Well, I did it. I got a blog. To be completely honest, it wasn't entirely my idea--I have to have one for the theology class I'm taking this semester. So every once in a while, you may see a post that is actually being graded. I'll be given certain questions, and through this blog I'll discuss my views and opinions and why I hold true to them. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet, but hopefully it will turn out to be exciting and challenging!
So, I could've just saved this blog for my class. Write when I have to, and leave it at that. But where's the fun in doing only what's required of you? So I'm hoping this will become a place that I return to often, whenever I'm feeling particularly thoughtful, or when I read something profound, or if I just have a really good day and I want to share it with the world.
I don't really think of myself as being very creative, so it took a while to come up with the name for this blog. As you can see, I picked "Recklessly Loved." One of my favorite songs over the past few months has been "Be Near Me" by Bethany Dillon. (Really, I just love pretty much anything by that woman. She has a way of saying exactly what I want to say, only much more eloquently.) One of the last lines of the song is "I believe You are good and righteous. You've given me Your reckless love." I love the idea of being loved that way. I love that it is not just an idea, but it is the reality of my life. My God, my wonderful creator LOVES ME. Me! How does that make sense? It doesn't! And that is why it's so wonderful. There are so many days where I have to acknowledge that my only redeeming quality is that Jesus Christ loves me. Days where I have to acknowledge that His love has nothing to do with my merit, and everything to do with His grace and unfathomable character. That is a reckless love. It's the love that defines me, that gives purpose to my existence...and has nothing to do with me. If that's not humbling, I don't know what is. If that's not a reason to praise God and surrender my life to Him daily, I don't know what is.
So that is me in a nutshell. Recklessly loved. I hope that you will be encouraged by the words God gives me. That you will be reminded of the reckless love God has for you. And if you don't know that love yet, I am praying that you encounter it and that it becomes very real to you. Because it will change you, in a wild and wonderful way, and you'll never be the same.
I like the way The Message paraphrases it in Jeremiah 31:
"They found grace out in the desert,
these people who survived the killing.
Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
met God out looking for them!"
God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again,
dear virgin Israel.
You'll resume your singing,
grabbing tambourines and joining the dance."
That is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, ladies and gentlemen. His love is definitely a cause for massive singing and dancing.
"Days where I have to acknowledge that His love has nothing to do with my merit, and everything to do with His grace and unfathomable character. That is a reckless love. It's the love that defines me, that gives purpose to my existence...and has nothing to do with me." Gosh, i hear what your saying about Bethany Dillion, but Julie Behal, that was beautiful.
ReplyDelete