"Oh the DEEP DEEP Love of Jesus "

I have been sitting at my desk on this snowy afternoon thinking about the love of God. In a few weeks I will be speaking at a youth retreat, and as I prepare, I am finding myself overwhelmed with gratefulness. The words, "Faith, Hope and Love" keep coming to mind as I think back over my journey since I was 12 years old (the age of the youngest youth to be at the retreat).

It has been quite the ride, and yes with a few bumps along the way; I continue to walk forward. It was neat to realize today that I am now at the place that I can answer yes wholeheartedly to the questions Father has asked of me over the past few years: "Are you willing?" "Do you want to be well?" "Will you surrender to my love NOT just my power?" (and then the harder/heart ones), "Do you know I love you?" and finally, "Will you let me love you?"

I want to cry out loud - Yes, Yes and YES! Sure, it's been an incredible ride so far, but I think I can finally say, I am thankful for all that has led to where I am today.

I think back to where I was at when I was 12 years old, and I wish I would have heard this incredible love story then. Could I have comprehended it then? No, probably not, (as I am still learning what it's all about); but Jesus was faithful the whole journey and He in His faithfulness is going no where. It's all about love; no other ulterior motive. We are created for HIS good pleasure (Philippians 2:13)

It began at the cross; the very reason my best friend Jesus came to this earth (and no, it wasn't about the manger); it was about the cross. The wonderful cross! The message of the cross, the way to live now,the very person we put our faith in, the hope we (as new creations)have now - is all because of what was accomplished on the cross. And what was the motivation for that? Love, pure and simple L-O-V-E

As I think about it with the worship music playing in the background, there was and is absolutely nothing simple about the love of God. In fact the hymn about the "deep deep love of Jesus" sums it up well. To be honest, sometimes I wonder if it's so deep that we don't even attempt to go deeper than what's comfortable?

Want to take the plunge with me? Let's soak in the LOVE of Jesus!
Have a few minutes more? Take a few minutes to look up on You Tube
The Inheritance by Graham Cooke. It will be well worth your time.

Til next time...

In Him,

Jacqueline