Moments of Quiet Truth

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love."       The past 6 weeks have been a season of pruning and of revelation about the love of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit for me, His bride. A small group of us were reading through the book of John earlier this week and we didn't make past the end of chapter 14. I then proceeded to continue reading on my own but the Lord hasn't allowed me to move beyond this verse.      I'm generally one who loves racing through life, always wanting to know what's next. The Father has placed me in a position of waiting on Him, slowing down, and spending time with Him. Part of the rushing was due to the fact that I didn't think He had time for me or that He wanted to share His plans for me with me.      He has been so gentle to show me that these things are not so. He has all the time in the world for me and He delights in and enjoys spending time with me! He wants to share His heart with me, His

"It's the little things. . . . ."      Little things can make all the difference in the world. They can either bring ease and comfort when they are working properly or are present or they can make life difficult, a little more challenging, and bring discomfort when they are absent or not working properly.      One of the lessons the Lord is currently teaching me is that He is big enough to fill in the gaps - where I lack and have need. He looks after me and cares for me even when the washing machine doesn't work and it takes 5 hours to clean my clothes. He provides a place for a hot shower when there is no hot water in my building. He sends a brother to make a cup of hot tea for me when I'm sitting in a chilly room on my computer. He provides little things like toilet paper, a trash can, and hand soap when my room runs out. He is good to provide time and silence to spend time in His presence after a long and busy week.       This principle is also lived out

     We studied the God of mercy this afternoon in class. His mercy is so easily overlooked. His tender compassion ignored. We're so busy working for God that we forget to stop and look for 'the least of these' whom we can serve in Jesus' name. We miss His quiet love when we are too busy rushing around, behaving as if we were created to be human 'doings' rather than human 'beings.'      For me, it is easier to miss God's love and God's mercy because I have become so accustomed to believe that it is my performance that earns me approval with God and I fail to rest in the approval and love that I have already because of Jesus. I don't rest in His love and I struggle to believe it.      God's love and undeserved mercy provide a strong foundation upon which to build and live a life.