Connected

 

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. Romans 12:10

 

Concern for friends, family, and even total strangers has brought me to my knees and to what seems like endless tears. I read something very sad this morning about a woman I do not know personally, but to whom my heart is eternally connected. She is not my natural born sister, but a sister none the less; one whose heart is connected to mine by the power, love, and family bond of our Lord, Savior, and Friend, our precious Jesus. She is hurting and has reached out to those of us she does not know though her blog. Her heart is hurting over something her sister is going through and she asked her readers to pray. No details, just please pray. No details needed Beth; He already knows.

Sadness continues as I think about some of my own personal struggles, along with a family member who is in a constant battle with a mental illness and a dear friend who daily seems to teeter-totter between life and death. A friend whose heart is broken because her husband forgot her birthday, and yet another friend facing surgery with an uncertain outcome are also uppermost on my mind and in my prayers today.

I am also saddened today in knowing there are those who do not believe in our Creator, who think all of life is merely a series of accidents and scientific phenomena. I know with every ounce of my being that we were created on purpose by a God who truly loves us with a love no one will ever fully understand this side of heaven.

I have no doubt that scientists who try to disprove the existence of a Creator will forever be scratching their heads over how to explain love. Love is not a molecular structure, it just is. God, our Creator, just is. He created us to love Him and each other. Period. The mystery of how we love will forever be just that, a mystery. But, what joy it truly is to love and be loved.

Love is what knits our hearts together as human beings; sisters and brothers in Christ who have the ability to truly feel each other’s pain. I don’t have to know you to be saddened by your uncomfortable circumstances, nor do I have to know you to find joy in your successes. Our hearts are connected by the One who sacrificed so much for so many.

I am so very thankful for the invisible string that connects my heart to yours. Our heart-to-heart connection is a mystery created on purpose by our loving Father for a multitude of reasons. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: God loves us through each other. If it were not for the invisible connection of love, not one of us would want to continue this life one more day. Love is as essential as breathable air and water.

You may be facing a struggle today that makes it difficult to feel anything, especially love. I want you to know, you are not alone. You are invisibly connected to so many through the power of a love so big, we cannot fathom. God Himself has connected us to each other. Pray to feel that connection. Ask God to love you today through someone of His choosing. Reach out to someone, anyone you trust with your heart, or even through this website to total strangers who, I guarantee, will pray for you just as you would pray for them. I trust you would pray for me if I asked you to, so please know I will and do pray for you. And please, whatever you do, regardless of your circumstances, remember that Jesus died for you and loves you more than anyone else on this earth ever will. Allow Him to love you through someone today.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Are you in a place of joy today? If so, I’m so happy and thankful. We all need a few good days to balance out the bad. May we never forget Who to thank for the joyful, take-our-breath-away moments that reel us back during dark days.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Who does God want to love through us today? Pray with me please.

Holy Father, Creator of all things good, I thank You for love and a connection with my brothers and sisters only You can explain. Please help me to love the way You want me to love and to love in such a way that the one you’ve given me to love actually feels Your presence and feels the love You have for them. I pray for hurting hearts, for a healing balm to soothe the sorrow and pain into nothingness. Because of Your love, may peace abound. Show me please, Lord, who You want to love through me today. Thank You, precious Lord, for loving me. Your love truly is amazing! In the matchless name of my Lord, Savior, and Friend, amen.

In His embrace,

Toni

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4 comments to Connected

  • Monica  says:

    Amen Toni, this is so awesome, just how the HOLY SPIRIT has us all on one accord, I happen to really be focusing on the love scripture, meditating on it carefully. I want to have the Love that GOD has for us, for everyone, especially those who rub me the wrong way, they are the ones who really need our love. I am praying for every hurting and grieving heart, and I lift up Beth’s sister to our Father and trust that whatever it is HE can for sure bring a comfort and solution. I ask that you all pray for my friend who just lost her 38 yr old cousin unexpectedly last Saturday, and her cousin left behind a hurt and angry 19 yr old son, who has already lost his father, uncle and now his mother, she also left behind a 7 yr old daughter who is not quite understanding that her mom is gone, and a battle for her has arose between her father and her mother’s family, and the mother of this 38yr old lady, who has lost her only 2 children and is now left with her grandchildren, alot of pain in this whole family right now,,please pray everyone, I cried and prayed for them today, I know GOD hears and will heal… God Bless all of you, love you.

    • Kasi Maple  says:

      Thank you Toni for this devotion….it has opened my eyes to how God really has us all connected, even though we may not “know” one another. My heart is breaking for the Hoffman family (Joel and Christina) who recently lost their 3 year old son, Ethan, in the tragic accident on April 29th as their family was coming home from a bible study and were hit by a drunk driver. Ethan was their 3rd child of 4 and their oldest daughter, Carley, has already suffered thru childhood cancer but is now in remission. The other children suffered broken bones but Ethan did not survive. I don’t know them personally but my thoughts and prayers have been with them almost morning, noon and night everyday. I think it has hit me hard because I too have a 3 year old son who is just days younger than their sweet Ethan and I can’t imagine losing a child, I think that is a parents worst nightmare. However, I will say that I have been following their website and the comments that so many people have written is truly heartwarming and it’s by God’s grace that so many people are praying for this family. So I just wanted to say thank you for the reminder that God does love us and wants us to love and pray for others as intercession for them.

      Kasi Maple (Marjorie Stephens daughter)

      • Toni  says:

        Hi Kasi,

        So sorry for a delayed response. I was out of town for a few days.

        I am truly thankful this devotion blessed you.

        My heart breaks for the Hoffman family. I, like you, cannot fathom the loss of a child. Only God, and God alone will help this family find peace in these extreme circumstances. It does truly bring home the message that we are all connected, heart-to-heart though our Lord and Savior. We know He weeps with the Hoffmans and us as we all grieve when something this close to home happens. Many prayers for peace and comfort for this family and you Kasi.

        God bless you and yours!

        In His embrace,
        Toni

    • Toni  says:

      Hi Monica,

      I’ve thought of you and this comment every day since you posted it. There is such saddness, it’s absolutely heart breaking. My prayers thoughout the week have been for the Lord to somehow comfort all of these hurting hearts. I’m also praying for you to have words of comfort and to know how the Lord wants you to be of help. God bless you Monica as you minister to these tears.

      In Him,
      Toni

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