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The True Love of the World

Last night, after a delicious meal at our favorite restaurant in Fairhope; I was overwhelmed at the true love I felt during our date night out. While wrapping up our dessert I received the sweetest text from my brother-in-law, Dave. He was thanking me for his mom for my prayers 6 years ago on his behalf. I wasn’t thinking about those prayers. In fact, JB and I had just been reminiscing about special times we shared with each other and our children over the last 43 Valentine’s we’ve shared together. It was the sweetest time together.

Valentine's Tablescape

It was in the midst of these great memories that I received the text from Dave thanking me for my prayers 6 years ago. He even had a copy of the prayers I lifted on his behalf. There were literally 100’s if not 1,000’s praying for his physical healing back then, because he is truly loved by many. I believe wholeheartedly that GOD heard the masses praying for him along with my little prayers from Fairhope because there is power in prayer. But, to receive this text on this particular day is nothing short of a miracle from heaven above. Why you ask?

The True Love of the World

Yesterday I published the post about Heirloom China and received the nicest replies from my friend Karen, her daughter, husband and her father. It made my day. I had scheduled to publish this post on Valentine’s Day because that was the first tablescape idea we styled with the china she inherited from her aunt. Late yesterday afternoon she shared with me how members of her family had tears in their eyes as they read my post. It moved them to see her in photos with her grandfather who passed away on February 14th years ago. Her husband never got to meet him. I had no idea her grandfather died on Valentine’s Day. I believe God used me and that post to bless her family in a way that I never expected. I felt the love of my friend and felt once again the reassurance that my blog has a purpose. I confess that there are times I picture myself writing/speaking to an empty conference room. It can be disheartening.

Empty room

Then, as I read through the message from Dave’s mom the quote from the Statue of Liberty popped into mind. I didn’t know why at the time.

Statue of Liberty

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

I immediately thought of the true love of our lives.  The true lamp of the world is Jesus Christ. He is the Light of the World. The DOOR to Heaven is Jesus Christ. He calls to this world that He gave His life for to come to Him to breathe free. He suffered and died so that the masses of tired, masses of poor, those who feel wretched like a piece of refuse, the tempest-tossed, and all the homeless can come to Him and enter into covenant with HIM. It is out of HIS great kindness that HE offers us repentance.

Everlasting Covenant with the God of the Universe

HE is a word-keeping GOD. When we come to HIM acknowledging that we need HIM and that we are not righteous as HE is, the GOD of the universe enters into covenant with us just as HE did with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and through the Messiah.

rainbow a sign of promise
Natural rainbow. a sign of covenant

This is the true love of the world. There is no greater love than that of a man who will lay down his life for another. Christ is our example. As I contemplate the day of love fashioned by the world, I couldn’t let this day go by without inviting whoever might read this to come to the Light. Knock and the DOOR shall be opened.

All of this contemplation started with a thank you from my brother-in-law. God heard our prayers and healed him to a purpose. HE used him in ways where we see HIS purpose in Dave’s life then and now. He and my sister, Kristie are now allowing God to use them to teach us the meaning of being in covenant with the God of the universe. It is a life changer. A heart surgery by the greatest surgeon of all time.

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I can’t begin to explain in this little blog post the great love I’ve felt today. I’ve marveled at the love God has and had for Dave 6 years ago. The love HE had for us to hear our prayers is overwhelming. The love He has shown me through my husband, friends and my extended family today is priceless.  The love HE has for Karen and her family, as HE comforts her on Valentine’s Day through a post about heirloom china. The thing I’ve learned today is that when I pay attention there is love all around me. And sometimes it even shows up from years previous.

the true love of this world

It surprised me at first that the quote from the Statue of Liberty is what came to mind when I received his text message.  Why didn’t the Lord remind me of scripture instead? I even replied to my sister and brother-in-law that I felt I was reacting quite dramatically to his gratitude by quoting from the statue. But, then I was reminded of HIS covenant. It was offered to Noah as an everlasting promise, to Abraham and all his descendants – FOREVER!! His covenant is for all who believe and obey HIS GOSPEL. If that is not for the masses, I don’t know what is!  When I think of the love that has transpired through the ages for each generation from the beginning of time to now, I am awed. I am humbled at HIS greatness through the ages. The love HE shows me by reminding me years later that HE listens and hears me when I pray is powerful.

true love of the world

The freedom offered through Jesus Christ is everlasting. And I am reminded that even an audience of one who might be comforted by this message makes it purposeful. I hope you felt loved yesterday. I most hope you felt loved by Jesus, the true love of this world.

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