Our Father

This awesome picture taken by my awesome friend Emily is a simple, yet profound reminder that God is always here. He is ever present and loves us so much.

There have been a number of reasons why God's love has been on my mind. I'm sure the main cause is simply God's desire to remind me of His love. A few weeks ago, I had lunch with a friend that I don't get to see very often. We had a great visit catching up, and talking about new things, like being a mother. She's not a mom yet, but is at the point in her life that she and her husband are thinking about children. She asked me what it was like. And I found myself overwhelmed with passion explaining what motherhood has been like for me. . .

. . . The first time I saw him (Joshua), I was in SHOCK that a real, live person is suddenly here! . . . I've always been in awe that God would give ME a child. I can hardly believe He would trust me enough, love me enough, to give me a son. It's such a BIG deal! Why would God allow Joshua in my life! . . . Becoming a mother also changed me in that I lost any concern for what 'people' think, because this is MY family, MY son, and I will do whatever it takes to give them the best. . . It's funny too, I remember waking up in the middle of the night when I was pregnant with an instant realization of how a lion rips another animal apart without hesitation to protect her cubs. I know I could physically tear someone apart too, if the situation called for it. LOL. . . Being a mom is just an incredible thing. It also made me love my mother even more - because you are able to experience this new, pure, unconditional love for your child - and then you realize that someone loves you that way, your own mom. :) . . .

Which brings me to the understanding of what the Bible means in 1 John 4:19 when it says "We love Him, because He first loved us." When I finally understand how my mother has loved me all these years, how she loved me first, I can't help but love her even more than ever. And then this thought bleeds over to my relationship with Christ. Oh. my. God. What an incredible revelation. It brings me to tears to even begin to fathom how much my Father loves me. He not only created me, but created the very love, that perfect love, that I have for my son, that my mother has for me. How much more does the creator of something so powerful actually love ME? My human mind cannot fully consume that fact. But what I do know humbles me immensely.

This is an awesome video that I first watched when Josh was just a couple months old. It goes along with what I've been trying to explain in this blog. I hope it speaks to you like it did me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYKa9E1xzao

Oh yeah :), and church service today once again brought this all to mind - that God is our FATHER who LOVES us. That we can always come to Him. That He wants our hearts, not just our habits. That He doesn't care where we've been, only where we are going.

http://www.rockpointchurch.org