A Note On Love...

My God grieves at the heroine needle.
He cries with the bitter widow.
He loves the lonely whore.
He forgives His children.
He feels for the rail thin boy, hungry for days.
He knows the names of the murdered babies.
He is patient with the stubborn atheist.
He guides the seeking.
He finds the lost.
He sees behind the mask and still loves.
He cherishes those who walk through doubt.
For through doubt and uncertainty, faith is born.
He loves the terrorist.
He provides for the homeless man I ignore.
He loves those I piously judge.He seeks out those I avoid.
He sees the ones I don't notice.
He is concerned for the drunk I mock.
He sees beauty in the self conscience girl.He is color blind.
He lifts the head of the broken.
He is forgiving to the unremorseful.
He speaks to those I don't.
He loves.
My God is a God who loves.
I'd like to love like Him, but I'd rather not, I'd rather not..
Fill me with your love, your love, your love...
Love..

by Luke Campbell, age 15, 2/24/2008

Lavished!

I love the word Lavish.... there is such a richness and joy to it. When I think of something being lavished, I think of luxury... abundance... pampering.... who doesn't love that! So this morning when God brought to my mind 1 John 3:1, my heart began to sing. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"



God had LAVISHED His love on us.. how awesome is that!?



I did a bit of digging on the word Lavish and here are some of the definitions I found...



---to expend or give in great amounts or without limit

---to lavish gifts on a person.
---to give or bestow in abundance; shower

---expend profusely

---to spend or give very freely

---give forth from one's self



And the word origin, to me, is truly fascinating... Lavish comes from the Middle English word lavas which means profusion or profuse. That word came from the Middle French word lavasse which means a downpour of rain and is a derivation of the Latin word laver which is to wash.



So think of all that in context of 1 John 3:1. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us"... He has given us His unconditional agape love without limit... in abundance... from Himself... He showers it on us like a downpour of rain washing us with His love.



For me, this gives new meaning to being washed in the blood. Jesus' blood was quite literally God love being lavished on us... making us white as snow and children of the Most High God!



Father, How can we even begin to comprehend this! You have given us not only what we need, but abundantly more as you lavish us continually with your unconditional love. May we not take it for granted and may we use the overflow to pour out that love on others. Help us to see the opportunities you place before us so that You can love others through us. In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen... let it be so Lord Jesus!

Remedy

God uses music in my life... it is my favorite way to worship... it can move me to dance, shout, tears.... He convicts me with lyrics and stirs my heart to act. So I will share lyrics at times on this blog, as I feel God leading me to do so.


Today is one of those times. I have been listening to a wonderful CD for the last few weeks. It is David Crowder's newest CD - Remedy. It is absolutely wonderful!

We live in a world full of needs... people need food, shelter, love, acceptance, answers and so much more. Often we think the problems of this world are too much for us and we are right. But they are not too much for Jesus. He is the solution... the answer... the Remedy!

Isa. 53:4-5 NIV says, "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

This is repeated in 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

Jesus has brought healing to us through His blood shed on calvary. He is the Remedy for all that ails us! Let's be His hands and His feet... let's live ours lives being Jesus to the world... pointing them to the true Healer.... the One who can meet all their needs.... Jesus.

"Remedy"
by David Crowder

Here we are
Here we are
The broken and used
Mistreated, abused
Here we are

Here You are
Here You are
The beautiful One
Who came like a Son
Here You are

So we lift up our voices
We open our hands
To cling to the love
That we can't comprehend

Oh, lift up your voices
And lift up Your heads
To sing of the love
That has freed us from sin

He is the One
Who has saved us
He is the One
Who embraced us
He is the One Who has come
And is coming again
He's the remedy

Here we are
Here we are
Bandaged and bruised
Awaiting a cure
Here we are

Here You are
Here You are
Our beautiful King
Bringing relief
Here You are with us

So we lift up our voices
And open our hands
Let go of the things
That have kept us from Him

He is the One
Who has saved us
He is the One
Who forgave us
He is the One Who has come
And is coming again
He's the remedy

Oh, I can't comprehend
I can't take it all in
Never understand
Such perfect love come
For the broken and beat
For the wounded and weak
Oh, come fall at His feet
He's the remedy
He's the remedy

So sing, sing

You are the One
Who has saved us
You are the One
Who forgave us
You are the One Who has come
And is coming again
To make it alright
Oh, to make it alright
You're the remedy
Oh, in us
You're the remedy

Let us be the remedy
Let us bring the remedy

(to hear this song, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3UWiJCZAz8 )