He Loved Me Ere I Knew Him

Do you really believe that all things work together for good to those who love Christ?  I do!  

Case in point:  yesterday I was compelled to look over some of my previous writings and came across several that touched me, saddened me, and/or made me reflect on how far I have come.  As I read through several of these stories, many highs and lows were there but instead of dwelling on them and letting them control my thoughts and feelings as they had been prone to do in the past, I set them aside.  I went on about my day and didn’t give them a second thought.

Imagine my surprise and delight--which was one of the key points to last night’s message but wasn’t revealed until after this song had been sung--when voila`!  Once again God showed Himself mighty and made something so clear to me that I just marvelled then and am still dazedly shaking my head at the simplicity of it.  We sang the song “Victory in Jesus” and as the chorus echoed around me, these words stood out:  He loved me ere I knew Him.  No big deal, right?  I mean, haven’t we all sung these words hundreds of times before and just assumed that of course Jesus loved us?  I mean, after all, why would He have created us if not because of love?

And then I remembered.  I remembered the story from earlier that I had read.  It was about my first grandson’s impending arrival.  Oh, how excited I was!  How happy, thrilled, and ecstatic I was that a precious child was being added to my family.  I had been given the opportunity to see this babe while still in Mama’s womb and I was already enraptured.  While the ultrasound was grainy and truthfully I had to have the technician’s assistance to see, there he was.  This tiny little glob of cells and DNA and flesh and blood and...hope.  Love.  

Excitement built within me as I thought of all of the things to teach this kid, the songs to sing, the stories to tell, the memories to make, the preparations, the wondering of how much I’d get to be in his life...On and on my thoughts ran and the wonder of creation.  

So, in conclusion, as the congregation and I sang this song last night, the words “He loved me ere I knew Him” really sank in.  Much more than the overwhelming affection I was feeling for this soon-to-be-grandchild was the love that God had for me.  Before the foundations of the world, He was planning for my arrival.  Before He took the dust to form me, He loved me.  And just as my grandchild had no idea about me until he learned about me after his birth and through his life, the love was already present, already waiting, already being fulfilled.  I didn’t know Jesus first.  I had to hear about Him, to be introduced to Him, to accept this love He so wanted to give to me.  I had to be taught to love Him because He was a stranger to me, just as children are to their parents.  They learn love from being held, from being taken care of, and smooched upon.  They learn what security means--and dependence as well.  They have no idea how much they are cherished until one day it all clicks and those three words we say often so casually make sense:  I love you.  And then when they are repeated back to us?  Oh my!

Jesus loved us first.  “We love Him because He first loved us” is how John the Beloved explained it in his first epistle, chapter four and verse nineteen. Eugene Monroe Bartlett wrote the song “Victory in Jesus” to share further that truth.  And yours and my responsibility is to continue in love (Hebrews 13:1).  We have the best Teacher.  Let’s fulfill His commandment to love one another as He loved us, shall we?  I think so too!

Let’s pray!

Dear Father God, how precious You are to me!  The constant ways You show me--remind me--of just how special I am to You confound me.  It’s not easy for me, as You know, to feel adored but here lately You seem to be making that more and more clear to me.  Even though Your Word tells me, it’s often hard for me to accept such tenderness and mercy because I feel so undeserving.

As I strive to be more like Christ Jesus, I ask You to keep giving me these flashes, these insights, and these revelations of the promises You made and make them personal like in this song because, hard as it is for me to sometimes believe, You do love me.  You loved me first and have taught me how to love in return.  Oh what a gift!  May I pay-it-forward without hesitation is my hope today.  In the name of Jesus I pray:  amen.

PS

I love You too!

Fraud Alert!!

I’m the kind of girl who has so many random thoughts or sees a great quote or finds a great Bible verse to later blog on or hears something I feel is worth repeating so I jot these things down on pieces of paper, in the backs of my many notebooks, or on writing pads that are nearby.  Every once in a while I try to go over them and see what they mean to me now, in a different light and on a different day.

Case in point:  as I came in my Pretty Purple Room this morning, there was a mess.  Here’s a pic to show you some of my small collection:

 

As you can see, there is much material to sort through.  However, as I came across the one prominently displayed, I was reminded of our church meeting last night, when Brother Brandon spoke to us on being careful that who we present to others in the world matches up with who we are in private.  I don’t know if you can see it on the note (or be able to read my horrible handwriting) but my note said “Fraud Alert.  Identity Theft.  How I wish I was constantly the woman behind the computer screen and didn’t revert back to the old me when my fingers are no longer typing.”  :(

Brandon’s words are echoing through my head this morning as I review this written thought from Lord knows when.  It’s easy to be so full of bubbly encouragement and truths and light when I am writing these words to you all but...but when I step out from behind this screen, are the folks who know me and read my blogs wondering who this chick thinks she is?  Do they question if my actions match up with my professions of faith when they encounter me in various circumstances?  Mostly though, I wonder if God--Who knows me inside and out--is pleased with the image I project in my daily walk.  Oh, I hope so, but I fear I fall short far too often.  

