete herself and had always been strong and healthy.  Doctors couldn't figure it out until finally, tests came back.  Barbara had ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease.   If there is any disease more heartbreaking that ALS, I don't know what it is.  Why Barbara?  How could this happen to such a gracious, kind and generous woman?  I just don't understand, but like my friend Donna says, "we don't have to understand.  We just have to trust." 

Tillman took care of his precious wife.  People would offer to come stay with Barbara so that  he could get away - take a break.  But his answer was that he would take a break when Barbara was gone.  Until then, he was going to take care of his wife.  And he did such an awesome job.  That is sacrificial love.  Agape love.  Tillman loved like Jesus.  He laid down his own active life in order to be by Barbara's side in case she needed anything.  Tillman didn't think about how much he was missing, all the things he couldn't do because he stayed home to care for Barbara. Instead, he thought about Barbara and what she needed.  And had the roles been reversed, Barbara would have done the exact same thing for Tillman.
 Agape love does not seek it's own.

Tillman doesn't think he did anything special.  I do.  I became very aware of how special it was when not too many years after Barbara passed away, Larry and I ran into another husband whose wife had just been diagnosed with a terrible brain disease.  His wife was very intelligent, strong mind and body, but the disease was stealing that all away from her.  She became almost child like and didn't understand how even the simplest things worked.  It was extremely devastating.  We sat down and had lunch with her husband and he shared how he was going to put her into a nursing home because it was just too much work for him.  After all, she was not going to get better.  This disease was killing her.  And he said "I'm still a young man and I have my own life to think about."  I tried  hard not to let my mouth drop.  My heart was broken for his wife, because I have no doubt she would have cared for him whatever it took, had he been the one with the brain disease.  I couldn't help but think of Tillman and all the other faithful husbands and wives who have laid their own lives aside to care for their invalid spouses or maybe a child.  Sacrificial love - laying down our lives for someone else - that is agape love.

But sometimes sacrificial love can mean laying down our own ideas of what our life should be.  Take the husband who lives with a very ill tempered wife.  She never has a kind word.  She finds fault with everything he does.  She belittles, criticizes, shows very little love or affection towards her husband.   Agape love will move this husband to love her in spite of how he is treated.  He will make a choice to love with agape love.  That's what Jesus tells us to do in marriage.  I know, I know.  It's not fair.  But it is what God says to do and even when we do not understand, His way is always perfect. 

When we marry we are making a commitment to love no matter what.  What happens when the life we dreamed of -  perfect harmony and bliss with a spouse who caters to our every whim... turns out not to be so perfect.  What happens when our spouse is selfish or rude or critical?  Do we love inspite of how we're being treating?  Or do we leave?  Agape love never fails.  Agape love does not seek its own way, and it endures through everything.   Leaving a marriage because our own needs aren't being met is selfish.  That's not my words - that comes from God.

1 John 4
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.



 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.


Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.


And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.  Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.


Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.  We love each other because he loved us first.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?  And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.


This is how God tells us to love.  It's not suggestion; it's not optional.  It's a command.  As believers we are all called to be holy - different, set apart for the world.  People will know we are Christians because of our love, so we must make love our first priority.  Love covers a multitude of sins.  Love is forgiving, selfless, understanding, and does not retaliate when someone does a wrong.  Love is willing to lay down one's own life for others.

This is the hardest thing we are called to do but it is also the most important thing we are called to do.   When asked what the greatest command was, Jesus answered:

Matthew 22:27-29
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

We can't do it under our own strength.  We simply aren't good enough.  But God has given us His very Spirit to live in us giving us the power and the strength to do everything God calls us to do.  Not by might (or will) but by God's Spirit, we will be able to love those who are hard to love.  After all, it's the lease we can do since God loved us when we were so unlovable.


1 Corinthians 13:1-8

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.



Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

That, my friends, is Jesus love - agape love. 
Patient and kind
not jealous or boastful
not proud or rude
doesn't demand it's own way
not irritable
keeps no record of being wronged.
never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful.
endures through EVERY circumstance.

