God's Hand Holds You! (Part 2- A True Love Story)

God desires to fill us to overflowing with agape love. The apostle Paul declares it’s so wide and long and high and deep that it surpasses knowledge! (Ephesians 3:19) So, how can we be filled with this infinite, unfathomable love?

With prayer and a believing heart. Prayer is the means our heavenly Father designed so we can ask and receive His good and perfect gifts. Prayer unleashes divine revelations of agape love.

So let's continue with prayer!

A True Love Story: God Longs to Embrace You (Part 1)

There’s a quest in everyone’s heart. A quest to be loved without conditions or limitations. A quest to be loved always and forever. A quest to be loved with honor and dignity.

When we seek this perfect love outside of God, we never find it. Because humans love only when there’s something lovely to be loved.

God’s unconditional love excels. God launched agape love when He sacrificed His son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The Greek language coined the unique word, agape, to express God’s unfathomable love for sinners.  

Agape love specifically seeks the highest good for the other person…always…no matter what. Agape is a self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return. It does not consider the worth of its object but is a love by choice. God chose to love us in spite of our miserable condition. “…while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

A Prayer to Unleash God's Love

 The odor of fresh paint drew me back to when my dad built homes. As a child, I roamed those framed structures, pleased to smell woodsy lumber and hear hammers pounding. Best of all, I recall Dad’s voice, echoing, giving orders.

Dad quit speaking to me when a misunderstanding occurred. Irrationality won. Dad declared, “I’m no longer your father.”  It age 19, I was stripped of love just as suddenly and unexpectedly as fire strips land bare.

Dad’s decision, stated irrevocably, caused deep pain and loneliness. I held onto my hurt, hoping in some way, to protect me from more pain.

The Name of the Lord Delivers!

Monday morning…bulging grey clouds and pounding rain. Dismal, just like me. I shuffle to my study. Sips of hot coffee help me formulate one, single thought. How will I get through this day?

On Mondays I usually rest after a week of working hard and serving hard. I enjoy a long, leisure quiet time in God’s sweet presence, delighting in His Word. Then my husband and I feed on more manna, together. We rejoice in God’s truths and pray. Our afternoon is reserved for nothing or no one, unscheduled and uncluttered.  

Except for that Monday. Tasks leftover from the weekend loomed and there was dinner company coming. Without energy and motivation to get up and get going, I felt like my pink hardy geranium, pelted flat to the ground by the rain.  

Keys to a Richer, Happier Life

 “Hey, Pamela. Let’s get together and catch up!”

I highly underestimated the significance of Margaret’s invitation. I expected simple small talk, while enjoying my favorite “fuji apple chicken salad” at Panera. Fortunately, Margaret had much more in mind.  

She leaned across the table, probing my soul with pointed questions. Margaret listens well, and then digs deep. It’s her caring way of re-entering my world.  

“How are things really going… with you…family…ministry?”

Margaret looks beyond what she hears. This 5 foot seasoned missionary detected a thread of discouragement in my neatly packaged answers. So she drilled deeper. Finally we discovered its source. Dreams God designed for my life had gotten buried beneath daily, essential duties. 

Margaret exhorted me, “Don’t hide your faith and talents! Use them for God’s glory!” Her heartfelt counsel, danced with encouragement and passion. Margaret has credibility. Twenty-two years of living life the way God designed for her, trusting Him for finances, transportation, health care and more, and never lacking!  

I left the restaurant, optimistic and joy-filled. Margaret’s encouragement inspired me to tread a pathway to a richer, happier life.  To intentionally pursue the dreams God stamped on my heart.