So, for those of you reading this, call me out when you see me erring.  Let me know--privately please--what I am doing wrong, right, and what could use some help.  Scripture tells us in Proverbs 27:17 that “Iron sharpens iron.”  Don’t let me be a vessel of rust that corrupts and corrodes.  As I continue to endeavour to share the love of Christ through this blog, my desire is to be a blessing.  I don’t want to just be a hearer of the Word; I want to be a doer.

Let’s pray!

Dear Lord, whew!  This was a tough one.  So many times I can feel like I am in Your perfect will and then bam!  Something happens to show my humanity and set me back a few paces.

Lord?  As I struggle with my wandering mind, I ask You to be that Guide for my pathway that was promised.  I ask that You continue working in me, perfecting me, and readying me for Your kingdom.  I long for Your words of “Well done, My faithful child.”  Prick me when I falter, I ask, in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Somebody Touched Me!

She did it again.  This woman.  This marvelous woman that the Lord Jesus Christ saw fit to put in my world.  

It was a couple of weeks ago at Card Ministry.  My back was hurting and for some unknown reason (because I really don’t like folks to touch me much--it makes me feel all funny inside), as I stood beside her, I asked her to rub it. Without hesitation, she did.  And it wasn’t just one of those quickie-okay-I’ll-rub-your-back-for-one-minute-rubs.  No sir.  This lady proceeded to gently but firmly place her warm hand where I had shown her it hurt, and continued to make circles on my aching body until I let her know that that was good.

I didn’t think much about it until a week or so ago, when Steve and I were doing our Fruit of the Spirit study.  The word “kindness” came up and I immediately remembered this act that had been performed on me.  If you’re thinking to yourself at this point “What is the big deal, Stef?  Plenty of people have rubbed my back before and you don’t see me writing to tell the world.” then I would like you to take a moment and consider this verse from Matthew 8:3:

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

While not a leper, many folks don’t touch me.  I guess it’s the aura I put out and most of the time it’s fine.  I mean sure, I get those friendly hugs as one circulates through the congregation at church from a few sweet women and occasionally from an older man.  The ones from the kiddos sure are sweet!  

I still didn’t think of it as such a big deal until on one of those Sundays, another lady approached me to shake my hand but...I could tell she was just doing it to be nice.  What she wanted to really do was get a hold of the woman beside of me and embrace her lovingly.  Her words of “My day just isn’t complete without a hug from you!” made my heart feel a pang as I thought “This woman doesn’t give me hugs!”  For some reason, it really bothered me.  Thus, the night Steve and I studied kindness, the back rub came back to mind.

What is it about the human touch?  That feeling of warmth that spreads through your whole body when another human being shares a part of self to connect with you?  Those random pats on the backs and shoulders?  The hearty handshakes when you can tell someone is really glad to see you? The oh-so-sweet gentle kisses on a cheek or the top of your head that seem to come from one who instinctively seems to know just how badly you needed that?

Jesus knew all about them.  That’s why He so freely gives them, gives of Himself.  He knows many of us feel unworthy, unlovable, unaccepted.  Many of the miracles He performed on others resulted first in Christ Jesus touching that one who was infirmed, making a connection, and showing His compassion.  Leper, blinded men, the deaf--all of these wounded felt the healing touch of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The ones most people had already rejected were healed by the Great Physician.  

So, back to my friend.  Did she have any clue what her rubbing of my back meant to me?  Probably not.  I’m sure many folks ask things of her that she freely gives without thinking twice about them.  That’s her nature:  to give of herself.  That’s Christ’s nature, exhibited in this dear soul and in so many of you.  So, the next time opportunity presents itself, reach out and touch someone.  Oh surely, though, do it in a helpful way and not a kick in the rear as many need (in our humble estimations) or a punch in the face as many are wont to do in today’s society.  You probably won’t realize how effective and powerful that simple kind gesture is but I daresay you will impact a life more than for the few seconds your touch lingers on them.

Let’s pray!

Dear Father, how I thank You for touch.  The sense of another soul reaching out without fear to share love is one of Your most wonderful gifts!  

Thank You for the example Your Son Jesus modeled for me.  May I use my fingers, my hands, and my light kisses on cheeks to bless others and remind them that You care about them even more than I do.  In the precious name of Jesus I pray this:  amen.