real love

 Well, here we go again, the heart work continues.  To add another layer to A HOLY RESPONSE, is TRUE WISDOM, which has led me to real love.  All of which HE is teaching me to take off the self-armor that I agreed to wear from a very tender age, so that I would BE able to PUT ON HIS ARMOR.  This I am learning is more in depth that I could have possibly known or understood.

HIS DAILY TEACHINGS today is leading me straight to 2 Timothy 4:2-5 where Paul has written to Timothy to encourage him to STAND FIRM in proclaiming the message the LORDS TRUTH with intensity.  This morning HIS words spoken straight to my heart.  "Dear Heart, DON'T be swayed, DON'T be deceived, DON;'T cave, DON'T let subtle thoughts, questions slip through.  DO be of sober mind, DO be alert, and KEEP your eyes on ME, and LISTEN for MY voice. I AM with you always; you are NEVER alone."

HE knows my desire to speak HIS TRUTH in love, but HE also knows how limited I tend to feel when fear of causing harm rushes my mind and floods my heart as the last thing I want to do is inflict pain on anyone in whom I have been given the opportunity for a DIVINE ENCOUNTER.  HE knows how my hearts cry is for people to know HIM as I know HIM, and to write, speak and share with authentic faith of what it's like to become a disciple of JESUS.

HE knows how hard I have had to fight through the lies that have been perpetuated in the confines of church community.  HE knows my deepest pains and scars have come from DIVINE ENCOUNTERS that led me into some of the darkest valleys of the shadow of death.  Not because it was ever their intention, however the enemy of my soul twisted, ever so subtly GOD'S WORD, and in turn wrecked me and caused me to question my faith in the LORD and leveled me in ways where I wasn't sure if I'd ever recover, and sometimes the pain was so overwhelming I wasn't sure if I wanted to recover. And just like that, the lie of: "I hate everyone and everything:" was cultivated even deeper in my heart.   A lie that would try it's best to pull me even further away from HIS grasp. 

What I've learned though is that real love leaves the 99 to reach to rescue the ONE.  I know this to be TRUE because I have witnessed HIM empty oceans, and level mountains just to reach me.  I have been TRANSFORMED in the refining fire of HIS LOVE.  That the fire that the enemy of my soul was certain would destroy me, JESUS met me right there in the fire, held me, helped me, and poured HIS strength into me and over me. No matter how hot the flames got, HE stayed with me and remained STEADFASTLY FAITHFUL to me.

When I thought I couldn't possibly endure anymore, HE pulled me even closer still to HIS chest, wrapping me safely in the shadow of HIS MIGHTY WINGS.  Speaking HIS TRUTH over me.  Slowly, ever so gently I experienced HIS love, real love that shut down, shut out, and shut up the lies of my enemy.  

Slowly over time HIS real love began to reveal the subtle ways the enemy of my soul ensnared me in his web of lies.  Subtle compromise of what I knew to be true, but in order to save face, avoid conflict, or perhaps isolate for fear of being exposed as a fraud.  As the attacks from my enemy have increased in accusations stating, "you're not really who you portray yourself to be."  Joby Martin, Pastor of 1122 church in FL says it like this "When the enemy accuses me, I just agree with him, as man you should hear what I'm thinking, you only know what I'm doing, But JESUS man, HE knows, and HIS grace is sufficient enough for all of it, and HE is the ONE who helps me through it, and HE is the ONE WHO Redeems me."

Truly I am learning the importance of taking EVERY thought captive, being alert, standing firm, and choosing a HOLY RESPONSE, which has led me to seeking TRUE WISDOM, in speaking HIS TRUTH in REAL LOVE.  That not everyone whom I encounter will like me, ore agree with me, still I am called to stand firm with intensity, to NOT cave, back down, or be swayed by fear.  That I will speak, share, and write with confidence that HE has called me to do according to HIS purposes for my life.  

I do my best to not pretend I have all the answers.  But I do promise to seek the ONE WHO has all the answers.  I will seek to be made humble enough to acknowledge my humanness that I am always in NEED of JESUS WHO is my LORD and SAVIOR.  This is my life, this is my journey, this is my calling here on this earth, that one day I will be called HOME to be with JESUS, face to face to LIVE my promised ETERNAL LIFE, where no more tears, where all wrongs will be made right, where I will understand why it was the plan, and I will SEE the finished result of real love.

Precious Dear Ones,

HE knows, HE SEES you, and HE loves you deeply, with an everlasting love.  HE has been with you ALL the days of your life.  There's never been a time in your life where HE wasn't there., My prayer is that you will seek HIS TRUTH for you, that is deeply personal that ONLY you can truly understand as it's yours to TRUST to know, to believe, and to speak.  I pray that you will seek HIM to strengthen your resolve to NOT cave, NOT back down, and NOT be swayed.  That you will stand firm in HIS TRUTH, that you will know, TRUST, experience, and live HIS TRUTH of what real love looks, loves, and lives like.  May today be the moment where you decide to TRUST JESUS to teach, lead, and guide you to what you don't understand, or what you have made subtle compromises that have slowly removed HIM from your life.   

ALL FOR HIS GLORY

Always with a deep understanding, grace, compassion, and empathy,

Your Sister in CHRIST JESUS,

~Heather