Lavishing Love

Every once in a while, I ask God, “Do you really love me?” Maybe you’ve asked that question as well. We often equate our circumstances with the measure of love God has for us.

But that’s not the way God’s love is.

It’s not a works-based love.

It’s a faith-based love.

One of my favorite verses about God’s love is 1 John  3:1: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!!” You can’t imagine what that promise means to this fatherless child. I know that out of God’s love for me, he is my Abba Daddy. On faith, I believe it because he said it.

Do you believe you are God’s little girl or boy?

Our Heavenly Dad also loves us when we  express love back to him. Proverbs 8:17 says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”

God’s love is not a one-sided love. When we wholeheartedly tell him how much we love him, he embraces us back. That’s why I adore worship music. It’s my expression of love to God. When I worship, I no longer care what people think around me, I go all out in my display of love to my Heavenly dad.

What about you? How do you reach out to your Father in love?

Now I’ll share a personal story of God’s love to encourage you.

I have a new children’s activity book and prayer journal with co-author Sharon Hill.  It’s being released in a few weeks.

Yesterday, we were scouting out locations in Grapevine, Texas for a launch party. Grapevine is a beautiful little town, centrally located for people across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We thought it would be the perfect place to hold a launch event. Sharon and I represent ministries, so that means we have little to no budget for a party, so we prayed, “Father, will you provide the perfect place for us to debut this sweet book about prayer?”

We wandered into a local church and encountered a volunteer in a ministry that helps immigrants. When I told her the nature of the book, she said, “If it was bilingual, I might be interested.” I told her I had a friend who just wrote a bilingual children’s book. When I said her name, she lit up and said excitedly, “You know her? I just heard her on National Public Radio and I want to talk to her!”” I was happy for my friend, but a little dejected for myself. I gave her my friend’s phone number and made this woman’s day!

When I think about that scenario, I wonder if it was a test to see how much I loved my friend. Would I help her when I was looking for help myself?  Also, did I really trust that my Father loved me enough to answer my prayer? Was I confident he had something better for us?

We checked out a few more places. Sharon left to go home; I stayed behind and in a last ditch effort, I asked a Grapevine shop owner if she knew of any possibilities. She suggested a children’s business called “Let’s Pretend Tea Parties,” not far from her shop. I thought, That could work. So late in the day, I drove over to this business. It was an adorable store, decorated for small children.

The owner was hosting a tea party for two sweet little girls. She painted their nails, fixed their hair and served them tea. They looked like princesses. Even though this process took a while, I felt like God told me to wait until the owner was available, so I did.

We finally had our meeting and I told the owner, Jamie, what we envisioned doing. I found out she was a Christian and had been asking God for opportunities to give back to him through her business. Our book launch represented her first opportunity. To top it off, she wanted to host our launch party for free! She said she’d put our poster in the window, we could bring in our own food and entertainment. The place was ours for two hours.

I thought, God just lavished his love on me. Thank you Lord.

After our meeting, I knew I also gained a new friend in Jamie. She was a gift from God, presented to me because he loves me.

I don’t know why I ever doubt my Abba’s love. Matthew 7:9-11 says, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

This morning, will you thank God for the good gifts he gives you? Will you tell your Father in Heaven how much you love him? He is waiting to pour out his lavishing love all over you. That’s his nature. That’s what he desires to do in your life. (LBW)