God Loves You
In May 2007 and October 2007, I wrote two posts called “God Loves You” and “God Loves You 2” respectively. The love of God is amazing and enigmatic. Many times, people are beaten down because of their (seeming) insufficiencies, problems, sins, etc. I wrote these posts to encourage my readers. I hope they encourage you, too.
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God Loves You
I have a message for all brothers and sisters in Christ…
To those who did not want to paste a fake smile on your face and act like everything is fine… God loves you!
To those who did not sign up to help in the new “ministry program” even though you felt pressured and made to feel less spiritual… God loves you!
To those who did not feel like sitting through another mini-concert and lecture that did not apply to you… God loves you!
To those who struggle with sins that are not the kinds of sins other believers accept… God loves you!
To those who have been called uncommitted because they do not attend every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, and special event… God loves you!
To those who have struggled with their relationship with God and have been instructed that the answer is to get more involved with programs… God loves you!
To those whose children do not memorize all their Bible verses or cannot find every book of the Bible within 2.7 seconds… God loves you!
To those who do not work in the nursery, even after being guilted and given dirty looks… God loves you!
To those who choose not to bow your head and close your eyes… God loves you!
To those who feel they can never be good enough, can never do enough, can never look good enough, can never say the right things… God loves you!
To those who have had their questions, struggles, and pains all too easily brushed aside or fixed… God loves you!
To those who can’t live up to the obligations and expectations that others have placed on them… God loves you!
Can you imagine living in that kind of love every day, instead of the guilt and shame which we usually allow others and ourselves to subject us to?
Can you imagine offering that kind of love to everyone, instead of the conditional approval that we usually offer people?
God loves you.
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God Loves You 2
So, this also goes out to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ:
To those who ask the wrong questions… God loves you!
To those who are ridiculed for being different and who stopped trying to look and act like everyone else… God loves you!
To those who have nothing to put into the offering plate… God loves you!
To those who would prefer not to sing in public… God loves you!
To those who fell asleep before the closing illustration of the third subpoint of the second section of the sermon from Leviticus… God loves you!
To those who like their tattoos, piercings, and long hair… God loves you!
To those who do not get excited about the latest publication by Rick Warren, Beverly Lewis, Max Lucado, Gary Chapman, or even D.A. Carson… God loves you!
To those whose children are not little angels… God loves you!
To those who are ignored or shunned or maligned by leadership… God loves you!
To those who have not memorized the books of the Bible, don’t know where Nineveh is located, and can’t pronounce the name Melchizedek… God loves you!
To those who have children but no spouse, a spouse but no children, or neither spouse nor children… God loves you!
To those who need a listening ear instead of a lecture, a friend with a helping hand instead of a ministry project coordinator, or someone with a gentle tongue instead of wrath and rhetoric… God loves you!
To those who are afraid to trust, afraid to care, afraid to love, or afraid to try… God loves you!
To those who want to follow God, but don’t fit any of the ministry categories… God loves you!
To those who missed “church” four weeks in a row and no one noticed… God loves you!
To those who need five hours of baby sitting instead of a 5 second hug or handshake… God loves you!
To those whose “Sunday best” includes tank tops, ripped jeans, and flip flops… God loves you!
To those who would prefer to have someone show them how to live faithfully instead of tell them to live faithfully… God loves you!
To those who feel burdened by those around them and are not allowed to rest in Christ… God loves you!
Can you imagine living in that kind of love every day, instead of the guilt and shame which we usually allow others and ourselves to subject us to?
Can you imagine offering that kind of love to everyone, instead of the conditional approval that we usually offer people?
God loves you.
Hey,
This Brother Loves You..
what a simple, great, loving post…. may i link to it?
Blessings…
Frankie G
Brother, I am linking here also. I wrote something a bit more technical but we must share a Kindred Spirit today my friend. After all of the bible study and learning and reading this is the most refreshing thing I have read in a while. God’s love me and that is okay to say.
Absolutely Amazing. That is what God’s love is. Thank you for this. Very encouraging.
Thanks for the comments, everyone. Feel free to link to, copy, add to, etc. this post as much as you would like.
-Alan
Thanks so much, Alan. Very timely post for me!
Good post Alan. So many people walk through the church doors looking for acceptance, hope, and community. And when someone is ignored and treated indifferently that sends a negative message. I know that from my own experience. You start to think that if you are not acceptable to the the people in the church,then you must not be acceptable to God. You start to isolate yourself from the church, not because you don’t like them, you do it because you don’t fit in.
Thanks for the message, I am sure many will be encouraged by it!
Very well stated. I appreciate your willingness to allow us to share this post on other venues. It expresses so well many of the thoughts, feelings, and emotions we have been dealing with as of late, and indeed it is encouraging to know that in the midst of these, GOD LOVES US! Gracias.