Browsed by
Author: Hope

I Will Let Love

I Will Let Love

Have you ever had a moment where you just knew, without a doubt, that that was God’s doing? Have you ever thought of it being God just loving on you?

The last few days the Lord has been dropping some hints to me about STOPPING and PAUSING and really taking things in (rustig, rustig). We have become so engrossed in doing life that we never take time to just stop and be mindful of what God is busy doing around us. We have too many things to do, too little time.

So, the Lord has been speaking to me about His love for us. The word says in 1 John 4:8, “The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]” This is where I want us to camp for a bit, looking at God, who created love, God that so badly wants to love on us and we don’t allow Him. He is the ultimate expression of love, but we miss the moments He tries to display it. When He is trying to love on us, we can’t see because our worries, questions and busy routines makes so much noise that it drowns out that which will bring life and hope that we need.

A few days ago during my quiet time, the Lord showed me the most beautiful picture. It was quiet, peaceful and full of color, everything I love. Immediately I went into this mode of doing (we are so good at doing but not receiving) – “Father, do I need to give a message to someone? What are you saying?” He didn’t reply, but a few days after, my friend sent me a song that God wanted her to give to me and it was a love song from Jesus to me. That same day our daughter painted me a picture and when she gave it to me my heart was overcome by joy. That is when the penny dropped and Jesus spoke to my heart – “You know, I just want to love on you and send surprises to you.”

We so easily forget that we are married / in covenant with Him; which means we show our love to one another. We surprise each other with things that makes our hearts happy. So, what I feel God is saying to us is – will you stop and pause and allow Me to love on you? There are certain things that make us happy, that touch our hearts and it is those very things that God uses to drop on us as a surprise to tell us how much He loves us and to let us know that it was Him doing it. To tell us He is mindful of us, even in our darkest hours. He uses people and things to bring His surprises to us. Things like; The sunset that you see; the smile that your baby gave you; a butterfly; someone making you food; a friend sending you a message, someone giving you money and the list goes on – It is Him loving you!

I love purple figs, but they are rare to find. Listen, when I see one it’s like the biggest present I have ever received. You would ask why a fig? I don’t know, but it is the most beautiful fruit to me and it brings me joy to look at and to eat. I always say that God was thinking of me when He made it. Maybe He knitted me together in a field of fig trees. Who knows?

My prayer for all of us, especially in this difficult time of heartache and loss: is that we would daily become mindful of the Lord Jesus Christ wanting to love on us and telling us He is there. That we will allow Him to love us and receive his surprises.

Beloved, go today and everyday after, open up your heart to be loved by the One who knows exactly how to Love you in every moment. Stop and look, especially in your darkest hour, He is all around us, dropping love letters.

Prayer time – Jesus lover of my soul! I ask forgiveness for not being aware of Your love for me. For not stopping and taking in your love that you daily pour out on me. Holy Spirit please help me to become mindful of God wanting to love me. I choose to open my heart to you so that I can grab hold of Your endless love for me. I will let love surprise me. You are welcome to come and show me what true love is. In Jesus name. Amen.

This is a song about love finding us

Retaining Hope

Retaining Hope

HOPE – Meaning – The feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.

We are faced with a lot of pressure and uncertainties in this time we are in. We find ourselves in a space where all seems lost. We had plans for this year, plans like – I want to get married; I will be leaving to study abroad; I have a business to start and there are promises that God gave us and has not yet been fulfilled. We ask ourselves if this will still come to pass, will I still be able to accomplish this? The problem is that we find ourselves looking more and more at how impossible things look. We look at what we see and not at what Heaven sees. By entertaining these thoughts of loss and not seeing an outcome, we open ourselves up to hopelessness.

Proverbs 13:12 says: ”Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

You will agree with me if I say that many of us are experiencing hope being deferred in these days. Hope deferred means hope that is delayed. Many things are being delayed in our lives now and we can’t do anything about it. So, what do we do now? Do we throw the towel in or do we run to the One who holds the stars?

A while ago I asked the Lord why it is so easy for us to lose hope so quickly? Why do we doubt Him; and His ability to care for us and bring to pass that which He has promised? His answer, John8:19, Then the Pharisees said to Him, “Where is this Father of Yours?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you know Me, you would know My Father also.” Yup, this is it! If we know Him, we will know that His love for us will never fail! He will never leave or forsake us, He will never bring you this far to drop you. He is the Way Maker (didn’t He make the way for the Israelites through the red sea? Absolutely impossible when we look with our natural eyes), Miracle worker (Raising Lazarus from the dead – How even?), Promise keeper (He provided Abraham with a ram to slaughter instead of killing Isaac. I don’t think Abraham would ever have thought that God would let a ram get stuck in a bush to save Isaac). There are many more examples to fall back on. We cannot fathom how God does things because His ways are higher than our ways. What we need to know is that GOD IS GOOD and GOD IS LOVE and He does not change. The world might change but He stays the same and His word will not return void. He will accomplish which He has started.

THE QUESTION IS – Do we really know Him?If we do, will we then believe that all is lost and there is no way out?

Philippians 3:10 (Amplified)[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[a]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

Prayer – Father I come before you and I bring my heart that is full of turmoil and doubt. I repent for allowing hopelessness to overwhelm me. I repent that I have lost sight of who You really are. I repent that I do not know you. Please forgive me. I lay all my worries and fears before you today and I choose to put my trust and hope in You. I choose to not lean on my own understanding and what the world is feeding me. You are my Provider, You are the Way Maker, You are the Miracle worker and the Promise keeper. This is truth and I choose to believe it! Father I pray that my spirit, soul, and body will respond to Ephesians 3:10, that I will become more intimately acquainted with You. That when I seek You, I will find You. I thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross and for loving me. Let Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus name. Amen