It’s the little things

Recently my friend Michael was telling me his brother and sister-in-law had moved to a different state. He had gone over to help them pack and to say goodbye. Michael then told me that as he was leaving his sister-in-law handed him a small bag and said, “Just something we won’t use.” Michael didn’t open the bag until he got home but when he did he was overwhelmed with emotion and brought to tears. In the bag was a box of sweetener packets, the kind he prefers in his coffee. Though he was sure they had never had a conversation about sweeteners Michael was just then realizing that each of the countless cups of coffee he had shared at his brother and sister-in-law’s home over the years was a demonstration of love, the kind of love grand gestures and declarations can never match. In that moment Michael understood that he was welcome, wanted and thought of even when he wasn’t around, even in the aisles of the grocery store.

The Greatest Love

Luke 9:46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

What if Jesus’ love for each of the disciples was so unique, so wonderfully personal they couldn’t imagine how He could love another more?

His love for you is just as special as the love He has for Peter, James, John and the rest. Jesus doesn’t love anyone more than He loves anyone else however His love for each of us is one of a kind and shouldn’t be compared. There are no limits to the freedom we get when we realize the simplicity of this. There is always more of Him for us to know without having to lessen what He has for others.

Imitation

There are two ways to look at the word imitation; one is the act of copying someone or something and the other is a counterfeit.

Why then is so much of Christianity based on imitation and isn’t it interesting that simulation is a synonym of imitation.

God’s love for you is absolutely unique! He’s never loved anyone in the same way He loves and cares for you. His ideas and desires for you are matchless.

So why do we spend so much time, money and effort trying to duplicate what He’s done in another’s life? We read books about the 5, 7 or 10 steps to this or that, we put together elaborate programs, curriculum and seminars designed to make others like us, all the while forsaking our individuality and cheapening the exceptional relationship God wants to have with us.

Don’t be discouraged if trying to follow the crowd has left you saying “surely there’s more”. There is, it’s more Jesus! He is the only one capable of truly loving you with no strings attached and no baggage. The only one that can satisfy your very soul and the only one that can heal the pain this world has thrust upon you. Cry out to Him, He’s right there.

Birthdays, Weddings and Funerals

If we would say kind things to and about each other and go out of our way to express how much we care and love those around us all the time, everyday would be special.

Jesus Loves Me

Please don’t just read over this one today. Take a minute and seriously think through this statement: Jesus loves me, this I know. It’s pretty easy for you to believe that Jesus loves others but far too often difficult to trust that He loves you. He does, more than you can possibly imagine but unless you know this and trust Him, that love goes unrealized. Don’t believe the lie, take hold of the truth that you are uniquely and especially loved by the one that knows you better than anyone. He died to prove it to you once and lives to show you relentlessly.

When God Moves

God’s always moving, always at work but much of the time we don’t get to see it. It’s best that way. On those occasions when it’s clearly Him there’s nothing better, especially when He uses you to touch someone’s heart. One sure way to have your view obstructed again is to start to think you’re all that. Special and unique, which you are, is not the same as better.

Misconception

A common misconception about Jesus is that He wants to control us. Few things could be further from the truth, if that were true He would have set it up that way in the beginning. What’s sad about this fallacy for one is that it’s a big reason many choose not to know Him and secondly that many others, though well intentioned believe they are being Christ like by trying to control. That’s not who He is or what He wants from us, in fact what He wants is nothing more than to love us as the individuals He made us to be, to be loved in return and to literally walk through each and every day with us, good times and bad.

…Then God said,

If you only knew how very much I love you and how completely special you are to me, this wouldn’t hurt so much.

Ordinary

“I used to think I had to be somebody important to accomplish things, but now I know Jesus uses ordinary people more.” –Bob Goff, Love Does

With God nothing is impossible. We may seem ordinary to those around us but with Him we are extraordinary. The foolish confound the wise, the weak shame the strong, that’s the way God so often does it. I think it’s better for us that way.

Special

Bob Goff from Love Does:

“I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say yes.”

You are special to God and like we said yesterday he wants you just the way you are whether you feel special or not. The truth is that because you are unique, you have much to share with all of us. So simply say yes.