When you walk in the
will of the Father, you will have experiences that will never be forgotten and
treasures will be stored, which can never be taken away…
People come and go in life; moment by moment daily
experiences pass you by during which you will never put much thought into what
is happening around you. Opportunities and
goals that you try to accomplish sometimes never seem to get completed and unfortunately,
so many times even these efforts turn out to be of no eternal significance or
value. This is when you begin to realize the frailty of the passing cares of
this world and deep value of human life and relationship …
Almost always the most powerful influence you will ever have
on someone is during a time of challenge, pain or difficultly. In short, this
is when one’s character is put to the test and the REAL you must come to the surface
being exposed to all who can see. This is just the beginning of the mystery
though, because it is one thing when you are tested and the “normal” ugly ME (sarx – Greek word) comes out which is ONLY seeking for self-gratification,
but it is a totally different story when the fruit of a tried life exudes the
pure LOVE of God! This incredible response can be possible only in one way… and
that is if the tested one has been abiding in the life giving Word of God!
I am reminded of Galatians 5:22-23,
“But
the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law.”
Notice that LOVE is the first and foremost fruit of an
abiding life! The Bates family has exemplified these awesome qualities which
only can point to an abiding life within the Father!
Whether it was doing things together such as playing card
games, basketball, volleyball, shopping and going to the Smokey Mountain Knife
Works, whitewater rafting, zip lining, working or just sitting around having
fellowship, the Bates family demonstrated a Christ-like love to our family in a
way I have NEVER seen it demonstrated before! True love is selfless, it is
giving, it is disciplined and sincere and I have seen all of these and more in
this family!
I will ALWAYS be grateful to God for the Open Door of
Opportunity that He gave to my family and me to spend a week with the Bates
enjoying fellowship around Jesus Christ’s love for one another! Wow…I am
blessed! Thank you Bates Family for opening your home to us and allowing us to
experience Christ’s love through you in a more fuller and real way than EVER before!!!!!!!
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