Do you love with agape love?  We have to make a commitment to do what God tells us to do.  His Spirit will provide all we need.  You see, love isn't a feeling; it is an action.  God commands us to love - even our enemies.  He wouldn't tell us to do something without giving us the ability to do it.  We'll fall.  We'll get impatient or say something unkind.  In a weak moment, we just remind our spouse of something he/she did in the past that hurt us.  But that doesn't mean we quit trying.  Love never gives up!  It endures through Every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:8
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

That's the best part.  Love will go with us into Eternity.  Nothing else we own or accomplish will matter, but Love will remain.

http://youtu.be/M2RqZXShfQo - The Greatest Command - Acapella FC Alumni Chorus

God disciplines those He loves...
Sometimes God disciplines us to draw our attention to the things we need to change in our lives. He may put "briars or thornbushes in our way, to help us see our own sin.  He doesn't automatically give up on us when we sin, but instead He loves us enough to point out our sins so we will change.

Sometimes God allows struggles and suffering to make us more holy - more set apart from the world.  Nothing sets a believer apart from the world more powerfully than how he/she handles adversity - especially when the adversity seems so undeserved. 

God's Discipline is not punishment!  God's Discipline is training us to act in accordance to His rules so that we can increase in holiness and become more like Christ.  Discipline is not always easy but it's meant for good - not evil. 

In the book of Hebrews we learn that our Father disciplines us in order to make us more holy - as HE is Holy.  He wants us to be more like Jesus because He loves us.

http://youtu.be/Bo-mp_m3nj8 - Through it All - Selah


Yesterday our sermon was based on Hebrews 4.  I have read this passage many times and have used Hebrews 4:12 often.  For me, knowing that God's word is alive and powerful resonates in my heart every time I read a passage and God gives me
a clear understanding that the words are for me - that His inspired words speak to my circumstances, not just to the people who received the letter thousands of years ago.  God's word is still active, moving hearts to do His perfect will.  It is able to cut through my pretenses and excuses and lay bare my inner thoughts.  It "pricks" my heart to change those things I may be doing and failing to do, so that I can become more like the woman God created me to be.

Yesterday, our preacher, David Chisholm, reminded me that I must always look at the context of every scripture.  This verse follows the passage that speaks of the importance of obeying God if we want to enter His rest. 

Hebrews 4:9-12
9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.


12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

No matter how good I may look on the outside, God sees my heart.  He's not fooled by my "Sunday Face".  He knows every fault, every bad attitude.  He knows what my true focus is.  God knows if my heart's desire is to honor Him and to do His will.  He knows my true intentions.

If I'm seeking truth and wanting to be more like Jesus, I still may do things I shouldn't or fail to do things I should, however, God sees my heart, and it's my heart He seeks.  I am greatly relieved when I read about great men of faith like David, Abraham, Moses, and others.  They loved the LORD and they wanted to serve Him, however, they made mistakes - sometimes really big mistakes.  But God in His grace and mercy, was forgiving because He knew that the intentions of their hearts was to live for Him.

David suggested that when we read God's word, we should read the passages as God intended.  The book of Hebrews was one letter written most likely to Jewish Christians who had fled their homes due to persecution because of their beliefs.  It was meant to be read as one letter - not a verse here and a verse there, but all together.   Some "letters" in the new testament are a little lengthy and may present more of challenge to read in one sitting, but this letter is only 13 chapters long.  I was able to read it in less time than I use to spend reading fictional books that really had no meaning in my life.  Hebrews give me such encouragement - especially in regards to suffering and the purpose God has for those times in my life when I feel He doesn't hear my cry for relief.

As I read the book of Hebrews, I came to chapter 12 and had an "aha! moment".  God's love can be found even  in the suffering.


The Epistle to the Hebrews - chapter 12



God’s Discipline Proves His Love


1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.


5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said,


“My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline,


and don’t give up when He corrects you.


