I love you this much!

Recently I’ve been shown reality. The reality of how much God loves me. And I am just beginning to scratch the surface.

So as I read this from Fil Anderson’s book, Running on Empty I was struck by the message again.

“Two years ago, while my family was spending a week on the North Carolina coast, I took a walk down a crowed beach. After walking for quite some time, I noticed a young, darkly tanned boy playing in the shallow surf. I would guess by his size he was about nine years old. With his back turned, he appeared to be having such a great time as he played in the water. As I stood and watched, still twenty or thirty yards away, he suddenly turned, and our eyes met. It was a magical moment. As I looked deeper into his eyes, I could see that he had Down syndrome. At that moment his precious face burst into a smile, and he began to scream what might have been a name, yet I could not understand what he was squealing. Suddenly, with our eyes still locked on each other’s, he began running toward me with his arms opened wide. I panicked. But without time to sort out how best to respond, I knelt down and opened my arms as he ran into them. With his arms now wrapped tightly around my neck, he began to kiss me wildly. After what felt like forever, he loosened his grip, tilted his head back, and with his blue eyes riveted on mine, his face burst again into a smile. I will remember that moment and that smile for the rest of my life.”

Fil continues, “For the next several days I couldn’t get far from that experience in my mind. Finally, a few evenings later, sitting alone on the front porch, God spoke to me. ‘Fil, I’d love to tell you why that experience has such a grip on you. That little boy was a picture of my wild and reckless love for you. The way he looked into your eyes is the way I have always looked at you. That beaming smile on his face is how you make me smile. The way he wildly screamed with glee is how I feel about you. The way he held you in that tight embrace is like mine. The way he kissed you only begins to express the love that is in my heart for you. Fil, you can’t imagine how great and infinite is the love that is in my heart for you. I am totally crazy about you. I simply can’t take my eyes off you.’”

“Even before He laid the earth’s foundations, he had me in mind. He settled on me as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.” (Eph 1)

“God sticks by me. I stand there saved—surprised to be loved.” (Ps 18)

God says, “But I will never stop loving you nor fail to keep my promise to you. I will not break my covenant: I will not take back a single word. (Ps 89:33-34)

“It is simply the the LORD loves me, and He is keeping His word. That is why He rescues me with such a strong hand and leads me into freedom and peace.” (Deut. 7:8)

Won’t you join me in basking in His wonderful love today? Picture Him holding His arms, stretched open wide, saying “I love you this much!”

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