This Fathomless Love

a meditation on 1 John 4:7-9

There are some times when the absolute inadequacy of the soul to see and comprehend the things of God comes to the forefront of one’s thoughts.  And as I have pondered the immensity and impossibility of God’s love it has struck me again and again how far above the comprehension of man are the ways and thoughts of God. 

 God is love.  That simple sentence, those three short words, is a mystery in itself.  He is love; love in it’s true and pure form, Love the way it was designed to be.  Who can hope to ever understand God?  Yet it has been told unto us that God has manifested His love towards mankind through His Son Christ Jesus.  It is through the sending of Christ into the world to live and die that sinful man may be justified that we can discern what true love is. 

God’s love is purely selfless.  There was and is no neediness in God’s soul that needed to be filled by mortal love or acceptance.  He was, is and always will remain the great, eternal, unchanging I AM.  There was no merit in our souls that in any sense deserved such a sacrifice.   Yet it was at this juncture, with a High and Holy God reaching down to a lowly and lost people that true love was demonstrated to the universe.  “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us. . .” 

It is this nature of love that we are called to shine forth throughout the world.  Because God sent, because Christ died, we are commissioned to go throughout life with that same love marking and defining our lives.  We are to love – not those who are worthy and deserving but to all without distinction.  We are to love - not just to those who will accept it but without thought of the response of others.  We are to love - not in hopes that our love will be returned; not in any need of our own soul; not simply once but continually and constantly and fervently.   We are to love, that we may be a living testimony to a lost world of a God who is love. 

{today}

today I am delighting in the simple things of life. . .

looking around the table at lunch and seeing the faces of dear friends

the calm of reading outside under a tree after long hours working on my computer

watering flowers (even though it always seems that I end up being almost as wet as the plants)

the hilarity of teaching myself Greek :)

quiet evenings where you can just stand and watch the sun set over the lake.

and today I am thankful for special memories. . .

like Saturday morning when all the men on campus made breakfast for the ladies, treating and serving us royally while keeping us laughing

going for a bike ride with a friend to the town library and each of us finding a cozy and quiet corner to study and work for a couple of hours


and today I am expectant for what lies ahead!   Our God is our Creator and Sustainer.  He has promised that He will continue the work that He has begun.  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2

I think having a blog would be easier. . .

. . .if I knew how to take pictures. 

If one knows how to take pictures, one can grab a quick shot that perfectly captures their mood or what is happening with life, stick a quote under it and 'voila!'

You have a blog post.

If one does not know how to take such pictures, it is infinitely harder. 

First: something noteworthy must happen in life. 

Second: one must feel inspired to share that with the world 

     Third: one must somehow find the time to capture that memory or event in words 

(I tend to struggle somewhere around this point) 

Fourth: the internet must have a constant, consistent connection during the small window of time that one managed to find

 (I also struggle with this step) 

See how much easier it would be to have a blog if one was a photographer?! 

twice in twenty-four hours

Yesterday morning, I received the email that I had been expecting.

Room checks.

Thursday morning.

It still feels a little strange to be on the 'checking' side of the room checks.

Anyhow, I read the email, tweaked my schedule a little and then forgot about the room checks.

Or so I thought.

Do you ever get those dreams where you dream about the upcoming day?

Well, I had one of those.

And in my dream, I literally checked all the girls dorm rooms on campus.

every. single. one.

Before waking up and doing the same thing all over again in real life.

It was actually a lot more interesting checking the rooms in my dream. I remember walking into one in particular and noticing that they had painted all the walls different colours. Wheras in real life, there tends to be a constant adrenaline rush trying to get through all the rooms in less than an hour and a half and tediously trying to decide if that straightener left on the sink counter brings the score from a '4' to a '3'.

So yes, the rooms on campus have been checked twice in twenty-four hours.

consider the lilies

. . .how they neither toil nor spin yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these.

do we remember?

For one of my classes this semester, we have started on a project researching 'Restricted' and 'Hostile' nations around the world.  And researching even just my first country, Afghanistan, has opened my eyes to how easy it is for me to forget.  As I read through the facts

- second highest infant mortality rate in the world

- farmers turning to growing opium simply to provide for their families

- 99% Muslim

- converts to Christianity face persecution from their families and the government

it continually sobers me, for Afghanistan is only one on this list of countries that the gospel is prohibited from being proclaimed.  Approximately 28 million people live in the that war-ravenged country, without the opportunity of knowing the hope of the gospel of Christ. 

Yet what is to be our response?  To simply shake our heads and then moving on with our day?  To fall into despair that anything will ever be changed in that country? 

Oh, that we would remember.  Oh, that the Lord of the Harvest would be impressing on His people to pray for the persecuted church and unreached nations.  That He would be building men and woman that forsaking all worldly pleasures would go to the darkest corners of the earth; a mighty army that may overcome the Accuser of the Brethren by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and that they love not their lives unto death (Revelation 12:11) 

only one life

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,

If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

-C.T. Studd