So, as far as Lent went, I didn't realize that I didn't keep up with it after Lent. Which is, facebook. Sure it is vacation but whenever I got bored I just went on facebook and did random notes and stuff and didn't realize this: I could have used all that time to reflect on Lent and do devotions and just spend time with God. I wasted my vacation away, but I was also scared to go back to school and not have time to spend with God and do devotions, but that doesn't make any sense at all if I wasted it away...
Just a few moments ago I was reading Youth Walk, which is a devotional that I use and I was reading the first article I always read when doing Youth Walk, which is the story that Laurin writes. I feel like I can really relate to her, practically saying, Youth Walk is a really great devotional for teens since it is so so so so relative. I've been doing these devotionals since summer, sometimes skipping them (guiltily admitted) but whenever I actually devote myself to just opening the little book, I'm absorbed into it. It's so helpful and relative and a great way to spend time with God.
So this article was called "I Can't Stop Staring" and it's something that a really want to share because it just shows you that God's love just spreads everywhere and just a great visual of how God feels about us. Sometimes we may think, "Is God's love any different?" or "How do we know how God is like if we can't even see Him?" I got many questions answered in this article. Here are a few things I'd like to take out from this article:
There are people in my life that I love so incredibly much that I think my heart's going to explode when I see them. They absolutely amaze me. They're brilliant. Insightful. Loving. Deep. They have breathtaking hearts and incredible wisdom, and I hang on to their every word. I have moments when I just sit and stare at them while they're talking because I'm in complete awe of how amazing they are. If one of those people walks into a room, for just a few seconds I'm internally conflicted - totally paralyzed - by how I should respond. I don't know if I should jump up and down in pure elation or run up to them and throw my arms around them in a huge hug.
I can't exactly remember when this happened, but I was probably reminiscing about one of those incredible people, having one of those "oh-my-goodness-you-are-so-amazing-to-me-that-I-can-hardly-stand-it" moments, when I made a connections. A huge connection. God. Feels. That. Way. About. Me. Whoa.
Amazing much? Yeah, I thought that same thing too when I read it and my heart overflowed with joy. And there is always one bible verse I'll remember:
"We love, because He first loved us"
-1 John 4:19"
It's a feeling sort of like a lighting up inside of you and you just sit up straight and your eyes shine brightly when a person you love - a crush, a friend, family, anyone - walks into the room and you just feel so happy because they are there and you love them and they love you. God invented this "oh-my-goodness-you-are-so-amazing-to-me-that-I-can-hardly-stand-it" feeling, and that's how He feels about us.
"Since He's the Author of everything good, wouldn't that feeling be of Him? And if I - finite, little, imperfect me - can feel that intensely about someone, how much more does the infinite, perfect, loving God feel that about the people He created? About me even? [God wrote the definition of what it means to love someone.]"
And I'm just sitting here saying "Wow, God is amazing."
God doesn't tolerate us. He doesn't just put up with us. He loves us. Note rotely, but passionately. Scripture says God rejoices over us with singing. He says we're the apple of His eye. We're His Beloved. His much-loved. His chosen ones. Since He loves us that much I bet he belly-laughs at our one-liners. And since He knows what we're going to say even before we say it, I wonder if He nudges the angels before the punchline comes and says, 'Psst! Check out My girl - she's hilarious! This one's going to be great!' I bet He gets a kick out of those of us who dance around in the kitchen singing into wooden spoons like rock stars. 'Hey, Michael, check out the free concert! We've got front row seats!" I bet He beams at us like a proud Dad when we live out our unique gifts and abilities. I bet His heart swells in wonder when we speak wise words or show His love to the people in our lives."
God is like a Father, and He is proud of us. He's a really cool dad too!
I haven't closely analyzed much when He was actually talking to me through friends, family, counselors. I sure got a HUUUUGEEE nudge when Sue told me to do my devotions. It shows that He had and still has many many many things to tell me and I just got to listen for them, because He listens to me and you as well!
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