Friday, April 3, 2009

Extravagant Love

Matthew 28: 20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

My little Ian is having a hard time putting himself to sleep. Now I take my part of the responsibility for some bad habits at bed time. You see I lay in bed with him until he falls asleep. I’m the “sleep prop”. I was working on breaking this for a long time before Ryan was born. It all went out the window, when Ryan arrived. So now, we’re adjusting.

It appears that Wednesday morning Ian took comfort in knowing that I checked on him several times throughout the night (before I went to bed at 10:30, when I got up to feed Ryan at 3 and when I got up again at 5). When Scott woke up he asked Ian how he slept. Ian replied that he slept well and that his mommy checked on him a lot. When I was talking it over with Scott, I was almost brought to tears with the spiritual example.

You see I am only human and can only check on my son in his sleep physically when I can get to his room, one moment at a time. It is an intentional choice. God is omnipresent. He is present everywhere all the time intentionally. He purposely watches over me all the time everywhere I go. I am humbled. It’s hard to imagine or understand being loved that much, but we are. Father, thank you for loving me and all your daughters and sons so extravagantly. WOW!

When thinking of Abba Father’s extravagance, I’m reminded of an occasion that I was speaking with a small group of women. I had asked them to close their eyes and imagine themselves at the wedding feast celebration. I asked the question, “What are you wearing?” Unfortunately, a woman in the group answered that she was wearing rags. Her answer made me very sad. I understand where she was coming from. Maybe she thought she was being super-spiritual by seeing herself as unworthy of anything but rags. Here's the truth: Yes, we are deserving of rags, but our sweet Father chooses to give us so much more -- grace. Here's what it looks like: You see in Isaiah 61:1-4 and 10 is a promise to make our garments new. This is how I interpret the scripture. Once we become a daughter of the king, we are a princess. He adorns us with a gown made especially for us. Unfortunately, we will make bad choices (sin) which will result in stains or rips in our dress. We must go to God, who gave us the dress and made us and the dress, and confess our bad choice(s). When our Abba Father forgives us, he either cleans the dress, patches the dress or gives us a whole new one.

Always with us. Intentionally watching over us and caring for us. Making us more beautiful, like Him every day.

If you have a moment, listen to Casting Crowns' "Your Love is Extravagant" or Michael W. Smith's "Deep in Love with You" and dance with Jesus, the Lover of your soul.
WOW!
Love & Prayers,
Kim