Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Word Filled Wednesday: Father has given

1 John 3
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Life these days is crazy, and not in a fun "man that was a crazy party" kind of way.  You have political factions at war with each other, poverty and unemployment sky high, countless diseases causing people to suffer.  Sometimes, dealing with all the stress, we forget who is really in charge.  And even when we remember Him, we sometimes forget why He does the things He does.  His reasoning can be summed up in one word: love.

In these days of technology, what with the texting and the tweeting and the check ins and the blogging, we forget to listen to that still voice that stirs within our hearts, the voice that reminds us of God's tremendous love for us, and encourages us to act out that love in our everyday lives so that people will know God through us.  Sometimes we need a gentle reminder.

A friend of mine was recently approached by a stranger at church, who simply told her God wanted her to give her a card.  She was deeply touched by this small act of love, and knew it was God reaching out to comfort her, to show her His love.  And He knew that it would take something like this stranger's act to really touch her soul the way she desperately needed.  I love that God always finds a way to give us what we need. The act of this stranger helps people see God in the world.  Because the act of this stranger was one of love.

I encourage you all to take a few moments each day, away from your computer, away from your television, away from your cell phone, and sit, in silence, to listen for that voice within, the stirring of God's love, and His call to make Him known to the world through our love for one another.