I love this scripture and the impact it has on my heart:
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
- - - - - - 1 Corinthians 13:13
I have entered and discovered a new love. We are expecting with our second child.
I am currently 14.5 wks. along and we just had our second OB/GYN appointment on Feb. 21. Feb. 21 is the day that I truly discovered my new love. This is the day that we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat and boy what a feeling. I mean here I have my 4-yr. old son and he is my love, my life, my joy. And I am thinking oh gosh: he is my son and will I be able to love another? Yet as soon as my Dr. put the tool to hear the baby's heartbeat to my lower abdomen area, we heard the strong beat of a new love! Amazing I tell you. And from then on out I was smitten by this little one growing inside of me. The blessings that God gives is unbelievable. He is without a doubt the lover of my soul as the song says!Let's just say that this pregnancy is very different from the first one (smile). I am more nervous with this one because I wonder if I'll be able to manage TWO little ones, if I'll be able to survive as we add on to our family, and of course these are all feelings of the flesh.
Because when I think about the Lord, how He created us, how He loves us faults and all, how He battles on the front lines for us: it all comes back to Jesus. Did He survive in the midst of all the temptations, the tests, and the persecutions while walking this earth? Did He manage to love everyone no less, no different, and without judgment? And the response to these questions is simply a bold YES!
1 John 2:23 says:
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
As I read and reflect on this scripture I think about, not only my loved ones, and even brothers/sisters in Christ I don't know well, but I now think of my little one growing inside of me and how much love I have for this one because Jesus laid down His life for us, through God's love, so I ought to do for my little one. And that gives me great joy because I know the sacrifices involved and it is often hard to do (sacrifice), but we know the love that God has implanted in all of us and in His son.
To be gifted with another child is a truly treasured gift from the Lord and I don't take it for granted. This new arrival that will come into our family in August or September will be just another witness to God's immeasurable blessings.
I praise God for His greatness because He delivers us from all that harms us. There is nothing greater than His love. Have you called your loved ones to tell them you love them? Did you hug your sweetie today and show your love?
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. - - 1 John 4:11
The scripture consistently talks about God's love for us. If we do not love, then we do not know God because God is love (1 John 4:8). It is that simple. If we do not love, and we have bitterness, anger, malice towards one another, then we do not know God. We must retain in our minds and in our hearts that God is love and to know God is to love!
May the Lord keep you and bless you as you commit yourself to Him and His love.
May you grow in your love for one another and in your love for Christ. Are you sharing your love with others? Are you sharing God's love with others? God has confessed His love for us in many ways (just look at all the books in the bible and see how good God's love truly is manifested today, tomorrow, and forever).
Love & Many Blessings,
- - ats
