But the Greatest of these is Love...

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 NLT

For the past week and a half, every verse that's been delivered to my inbox, caught my attention on the radio or crossed my path in some way or another has focused on one thing: love. Now I must tell you how ironic it is for me to write this post today because, honestly, I don't feel very loving at the moment. I didn't sleep last night, my allergies are kicking something fierce and I'm in a general lousy mood.

Just wanted to throw that out there because 1) I believe in full disclosure and transparency, 2) it amazes me God still loves me soooo much even when I'm unloveable and 3) it's a good reminder to me that we're not called to love just when we feel like it. (Duly noted...)

I must admit that, though I found it neat that all of the verses and lessons coming my way centered around one theme, there was some confusion on my part as to what it all meant. That was until last Friday.

May 20th had been circled on my calendar for a number of weeks. It was the day we would have been 12 weeks pregnant and I had thought breathing would come a little easier at that point. Though I've not talked about it at all on the blog, I was uneasy pretty much from the time I found out we were expecting but thought it was just due to the general shock, my penchant for anxiety and the fact that I hadn't been pregnant in 12 years.

Obviously that was not the case and my uneasiness was for a reason. Unfortunately, the date was ingrained upon my brain and I was not looking forward to it at all.

Many who know me also know I'm a Beth Moore junkie (stick with me - this will all come together in a minute) and am pretty must constantly doing one of her Bible studies. I came upon Beth's teachings during one of the darkest times in my life. I was in desperate need of a fresh, real and new dose of Jesus though I most assuredly did not realize how desperate it was needed at the time.

God used her to speak to me in a way I'd never before experienced. Please don't mistake that statement to mean I believe Beth saved me because that's not the case. The Lord used her (as He does many others) to change my life. And I will forever be grateful.

So...fast forward and I have been doing a study on the life of Paul for a couple of months. In fact, we found out about the baby and I had surgery right in the middle of the section where Paul's suffering - and his response to it - was being detailed.


Coincidence? I think not.

Last week was the final one in the study and as I viewed the last video, she began speaking about a verse that's become rather dear to me during this season...

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

A good one, right? So here's what she said that rocked my world. There is one condition that must be met in order for Him to work it all out: we must LOVE Him. That's it. Simple, right?

A quote of hers was "if we love Him then He is OBLIGATED to abide by His Word."

How amazing is that, y'all? Because there are a lot of things I don't have the answer to but one thing I know is that I love Him. With all my heart. He's already done so much for me and we've received blessing upon blessing we didn't deserve.

To me, this was just another confirmation that He is working through this situation and one day it will all make sense. He will, in other words, redeem it. Quite frankly, it was a confirmation so needed at that time.

He is so interested in the details that He gave me this word on a day I was dreading. He also put it on the heart of a friend to pass along a copy of "Heaven is for Real" and I literally read it cover to cover Friday night. It, too, was a tremendous blessing. I can't tell you how many ways it spoke directly to me. Mainly because so many are things others wouldn't understand.

But He does. He always does.

So what was waiting for me in my inbox this morning?


Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:7


This reminded me of one of my recent posts. Let me reiterate.

I will not give up. I choose to have faith. My hope remains. And it is in Him. It is enduring. And love, just like the Lord, never fails.