Monday, December 16, 2013

God is Love/ Love is God

Here is the full Text I worked from On Sunday, December 15, 2013



          I want to tell you a story about a woman in a hospital who had a dramatic experience and made a great discovery. This story was shared with me by a minister friend from Texas and he says it’s a true story.
·        The hospital is in a big city and the woman is lying in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, and staring at the ceiling. Soon enough she realizes she’s in the hospital, but she has no memory of how she got there. She has no idea what hospital she’s in or even where it’s located.
·        In a moment of clarity she remembers she was in a horrific automobile accident.
·        Nurse talks to her about her impending surgery. After the accident there was no circulation in her leg and there is the possibility of having the leg amputated in order to save her life.
·        She lies there, watching her whole life pass before her eyes in a split second, and she wonders what went wrong.
·        In her anguish and pain during the night, she would cry out about how bad her life was and how bitter she was about the things that had happened to her.
·        Caring nurse – held her hand – looked into her eyes – “What in the world has made your life so bad? Life was not meant for sorrow; it was meant for joy. Life is made for love and happiness.”
·        “Why are you alone? Where is your husband? You have talked about him with bitterness and hate. What has happened in your life that makes you so bitter?”
·        Seeing love in eyes, she cries uncontrollably. All the stored up grief and pain was just pouring out of her.
·        I’m going home to pray for you. Share with me so I can help you in prayer.
o       Married to a beast of a man
o       All her dreams as a little girl vanished
o       Nothing turned out right
o       Just gone to husband’s attorney (Divorce)
o       Biter about the lies that hade been told about her
o       Behind the wheel in a blind rage/ hate, she could not see and drove faster and faster until she lost control of the car
·        Lying in that bed, realized it was not car but her life & her love over which she had lost control.
·        Seeing the love in nurse’s eyes and feeling her caring she realized that no one outside herself could take her love away, that she had a choice.
·        Live life out of choice rather than anything else
·        She and the nurse prayed
·        She dreamed a “Salvation Army” type band singing this version of AT THE CROSS:
·        "At the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It is there by faith I receive my sight,
And now I am happy all the day."
·        When she awoke she kept repeating, “Happy, happy, happy. Oh God, I want and choose to be happy.”
·        Think about her condition: great pain – may lose leg – may not survive… and she was praying or happiness!
·        In that moment her soul sought God – not a doctor, pain killer, or physical aide.
·        All have been through difficulty (maybe in it now) and it brings us to the realization that life is love and the quality of our lives is dependent on how much love we “have inside.” (and are aware of and extend to other people and circumstances and conditions in our lives) It’s not just about other people loving us.
·        Love is all around us and what we do is fight off acknowledging it, and expressing it. Love is God; God is love. There is no love to be found; it is ever-present and only known through its expression.
·        If we didn’t spend so much time battling against receiving/accepting Love being offered to us, and giving Love to those who cry out for it, we’d recognize we are awash in endless unconditional Love.
·        In that moment this young woman said, "God, I make the choice for love, and happiness. No one can take love away from me. I am happy with what I have right now."
·        What a statement for this woman, at this time, to make!
·        An interesting thing then happened. When life surges through you, changes happen. When the doctors came in, they had that surprised look on their faces. One doctor said, "We don't understand this, but we do not think it will be necessary to amputate your leg. It looks as if circulation has returned."
·        She just said, "Thank You, God. With everything inside of me, thank You God. I am happy!"
·        Circulation of love and happiness heals the hard and painful parts of our lives.
·        She, in that moment, was infilled by God with overflowing love and gratitude—so much so that it flowed out to all those around her.
·        They could feel a positive change of energy coming from her.
·        She would lie in bed, no pain killers, instead sing songs—songs she remembered and songs she made-up.
·        Her family, and her husband who was divorcing her, came to visit her and just sat at her bedside wondering what happened to her. Her husband, too, cried uncontrollably, seeing the change in her, created a change in him.
·        People often change because they see something in you that they want.
·        Look around at people and see what they express that you want to express.
·        Good example or horrible warning – everyone has something to offer to us.
·        It has been many years since this occurred. Let me tell you what happened during those years. This woman became vitally healthy – healthier than she ever was before, even in her younger years.
·        Their marriage really started for the first time after she left the hospital. Her husband recommitted his life to God.
·        In I John we read God is love. God is Love and Love is God. Committing yourself to God is not committing yourself to religion. Committing yourself to God is committing yourself to extending love and seeing with love.
·        When you are working with Love you are working with God.
·        This is an abundance story. Withholding the circulation of love and happiness withers your life; circulation of love and happiness expands your life.
·        Life is a choice
·        I’ll close by asking, “What life do you choose for yourself?”
·        Whatever you’d like your life to be, choose to live it.
·        Thank you for being here today.
·        God bless you.
If time permits, show video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIEIvi2MuEk (West Jet Christmas Miracle)

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