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| Love and Pain |
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Daddy... Is it gonna hurt? Yes, just a little bit, son. But after the medicine starts working, you're going to be well so you can go back outside to play with your friends.
I remember taking Justin to the doctor that day as if it were yesterday. There was a bit of sadness already at that point in my spirit. I had realized earlier that morning as Sherry and I were getting Justin ready for the Doctor, that... the last little bit of "baby" was leaving Justin. This, our last baby, was it... Justin was becoming a little boy, and there would be no more "baby" in the home and I was a little sad, but still happy also about the whole blessing of watching your children growing. You know what I mean? Anyway, at the Doctors office, he was, naturally, a little scared about the shot. He needed his dad to tell him it was going to be ok.
If you ask him today, he would say he has always known his Dad has loved him. But he needed to know that... If Dad is allowing this pain to happen, it must be ok... It must be a good thing. Why, when we grow up, do we Christians find it so hard to trust Dad... Our Father in Heaven, the same way as Justin did his earthly father that morning. Knowing how much his Dad loved him... and hearing that the pain he was about to endure was going to be ok, gave him the courage to walk in there like the little man he was and hold out his arm.
Something else, I remember so vividly... Justin never once looked at that needle... No no... He kept his little eyes on me the whole time and "my" face was confident about every thing going on in that room... don't you doubt that. Is that what we do during times in life when our Father is there... with us?... keep our focus on Him?
Our study, today, takes us to the book of Romans to help us look at the relationship between love and pain. First we must understand and really take hold of this fact that "Dad" loves us. In the Amplified, I hope you will meditate slowly and prayerfully over these few verses, to let Gods' Word quicken what is already in you... the Christian... before we move on to the next point in this study.
Romans 5:7. Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die.
8. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
9. Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ's blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.
10. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion) through His [resurrection] life.
11. Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation.
Dear Friends, as much as God has held me to this issue of His love, I believe it's still only a fraction of the height, depth, and breadth of His love for us. But, once we get an understanding... Get it worked out in our thought-life... rooted in our daily walk... feeling it on the way to work, reading a book, cooking, in the waiting room, in the doctors' office, and even on the operating table... That is the first step to understanding love and pain.
Then, we can look to our loving Dad and see in His Word why we must endure this pain. Again, from Romans, we find another key.
Romans 5:3. Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
Romans 8:17. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
18. [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!
Romans 8:35. Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Like in Justin's' faith in the fact that His daddy loved him... He also trusted his word about the pain. This Word from Our Father is the truth, dear friends. This is a good word for us today. Let these verses, also set up within your daily thought-life. Be encouraged and confident in what Our Father has said to us, here. Amen?
And finally, you remember me telling you how Justin never looked at that needle? He was not denying it's presence... No. He was aware of it and could tell it was real. But do you remember where his eyes were focused. That's right... On His Father! Whatever you are going through today, my friend... Know God loves you dearly... And that He has allowed this for your good and to His divine will for you... And during the pain, keep your eyes on Your Father.
I love you.
Psalm 50:15. And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me. |
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| To add a comment to "Love and Pain" |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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Beautifully said, Preston! |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| Love ya Kathy. |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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This is good preston remindes me of
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His beautiful face
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His Glory and Grace" |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| Oh my, Liz... I have not heard that song for so long. Beautiful! Love you, Liz. |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| Right back at ya Preston lol |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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Oh, Preston--how I needed this today. Thank you so much for this on-time word. And thank You, Abba Daddy for sending it. Hug! Love you. |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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Beverly, Here's your hug with a prayer tucked snug...  |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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Preston, while I think your writings are beautiful, I have to disagree with you on this. Pain never ever results from God. Pain is the result of human choice. We are either selecting life or death and creating love or pain in each of our choices. I may be terribly naïve in my Christian faith but this truth is constant from Moeses to Jesus. Blessings to you. As for me I choose love and life. Love and blessings, Susan |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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Susan... you are totally right! God does not send or cause the pain and suffering we feel... and I should have taken a moment to point that out. These verses from Romans suggest that He does allow them to afflict and impact our lives... knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
Thank you for saying that and please don't feel anything wrong in about your comment. I love you. |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
Great word, bro! |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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There is a line in a Nicole C. Mullen song "I know the maker of the storm, the sunrise, He is both the Lion and the Lamb"
It reminds me of this although it is really just explaining differences in who He is in different situations, multifaceted.
I mean if Justin had you hauling him in for that injection, he may question your love if you had not built up a love deposit of caring of him so lovingly.
Sunrises show us to trust the maker of the storm.
Preston, I always love your blogs. I am trying so hard to trust right now, feeling overwhelmed one minute then joyful the next.
I appreciate your prayers, as I KNOW they are sincere. I had good things happen today so I shouldn't feel down at all.
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
AWESOME word brother Preston...
Great illustration my friend...
Speaks boldly and lovingly to my heart...
We sing that song Turn Your Eyes Ipon Jesus all the time...
Some of the "Old" songs should be revived!
It holds such a sacred truth... PTL!
Blessings In Him... :o)
Herman |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| Lara... Thankya... MySista! hehe
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| October 21, 2009 |
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Thanks Preston. A great blog... |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| Juanita, God has truly created all the beautiful things in the universe and set them into motion. But we also must believe that since the fall, He has turned the devil loose... thus we see the storms... cancer... death, and hate. And yet, Although we believe His Word that He Works all these terrible things happening to His glory... I must trust Him now, so much so, that whether I ever see another blessing again until I see Him... I will not forsake my faith. That is what His love has done... not mine... You have received this same love... and it must be worked out... in fact that is what you have been doing... and you will continue in. My prayers continue for all of you... those who admit their struggles, and for those whom never seem to struggle... equally, because I know we all go through hard times. You have been such a blessing to us and we go through these things you feel now, together. I thank God for your openness and sincerity. |
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| October 21, 2009 |
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| Heman and Barb... you all continue to encourage me so. I thank God for you. |
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| October 22, 2009 |
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| Marcella... I cried a little as I wrote this. I am praying for you... the same prayer... Thankful for what Christ has done in you... Thankful in what He has done for you. What a blessing you are to me. I love you. |
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| October 23, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
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| October 23, 2009 |
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| Thanks dear friend. I don't count stars... In fact I have deleted many... But for those who don't always feel like commenting, the star let's me know people are reading. What a blessing you are to me. I love you. |
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| October 23, 2009 |
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Preston,the words you share remind me to trust my heavenly father for he watches over me up in those stars and to trust him more...thank you |
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| October 23, 2009 |
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| Hello Patty. I keep you in my prayers now and trust you are doing well. Our children need you so much. Thank you for reading. I love you. |
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| November 04, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
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| November 04, 2009 |
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THANK YOU PRESTON.... THANK YOU |
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| November 04, 2009 |
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| You are WELCOME... my new friend... hehe Love ya. |
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