Love Wins

YES, LOVE WINS!!

Josh had started this blog years ago, and I have chosen to finish it. So much of my life is just a fragment of what I imagined. I figured I got it “right.” I loved when it was hard to love, and I survived. But.....life is a journey. You never completely arrive. 

Love...one of the simplest things to give and to receive.

Love...one of the most difficult things to give and to receive.

I know this sounds like a contradiction but it is not. The contradiction that we find does not come from the source of love (1 John 4:7,8) but rather from our skewed perception of love. Whenever we take something that comes from God and put our own definitions, regulations, and boundaries on it, we wind up turning it into something that it is not and was never meant to be.

Love...the most gentle force known to man.

Love...the most powerful force known to man.

Love was not made or created from the confines of the human imagination. It was not created by God; it is who God is. It is His inherent nature. Therefore, it is not limited to the restrictions of men; nor is it able to be withstood by human will power. No one is capable of loving to the degree that the Father loves. 

We think that with something as simple as love that there must be a catch. There is no catch to the giving or receiving of love. Likewise, we think that in order for something to be powerful it must also never be soft. 

In our human understanding of love we have put rules and regulations on love. We have determined what love is by what we receive out of it. We have defined love by the way it makes us feel. We have defined love by the flutters we feel in our stomach. But it’s not, those are feelings. Love is not a feeling.

I’ve been told I don’t know how to love; I’ve been told my definition is wrong. I’ve been told this by the people I think I love the most, and I’ve been told this by others looking into my life and thinking I’m ludicrous for staying married. Who are you going to listen to? 

What does the Father say about love? We need more of it. We need an everlasting love. We need to know His love. His love covers a multitude of sins. His love casts out all fear. So, when things aren’t going right, fall back to love. Love wins. It’s the only thing that wins. And some WILL hate you for your love. Love wins. Do it for Him. 

Keeper of TIme

Are you exhausted?  I can tell you I was, not even a week ago I could not fathom standing for a minute longer.  God's promises are true regardless of what we feel or see. That is such a hard concept to grasp, especially in today's society where everything is instant.

Almost 5 years ago we shut down this blog, why?  Because I (Serena) was tired.  Everything in here remains true to my heart to this day, but it was weighing heavy on me.  How do you have truth "out there" and not be living it?  There is a lot of advice on nutrition out there, and we get to decide if we are going to follow it.  We have seen what is written in this blog work.  We have seen it work countless times, and I am done hiding truth just because it's tough.  I need to step up in my own life, not just hide what I know to be true.

It took me 5 years to realize that even the Bible has truths, and we get to choose if we are going to live them.  If our life is falling apart it's most likely because we are not executing something properly. Is everything in this blog, Gospel?  Not even close, but the fact of the matter is that it still remains true.  Execution is the problem. 

Standing for marriage, if you read form the beginning of this blog we have always said was something you never stop doing. We still have the Stander's Affirmation mounted on our wall.  Our family vision is right beside it.  All of those things still remain true, but the work was not being done. It's certainly not because the truth isn't there.  The Bible is filled with all of the truths we need.  The Holy Spirit is constantly speaking. Am I listening? 

Have you ever heard the saying about "I'm standing on the outside, but I'm sitting on the inside?"  That probably sums up the last few years for me.  I have never completely lost my way or stopped believing, but I was feeling sorry for myself.  I had expectations of how my life should be going, and when they stopped going my way I sat down.  I had already fought this battle too many times. 

God called me to stand for marriage, and He and I have had it out many times over the past 13 years.  In fact, might even go so far as to be angry that I am called to do so.  I remembered the prophetic repentance Josh wrote a long time ago (search for it and be blessed), and it stirred something inside of me that HOPE is still available if we want to look for it.  I want to feed hope, even if it doesn't look like what I thought. 

The Lord gifted me with the ability to encourage and inspire, and the foundation of what I believe is based in the Word and not one of us can dictate how it will look unless we can determine the heart of a person or if we control time.  There isn't a 1,2,3 formula and the reason why is because we are humans.  Sinful and flawed in more ways than I care to admit. 

Letting go of our expectations of what WE think things should look like will be the beginning of freedom in what He has for us.  Following His truths for ourselves will be the only way.  We cannot change our kids, our friends, our spouses.  We must live truth for ourselves.

