His love

     It's been a busy, challenging day, and I just figured I wasn't going to be able to write anything today.    I just felt worn out by all I had to do, and the day just seemed to fly by.  And then tonight, we hosted Young Life Campaigners at our house for the first time this year.  All those high school kids piling into the house, all that energy.  All those dedicated Young Life leaders sharing their lives and telling high schoolers about the incredible love of the Savior who came to die for their sin... and rose again to give them resurrection life.
     As I listened to their singing and laughing and talking, my exhausted heart began to thaw.  And I began to count the blessings... all those blessings I had seemed to busy to notice earlier in the day.   Forgive your forgetful child, Father.  Thank You, Father.  
     As I sat upstairs reading with Peter, most of the high schoolers had now headed home, but about ten of them were singing songs in the living room.  One of the leaders played the piano, and to Peter and me, the music sounded almost heavenly.  It was the sound of love and faith and hope and joy... and thanksgiving.
     Their last song was "O how He loves us."  It's a beautiful song, but I just love the simple chorus--O how He loves us, O how He loves us, O how He loves us so.
     That's the bottom line, isn't it?  His love.  So simple.  So profound.  But if we can ever truly grasp the height and depth and length of His love, well, it changes lives, moves mountains, and redeems hearts.
     So might we thank the Lord today for the greatest gift this world has ever known--the gift of His love.  His love that created the world.  His love that sent the Son.  His love that wrapped itself in a helpless infant's flesh.  His love that taught and healed and blessed and suffered.  His love that willingly accepted the nails and the thorns and the cross... for us.  All for us.  His love that was buried in the tomb.  And His love, risen from the dead so that we, too might live forever with Him.  His love that is grace incarnate.
     O how He loves us.  
     Thank You, Lord Jesus.  To God be the glory.