A Heart of Love

Thank you for the Birthday messages! Val took me to Fish House Vera Cruz for a great birthday lunch of wild salmon. As we were talking, she wanted me to open my gift. She said, "Oh, this is just something I picked up for you." I began to open it and realized it was in a red wooden box. H-m-m-m! What? I opened the lid to find a diamond heart necklace. Amid tears, she helped me get it out of the box and put it on. I noticed the heart was longer on one side of the curve than the other creating a space at the bottom. I asked her about it and she said to me, "Mother never close your heart to God, He loves you and is faithful." She might have said something after that but I just didn't hear her. I knew that that moment would stand out in my heart and mind for the rest of my life and that I would treasure the heart necklace forever.

The love that Valerie and I share as mother and daughter is more than I can put into words. It is heart felt, emotional and binding. It is God given. I've seen her in pain and my physical heart feels like it is breaking.

But this love does not come close to the love that God the Father has for us. God is the personification of love. He is the originator and orhestrator of love. When we accept Christ into our life and abide with Him, His love flows through our veins. John 4:10-11"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (paid the penalty) for our sins. Beloved, if God loved us, we also ought to love one another." We learned yesterday that God loves His people to the "eis telos" to the fullest extent and to the end. We are given this direction:

I John 3:23 "And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us."

I received an anniversary card that had a great verse on it. I cut it out, framed it and put it beneath our wedding picture. After 41 years of marriage, I still need to be reminded.

Ephesians 5:2 "Walk in Love."

For all of you that pray for the McCrea family, we are so thankful. I wish I could personally put my arms around each of you. When you pray, God acts. Her prayer requests are:

• Val would heal quickly from the surgery
• That her pain can be controlled
• Her cancer continues to be under control
• Gain the weight back that she lost (about 15 pounds)
• Ryan and Gavin would have a great start at Valley Bible (kindergarten and first grade)
• Keep infection at bay as she rebuilds her immune system
• She could have chemo in 2 weeks
• That the need for stent replacement can be put off
• Chris and Val to attend their Thursday night small group
• Her energy level would increase
• Chris would stay healthy
• That God would keep them loving Jesus and each other

Gavin prays, "Jesus, heal the cancer in mom's belly." We cry out, "Oh please Lord, heal her."