invitation to a changed life
a loving God and an open door
"Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don't have a thing on hand.' "The friend answers from his bed, 'Don't bother me. The door's locked; my children are all down for the night; I can't get up to give you anything.' "But let me tell you, even if he won't get up because he's a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he'll finally get up and get you whatever you need. "Here's what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open. "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?" Luke 11:1-13
I am glad that God has given us children. They are a joy to me and they also teach me something extremely valuable. The intensity of love. This love I have for them is a mere shadow of the love that God has for me, for all of His children. Even though we are sinners, selfish and broken, don't we love our children and give them what they need, keep them from harm, discipline them so that they will learn and grow and give gifts to them because it brings us joy to see them happy? We wish only the best for our children and hope for their sake that things will go well for them. And our capability for love is a vapor compared to the author of love, God who is Love incarnate.
Once, many years ago, I was trying to get pregnant. It was a long process...over two years and filled with pain, bitterness, depression and resentment. In all of this I had never truly surrendered my desire to have kids to God as I was afraid His answer would be "no". I would only say "Please help me get pregnant" "Please give me a child"...but not once "Your will not mine". One day, I had had enough pain, enough dissappointment and I had an epiphany...God loves me. Not in tha trite fashion that we screen print t-shirts with, but He truly loves me...that means what He has planned for me is the best plan, because of His love. He doesn't desire to see harm come to me or for me to spend the rest of my life resentful and weepy over unfulfilled expectations. And, it also means we don't always get what we want, because of that same love. My children have asked me many times for things that I have been unwilling to give them, not to make them sad, but because I have a better plan. They may not understand, but I hope that they will trust me. So, that very day I put my trust in Him, not that I would have a child, but that He would change my heart to match His will, out of His infinite love and mercy, so that I, too, could be excited about His plan and not pine for my own. His love is beautiful...and many peaceful months later a door opened for me and Rebekah, my daughter, was there.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
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