One of the most humbling things I find when thinking about Jesus is that He knew us before He died for us and He chose to anyway. He knew things we would do, say, think, He knew everything and still He willingly went to the cross out of love. True love.
If you're like me, you mess up all the time; You say too much, say too little, post something on Twitter or Facebook that could be hurtful or taken the wrong way and instantly delete it (by the way, that was me this morning). We, as people, are a mess. Forget us messing up, we are the actual mess. The good news is that Jesus loves the mess.
When I think about this concept of Jesus' love and how we are supposed to mimic His love to others I think about how I constantly fail. Like I've probably already failed a thousand times today. Because someone has made me mad, disappointed me, hurt me, done something that I think they shouldn't have, etc. The problem with all those statements is that they are focused on what is done to me. And then, I am reminded by a steel small voice that is always on time, "Hannah, it's not about you."
Mimicking the love of Jesus means loving the mess just as He loves it. Easier said than done, right?
There is a quote by Steven Furtick that I love but that also punches me in the gut everytime I read it. It says, "Do you ever think: How could God know me so well and still love me so much?"
The answer that I have to that is I don't know how that is possible, but thank goodness it is true. We are called to love and see people as Jesus loves and sees them.
Today, I am especially reminded that it's not about me. It's about loving Jesus and loving others. And Jesus loves the mess.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
my Daddy...
I have written about my Daddy on a few occasions just because he is awesome but after having lunch with him today, I just felt the need to tell how amazing the man truly is.
The most important and admirable quality about my Daddy is that he is a Godly man that gives my family an amazing example of God on a daily basis. He will admit that he also fails daily, however, he does his very best and his very best is pretty dang good. I am beginning to understand the love of God more fully because the example of love that my Daddy sets. I am learning that God truly does want the best for me because my Daddy always reminds me that it is his desire as well. And I am learning that God is ALWAYS there, no matter what, because my Daddy has set that example as well. I am a lucky girl that has had an amazing Godly man in her life from day 1.
Another amazing quality about my Daddy is that he points me and pushes me towards Jesus. He is encouraging but will also look me in the eyes and tell when when I am being bogus or ridiculous. He is real and that is such an admirable quality in a Dad these days.
Anyone that has ever seen my family wouldn't hesitate to say that I am a spitting image of my mother. And anyone that has known me and my Daddy for longer than 5 minutes would have no problem pointing out that we are exactly alike. Some of the worst family fights we had growing up were between him and I. Looking back, I think it was because we both just liked to argue and our personalities were both strong and identical. There are many reasons why I am just like my father, but the reason that I love the most is that we both have the ability to love with our whole heart. I could speak for both of us in saying, if we're not going all in there is no use in doing it at all.
With that being said loving with your whole heart gives the opportunity to have your whole heart broken. I have been the absolute closest to my Daddy in periods of intense heartbreak. I'm not just talking about boy heartbreak but school heartbreak, friend heartbreak, and softball heartbreak as well. He understands how I feel because he has been there. He knows what to say and where to point me because he loves Jesus with his whole heart. He knows how to comfort me because I am his daughter and he knows me.
Our Heavenly Father is exactly the same. He has been there, He knows how the story ends, and He knows us because He made us. If that isn't comforting then I don't know what is.
I am so fortunate to have a loving Daddy here on Earth and a Heavenly Father that loves me more than I could ever imagine (enough to die for me). And I am so so thankful that they love each other.
So Daddy, if you ever read this, thank you for being the man of God that you are in leading our family and leading me. I am honored to be your little girl. I love you.
Hannah
The most important and admirable quality about my Daddy is that he is a Godly man that gives my family an amazing example of God on a daily basis. He will admit that he also fails daily, however, he does his very best and his very best is pretty dang good. I am beginning to understand the love of God more fully because the example of love that my Daddy sets. I am learning that God truly does want the best for me because my Daddy always reminds me that it is his desire as well. And I am learning that God is ALWAYS there, no matter what, because my Daddy has set that example as well. I am a lucky girl that has had an amazing Godly man in her life from day 1.
Another amazing quality about my Daddy is that he points me and pushes me towards Jesus. He is encouraging but will also look me in the eyes and tell when when I am being bogus or ridiculous. He is real and that is such an admirable quality in a Dad these days.
Anyone that has ever seen my family wouldn't hesitate to say that I am a spitting image of my mother. And anyone that has known me and my Daddy for longer than 5 minutes would have no problem pointing out that we are exactly alike. Some of the worst family fights we had growing up were between him and I. Looking back, I think it was because we both just liked to argue and our personalities were both strong and identical. There are many reasons why I am just like my father, but the reason that I love the most is that we both have the ability to love with our whole heart. I could speak for both of us in saying, if we're not going all in there is no use in doing it at all.
With that being said loving with your whole heart gives the opportunity to have your whole heart broken. I have been the absolute closest to my Daddy in periods of intense heartbreak. I'm not just talking about boy heartbreak but school heartbreak, friend heartbreak, and softball heartbreak as well. He understands how I feel because he has been there. He knows what to say and where to point me because he loves Jesus with his whole heart. He knows how to comfort me because I am his daughter and he knows me.
Our Heavenly Father is exactly the same. He has been there, He knows how the story ends, and He knows us because He made us. If that isn't comforting then I don't know what is.
I am so fortunate to have a loving Daddy here on Earth and a Heavenly Father that loves me more than I could ever imagine (enough to die for me). And I am so so thankful that they love each other.
So Daddy, if you ever read this, thank you for being the man of God that you are in leading our family and leading me. I am honored to be your little girl. I love you.
Hannah
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