How Deep the Father's Love...

"An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others." - Tozer

Yes, I love how Tozer presents ideas that we already know but can't really verbalize. At least, I can't. How big is our God? So big that each and every one of us can experience Him fully without sharing. We as humans have to decide who we spend time with and when, how much time we want to invest in certain relationships, and how much time we want for ourselves. Our Father is not like that at all. How different would each of our lives be if we had our parents undevoted attention? If they didn't have to spread themselves between work, spouse, other children, and friends. I don't mean that to sound like God is at our beck & call. Just the opposite, He is everpresent but we don't call the shots. He is there because He wants to be, because He loves us so much. There is a quote from The Shack, "He would have done it even if it was just for me, but it wasn't." It's saying that what Jesus did here on earth and on the cross was for me and you and everyone. He would have done it even if it was only for me or you or Joe or whoever. He loves us so completely that He would have endured all of that for just one person. One person to be with Him in His Kingdom for eternity.

We spend our whole lives yearning for love an acceptance from a fallen and corrupt world. The perfect love we seek is available all along. We are too stubborn to accept it. We can do it by ourselves. Just like a baby that's learning how to dress themselves, "I can do it by myself" in a very exasperated tone. Eventually they realize the sleeve to the shirt is on the inside instead of the outside and they are tangled beyond belief. "Help!!!" finally escapes their lips. We as the adult are standing by waiting for that moment. We knew from the beginning of the dressing process that something like this would happen. We stood by silently waiting. When we help them do we say I told you so? Or do we, with love in our hearts, try to point out the fact that even when you know how sometimes you need help?

The love of our Father is complete for each of us. He loves each of His children to the utmost. We don't have to share His love because He is so big and so perfect. I am the apple of His eye. You are the apple of His eye. Neither one of us must experience a deminished amount of love when a new child is adopted into our family. That new brother or sister will be the apple of His eye.

This is not a concept that our human minds can wrap around. We aren't meant to understand all of these things. We are just meant to believe that they are so and trust our Father when He says it is. I am encouraged that the God of the universe, the Giver of Life, my Savior loves me more than anything else on earth!!! I am the best to Him.

That just blows my mind!!!!

love-affectionate concern for the well-being of others

A friend told a story last night about a young lady. A 15 year-old who left her home and walked to the interstate over-pass and jumped onto the interstate below. Why, you ask? She was sad because her sister died 2 years ago and she didn't have any friends and kids at school made fun of her for being overweight. How does this kind of thing happen? Who is responsible? What could have been done to prevent this tragedy? How can it be prevented in the future? These are all valid questions.

First, I would like to ask, who has ever felt like a situation is hopeless? I know I have. There are many times in my life when I was dissatisfied with aspects of my life. Whether it was my appearance, my level of popularity, my money situation, etc. I can look back now and I know that the real issue was the lack of Christ in my life. I can look at those same aspects of life now and though I may not be satisfied in them, I know that I am in HIM! All of the other things in my life are inconsequential to my relationship with my Savior. With God in my life there is always hope for me (us).

Did this young girl have a relationship with Christ? Did anyone in her school show her the hope they had inside them? Someone obviously showed her something but I guess it was not hope. Did she get help for dealing with the death of her sister? It's difficult in a family sometimes to see past your own pain to help another loved one. Was there not a teacher that noticed and tried to spend a little extra time with her?

When someone is lost in a fog of depression it is extremely difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe the kids at school that were "goofing" on her thought it was harmless fun. Maybe they didn't realize all the other stuff she had going on in her head. Maybe they did. Maybe they have a lack of Christ in their lives. That in and of itself lends to undesirable behavior. I have seen and heard people say and do things that are so mean spirited. I try to stop them or stand up for the other person but not always. What keeps me from doing it 100% of the time? Fear (that's for Ron) is the only answer. I don't want someone to call me a goody-goody or a kiss up. Or maybe I don't want to get involved because it isn't my business. But isn't it? When we make a commitment to our heavenly Father we say we accept all others as brothers and sisters. Does that not make it our business?

So who is responsible? That is not a question that can be answered. My prayer is that in this tragedy God receives all the glory and honor and praise. How can that happen? I cannot answer that question either. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Can this sort of thing be prevented? Yes, we can do as Christ called us to do and love one another as He has loved us. When we see someone who is hurting we should pour out more love on them. Even if it is just you, that is the face of Christ for that person that day. Only we can change things by starting a change within ourselves. By allowing God to shape us and mold us into the likeness of Christ we can prevent young people from feeling that life is a hopeless mess. Christ through us can save them.