When Love Broke Through

It's June 1st and I had an upbeat blog ready to go for this day, but after watching way more video clips than I should have watched of unbelievable riots, theft, damages to property and civil unrest, I sensed God nudging me to "speak His mind" on His behalf today. So -- I yield to His voice.

The predominant character trait of God is LOVE, so, of course, that would be what I should blog about today. It's the oldest of old stories "For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, would not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). Love broke through! And, as despicable was his death, I choose to believe that verse holds true for George Floyd. That he is with Jesus in Paradise. And, I choose to believe that verse holds true for his killers. That Jesus died even for them, and, hopefully, they, too, will join George in heaven one day.

Sounds pretty irrational, doesn't it? Oh, but the power of the greatest LOVER of all. Jesus broke through all the hate, anger, malice, rejection and even His own death. It's upside down thinking for sure, but look at how He told us to love in Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! PRAY for them who spitefully use you, and persecute you!” Doesn’t that sound preposterous? How could we possibly love someone that rejects, curses, hurts or even kills us or a family member or friend? How is it possible to love our enemies? And, even a step further, to “bless them and pray for them”? Can those words be possible?

Martin Luther King said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." Jesus set the example for us. He had enemies – plenty of them. They lied about Him. They beat Him. They mocked Him. They killed Him. He loved them anyway. And if we believe in Him, it’s time to turn things “upside down” and “inside out”, and say to our enemies, “I love you. I would rather die than hate you.” May we put away our swords of embittered words and actions. May we take up our crosses of love and follow Jesus Who showed us how to live and love, and as He told us to pray for them, we pray this prayer for them now:

"Lord of love, we pray for You to bless our enemies. Open their ears to the Truth. Open their minds to understand the Gospel. Open their hearts to long for Your love. Draw them to Yourself Your Light is stronger than their darkness Bring them into the Light. Save them for all eternity. May Your love break through to them. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus."

Toby Mac sings it like this: "When love broke thru / You found me in the darkness / Wanderin' thru the desert / I was a hopeless fool / Now I'm hopelessly devoted / My chains are broken / And it all began with You / When love broke thru / And it all began with You / When love broke thru".

We can sing "What the world needs now is love sweet love" until we're blue in the face, but until we possess God's love in our hearts -- we will never measure up to what's needed for change in our world today. I'm praying for love to break through in our world. Will you join me in that prayer?

Homeward Bound

On Thursday, at 7 am, I am walking with my earbuds in, and Chris Tomlin’s song “Home” comes on from my playlist. As I hear the words, I think about my dear friend's dad who is lingering in his final hours of life. I tear up because I just imagine that those words must be his words this morning. He had already said “I want to go home!” to his family earlier in the week. I stop to send the song to my friend with these words "For your daddy and you this morning, sweet girl. Love you so much. "Home" by Chris Tomlin. Praying for you all this morning. God is with you so strong. I just know it." At 9:30 am, I receive this text from my friend: “He just passed into paradise!”

The day after, Friday, my usual flow of ideas for my blog isn't coming as readily as usual. I have nada – nothing, but I know to hang in there because soon it will come. It does. “Homeward bound” pops into my head. This day, "homeward bound" can only mean one thing. Since I'm at home in Frisco, it must reference the day before, when my precious friend replied to my text that I sent to her while on my morning walk.

I sent the song onto my sis-in-law because Mom’s 94-year-old sister, and Mom, 97-years-old, keep saying those words, “I want to go home!” In fact, on a recent phone call from Mom to Auntie Alma – they both said, “Let’s go home together!” Perhaps you have a loved one, or even yourself who has a longing for "home", too. This song will bless you. Here’s the link, followed by the lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIb4NC5ikYo

"This world is not what it was meant to be /
All this pain, all this suffering /
There's a better place waiting for me / In Heaven
Every tear will be wiped away / Every sorrow and sin erased /
We'll dance on seas of amazing grace / In Heaven / In Heaven

I'm goin' home / Where the streets are golden / Every chain is broken / Oh I wanna go / Oh I wanna go / Home
Where every fear is gone / I'm in your open arms /
Where I belong / Home

Lay down my burdens, I lay down my past /
I run to Jesus, no turning back /
Thank God Almighty, I'll be free at last / In Heaven / In Heaven
Blinded eyes / Will finally see /
The dead will rise / On the shores of eternity /
The trump will sound / The angels will sing /
Hallelujah, Hallelujah"

Home-goings are like a double-edged sword – we ache at the thought of a loved one apart from us, yet, oh the joy we have that they, as a child of God, are in heaven and our parting is just temporary. One day we’ll be back together again for a joyous celebration of being "home" forever.

When I think about my friend's sweet daddy, my husband, my parents, grandparents, all my siblings who have gone “home” and Mom and Auntie Alma who want to go “home”, I think about the joy and celebrating we’ll have together in heaven.

As Chris Tomlin says in his song, this world really is filled with so much suffering, so much pain, so much sorrow and so much fear. But, the beauty that this song points to is that one day Jesus is going to make it all right. God will make all things new and all our tears will be wiped away. No more sin. No more sorrow. Chains will be broken off! How amazing! The fact is -- for those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are already living eternal life -- as we'll just step through the doorway to our home sweet home one day.

Rick Warren says: “Here’s what I know -- the tears that dampen our eyes in times of mourning, are tears of homesickness, tears of longing for our loved ones. But it is we who are away from home, not they! Death has been for them a doorway to an eternal home. They are still with us, lovingly and tenderly waiting for the day when we, too, will enter the doorway of our eternal home. For us who believe, death is a preparation for eternal union with those we love, in the peace and joy of heaven. We were made for heaven. We were made to last forever.”

So, while we are still on this side of heaven.....let’s continue to finish our assignments well and live every day in the light of eternity -- enroute to our heavenly home. We are homeward bound! Let's plan to meet up there!