Just in case you are struggling right now, and you just feel like you have been standing for an endless amount of time.  The days turn into weeks, the weeks turn into months, and the months into years remember He is the Keeper of Time.  Things in the Kingdom do not operate on our timing, and oh do I wish they did. 

On my morning walk today I heard this song, and I would like it to be a prophetic in that if it encourages you to hold on ONE MORE DAY, then do it.  ONE MORE HOUR, maybe?   I am praying fo you, as you stand in His promises and know that it's just a little bit more time. 

Suffering with Grace

"For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." I Peter 2:19-2

For it is commendable 

The word “commendable” is the Greek word for grace. God gives grace in suffering that he might bless us in the suffering. We could translate “commendable” as “favor.” We find favor with God when we endure suffering with God’s grace.We find favor with God when we endure suffering graciously. This is life on a  different level than those without Christ. This delights the heart of God for this is grace in action. 

The question isn't if you will suffer--you will, especially if you are the one we are writing to. We have walked this path.  The suffering is unjust--no doubt. The foundation of our faith is a Person—Jesus Christ. Intimacy with Him will make every difference during hard times.  Remember that Peter learned his lessons on suffering for Christ the hard way—through failure, guilt, and shame. We don't have to fail in this. God gives us the grace we need; He showed us in His word the steps to follow.  

This isn't about us giving you the steps on how to suffer gracefully. Let's look at the best example, as He suffered unjustly. 

When Jesus was accused, insulted and abused He stayed quiet, much to the surprise and annoyance of His tormentors. This world is very unfair, and we find ourselves in situations where we get so angry and confused at the unfairness of it all. Then the Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus has gone before us; He suffered the greatest injustice of all times. He refrained from reacting, speaking or behaving in ways which would have appeared to be justified. Just think about how YOU would have handled it. We certainly imagine defending ourselves until SOMEONE would listen.  This helps us to give up our rage and commit ourselves to God who is bigger than the situation. Then we find peace and rest in our mind and heart.


Why did Jesus keep quiet? 

He had come down all the way from heaven for that moment, to die. The Father's will was clear, and the Father was asking Him to drink that cup which Jesus had asked whether there was any way to avoid. This cup meant DEATH.  It was total neglect, reversal and obliteration of justice; it didn't seem like justice would ever prevail. It was not for Jesus to argue, present evidence, calling for witnesses or supporters, get down from the cross, etc. He had to bear that injustice to the point of death. So, of course, He kept quiet. 

As a stander, as someone whom God has called to endure suffering for the sake of your marriage covenant, you are essentially signing up for neglect, rejection, injustice, and hate. Arguing, defending, giving ultimatums, yelling, calling for defenders.....none of this will get you to the goal.  You committed to this stand--until it was accomplished. Your covenant was "until death."  So, you suffer, not because there is justice in it. Not because it's easy to do. Not because you love your children. Not because you love your spouse. Not because you can't stand losing your spouse to another person.  You can use all of those things as help to stand, but your reason for standing MUST be because God has called you to be a stander. It is your purpose.

Was Jesus a soft person who allowed Himself to be bullied around? Far from it. He was always in command, never afraid to disagree with anyone or to stand against sin. He would only do what He really wanted to do. He didn't bow down before anyone. He told Pilate, to his face, (not with disrespect or pride) that he would have no authority over Him except what His Father gave.

 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given

 to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me

 over to you is guilty of a greater sin." John 19:11

There are times during your stand when you will need courage to change the situation, and at other times we need grace to accept things that can't be changed. We need wisdom to know the difference. We need this wisdom even in studying the Bible.

If God is good, then how could He allow this to happen to me?

I thought He loved me!

Someone needed to step in with answers to these questions.
Someone did. The Apostle Peter wrote from his own experience. The lessons Peter learned along the way are the principles he teaches in the book of 1 Peter. Lessons that can take you beyond the anticipation of suffering to the expectation of power and grace in the midst of suffering. Lessons to carry you through your darkest days. Lessons to show you how the light of God’s grace in Christ Jesus will penetrate your darkest days and fill you with a joy only those who continue to follow will ever know. But, you’re going to need every resource available. Dig into His Word, and He will show you the way to allow His glory to shine through all of your suffering.

“I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you,

and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.”

(1 Peter 5:12)