if you haven’t heard of this book, check it out online.  this book is by Francis Chan, a pastor in California.  the back page says this:  “It’s crazy, if you think about it.  The God of the universe — the Creator of nitrogen adn pine needles, galaxies and E-minor — loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love.  And what is our typical response?  We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.”

He talks in the book about the majesty of God, and how it’s amazing that this God who created all things loves us and wants to know all about us.  the phrase that hit me the hardest was this ” He doesn’t have to know us so well, but he chooses to.”  God wants to know everything about me and about you.  How amazing is that?  how humbling is that? 

what I got to share last night is that GOD LOVES YOU!!!  sometimes we take that for granted, we think “I know that”  but we need to hear it more and more.  Chan states that the love we have here on earth, the love of a parent for a child is a mere shadow of the love that God has for us.  and the verse that shows us this is 1 John 3: 1 – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.   this verse shows that being a child of God is a special love.  “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…”  that is a great love. 

We love, but God loves greater, more deeply, unconditionally and wholeheartedly. 

so hear it again, GOD LOVES YOU!!!!!

As I perused the world wide web a couple of months ago, I ran across this gem.  As I read through some of teh postings, I realized, “hey, he is talking about me, at least most of the time.”  I had some good laughs from this.  hope you can find some humor in this as well.

http://stuffchristianslike.net/

In my last post, I got a little sidetracked.  My focus was supposed to be on what we think we need to do.  as with my first post, we need to Go to God first.  rather than looking at what I think I need to do.  God’s timing is better than mine.  often I have my idea of how things are supposed to go, which things need to happen first and so forth.  God has been teaching me that my plans are not always the best plans, they are not his plans.  And as I think about that, I think about how it is often so hard to give my plans and timing over to God.  my prayer often times is that God would give me his timing for the day and for all the things that I want to get done.  it has been lots of trial and error.

We always are looking at what “needs” to be done, aren’t we.  This weekend was a busy weekend for me.  Friday I was with the group that went to Chicage.  left at 5:30 AM and got back about 10:30 PM.  Saturday was busy as well.  Bible study, Confirmation practice, raking leaves for others, putting together a bookshelf, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.   Sunday was Confirmation and Bible Study in the morning, then getting the last few boxes that I had left unpacked.  and of course I had to watch a bit of the Packers/Vikings game.  But things were so busy, things were so hectic.  On Friday, as I thought about all the things that I had to do, I was worried about not getting them done.  but as the weekend progressed, I would stop at times and give it over to God.  My first prayer was like this:  “God, you know how much I have to do, and I don’t know if I can get it all done.”  short and simple.  but the fear subsided.  there are still things that I need to finish up, but I know that God knows about my fears and worries and he takes those from me.  Psalm 55:22 says “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you…”that is what I needed to hear this weekend.