Your rules, not Mine

Ah, yes, coloring outside the lines! Overabundant exuberance. Overzealous. Overpassionate. Over enjoyment (Yes, I'm making up words). Free and boundless. Without limit. 

This is your reminder of just how much God loves you.

HOW He loves you.

Spilling over with love. With a broad, sweeping stroke He splashed every color across the sky in the rainbow. In the rising of the sun. In the stones along the shoreline. Can you imagine Him leaping with great abandon and lavishly throwing color (and love) all over the place? With no regard to how extreme it may seem?

Over the top. Bigger love than you can get your head around. He has no rules about who, why, or when to love. But it's true. He loves you like that.

I was going to write about how we should be over-the-top in our love for others, (and we should) but I think more so, that we should just spend some time soaking up the immense love of God - for you - for me. So take a few moments. Let wave after wave of it wash over you. Just sit there and let it happen. Call it into being. Convince yourself to believe this:

God loves you.

God loves you, ___________ (your name).

God truly, with His heart, loves you.

Without limit. Without any rules. Without reason or cause. No matter what.

He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that He lets us be called His children, as we truly are. (1 John :31 CEV)

A blanket fort

What a great hide-away! Underneath. Separated from the view of the "real" world. Away from all the troubles, I can forget the burdens of life for a time. Instead, I can dream and imagine. No outside influences. Just a place full of possibilities. I can "say" anything there.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, Who is unseen. Then your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

A blanket fort reminds me, maybe, of how a prayer closet should be. Without the distractions of the world's "noise", busyness, and demands. It's that quiet place, that real me place. Where I can let go, release - (it's okay to do that and just "be" in front of Him!). And His response (His reward to you)?

God thoughts pop into my head. Often times snippets of scripture. Reassuring things I've read about God, His character. His promises. Wrapping me up in security. And peaceful. So peaceful... such a safe place. I can be the real me. Everything seems so gentle and loving and soft. And I can ask for anything...

• I can ask for His love to touch me
• I can talk to Him about dreams and plans, troubles and worries too
• I can joyfully count my blessings
• sense His love and protection
• sense His steady and unhurried presence

In the silence, I can envision:

• God kissing all my owies away
• things to do for others to brighten their day
• just sit and absorb the goodness of God

Where is your prayer closet? Where do you find the silence and hear God? In the shower? In the car? Getting up early? Walking in the woods?

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. (Mark 1:35)

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

Jesus did it and did it often. Why does it sometimes sound like such a laborious thing - this getting off by ourselves to pray? Why do we sometimes think it is a chore that needs to be squeezed into our day? Or only once a day. When connecting with this Father should feel like rescue from the world; an energizing, refreshing, and empowering time for us so we can face what in the world is coming next.

He promises rest for the weary -

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

This verse doesn't say when or where or how often. Just "Come".

You don't have to wait until the end of the day. If you're running out of steam now, then now is the time - to step away. Mentally cover yourself with a blanket, and share your thoughts with this Father of love, compassion and understanding. Soak up some love and acceptance, some peace and security from Him for yourself. Then you can continue on with the love of Jesus in your heart... and in your actions.

Jesus and Rom-Coms

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Now hear me out. I know you've seen, or at least heard, about these movies. There are several networks dedicated to them. They go like this:

Boy meets girl. They fall in love. There are some ups and downs and misunderstandings that lead to a break-up. Then, predictably, at the end, they are back together - forever!

I started thinking of my walk with Jesus in this context. We were introduced and it took some time before I decided that, yes, I would start a relationship with Him. At first, we had some great times. A honeymoon phase of "I love the Lord!" But then there were some ups and downs... and misunderstandings. There were times when I kind of gave up on Him. I tried walking along without Him. But, like in the movies, I couldn't stop thinking about Him. And eventually, things became cleared up between us and we were in love again. Forever.

And just like on the movie channel that shows one rom-com after another, so my life seems to cycle through these events with Jesus as well. I'm gonna love Him forever! Then something happens I don't understand and I get doubtful and confused. Wanting things my way... then we "talk" and I love Him and trust Him again. 

But the ending is just as predictable. We will always end up in love! The intensity of my love and trust in Him might get shaken up from time to time, but He is forever faithful; He is forever loving and kind. His love never waivers. Never decreases. I can know for certain that in the end, we will be together forever.(1 Thessalonians 4:17)

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.(Jeremiah 31:3)

My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. (John14:2-3)

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, Who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

Come and get it!

© 2018 Julie Crane All rights reserved

The birds are feasting, again and again, at the bird feeder. The squirrels are constantly in the yard digging up and chewing up nuts. My cats will certainly howl if the food dish even appears to be empty! Even sunflowers keep turning their heads toward the sun throughout the day to soak up its offered nourishment.

Me too. I sure like my three meals a day (plus snacks!)

All creatures look to You to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things. (Psalm 104:27-28)

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (Matthew 14:20)

What a awesome God we all have! Taking care of our needs at the proper time. Plus leftovers! As if to say, "There's more than enough. Come back again real soon!"

Yet do we feed on the Bread of Life, God's very Word, as often? Now, before you start beating yourself up, consider this. Do you sometimes:

• read a devotional or a randomly selected bible passage
• sing or hum a hymn or praise song
• read inspirational memes on social media and say "Amen"
• share scripture verses with others through text or snail mail
• read books or articles on faith and trusting God
• listen to faith based radio, audiobooks, podcasts
• enjoy nature in all its splendor

Just as we feed our bodies with real food, so we feed our souls with real spiritual food. We do! It's just when you first think of being spiritually fed, you may think of lengthy bible readings and intense meditation time.

Ask God to make you more aware of all the times you really are feeding your heart and soul with the good things God brings. Believe you are tasting and seeing the goodness of God.

God is surely all around and in every time and place. His hand is held out and open to you. 

Take. Eat.

And come back again real soon!

A God like that

Grandmas. Images of her in her rocking chair. Her welcoming lap. That kiss on the top of your head. Rubbing your back. Humming  a soothing tune. Rocking gently back and forth. That rhythmic creak. A familiar "my grandma" scent. She puts her crocheting down for you. She turns the channel to cartoons for you. Rocking... she twirls your hair around her finger. She tells you stories of your mom when she was little. You both giggle. And rock some more.

You can talk to grandma about anything in that rocking chair. She comes up with some answer or encouraging response. Grandma listens. Even while her coffee is getting cold. Grandma has time. 

Grandma in her rocking chair.

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God on His throne.

Do you conjure up the same loving images? Or are you picturing something more sober, somber, solemn, even stern? Disappointed...

Maybe you just some reminding of Who God is.

• I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness (Jeremiah 31:3)
• I have engraved you on the palms of My hands (Isaiah 49:16)
• takes great delight in you... rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)
• forgiving and good, abounding in love (Psalm 86:5
• see what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)
• God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
• (Nothing)... will be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39)
• I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37)
• and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)

Talk to God today about your desire to receive and experience this kind of love from Him today. God has time. God is gentle, loving, encouraging and good.

And anyone who behaves in this gentle, accepting, and tender way towards someone else - is displaying the character of God to them. You are, like the grandma, being the "taste and see" of the goodness of God. May they, too, know a God like that.