EXPECT LOVE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go God's love for us does not. - C. S. Lewis

I’ve never quit loving you and never will.

Expect love, love, and more love...Jeremiah 31:3 (MSG)

 

Good to know on difficult days, right?

 

Many of you know that my wife is also “Dr. Elizabeth Delaney” and she is a specialist in the “art” and practice of PALLIATIVE CARE.  For those who don’t know what that is it is “end of life” care.  And over the course of her career she has worked tirelessly for countless individuals and families during these difficult times.

 

So, while yesterday was planned to be a day of rest for us, that quickly changed with a phone call at around 9:30 during our morning worship service.  It was a call from her dear cousin letting Beth know she was needed because “AUNT CAROL” was not doing very well.

 

Aunt Carol has suffered for quite some time with cancer.  She recently had brain surgery.  She was on a myriad of medications.  Yet yesterday all the efforts to sustain life were met with an unexpected episode, a severe brain bleed.

 

When we arrived at Riverside in Columbus I just watched as my wife began to manage the situation.  Like a seasoned conductor my wife orchestrated the last 7 hours of Aunt Carol’s life with such deft and compassion.  I was a little awestruck because as all were dealing with so many FEELINGS, my wife was DEALING LOVE; the everlasting love of JESUS.

 

Her feelings took second place to the feelings of others.

She opened her spicket of GOD’S love and allowed “life-giving” water wash away the gloom and the doom that was infecting the space. …living water will flow from the heart of the one who puts his trust in Me – John 7:38 (NLV)

 

Something happens when we are reminded of the EVERLASTING love of the FATHER; atmospheres change, circumstances are altered, and HOPE arrives on the scene. 

And while chaos and questions sought to rule the day, LOVE won.

 

And at 5:30 this dear saint, Aunt Carol stepped across the threshold of eternity into the arms of her Savior and that FATHER who’s love had never stopped and who’s love was now fully in charge.

 

And yes, there were tears. There will be more. 

Today begins the “practical” things; funeral planning, plot arrangements and such but it is the LOVE that makes it all bearable; the love that each in the family have for one another and the love that the LORD has for ALL of them.

…He is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering…

2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (TPT)

 

Pray for my wife and her family today. Carol was a pillar in this family, a reliable, loving, and wise mom, grandma, aunt, sister, and wife. 

She will be deeply missed.

 

But I share yesterday’s journey as an encouragement to each of you. Regardless of what you are being faced with today, even death, it won’t overtake or consume the LOVE of GOD.  It won’t. - nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us - Romans 8:30 (TPT)

 

Lean on that truth today.

Feelings?

They do come and go.  

But the LOVE of GOD is steady, life-giving, comforting and overcoming. 

Believe that today.

God's love fills the immensity of space; therefore, there is no shortage of love in the universe, only in our willingness to do what is needed to feel it. - John H. Groberg

 

I love you all!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE