Wanted By God

Last Friday I went to a Small Group for 20 somethings in Lincoln Park with Jessica. So I have found out that Jessica has become like my best friend here in Chicago, for a few reasons:
1. She is only 4 months younger than me.
2. One of few people I know in the city.
3. She is easily one of the coolest people I know.
4. The most important. She shares the coolest and the most common name of 1987 with me. :)

Anyways, she has been such a help. I have gone so many places and not alone. I still have not gone into the city, downtown as much but I have gone enough places that my time off allows. Friday we went to Lincoln Park. The small group is going through this book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Let me tell you. So far this book is fantastic. Chapter 1 God's Power and being in awe of it. Chapter 2 Living every moment like it is your last for the glory of God. Chapter 3. God's crazy love for us. Friday we talk about God's love so I have not continued the book so far. But, so far so good.

It is hard to understand why God loves us and the amount of his love. I cannot completely understand why God loves us. I know he loves us as his creation and as his children but it i am dumbfounded when I try to understand why. But, despite ourselves God loves us. Praise him. But, more than his love he wants us. He wants us. Let me say it again. GOD THE FATHER WANTS US. He wants me as I am. The broken, emotional wreck, weakling that I am. He wants me. I am in awe, to be wanted for my weaknesses.

We are wanted by God. God's love is forever. We cannot even understand that. FOREVER. We are sometimes focused on today, or the week. We forget that there is a bigger picture than the time frame we can understand. There has been the thousands of years in the past, and now our time now and then the maybe thousands of years to come. We are only a page on in the book, maybe even just a paragraph, or even a sentence. How great is our fathers love for us.

Father, I am in awe of who you are. You are the creator, the beginning and the end, you are greater than any other name. Yet, you sent your son to be born, fully human and fully God. Jesus suffered as we suffer, was tempted as we are tempted and he did not sin. He stands blameless. By your grace his death has taken the punishment away from your fallen children. Those who believe how have the defense of Jesus on our side. Those who know Christ also know you. When you call us home we will spend eternity in heaven praising you for who you are. God you are love. Any good I do is only because of the Spirit you have given me. I am weak, broken. But, you put the pieces together and give me strength. In Christ I am strong. In Christ, I have power over death. In Christ I live. Amen

I do not know where this little saying came about, maybe from a youth event or something. But, ChristIAN... without Christ I Am Nothing. I think that is a cool little way to be reminded that all we are is only because of Christ.

Peace