wedding day

For Chrissy and Eddie on their wedding day…August 14, 2011

I John 4:16,18-19 says, “We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ..There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love – because He first loved us.

Perfect love: infinite, radical, genuine, supreme, unconditional, champion, incomparable, crowning, unrivaled, august– which means marked by majestic dignity.

This perfect love is what you have and hold – hand in hand, heart to heart, life to life – because of God.

He is love – and He is the source of perfect love – Jesus Christ – and you have Him.

You are in His love and everything about your lives reflects that perfect love is real, and it is possible – to see, and realize, to receive, and give away without hesitation. What a gift to witness in your lives - a picture of what our God has done for us: – Chosen. Pursued. United by a covenant. Forever in perfect love.

A love that is infinite – because this love’s wellspring and teacher is God…

A radical love that waits.

A genuine love that rejoices in you and for you.

A supreme love that is humble – and will seek to serve and not be served…to honor others -never self.

An unconditional love that will not get angry easily, or keep a list of wrongs.

A champion love that will protect your heart – your mind – your body – your covenant relationship.

An incomparable love that always trusts.

A crowning love that always hopes.

An unrivaled love that always perseveres. Forever in this love - an august love... August love – that never fails.

my child

I have been here long before you. I have loved you before you knew my voice, my name, my touch. I have made decisions and choices on your behalf that will bring you joy, comfort and peace. I have also made decisions and choices on your behalf that you will not understand - not for some time. Some of those decisions may cause you discomfort - possibly pain - and sorrow. It is never my intention to harm you - only to help you in this life. Trust that I love you, no matter what you might feel in your skin - against your will. Trust that my love is both through instruction and correction. My love is through the challenges and, yes, through the ease in your day. Trust that my love for you is secure, and this love can never end. I will lavish you with it day in and day out, because you are mine.

I want for you to know me - to know my story - and see life through me so so that you will see the pitfalls, and dangers that I have marked with my own tears and blood; and then in turning from those dangers, I want you to see the blessings that come from self-discipline, humility, and obedience. I want for you to know me, my children, - to know my story so that you will have a guide for the rest of your life for what is good and true and right - and what is not. I want for you to know me, my story, so that you will know know who you are in this life you have been given - and consider well your own story. I want for you - the satisfaction of your created purpose - and to know where that purpose is found.

I want for you to seek a kingdom not of this world, and for that reason I want you to know full well the reality of the one in which you now grow. You must know the riches it offers - the way they fade and crumble - you must know the battle for good and evil - and see the reality of what evil is and how it destroys - what is truly good and how good prevails. You must know what it means to fight on behalf of others so that they, too, can fight for someone else. You must know that everything you choose to do - and say - and be - will affect those around you; - you must feel the weight of that cause - and the ease of it as well. - You must learn what is truth and what is a lie, and you must learn how to hold on to truth when no one else around you will. You must dig for truth deep into rock so that truth covers you and grounds you. And you must learn the face of temptation, his voice and his reasoning - and then be able to endure the lure of beauty and power that he offers. You must know the pleasures of this life, and ache over the emptiness in your soul when you've had your fill. Nothing constrained by flesh and blood can ever satisfy you, because you are created in the image of Spirit. You must know your image is not found here, and learn the sense of great expectation for what you are yet to be.

This world is passing away, and you were made to rule over it - not to be ruled by it.

There is so much I long to give you - but if I were to give you everything - you would miss the glory of the hunt - the joy of the quest for what is yours to hold, and know, and be, and give away in return, and you would miss everything you have been gifted to know by the Word that lives to make you see - and my child - you would miss the miracle of seeing LIFE without eyes.

I love you. Oh for the moment that you look to me - and truly know.

Psalm 139