Gods Love Part 1

For the last month, I have been deeply entrenched in some of the hardest emotions I have ever experienced. I have wanted to post so many different things, but when I sit down to write on the blog, weariness overcomes me and I cannot put words to my thoughts. That weariness has begun to break and God has been gently taking care of me. God has been showering me with His love. His love is something I've always known in my head, but a love that I have never experienced in my heart as I have in recent days.

So, these posts will be titled God's Love because I hope that after reading you will know God's love so much more deeply. I have so much I want to share so this post will have to have several parts. I pray that these words will not be mine, but God's heart for you. That you will be blessed.

I want to first share what God has impressed on my heart from our trip to World Mandate. I believe what we heard is a message that God wants you to know as well. . .

1. What do you do with pain or hard times in your life? Most of us RUN - we want to hide the pain, numb the pain, mask the pain by staying busy, eating, drinking, shopping, pretending, stuffing, (fill in your favorite way to run from pain). As a result, we are broken, burdened, and beat down - but we don't know why. We don't realize that to be honest about our hurts and pain will bring the greatest freedom we have ever known.
THE TRUTH:
God is at work in the pain! We MUST allow it, run to it, connect in it, and work with God for His resurrection is coming! We are hastening the coming of the Lord by jumping in with God where ever there is pain in our own life, someone else's life, or in this world. We don’t know why the pain may be there, but it doesn’t matter. We have to jump in with God and do His work! Go into the pain, a resurrection is on the other side! When the pain is on, the urgency is real! Where there is pain – God is on the move!
Ps 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
a. God hangs out with people in pain! It’s not about us, it’s always about others! We have to join Him where He is at and GO!
b. God wants to start a movement in your failures.
c. In the hardest places, breakthroughs happen.
d. Churches/people who get involved in Haiti (and other areas of pain) are going to see revival – God is on the move in Haiti. Revival is happening in the hardest, darkest places.
e. You will know God's love in a fresh way as you enter into the pain and allow Him to work, to heal, and to restore. GO FOR IT!!! Allow Him to LOVE YOU!!!!

2. Life is FULL OF CHAOS – we need to embrace it and roll with it. We cannot and should not try to make life neat & tidy – when we do we aren’t dependent on God. When we try to make life “neat”, we are in control and God has no room to move in us or among us. Everyday God wants to surprise us. Will you LET GO and LET GOD DO HIS THING???

THE TRUTH: GOD IS IN CONTROL
Ps 86 – this whole chapter shows us this truth – in the midst of all things good, chaotic, or painful - He is in control! (Read Ps 86 and then read the notes I have written below)

a. Call upon Him and He will answer . . . don’t call your best friend, your spouse, your therapist, your pastor, etc. CALL ON GOD!!!
b. Cry out to Him all day with DESPERATION. Do we know what it is to be desperate? Do we realize that without God showing up everyday we can’t make it. Are you desperate for God? Do you live with the realization that you NEED Him to be able to get through the day? Are you desperate for Him to show up in your family, your finances, your marriage, your children, your work, the salvation of those He has given you to influence, etc.? God wants to show up BIG. He wants to do miracles in you and through you. Will you allow Him to show up? We have to allow ourselves and others (including our children!!!) to go through hard times so they will learn how to be desperate for God. If we try to “fix” it or make it better, we are stealing away valuable training experiences that God wants them to be in.
c. God IS in control so, STOP seeing the giants and recognize who God is! Remember, there are no hopeless situations, just hopeless people. From scripture and your own story, remember all that God has done before and KNOW that He WILL do it again for you! God intervenes and gives us mercy in the hard, dark, places of our lives & in the world

3. OBEDIENCE BASED DISCIPLESHIP – very simply . . . READ THE BIBLE and DO what it SAYS!!! IMMEDIATELY – 48hr rule: if you don’t obey in 2 days, you’ll forget about it! This shows God how much you love Him and He in turn will bless your obedience.

As I began to apply these principles upon our return from World Mandate, God began to awaken my heart to His love. As I allowed myself to enter into my own hurt and the hurt of others around me, His love became more real. As I have LET GO, God has shown up in ways that I cannot even begin to write about - surprising us, overwhelming us, providing for us. I has been miraculous. As I have been obedient, I have seen His tender love in His amazing faithfulness to us.

Go deep with God. It is time. Don't stay stuck where you are. If you aren't growing, you are going backwards. He LOVES you. He longs to shower you with His love. Will you let Him?