“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
We talked about this verse (and others) in our small group yesterday morning (also known as “Sunday School”- but I don’t like that term). First thing that comes to mind is the song we are familiar with and sing regularly. Second thing is love! The kind of love God has for us…for me…is unimaginable. Really…I can’t imagine how much he loves me. As humans, it’s too big of a concept for us to wrap our heads around. This is what I think of when I think of love:
- The lover of who I am. My Lord.
- My soul mate Joseph
- My families
- Cuddling with Zoe and Ren when they’re sleepy
- My true friends and their families
- Consoling friends/students when they are upset
- Valley Schools
- A clean house that is organized
- Camping
- Finances/Money (I’m weird…sometimes it’s a downfall)
What about the bad things? What about the deep things inside of my heart/mind that are ugly. God STILL loves me? I don’t think any of us will every comprehend that, in spite of all the terrible things I’ve thought and said and did, God still genuinely loves me.
I find myself often wandering with my thoughts and loving/focusing on things that are so worldly- like a new car or home improvements. I honestly don’t feel those are bad things or that God doesn’t bless us with the opportunities to have those things to use for His glory, but I’ve got to constantly keep myself in check.
God’s changing me. Spiritually, physically, emotionally. I couldn’t be more excited for a new season of life that He’s allowing me to embark on. Of course, fear is always lingering in my mind as the journey of my life continues. Fear of satan interfering with my journey in any way he sees possible. Fear that someday my parents won’t be here anymore. Fear that I’ll be a forgetful friend that is constantly having to be reminded of things. Fear that my past, my history will not be a legacy in our family. And then my Lord sweetly whispers to me the words of Isaiah 41:10 and more…
Fear not, Steph, for I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous hand. I will see you through this journey. Until the end, I will be by your side. Holding you up when you fall and letting you lean on me when you’re weak. I will guide you through the scary parts of life that will be endlessly sad. I will help you remember things that are important to others, when you can’t. I WILL continue my legacy through you. The legacy that your parents continued and that your children will carry on. I love you.
I love those moments. When God whispers ever so gently. I pray that I never get to a point ever again where I can’t/won’t hear Him. It’s something I’m now dependent on. Co-dependent on my Savior. Lately, my prayer is to love others with this love that I can’t wrap my head around. This love that I can only glean from Him and overflow onto others. A love I don’t have in me naturally. The ability to see others through His loving eyes and not my judgmental ones.
I like this quote by Eleanor Powell:
“What we are is God’s gift to us. Who we become is our gift to Him.”
Yes, Lord, I want to be the best present you have ever received!
CMO
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