I wonder how long it took for this heart to be hollowed out in this log? How long does love take to deepen like this? What did it take to carve through the hardened timber? Was it a storm that caused it to fall? Did life eat away at the core? Who could carve in such a way to leave a shape that only Love can fill?
Hardship or suffering has a way of scraping our insides right out but if we let Love do His work, the flow of peace and compassion and love will be like a flood unleashed to continue the circuit — oxygenated by the Holy Spirit — until life is breathing again!
This heart thing — it all started beating back in 2016 and hasn’t stopped yet. As I walk it out with Jesus, He continues to reveal His love to me in the form of hearts–not made by human hands. I see them most often in nature — a special creation of His — but they’ve also shown up on floors…from sunlight streaming through a window’s curtain, spotlighting an image of love. And I believe in miracles and signs and wonders of a Love that never ends and always, always wants to be known and shared with others.
And I’m overwhelmed by God’s love! A love He continues to pour out on me into the weakest and most broken crevices. And maybe that’s when conditions are perfect for a true heart of love to be hollowed out in any hard heart. Weakness, suffering, brokenness, vulnerability, fear, failure, doubt, and disappointment give way to dependence on my Creator to use what He knows best to chip away at the resentment, bitterness, judgments, and lack of forgiveness of myself and others.
Knots of abuse and emotional pain may take longer to chisel away but the beauty and richness revealed in the grain becomes an heirloom of grace.
God knows. He always knows. And He always loves. Because Love…”It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (I Corinthians 13:7)
And every heart has a message and the message is this …
“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
And God’s message to me in every heart I see is two-fold. He wants me to know how deeply He loves me and He wants me to share the Good News of His love with others. So I scoop up His message of love and let it fill the hollow places in my life and pray that it pours out on others to keep the circuit flowing.
And I’m moved beyond my own words by this song that keeps singing over and over in my head. I can’t get over it and I can’t get enough of it. The Love of God …the message of every heart.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Look for hearts. Listen to them speak of how deeply you’re loved by God. Learn the way of love and share God’s love with others.
“Knots of abuse and emotional pain may take longer to chisel away but the beauty and richness revealed in the grain becomes an heirloom of grace.” I really like that line- I think I have to dwell longer on that idea. Beautiful imagery, made more beautiful because of your vulnerable story. Thanks for sharing!
Well you’re the sweetest, Carrye. I pray that my own journey of knots and grace will leave a beautiful legacy of grace for you and our other kids …to know you’re not alone and that God’s love and grace covers it all. Love you!
wonderful message my friend.
Pray God’s love keeps spreading far and wide . Thanks, Becky!
love the hearts. That is what you mentioned when we were talking and walking. Cool. And just now saw how you had link to my blog on your page. Thanks so very much. Very kind.
On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 9:19 AM, a life-giving moment wrote:
> Joy Waters Martin posted: ” I wonder how long it took for this heart to be > hollowed out in this log? How long does love take to deepen like this? > What did it take to carve through the hardened timber? Was it a storm that > caused it to fall? Did life eat away at the core? Who” >
Love you!!!! I love how God winks… and you see it!!!!! 💛💛💛
Thanks for seeing it with me Joy3 🙂 …and for catching this awesome heart-log that I might have missed! You’re the best! Love you!
I love this Joy! And I love you.
I Love you too Marie!! What a gift you are!
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