First Love

This summer the Lord has been taking me on a journey of simplicity, of contentment, awe and wonder at Who He is and what He has done for me. How He desperately loves me and pursues me every.single.day. Sitting in His presence and just being with Him, I have been blown away by Him.

It all started in the book of Philippians as I sat, really sat and pondered, 2:6-8. Listen to these words- "(6)who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7)but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (8)Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."


Reread that a time or two and ask the Lord to really soften your heart to His gift to us. We grasp this amazing truth when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, but I fear too often and too soon we forget this incredible gift.

If you are like me, you have had a relationship with the Lord for a long time. You have walked with Him and your relationship with Him has grown and matured. But somewhere along the way, we have forgotten our First Love. We do 'all the things' for Him, but not with Him. Does that make sense? Somewhere along the way we have made it about measuring up for Him instead of humbling ourselves to Him.

So, over the last few weeks, He has been peeling back the layers of my heart and mind, drawing me to Him. To just come, sit and soak Him in every day. Nothing else.

Through that my heart has returned to my First Love. My Lord and Savior. I sit in awe of Him. I sit in awe of how He poured Himself out, humbled Himself to the point of death, all for a relationship with me.

And when I sit with that truth and reality, it makes me wonder how I could ever lose sight of it in the first place. How on earth does life creep in and cover the precious truth that He loves me and invites me to simply rest in Him?

And yet there He is, with all His grace, arms wide open saying "It's ok. Just come to me. Let Me hold you and love you perfectly just as you are."

I encourage you to run to Him today. Ask Him to peel away the layers weighing you down and free you to live today in His love, His peace, His grace. Go back to your First Love and remember the sweet truth of Philippians 2:6-8.

Waiting

Wait. Waiting. It's not something we're too accustomed to in our culture. We want the biggest, the best and we want it right now

But there is tremendous value in waiting. It teaches us patience. It teaches us self-control and self-discipline. It teaches us to live in the moment.

 

Psalm 130: 5-6 says "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning."

Often times, we find ourselves waiting in His presence when life is hard, when things don't make sense, when we're ‘watching for the morning’. The nights, dry spells, wearisome seasons can be so very long. We may be struggling financially, relationally, to have children, to have a spouse, to have friends. Our long nights and trying seasons can look very different from each other’s. But, we have the same promise.   Morning always comes. The Lord always comes.

Psalm 33:20 says “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”

Matthew 11:28-30 declares “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

There is sweet refreshment and strengthening when we sit before the Lord, waiting. He longs for us to wait in His presence. Linger...just a little longer with Him in His word, in His presence. Patiently listen to His voice. Letting His promises and His word sink deep into our soul until we are convinced we have no other hope than Him.

Whatever your burden is today, whatever your night looks like, causing you to long for morning, lean close into Him. Wait with Him. Wait for Him. Sit in His presence and let Him speak to you today. Let Him love you. Let Him show you His faithfulness. Let Him redeem you and your cares to Him. He will not let you down!

 

My Grandma

The last few days, weeks really, have been flooded with memories and thoughts of Grams. My entire life is filled with memories and experiences with her, which makes it nearly impossible to pick a favorite memory. And for that I am thankful.

A dear friend recently commented to me that she loves how fiercly I love my family. And when she said that, Grams immediately came to my mind. I get that fierce love from Grandma. To know Grandma was to know love and home. She made you feel loved and accepted no matter where you were. From her home, to church, to our tire shop and beyond. She brought love and a sense of home and comfort with her.

She got that love from our precious Savior, Jesus Christ, whom she is now with for eternity. Her love and relationship with Christ wasn't just something she did on Sunday-it was her life. And because of that, her influence and impact goes farther than we will ever know this side of Heaven.

As I think about the days ahead, the memories and experiences we have yet to come, my heart aches with the reality she won't physically be with us. But God is good and gives comfort and peace in all things. He has reminded me that we move forward with her in our hearts. We continue on the legacy she has left.

So I will continue to fiercly love my family. I will continue to press into my Savior and walk with Him daily. I will ask the Lord to fill me with His love to overflowing so I can leave a trail of love and belonging-just like my Grandma.