Love Shoulda brought you Home was a popular song sung by Toni Braxton in 1992. It coincided with the line from the 1992 movie “Boomerang” starring Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry. The premise of the song/movie denotes a relationship where things go awry. The understanding should be that if you love me there are certain constructs that define love to keep the relationship sound and whole. To break it down for you– actions speak louder than words.

A good friend of mine was in a relationship last year with a man that she said she was in love with. According to her the man is the bomb. She thinks this man is intelligent, articulate, kind and humble. He makes her laugh, but most of all understands her and who she is. Yet one day the calls stopped coming and he went into hiding. My friend was devastated. There was no closure to the relationship and no explanation for his actions. A few months ago, this man contacted her, apologized and asked for another chance. Her reaction to me regarding his request,” you gotta be kiddin’ me”.

As she reflected back on their relationship she realized she knows this man and all that he struggles with in regards to trying to make it in this world. She has seen his high points and his low points and understands him. As she struggled with the process of whether to talk to him or not, she learned who better to assist him to reach the next season in his life. {Sidebar - after all, isn’t that how God designed his beautiful construct woman- the helpmeet to a man? From the beginning it was God’s intention for woman to help the man.} Mind you is it quite clear in her mind that he may walk away again, but it is with understanding that she allows herself to be vulnerable before him. She said to me “who will believe in him if I don’t”? Personally, sometimes I wonder about her and her actions and how she proceeds in her life walk. But I will not judge her. I will say this much, she truly is walking by faith, standing in position and expecting God to work things out in her relationship.

Now to my point…..lol

As I began to reflect upon my friend’s relationship with her man, I began to think about what God expects from us; and that line “Love Shoulda brought you home” started pounding in my head. God set in motion a thought process; and I started to compare my friend’s situation and parallel it to our relationship with Him. He constantly and continually puts Himself out there for us. He seeks after us and pulls on our heart strings; searching for a lover. (Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.) A key component in that scripture states if we hear His voice. So many of us do hear but neglect the voice and make choices to push the relationship with God away. Often our thought process is, God I’ll get back to you later… at a more convenient time, knowing that to answer that knock - it will mean we can no longer do things “OUR WAY”.

I named this blog “Hearing from the Father” for a reason. Many times He is speaking to us, wanting that intimate relationship that is awesome. When I say pause, I mean stop a moment in what you are doing to listen. See if you can hear Him and what His design is for YOUR life. So often He is waiting in the wings to comfort you in your daily journey. Yes is He is a God of correction, but He is also a God of love. Too often we want to live our life our way. A way that is destructive; and for many of us it borders a thin line of insanity. Anytime you continually do things a certain way and expect a different outcome – that is INSANE. Why not try things His way?

God allows us to make choices, hence our free will. Understand that there are prices to pay for that free will, but free will it is. Or is it really? Take a moment to think about that. If you walk out the door today knowing that death is imminent for you; would you leave the house? Or would you choose to stay in for the day, knowing that when tomorrow comes the season of death had passed for you. Ultimately our lives operate in the same fashion. We have seasons of planting and seasons of reaping. Why continually and deliberately sow to the flesh being made aware that the season of reaping determines death. Is it really that hard to live for God?

God loves us enough to send His son to die for our sins. He gives us a choice of eternal death or life; and how we live our life now determines our hereafter. Why continue to make choices that lead to destruction? The next time God comes knocking in that still voice, pause for a moment and think about it; and make a mental note to yourself and say “Self - He is seeking for me”. Will you ignore Him? It’s like my friend’s relationship the first time around, she was there and waiting for that call that never came. That man’s actions spoke louder than his words. But today God says, “If you love me you’ll keep my commandments and LOVE SHOULD BRING YOU HOME”.

Peace and blessings,

B

August 10, 2008 – 6:34 AM