The Father's Love

I recently had one of those moments.....those moments where in my deepest, most sincere desires, i longed to be in the physical presence of Jesus.   To be held, covered like a blanket.   To look Him in the eyes and hear Him say "I love you".   I know He is always near, always present through His spirit but there are days that i wish He could wrap His arms around me like a Father with His child.     We are physical beings, created in His image.   I believe the Lord designed relationships, in part to fill that need.   And i know one day, i will get to run into the arms of my Savior.  

   But on this day, as i sat at my desk working, I struggled with the reality that this was not possible....I found myself telling the Lord how i longed for a God sized hug.   A few moments later i happened to look into our bank account and noticed that there was an unexpected deposit from BMI.   It was payment for a song i had written that was used in a tv show a number of times last year.   I had forgotten all about it, and well...it could not have come at a better time for us.   As i sat there i heard the Lord say..."I can't physically hug you but i know your needs.   I am near.   I am closer then you know and I know your heart"   

  I wept.     I wept because He reminded me I am never alone.   I wept because He hears us when we call.   I wept because He knows our love languages.     Because in that moment of unexpected provision, it was as though He reached out and wrapped His arms around me.   Not because of the money itself, but because in that moment of a need being met, I was reminded that the Lord knows us.   He knows us in ways we can and never will know ourselves.   Better then any person we will ever know, better then and love we will ever experience.  

As children of the Creator, He knit us together.   He knows what speaks to our hearts.   What strikes the most tender and meaningful places in our being.     He knows what we need and how we need it.    And if we are paying attention....if we are in tune with the Spirit...we will see those little things he does each day that show us love.

all the things we long for, He is more.   All the things we desire from others, He is more.   God is love.   We know love because He first loved us.    And it occurred to me, God gave His son for us, to die for us, as the greatest act of love the world has ever known.   And that would have been enough.   That single act of love would have required nothing else to be the ultimate and enduring picture of love and faithfulness.    It was enough to change eternity and show us how much we matter to Him.   And yet....He did not stop with that single act.  He started with it.....and the love story will continue for the rest of your life and into eternity.   I cannot wait to see my Savior face to face, but in the meantime I am so thankful that He knows just how to show us His love each and every day.

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss -
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.