Day 3: I Love Relationships

What do I value most?

RELATIONSHIPS.

From a very young age,

I loved sitting with my grandmother and

listening to her stories about her life.

One of my favorites

was when she came to America from Italy

at a young age

and was sitting on the grass at Ellis Island

eating lunch.

I can't imagine what her parents were thinking or feeling,

as they left their home to begin a new life

on foreign soil.

My grandmother lived to the age of 98.

This brings tears to my whole being, and I am wondering why

as these tears go beyond missing her.

It is because I was so connected to her heart.

She "got" me.

She understood me.

And I "got" her.

I got her simplicity of faith like a child.

At the end of her life,

her memory was starting to fade.

We went to visit her, and I brought my bible,

as I wanted to "make sure" she really knew JESUS.

Yup.

It was like I was the JESUS police.

As a new follower of JESUS, I wanted the world to know.

I remember so clearly the moment,

as I was looking into her eyes,

not knowing if she knew me or not,

and as I was getting ready to open

the BIG BOOK to be pastor Joni.

I then heard GOD asking me to put the BIBLE down,

to let HIM lead.

It was a surreal moment,

as I laid the BIBLE down.

And then my grandmother asked me what was the BOOK.

And WOW.

That moment was about GOD being GOD,

taking the LEAD,

for HE knew my HEART DESIRE,

as HE is the one who gave me that DESIRE.

And I was just a vessel that HE was going to use.

I then told my grandmother it was my favorite Book, the BIBLE.

She wanted to see it.

I gave it to her, and she immediately opened it up

and started reading it out loud.

Now, this was a big deal, as she couldn't see without her glasses,

BUT she was reading the fine print without wearing them.

And I can still hear her say the word Capernaum, as she read each word slowly and so clearly.

Now talk about tears overwhelming me.

She then looked at me, as I asked if she knew

JESUS

and BELIEVED,

and she looked directly in my eyes,

and shook her yes,

then closed the BIBLE,

and then went back into her world

of not knowing me.

But I KNEW.

She KNEW my JESUS.

Our JESUS.

Only GOD could OPEN HER EYES,

for that moment in time.

She had a RELATIONSHIP

 with the ONE who everyone needs to have a RELATIONSHIP with.

Why today, am I remembering this?

Because we have house guests,

 who have become my family

INSTANTLY,

from the moment GOD placed them

in my and hubby's life,

and it is as if we have known them our whole life.

For that is what GOD does.

HE brings together all HIS KIDS,

as everyone is HIS KID,

for HE is everyone's FATHER,

whether you BELIEVE IN HIM or not.

And because

"GOD SO LOVES"

 HE INVITES all

to have a RELATIONSHIP

with JESUS,

which is the most important RELATIONSHIP that everyone NEEDS

in order

to LIVE the LIFE GOD created everyone to LIVE,

because GOD wants no one to PERISH.

To PERISH~

to live without GOD.

And why?

Because GOD is about RELATIONSHIPS.

And when GOD brings people into your life,

who also LOVE JESUS,

IMMEDIATELY you become so connected.

As I do so grieve for the RELATIONSHIPS in my life,

that are BROKEN,

for once again I am about RELATIONSHIPS.

I pray for GOD to restore, and to reconcile.

And just like GOD intervened with my grandmother,

telling me to put the BIBLE down and let HIM do it,

HE didn't mean I was to put my FAITH down.

HE wants me to put my FAITH UP~

TRUSTING HIM to do what only HE WILL do,

 I need to get out of the way and

BE STILL and KNOW that GOD IS GOD,

and I am not,

for I would rather HE be the ONE

to open the HEARTS of those who don't KNOW HIM

or BELIEVE in HIM,

for I was that one.

So now I understand I have always valued

RELATIONSHIPS

from a very young age,

because

GOD wanted a RELATIONSHIP with me.

RELATIONSHIP~

To LOVE and be LOVED.

"THANK YOU JESUS"

(listen to the song below)