Love... even when it hurts.

Ladies, I loved our time together last night!!! I know some of you couldn't make it and we missed your sweet faces and fellowship. We are praying for all of you and for the specific requests turned in last night. Rest assured, we consider it a high privilege and priority to pray for you, our beloved sisters! Thank you, Stephanie and Dianne, for your continued willingness to feed us a helping of the Word when we meet. God is truly glorified in and through you.

I'd like to share something God has been speaking to my heart lately.. and that is the title of the post: Love - even when it hurts. Love - even when you don't feel like loving. Because this, sweet sisters, is the love that God speaks of in 1 Corinthians 13. We know those beautiful and irritating words, don't we ~ Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, etc. Can any of us live up to this type of loving others? I believe the answer is YES!!! Our love for Jesus compels us and indeed, makes it our privilege and JOY, to lay down our own desires, our own demands, our own 'rightness' (even when we really are right!!) in order to demonstrate love to someone who may not even want love from us.. or perhaps to someone who has been desperately in need of it. This is EXACTLY how God loves YOU and ME!!!!

His love for you is patient, his love for you is kind. God does not envy, boast, or display arrogance. God is not rude or demanding of his own way. He is not irritated by you and he keeps NO RECORD of being wronged by you. He doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in truth. God's love never gives up on you!! His love for you means he never loses faith in you!! (And NEVER means NEVER!) He is always hopeful toward you and endures with you through every, single circumstance of life!!!

Revel in the love of your Savior today, girls. Say it out loud - Jesus, I love you. Jesus, you love me!! You really, really love ME. And then go share that love with others... even when it hurts. Even when you don't feel like it. Even when you get nothing in return. Even if the person never, ever acknowledges your kindness toward them. Because God in heaven, whose eyes are always upon you, will see - and He will take notice - and He will reward the love you demonstrate to others in FAITH. And surely YOU will be changed, even if no one else is!

Matthew 5:46-48 (The Message)
"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I'm saying is, 'Grow up'. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

We've probably all heard the phrase live by faith. Let's follow the example of our Lord Jesus: lay down self, take up our cross daily, and love by faith.

Big Enough

I heard several of you say Monday night after Dianne spoke, "That was exactly what I needed to hear." Isn't that just like God? To meet us right where we are; whether it be in joy, sorrow or unspeakable pain, He meets with us and gives us what we need.
Some of you may not know, but Rhoda - our vigilant prayer warrior who heads up our prayer team, is home after a full knee replacement surgery this past week. After everyone left Monday, I went around and picked up your prayer cards and since Rhoda wasn't there, I carried them home with me with the intention of giving them to her this week. Early Tuesday morning during my time with Jesus, I pulled those cards out to pray over them and girls... I bawled my eyes out. I was overwhelmed by the hurt and pain some of you are dealing with, the vast needs and concerns including lost loved ones, broken marriages, lost jobs, financial crises, bondage due to things done in the past, and the list goes on. As I brought these before the Lord I was literally caught off guard with an intense feeling of helplessness. Then God sweetly reminded me of what I prayed Monday night before Dianne spoke. I acknowledged to God that He and He alone knows intimately all of the need that was represented there in the chapel that night. Then He spoke gently, "Paulette, not only am I aware of all the need, I am big enough to handle it." I started thinking about the immensity of that one statement. When I go before the Lord on my knees and pour my heart out to Him, He meets me there. I am at times so completely overwhelmed by His Presence that I can't even speak. I know He hears my every cry, my every petition, my every groaning and complaint. He doesn't just hear it...He's present with me in it. He takes the time to feel what I am feeling. Imagine that. The Creator of the universe takes the time to feel what I am feeling. Then I imagined each of you crying out to God in much the same way. He is just as present with you as He is with me. Only God can make us each feel as if we are the only one He is listening to at the moment. He is simultaneously present with us each individually. Blows my mind! I suppose my point is this: I can continue to pour out my heart to Him over all my needs and over all your needs and not have to feel overwhelmed because He is big enough to handle it! Praise God! He's Big Enough! I get to cast it all on Him. I guess if I had to sum it all up I'd say this: God is blowing me away with His "Big-ness" this week!
Thank you to those of you who took the time to fill out the prayer request cards. I pray you find peace and comfort in the One that is big enough to handle all of your hurts; past and present. Remember, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18