Ro. 8 A Love Unimaginable.

Right now, I am learning about love. Our world seems to think it has the definition of this word pretty clear, but only recently have I been aware of how little it actually knows about love. True love. This week there has been something specific on my heart I am lifting up to the Father. I am asking the Father to speak to me. Well today I thought I heard what I wanted to hear from the Father, began to discern it and discovered something completely opposite and unexpected from the Counselor.

It's a Sunday afternoon, and I picked up where I left of in my TIZO prep. TIZO is a weekly study of the Word that we go through with our team. We are studying Colossians. Well, in digging into Colossians, I found myself moving over to Romans to broaden my perspective of the words of Paul. I was led to Romans 8. The beginning of the chapter discusses this idea of sonship gained through faith in the sacrifice and life of the Son. Something I read earlier this morning matched this verse. I had drawn a connection in my day believing the Counselor was confirming that my desire I was asking about was okay and I could move in the direction I was hoping too. But, haha, the Great Counselor was not done leading. My TIZO calls for me to read the WHOLE chapter of 8. So, I kept reading excited for the answer I thought I found. So, I read on. I found the real answer later in the passage. My eyes opened more in verses 26-27. When we are weak, the Counselor helps us. I'm not weak, I don't need help, you said I can move this way. I am stronger now! was my only thought... Well, I am not strong. I need complete reliance on the Counselor in my life. I need His intercession. I have asked of the Father, and now the Father is telling me He has given me the Spirit to help me because His answer is asking me to do something I am not capable of. I am too weak to accomplish what the Father is asking. He has spoke these words to me: be silent and release. So, I began to tear up... how could this be my answer?! I don't want this Father, I want that! Isn't that how it always is when we are wrestling over something in particular with the Father?? Well, thankfully for me, the Father's love is too great to leave me at this point, he continued in this message to me. His way is always better than mine- He has proven that time and again. So as TIZO calls for, I continue to read on understanding a little more with each verse. Paul writes, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. Wow.Yes, I may not have the answer I was hoping for, but by His Word, His Truth, the Counselor reassures me in my unfulfilled desires- He is working for my Good! My GOOD! It is all for my good! Then, I continue to read and find more reasons to be thankful for Him- my Savior and lover... "If He is for us, who can be against us?" How many times have I read this sentence and yet, not once has it impacted me as it has today! He is always for ME! Nothing can stand against Him. Nothing. No circumstance can prevent His will to be worked out in my life, and if He is always working for my good- man what do I have to stress about or be bummed about if one circumstance is not as I hope? But it gets more crazy!! Just wait... 

okay so Paul keeps rolling with this beautiful picture... "He who did NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON, but GAVE HIM UP for us all- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us ALL THINGS?" He is gracious, and loving. He loves me and you SO much that HE gave HIS SON up for us. He cast His son into the dominions of darkness in order to save us! Sometimes, I don't realize it- He recently has been grabbing my attention... looking me deep into the eyes, seeing beyond even what I see in myself and says, "my child... I love you.. I LOVE you.... I love YOU! Do you get it? Do you really get it? Because I LOVE YOU! This is my proof- I will give anything and everything for you, and I DID!  My love is stronger than death, stronger than life. Stronger. You want a love unimaginable for your life? You desire this daughter, but..... look at me. Look at ME! I am that Love! I AM love. I LOVE YOU!" wow. 

I still don't quite get it- but the Father loves me! This is what he wants me to know. He continues to seal the deal when Paul continues in the passage by writing... "Who shall seperate us from the love of the Lamb slained?" He speaks out to me at this point, "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" NO WAY! NOTHING can separate me from this true Love that is beyond this world's comprehension!! Immanuel-He is with us. His love is here. For ever, for Always!! And he ends with the most beautiful words to my ears, "For I am convinced, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in ALL creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Him that is in the Lamb"! Do i get it, He asks? No. I don't get it. I won't ever fully comprehend this truth. This love is beyond my capacity to understand. It is beyond any love I will feel here on earth. Because my concept of love is limited to my ability to feel and comprehend shaped by experiences. And He is not confined to human experience- He is not limited to definition of this world. This is why the world is unaware of the true meaning of love. But I will spend the rest of my existence seeking to understand a greater love than even my dreams' desire! My love is unimaginable. It comes in the form of death and resurrection. Nothing can break it. Nothing can change it. I have been chosen. It is done. Accomplished. I am loved. Not I am going to be loved. No. I AM loved! I heard a message by my pastor at home, Britt Merrick from Reality recently that spoke on this exact love and identity... It is titled "Discontentment and Blessing". He spoke on our identity in the love given by the Father through the Lamb. He speaks on Eph. 3:4-14. In this passage, we, as brothers and sisters, find this identity...
we are belonging to Him because of these blessings: "We are adopted, we are blameless, we are holy, we are redeemed, we are lavished with riches of grace, we are given wisdome & understanding. We are loved. We are chosen. We are marked. We are owned by the Lamb. We are delighted in. We are the recipient of a divine kindness. 


He loves me. He loves you. Do you get that? My hope is that you will spend your life experiencing and pursuing this Lover whose love is different than any the world offers.