From the journal  .  .  . March 2007

 I love you, Lord.  I love Your ways.  I love how You are involved with my life.  I was wondering why You made us and why You wanted us.  As I read Your word, I understand that You want us to believe in You and to trust You with our lives, like a parent-child relationship.  I remember what I told You when You asked me why I wanted more kids after my first two. I said, “Because I want more to love.”  I’m thinking that’s why You made and are making more people.  Lord, You just want to love us.  Hmmm. I love my children equally, but I receive different levels of joy from them at different times.  I love to see them loving You.  That gives me the most joy. *

3 John 4 ^“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.”  NLT

And I Believe God Said:

Yes.  I love My children.  I love the world – that’s why I gave Jesus. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. NASV.

But I hate when my people are casual about Me and our relationship.

Jer. 2:11 Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones,  even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God
    for worthless idols!

I know you are concerned about your loved one.  You love her, of course, as I do.  Pray fervently for her joy and intimacy with Me to return.  She’s not a victim.  She has the choice and she can repent.

Matt 4:17. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” NLT

Jesus, I don’t understand her like I thought I did, but I think I need to accept that.  I need to accept her as she is.

It’s okay to cry for her.  It’s okay because you love her.  She isn’t where she should be, but I’m not done.*  Your hopes for her are My hopes for her.  Pray, hope, and love.

*Phil 4:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. NLT

Lord, how does ‘not a victim’ fit in when satan is at work?

He can’t make her do anything.  Christians aren’t victims of satan.  Targets, yes, but not victims in the spiritual sense because I am in them.  And I am greater.*

1 John 4:4But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.  NLT

I provide the way of escape* but they need to submit themselves to Me.

I Cor 10:13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

 Like you did today when you turned to go back to your mom’s. You let go of ‘your plan’ and I directed you. The plan you had wasn’t bad but Mine, for you, was better.*

*Jer 10:23  I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own.
    We are not able to plan our own course.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Wow, Lord.  That’s major!  Oh God, help me bring joy to You.  I love You.  I’ll try to keep this in my heart, and pray Your will for my loved one, with love and hope for her.

It’s okay that you find more joy in others right now.  It’s the truth, but love isn’t all about joy.  Joy is about love but love isn’t always about joy.

1 Cor 13:4-7. ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  NLT