May 09th, 2018

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday evening…and a big welcome to the Heart to Heart Blog! I am so glad that you came to join me tonight and I am truly looking forward to our time together this evening!
 
Well…today was more of a catch up day for me. My day started out with grocery shopping and then I did a little work online and then I ended the afternoon, by assisting my husband, as He transplanted some ferns for me. Once more…the day went great and I thank God, with all my heart; that my legs have been handling the work I’ve had to do around the house a little better!
 
I’ll tell you…one thing that I have come to appreciate lately; is relief from pain. Tonight, I was listening to a song, titled… “Thank You for the Storm”…and a few of the lyrics go like this… “But I wouldn’t know your peace without the hard times or be thankful for relief, without the pain; I would not love the light, if it were not for the darkness or appreciate the sun without the rain. How could I understand forgiveness without failure or feel the warmth of love without the bitter cold; how could I hold Your healing hands without affliction and be blessed to see your mercies all unfold. Sure it’s a blessing to be safe secure and warm; but Lord I want to thank you for the storm.”
 
I remember a time, when God had first led me to some Bible verses in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, which are now my life verses…and as I read the end of verse 9, which says…“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities”…all I remember, was looking up to a picture of Jesus that was hanging over our fireplace and saying…“Rejoice…you want me to rejoice, when I’m in the midst of pain and a lot of despair?” For some reason…that did not make sense to me at the time…but over time, I came to see that I was leaving the most important part of that sentence out, which reads…“that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
 
You know…it’s so true…how are we ever going to appreciate the good things in life or even experience the powerful hand of God upon us, while learning to lean on Him; if first we don’t experience the hard times?  I have come to see that I connect even closer to God, while in pain or during some other struggle and these truly become the moments, when we are actually the closest in our relationship.
 
Last Friday night, I was having so much pain; that I could barely stand it. I was sitting in my living room, with tears flowing down my cheeks…and as I got online…to cancel out my writing for the blog that night; I posted a prayer request on Twitter…and within a little while…there were a lot of people praying. Within a short time, the pain began to subside and I can’t even describe to you right now, how that felt. All I can say; is that such peace flooded my body.
 
You know…sometimes we don’t always understand the moments of pain or the times when we walk through darkness; but one thing I have come to see; is that these become the moments, when we actually become thankful for these storms because we not only learn to appreciate the good things in life even more; but we also come to see that there is a God that we can lean on, during these difficult times, which helps us to connect with Him, in a way that causes a personal relationship to form and become strong. I don’t know about you…but I thank God, for the storms He’s brought me through…and when I look back on my life…I know without a doubt; that I wouldn’t be the person I am today, without all the storms that I have experienced in my life.
 
Well…I have truly enjoyed our time together…and most all…the time that we have spent together with God this evening! I hope that these thoughts have touched your heart, as they have mine…and I pray that you will have a great night of rest and that God’s presence will surround you, with a perfect peace; that only He can give! Take care and have a great start to your Thursday and I will hope to be back with you again tomorrow evening, as I share more thoughts from the day…along with the goodness of a great, loving and powerful God…heart to heart!
Blessings so much on your night!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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