Wow. God is so good. I feel like I should start this blog by just giving Him praise because He is worthy of it all. He is just such a good father and I am blown away by just how detailed and intentional He is with His children.
Thank you God for everything you have been showing me this past month and a half.
On to the blog.
Love. What is your definition of love? I always thought of love as a strong feeling that would make you do anything for a person.
I have experienced His love for me in a completely new way that has changed my perspective forever. Love is definitely a strong feeling, but I never realized just how strong it could be until God brought me here.
While being in Ethiopia there are a few things I am constantly surrounded by. The number one thing is community. I am constantly surrounded by people wether it be my squad mates, children, or the workers of HopeEthiopia. And God has used them to completely change my life. I have such an overwhelming love for the people around me. OVERWHELMING! Not only do I have a love for them, but they have a love for me too. I am loving them and being loved in a way that I did not know was even possible and that’s when it hit me. The love that I am seeing in his people, from His people, and for His people is nothing compared to the love that He sees in them, He has for them, and that He has for me. ME!
I was sitting on the porch area, watching all of our kids playing with each other. Just to make sure everyone was getting along, no one was getting hurt, and that everything was going okay. Sometimes they didn’t like it when I told them to not do something, be nice or to share. I was just looking out for them, but they thought I was trying to kill their fun.
Next thing I knew, I felt God in that moment. I wanted to make sure these kids were happy, safe, and loved. They didn’t always understand my intentions or want my help, but that’s what I was there for. That’s when God told me, “you feel that? That sense of love and protection over these kids. That is what I feel for you. I want to just be your father, comforter, protector. And sometimes you don’t quite understand or want it, but my intentions are good. I want to love you, be there for you, and make sure all is well. I don’t want anything in return except for you to love and understand my will for you. I love you. Trust that I know what is best for you. Trust and love me.”
I always knew God loved me, but sometimes it is hard for me to understand His will for me because my earthly desires would get in the way. He has a plan for each of us. He wants what is best for us and to love us well. I am learning to completely surrender my life over to Him. I might not understand the plan He has for me, but I know that it will be far better than whatever I had planned for my life. He wants to love me well. He knows the desires of my heart and He has given me all I could ever need. I mean, He sent His son to die on the cross for me. That’s a love that I will never understand. It blows my mind that he did it to have a relationship with me. He wants to love me. He has chosen me. I am chosen by Him!
I don’t know what you think about that, but that is overwhelming and so good.
Here lately, God has been showing me many visions and giving me plans about my future. Everything that He has shown me has filled my heart with more and more love. Love for people that I haven’t even met yet. Love for people that may not love me back. They do not know it yet, but they are worthy of God’s love.
God wants us to use the love that He gives to us and show it to those around us. He pours into us, so that we can pour out to those around us. Loving God is to love others and loving others is loving God. We are not worthy of his love, yet he says we are and gives it to us in abundance. That blows my mind. The Lord created us and loves us with a love that is so deep and unfailing. He gave us hope and a purpose. He pushes us to fulfill the purpose and promise He has for us. He wants to help us in all that we do. Why would we not love Him or His creations back?
I was reading 1st Peter and everything in this book tells us of the love that He has and how we should live. Why would we not live for Him? Why would we not want eternal life with the Father that loved us so well? Why do we long for earthly possessions and glory when there is so much more for us in Heaven? Why would I let satan steal my joy instead of just trusting that the Lord’s will for me is good? Like I said, my perspective is completely changed. I don’t know how to ever look at my life the same way again.
I am choosing to trust the love He has for me and His plans. I know that His understanding is far greater than my own and no matter what happens, I will continue to love God and His people no matter what. I will continue to wait patiently and obediently in His plan for me because know that MY God will never leave me and never stop loving me.
Love is a beautiful thing. But His love is unlike any other and I will rejoice in the fact that my life belongs to Him. No matter what.
