FILLED WITH LOVE

Ephesians 3:19 - 21
"...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

I love it when I know, that I know, that I know the Lord has sent someone to encourage my life. I have been "feeling" low the past couple of weeks as I have been sad about illness in several of my mentors lives.

Last week my best friend had to have 2 stints put in her heart and this was totally unexpected. She is the healthiest friend I have....exercises, eats all the right things and none of the wrong things and she is the most compassionate, godly woman I know.

As my blog told you, a couple of weeks ago, a precious friend died from kidney cancer. I have another dear friend in the middle of treatment for kidney cancer and thankfully is doing much better with her treatment now. She had to be taken off the
drugs after her first couple of weeks of treatment because the dosage was much too strong for her.

This time last year, my precious husband had just finished 6 months of hard chemotherapy for colon cancer. He is now cancer free and we are praising the Lord. He is back to planting his garden, fishing with friends, working (praise the Lord again) and playing with his grandchildren.

I felt very fragile yesterday at church. I think I have just stuffed all my emotions for the past 18 months and have not really allowed myself to just sit in the lap of Jesus and let Him comfort me. I have processed some of the feelings, but honestly, have not given Him all my fears, anxieties and just plain old sadness.

Yesterday, He started unplugging my pride of trying to handle all the feelings by myself. It was good to hurt and begin crying a little. Do you understand what I mean? Not allowing yourself to cry is not healthy!

Last night we went to a musical at church. One of my sweet friends, Alexa, sent her little girl over to give me a present. When I opened the bag I saw a journal. On the front was a picture of a little girl clutching a heart right up next to her heart. My eyes filled with tears.

God knows, without our even speaking a word, when we need to be understood, encouraged and loved. I knew this present was not just from Alexa, it was from Him. Alexa explained that she had purchased the journal from her father's drugstore a good while back but had just not gotten it to me until last night. God's timing is perfect. I would not have even realized it was from the Lord if she had given it to me before last night.

Alexa's father is struggling with a very serious illness. He took his first car ride since December this past week-end. He has lymphoma and it has effected his lungs and he carries a big old oxygen tank with him when he tries to walk. Please pray for Steven Smith, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevenbsmith. You will be blessed to follow his victorious journey with the Lord's help.

Now, back to the journal. I have been journaling for about 12 years. I love to spend time giving the Lord my heart and hearing back from Him through my time journaling. Lately, I have been doing more art journaling than writing in my journal. This morning, my new journal before me and my visual art journal too, I had a wonderful time with the Lord. My heart was encouraged and I was filled up to the brim with His love.

The other thing that filled my heart today and everyday is spending time with my grandchildren. I am overflowing with thankfulness for their lives. I feel like the Lord has his arms around me everytime I receive one of their hugs.

I just got back from taking my daughter Amybeth, Brett and Kate's mother, to receive an iron treatment. She is expecting Reid, our other little miracle, in 5 weeks. Her iron is dangerously low and she is scheduled for a C-section. Her blood levels must increase before she can deliver. Please pray for the treatments to work. She has 5 more to go.

So, after a good watering in the Word, I feel my roots being built in him and my faith strengthened and I am overflowing with thankfulness. Thank you for praying for my friends, Wylene, Judy, my daughter, Amybeth and for Alexa's dad, Steve.

Colossians 2: 6 - 7
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Have a blessed day.