"...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." [1 John 4:7]
This scripture was the focus of our devotional time this morning from the "Love Dare" [which I must say is a wonderful "couples" devotional - whether you are dating, engaged, newly weds, married for 5, 10 or 50 years! All the "dares" may or may not apply - but the teaching and the devotionals are just awesome - and can lead to some conversations you never thought you could or would have! Promise - lean into it!] and today's title [Day 19] is "Love is Impossible". Which, when you unwrap 1 John 4 is absolutely true! Unless you know God and are a child of God you cannot "manufacture unconditional (or agape) love out of your own heart. It's impossible! It is [truly] beyond your capabilities. It's beyond all our capabilities. You may have demonstrated kindness and unselfishness in some form, and you may have learned to be more thoughtful and considerate. But sincerely loving someone unselfishly and unconditionally is another matter altogether!"
I love that phrase..."loving someone unselfishly and unconditionally"... and we both know that kind of love - agape love - only comes from God - who is love! And watch this...substitute "wait" for love! Sincerely "waiting"...unselfishly and unconditionally...is another matter altogether!
Man, is that ever true! I mean seriously...we can begin to grab a hold of the truth in 1 John 4:7-21...if we are a child of God - knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior - because of the Promise and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in lives! The Holy Spirit [by the way is the Ghost Writer of this blog, because you and I both know this guys is not a writer - just ask my English teachers and professors! This guy was a "math teacher" for crying out loud!] reveals to us and teaches us through the "refiner's fire" that God is love, and that the ability and capability to love one another as Christ first loved us - by giving up His life so that we may live free from the bondage of death and sin - only comes through the Strength and Peace of our Heavenly Father! And "let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything." [1 John 3: 18-19]
And Agape Waiting...unselfishly and unconditionally...is Seriously Ridiculous! And it is a great lesson our Heavenly Father is teaching the two of us - right now! We know His Promise that Strength will rise as we Wait Upon Him...but the ability and capability to do just that - Wait Upon the Lord - only comes from God Himself, through our relationship with His Son and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! I can't begin to tell you how impossible it is to wait unselfishly and unconditionally right now - especially for this knucklehead! We have just come through an incredible miracle, both in Jackson's life and in our move...and trust me, walking by Faith is the only way we arrived here in Dayton, PA...because if we would have "seen" this move to the farm coming - there would have been "some serious rebellion" as our wise counsel laughingly shared with us last night over dinner! And now...He wants us to "wait" here! And to not to just wait, but "agape wait" - unselfishly and unconditionally - not placing any "expectations" on Him, or where and what, He has in store! Come on...
But, we will! We will wait right here until He gives us clarity, direction, peace, and unity! And that is exactly what He is asking/calling/encouraging us to do! Wait! Agape Wait - and it is absolutely impossible without the Holy Spirit renewing, reviving, comforting, leading, prompting, guiding, encouraging, teaching and holding us tightly in His Grip of Grace! And I plea with you...pray for us! Reinforce our foundation of prayer and Faith daily! Because Faith is not understanding...it is accepting! [John 6:60] Accepting that He is the Son of God, and that He died for us - taking away the sting of death and the penalty our sin - that He was raised to the right hand of the Father - giving us eternal life - and He gave us the Promise of the Holy Spirit, and that He is coming back again! It is accepting that He knows the plans He has for us, and that Greater things are yet to come! We don't understand "why" right now...but we do accept it! And we will continue to walk by Faith and not by sight!
Heavenly Father...thank you! Thank you for the way that you have allowed Kelly and I to fall into your Grace, Mercy and Comfort in this time of waiting! Thank you for loving us in all the ways you do! And thank you, Father, for expressing and demonstrating your love and promise of life to us through this journey! Lord, allow us to continue to walk by faith in these uncertain times - accepting your ways, plan and future...unselfishly and unconditionally...for you are our Hope and Joy!
[Sorry, had to get that out! Just like Carter who had to pee so bad this morning, after holding it for 24hrs because his fish - "Bolt" - died this weekend, and we gave him a proper funeral/burial down the toilet - and Carter did not want to pee on him. Great story - and one that I will definitely use for a sermon illustration some day! Can't wait...]
Kelly Update: She is feeling stronger and more comfortable every day - but, still in some considerable pain at times with her incision! She is still "weaning" off the pain meds, and trying to rely on just Tylenol through out the day! She is amazing! And absolutely beautiful..and oh how blessed Carter, Jordyn, Jackson and I are to have her as mommy, wife and a rock of faith in our family! Her transformation and growth over the last month has been awesome! And to sit back and watch her fall in love with and rely on her Savior -Christ Jesus more and more, each day is just incredible! And please continue to pray for her recovery, comfort, strength and peace in this "wait"! She is so ready to find a house and get it set up as a "home" in preparation of Jackson's arrival [gotta love the intense "nesting" hormones that accompany pregnancy] - but she is undoubtably yielding to the Holy Spirit in her life, and putting away her selfish desires as we lean into this time of renewal, revival and retreat!
Jackson Update: Continues to kick and flip inside of Kel! I swear I was literally watching him do the "David Dance" last night as we went to bed - he was moving all over the place! We have a morning at the hospital on Thursday - with another Echo and Ultrasound - and can't wait to see and hear how he is healing and growing! Please join us as we continue to pray and plea that God to complete the healing that He has begun in Jackson's heart/life!
Move Update: We will continue to "Be Still, and know that He is God!" [Psalm 46:10]. Please continue to pray for surrender, clarity, unity, wisdom and provision in our move! We have an appointment Thursday afternoon with a financial advisor/broker and will be meeting with an awesome young couple - who attends the same church as us, NorthWay - who are being relocated to CA this month, and have a home that we may be able to rent - since they are not wanting to sell right now! We will see...and trust that God will shut the door, if this is not the home He has prepared for us!
Love ya'all and please continue to stand firm on the Promise and hard teaching of Christ, that:
"Apart from Me, you can do nothing...[but], if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you!" - and - "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." [John 15: 5.7 and Ephesians 3:19]
All Eyes on Jesus!
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