Amazing Love
My friends, I have been refreshed! I want to tell you why I love my God. Simply, it is because He has first loved me. Allow me to expand.
Last week was a difficult week for me for many reasons. Ranging from relational difficulties with those around me to questioning future plans and current decisions, many things were keeping me from wearing a smiling. The weekend, however, was so very fun. I got to celebrate with a dear friend for her upcoming wedding, had a great time hanging out with the girls, visited my home town, and had WORLDS of fun with quality peeps... doesn't get much better.
Tonight however, for many of the same reasons as last week, I was discouraged again. I thought of several self-fix-it remedies I could do to cheer myself up, but all involved either calling someone or crashing in on someone's house. And honestly, I just didn't want to burden anyone with my issues tonight. So, I just headed off to Barnes and Noble with my bible and journal to spend some much needed time with God. Here's the kicker, though. I really didn't want to journal. And I really didn't know where to look in the bible. I knew all I really needed and wanted was the blessed love of a friend, yet I was too prideful in wanting to burden anyone.
Walking into the bookstore, I thought of my friend Sharla. She is always such a blessing to see. Earlier today, while sitting at my computer at work, I was blessed by her heart. Even though I haven't seen her for probably two weeks, just thinking of her heart today lightened my load. Walking into B&N, I thought, "God, I just really want to see Sharla tonight. I just need to be encouraged by her. That's really all I want." But again prideful, I didn't want to call her. And I never see her there (I'm there quite frequently), so I knew I was out of luck.
I walked in and headed to the Christian book section to check out Erwin McManus, an author who has come highly recommended by her and her husband, Cameron. I didn't even have time to find the M's on the bookshelf before Cameron comes walking up to me to say hey. I asked him what he was doing and he said that him and Sharla were out without the kids on a date and decided to swing by the bookstore to hang out. He pointed me over to Sharla and already, my heart was lighter. Sharla and I started chatting while Cameron was looking at books and then we all chatted together for a while. Can I just tell you how encouraged I was? It was such a HUGE blessing to me. If all that happened was that I ran into them and got to say hey, I would have felt 100% better. But they invited me to sit with them and we talked for probably an hour and a half or so. It was so very refreshing. SUCH a blessing.
I tell you this not to tell you how great Sharla and Cameron are. (But they truly are wonderful!) I tell you this because in a most amazing way, tonight I felt the most gentle finger tip of God reach down and wipe a tear from my cheek and replace it with a smile. Guys, seriously, I am blown away. I am so grateful that the Lord showed me exactly what I needed, exactly what I wanted. Had I not had that thought of wanting to see Sharla upon walking into B&N, it would have just been a surprising blessing to run into them. A great surprise, a surprise I would have been very thankful for, but that's probably all I would have thought of it.
Instead, God showed me my needs. He showed me my desires. He knew that in my weakness, simply journaling empty words and wondering aimlessly through the Bible would not be enough for me tonight. He knew exactly who I needed. He let me know who I needed. And in His amazing provision, through the most random of ways, He fulfilled even the simplest of desires.
I wish I could accurately vocalize how loved I feel right now. How in the midst of all my worrying, all my self doubt, all my fears over the future, all my frustrations, God goes out of His way to remind me that He loves me. That He cares deeply for me, even for my most simple and basic needs. And that I am His child whom He delights in. And that I deserve nothing less than the best the world has to offer. We all do. And tonight, I am blessed to simply be HIS.
Wholly His.
Unabashedly His.
Desperately, HIS.
It is because of His great love for me that I cannot help but gush of my love for Him. And my amazement over the ways He loves me. How great is the love He has lavished upon me; I am so very HONORED to be His child.
The refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm
This is our God
He will wipe away your tears and return yourwasted years
This is our God
So call upon His Name, He is mighty to save
This is our God
Last week was a difficult week for me for many reasons. Ranging from relational difficulties with those around me to questioning future plans and current decisions, many things were keeping me from wearing a smiling. The weekend, however, was so very fun. I got to celebrate with a dear friend for her upcoming wedding, had a great time hanging out with the girls, visited my home town, and had WORLDS of fun with quality peeps... doesn't get much better.
Tonight however, for many of the same reasons as last week, I was discouraged again. I thought of several self-fix-it remedies I could do to cheer myself up, but all involved either calling someone or crashing in on someone's house. And honestly, I just didn't want to burden anyone with my issues tonight. So, I just headed off to Barnes and Noble with my bible and journal to spend some much needed time with God. Here's the kicker, though. I really didn't want to journal. And I really didn't know where to look in the bible. I knew all I really needed and wanted was the blessed love of a friend, yet I was too prideful in wanting to burden anyone.
