Miracle of the Heart

As I read this story I couldn't help but feel sorry for both Kate and Leah (from the scripture).

Kate who is in love with the man she believed was sent to her by God, has to go through a horrible accident to see his true colors in the moment she needed him the most. As she goes through the next year she turns to God asking him to help her learn how to love and bring someone who would accept her for her scars, and to "let her care for a child one day". Soon months turn to years and she still hasn't found love. Kate turns to God and says "God, if you don't want me to find love, if children aren't in my future, so be it. I give my whole life over to you." It is this same day that another horrible accident brings children and love into Kate's life.

I had to read a few passages before and after the one listed to understand more into the meaning. Leah is the older sister to Rachel, but also a wife to Jacob. She was taken on as a wife as a trick from her father, Jacob had never intended to marry Leah and had no desire for her. The scripture says "when the Lord saw that Leah was unloved he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. After each son that she conceived she believed that this would make Jacob feel some connection to her, but was unsuccessful, after her fourth son she too was then unable to conceive. After some time Leah bears Jacob more children after she gives Jacob her maid as a wife and she finally proclaims that she is happy.

I believe that the section of reading and scripture are pointing out that you need to have faith in God because he has a bigger picture worked out for you. Stop trying to control everything because when He closes one door He will open another, or maybe even a window. Both Kate and Leah had less then ideal situations but God looked after them and found ways for both of them to find love and fulfillment.

God's Ways

Ok, so I read the story for this week and I also read the the scripture reading. My first reaction was, "Dang! Jacob sure got around!" But then I tried to tie connections between the two. Here is what I found:

1. Both contain characters that are desperate and that desperation led to even more pain.

-Rachel was desperate for children because she wanted to give Jacob children. Margaret and Bill were both desperate to have children to complete their lives. Both made the decision to get children in other ways. Rachel through her maidservant and Margaret and Bill through adoption. It seems as though their desperation led to a lot of heartache. Rachel could not wait for God to give her a child so she allowed Jacob to sleep with her maidservant, which probably caused more jealousy and hurt feelings for Rachel than the fulfillment she was looking for . Margaret and Bill relied too heavily on the Agency which promised a 100% risk free adoption, but in reality it was not risk-free at all.

2. Both illustrate that God has the power to give and the power to take away.

-God made Rachel barren, but when the time was right allowed her to have a child. God let the first adoption fall through, but then brought them another little girl.

I think the lesson to be learned is that although it is hard sometimes we just need to leave our fate up to God. He truly does know what is best for us and in the end when we see the big picture, we will be thankful. When we can't wait for God and we take things into our own hands, well, there's the potential of being hurt even worse.

So in the end, trust in God. He knows what is best, especially when we don't.

GOD is Awesome!!

Go to: www.crazylovebook.com (Francis Chan) and look at the video "The Awe Factor of God".
R. C. Sproul wrote "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God".

Week 4: A Series of Miracles

Spoiler Alert! Another sad story with a happy ending. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised, the book is titled "Miracles."

Ok, I'm being serious now. It is amazing that this couple who wanted children is now miraculously able to have them and were able to adopt two healthy girls from China who serendipitously are biological sisters. Oops, there I go again being sarcastic.

HELP! I'm feeling quite cynical tonight. Any guidance?

Heaven's Perfect Timing

Well, it seems we've all thought about this kind of situation before since we discussed it in week one! I thought this story was interesting in that she did pray to God before she started her trip to keep her from crossing the summit if it was too dangerous. She didn't realize though at first that her hunger was that signal from God to stop. I think a lot of times I do ask for help from God but then I don't always know how to read those signals either. For Amy in this story, the signal was the physical sensation of hunger. In the scripture reading, the wise men paid attention to their dream from God and avoided returning to Herod. They were wise enough to know that the dream was God's signal. God may not always come right out and TALK to us, like he did Amy. He may give us other signals in our lives though. Do you think a lot of that is trusting your instincts? Maybe the feelings and sensations you have in a situation are giving you clues as to how to proceed. Did you get other ideas from this reading?