6 For the LORD disciplines those He loves,


and He punishes each one He accepts as his child.”


7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?


10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.


12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.


A Call to Listen to God


14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.


18 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”


22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God Himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.

This portion of the letter to the Hebrews is so powerful.  It must have been a great encouragement to those who had suffered because of their faith.  The writer of Hebrews is reminding those believers to keep their eyes on their Redeemer.  Jesus was willing to suffer so much more than most of us will ever suffer, because He knew the joy that was coming.  Heaven is truly worth any pain we experience here on earth. 

After reading chapter 12, I thought about people I know and love  who are suffering great affliction and enduring great struggles. I don't think that every struggle God allows in a person's life comes from his/her own sinfulness or failures.  Sometimes, yes, the suffering God allows is to open our eyes to what we're doing wrong so that we can make changes and become more holy - more set apart from the world in our actions or thoughts.  But sometimes, the suffering HE allows is simply to draw us closer to Him, to remind us that He is the only answer, the only hope we have.  That kind of suffering can also serve to make us more holy because learn (the hard way) to keep our eyes on Jesus for strength and comfort and hope.  That kind of suffering is God's way of pulling us close to Himself. 

For the first time, I realized that my friends who are suffering so much hurt and hardship, are experiencing God's deep, deep
love for them.  He is allowing suffering so that they will cling to Him with all their might.  Our heavenly Father is reaching out in love - sometimes through the suffering HE allows - to draw us closer to Him.  As we draw near to Him through our suffering, the people around us see we are different from the world.   Trusting God when everything is going wrong sets us apart from how the world responds to suffering and struggles.  Instead of letting the suffering cause us to become bitter, or rebellious, we endure through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.  We keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  We remember His example, and what He was willing to endure for our sakes.  He knew the joy that was "set before Him" - the joy of sitting at the right Hand of God and the joy of finishing His great work that would provide the redemption and salvation of all who would trust in Him.

I can see God's divine Hand in the hardships if I will simply trust His great love.  God loves deeper and more completely than we can could ever imagine.  His intentions are to make us holy as He is holy.  Sometimes that includes allowing us to suffer.  Any suffering our Father allows is to make us more like Jesus.  Somehow, that makes the suffering God allows precious to me.

Being involved in prayer ministry has been a blessing to me.  At times, I've questioned God, "Why?  Why do children suffer?  Why do godly people have to endure such unrelenting pain and hardship?"  But as I watch the way believers
respond to the suffering and struggles God has allowed in their lives, I know they know Him on a deeper level than I do.
They have learned to trust in Him regardless of the circumstances.  They know He will not leave them to face the trials
alone.  He is with them every single moment, lovingly guiding and encouraging, drawing them near to Him.  These dear
brothers and sisters in Christ who have leaned on God through all circumstances are different from the world -  set apart, holy like Jesus.  They trust when there doesn't seem to be reason to trust.  God is making them holy through the suffering, and although that seems so difficult to understand from an earthly viewpoint, from an Eternal perspective, nothing we endure here on earth can compare with what HE has prepared for us in Heaven. 

This is one of my favorite passages in the bible.  No matter what,  I will trust Him.  He is my strength. 
He is my Eternal Hope.  I trust His unmatchable love.   

Habakkuk 3:17-19

17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,


18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.

Holy Father, I trust You because You loved me enough to send Jesus, Your only Son, to take my place, to endure my punishment so that I can stand before You - spotless and unblemished.  Not because of anything I've done - all because
of what Jesus did on my behalf.  Thank You for Your amazing gift of love and Grace.  I want to be holy, set apart for You and for Your purpose.  I don't want to suffer or struggle, but if that's what it takes to be who You want me to be, I will trust You.
Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus, who suffered more than I'll ever suffer so that I can be with You for Eternity.  I love You, LORD, please help my life reflect that love towards everyone I meet today.  In the Precious Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.


http://youtu.be/e8HgAVenbUU - Bring the Rain - Mercy Me