I've been working 12 hour days for some weeks now and haven't posted the thoughts running through my mind. Yet, yesterday, God stopped me with this beautiful love story that I wanted to share. A man told me how after meeting his wife with a handshake, he knew she was it for him. He had been hired as a grunt to go help a ministry build homes for the underprivileged in another country. One of the ministers, whom happened to be on the crew of builders, brought along his family. As was customary upon arrival, the families would line up and shake the hands of the new arrivals. So, her family was in line and here he goes down the line to shake everyone's hand. He gets to her and is stopped in his tracks. He said that he knew then that she was it and he was done. 2 weeks later, he proposed, they got married after 9 months and 45 years later, they share 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren. What started this tale? I was walking by him and said my morning greeting. He began to speak as he always does and we got to talking about his wife. It was like watching a schoolboy speak on his first crush. She was on her way to the job to bring him her homemade chicken pot pie, which according to him is the best in the world.
As I sat as my desk this morning, God brought this story back to my mind. I was singing Falling in Love with Jesus. But, what if, we fell in love with God the same way this man fell in love with his wife: at the first encounter. What if after 45 years of relationship with God, we still gushed like a school boy/girl on the way He made us feel? What if we took to our relationship with Christ the way this man took to his relationship with his wife?
God pointed something out to me as I was about to tell this story. This man had set out to do the Lord's bidding. He had arrived in another country to build homes for those that didn't have one. God had given him a directive and he followed. By following, he met the love of his life. Yep, its that simple. But, its us that makes it complicated when we allow the what ifs to come into our mind. One of the things that God has spoken to me with my current relationship is to stop talking to people about it. Basically, shut up. Stop allowing outside influences dictate the inner workings of this relationship. So, that's what I've done and it works.
I think that if we follow the model - falling in and staying in love - we can apply it to our relationship with Christ. This man went on to say how within the first 6 months of his relationship, they argued all the time - the Law of Assumption. One would assume something without talking to the other about it. How often do we do this with God? How often do we assume that God means something without taking the time to ask Him what He truly means or wants of us. Falling in love and fighting for that love is never easy. No matter what kind of love it is.
Fighting for that love when it comes to God doesn't mean that we have to physically fight. Spiritual warfare is real. Everyday, satan challenges me on my relationship with Christ. Everyday, I'm renewing my mind and spirit and soul with the love Christ has for me Everyday I get stronger in my relationship with Him. Everyday, I learn something new and better about me - more importantly, the me I am in relationship with God. Everyday, I love Him more. Everyday, I am more blessed by being in relationship with Him. Everyday, His love abounds more and more. Everyday, I fall more deeply in love with Him. Everyday. Everyday. Everyday. This fight - this warfare - is real but so is my resilience which grows as I build on the foundation of His love that springs eternal within my soul. We can learn that when we fall in love and fight for that love, we will get the biggest reward - blessing - of all. We get to be in love with Him, the Creator, The Lord, Our God.
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all
your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 29-31 NIV)
Be A Blessing and Not Just Blessed
- Nakya