Embracing LOVE!

There comes a time in your life when you are soooo in love with the Father and you somehow get a glimpse of how much he loves YOU!

Last year i had the opportunity to begin to lead worship at Axiom (our young adults group) and when ever i pick songs for my set, i go straight to the songs about God's love and my love for Him. Worship to me is a part of my life!! Working with children, i strive to influence them with songs that are only pleasing and glorify God! My Ipod has only worship music or Christian artist (and yes...kids worship and Veggie Tales) on it but i am mostly playing the same worship band over and over again...Jesus Culture. I do believe the name says it all. I want to live a life that is devoted and reflects a culture for Jesus! Please don't get me wrong, i love Hillsong and United (among the many other amazing worship bands). But with Jesus Culture, it is like they are taking the words straight out of my heart, soul and mind and singing them to the King! And if i am not laughing...you can bet i'm singing!! Most of the time out load and just that...loud! (i can't tell you how many times Pastor Rick has caught me singing in a room!!)

To me, singing is a way for me to express my feelings to the Lord. It's like no matter what happened during the day, when i get into the car and put on music or even step onto the stage and i begin to sing...everything melts away because im spending time with my dad! And all of a sudden that AMAZING LOVE comes and takes over! And i am sooo greatful for that!! I just wish that EVERYONE could experience God's love every day...not just at a camp or church setting.
And i'm not talking about a "John 3:16" love...i'm talking about a 1 John 4:18 love. "THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE! But perfect love drives out all fear."

When we have perfect love there is no wiggle room for anything else! And although John 3:16 is an important love, it's just the surface of love. There is soooooo much more! A deeper love that we have with the Father! He has a love for us that will NEVER fail, it will NEVER give up on us, it will NEVER leave us to love someone or thing else, and it is such a deep love that wants to drive out all fear!! Not just some fear...ALL FEAR!!

It's funny, every year i feel like its a theme that the Lord want to teach me. Like last year was faith and trusting in Him. I do believe that i have much more faith in trusting that HE has ONLY GOOD FOR ME! And this year...well it looks like he's teaching me more about his love! And i am sooo excited for this! Why he would love me with all of my flaws?? I will never understand that...but i am soo thankful that he does!!
My heart and prayer is that you fall sooo in love with the Father and just catch a glimpse of the love he has for you!!

How He Loves
By: John Mark McMillian

He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath
The weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden
I am unaware of these, afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful you are
And how great your affections are for me

Oh, how he loves us so
Oh, how he loves us
How he loves us so
Yeah, he loves us
Oh, how he loves us

We are his portion, and he is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes
If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way...he loves us so!