Walking into the bookstore, I thought of my friend Sharla. She is always such a blessing to see. Earlier today, while sitting at my computer at work, I was blessed by her heart. Even though I haven't seen her for probably two weeks, just thinking of her heart today lightened my load. Walking into B&N, I thought, "God, I just really want to see Sharla tonight. I just need to be encouraged by her. That's really all I want." But again prideful, I didn't want to call her. And I never see her there (I'm there quite frequently), so I knew I was out of luck.
I walked in and headed to the Christian book section to check out Erwin McManus, an author who has come highly recommended by her and her husband, Cameron. I didn't even have time to find the M's on the bookshelf before Cameron comes walking up to me to say hey. I asked him what he was doing and he said that him and Sharla were out without the kids on a date and decided to swing by the bookstore to hang out. He pointed me over to Sharla and already, my heart was lighter. Sharla and I started chatting while Cameron was looking at books and then we all chatted together for a while. Can I just tell you how encouraged I was? It was such a HUGE blessing to me. If all that happened was that I ran into them and got to say hey, I would have felt 100% better. But they invited me to sit with them and we talked for probably an hour and a half or so. It was so very refreshing. SUCH a blessing.
I tell you this not to tell you how great Sharla and Cameron are. (But they truly are wonderful!) I tell you this because in a most amazing way, tonight I felt the most gentle finger tip of God reach down and wipe a tear from my cheek and replace it with a smile. Guys, seriously, I am blown away. I am so grateful that the Lord showed me exactly what I needed, exactly what I wanted. Had I not had that thought of wanting to see Sharla upon walking into B&N, it would have just been a surprising blessing to run into them. A great surprise, a surprise I would have been very thankful for, but that's probably all I would have thought of it.
Instead, God showed me my needs. He showed me my desires. He knew that in my weakness, simply journaling empty words and wondering aimlessly through the Bible would not be enough for me tonight. He knew exactly who I needed. He let me know who I needed. And in His amazing provision, through the most random of ways, He fulfilled even the simplest of desires.
I wish I could accurately vocalize how loved I feel right now. How in the midst of all my worrying, all my self doubt, all my fears over the future, all my frustrations, God goes out of His way to remind me that He loves me. That He cares deeply for me, even for my most simple and basic needs. And that I am His child whom He delights in. And that I deserve nothing less than the best the world has to offer. We all do. And tonight, I am blessed to simply be HIS.
Wholly His.
Unabashedly His.
Desperately, HIS.
It is because of His great love for me that I cannot help but gush of my love for Him. And my amazement over the ways He loves me. How great is the love He has lavished upon me; I am so very HONORED to be His child.
The refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm
This is our God
He will wipe away your tears and return yourwasted years
This is our God
So call upon His Name, He is mighty to save
This is our God
posted by BJ at 7:18 AM
13 Comments:
mmmm. beautiful story.
see you in estes on Thursday!!!
I won't be there till Saturday!! I was beginning to wonder if you were boycotting computers! Update soon... I miss your stories!
You are a treasure! Cameron and I were reflecting on how special it was to see you. To know BJ is to be instantly encouraged. Thanks for sharing your heart. We couldn't have planned a better night. Your are a joy giver and we love you!
Thanks, Sharla. :) I really can't tell you how encouraged and challenged I was by our talk last night. You guys are such a great example and SO full of wisdom. I would definitely pick you as my couple to meet with!! ;)
bummer, bj. will you be driving through denver? if so, stop by and see me. :)
will update soon.
bummer, bj. will you be driving through denver? if so, stop by and see me. :)
will update soon.
Hey BJ -
I just saw your link on Cam's blog... I haven't seen you around at the vine yard as of late... it appears you've been quite the adventurer.
Josh Burton
www.sacredsalvage.blogspot.com
When I read the first sentence of your blog I thought it said "My friends, I have been refurbished!"
BJ...thanks for a beautiful testimony to God's immediate and personal provision!
I'm looking forward to getting to know you more once I join Josh in KC. I wish I had my own blog to share with you...maybe some day soon.
Take care...Sarah
BJ -
i really enjoyed getting know you at starbucks on Tuesday. You are pretty.
SB Guy
Boulder, CO
LOL. daniel, you are a dork!!! (but thanks for reminding me how a random guy made my day on tuesday!!!) :)
wait! it was monday!! doesn't matter. still makes me laugh!
BJ,
Not Daniel. I seriously thought about you after you left. And tracked you down.
SB GUY
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