Dear Friend,

I’ve been thinking a lot about God’s love and how longsuffering He is. Sometimes we feel like we’re the only ones that have suffered with heartbreak and rejection, but God the Father went through the same thing with the people of Israel.

I remember the first time I read First Samuel 8:4-8, the passage where the elders gathered together and came to Samuel asking for a king:

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

After everything God had done for Israel, can you imagine them wanting a king to rule over them instead of God! Yet the Father still made a way for Jesus to come and be our Savior. That is love!

It is hard to comprehend the love our Father has for us, but for me, having children gave me an idea of that kind of love. I know that most parents would lay down their lives for their children; however, laying your life down for people who don’t want anything to do with you is a totally different level of love. God—the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—loves us more than we can even imagine. I’m so grateful for that truth. What an honor it is to serve such an amazing God.

I can’t help but wonder, though, how it must grieve God to see so many of His children attacking each other, judging each other, and accusing each other of not even being Christian because they don’t have the same opinion. It’s like the Body of Christ is in a spiritual civil war—brother against brother. It’s so sad.

Friends and family are important, and although I don’t agree with everything mine say or do, I sure love them. And I also realize I’m not right about everything because I don’t know everything, but God does. Glory to God! He knows the heart of every person, so I’ll leave the judging to Him.

 

I like being free from holding grudges, and I like the fact that God loves me even when I fail. I know I can go to Jesus and tell Him everything right and wrong about me, and He still loves me.

The Lord has blessed me so much, and the biggest blessings are eternal life with Him, my children, and the fact that He has trusted me to raise Levi. (Levi is four years old now, and I love being a mom—I can’t help but smile when I say that!)

John 15:12,13 says:

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This is my prayer for you, that you would draw your family and friends closer to you than ever before, and that you would forgive and let go of the things that have hurt you. Remember: Jesus will never leave or forsake you. You are loved, and you are valuable. God bless you!

In His love,

Donner Roberson