This week will kind of be a throwback for those of you who are reading this from Linkyear right now. A few weeks ago we had Jefferson Bethke come and speak to us and he was incredible which is to be expected. Not only was he a blessing, but his wife and his daughter Kinsley, who is literally the happiest baby I’ve ever seen, were blessings to all of us. The whole Bethke family was so encouraging, joyful, and fun. Alyssa Bethke was the most precious and sweet hearted woman I’ve met in a long time. She gave all of the girls here at Link her book, Spoken For which she wrote with Robin Jones Gunn.
In our crazy unpredictable schedule here I’ve somehow found the time to read her book and wow has it been good. It has spoken straight to my heart and what’s going on in my life right now. I’m only about half way through it and there have been more than a few tears shed. Her book first explains that the Bible, God’s word is the most beautiful love story, the most eloquent love letter, and most relentless proclamation of love that God has given us. Jesus is in love with us. Think of someone who you know loves you a lot. Not get that love and multiply it times infinity. That sounds so cheesy to say, but I do not think that we have, can, or ever will grasp just how big, strong or awesome the love is that God has for us.
This love story is the best of all too. There’s a knight in shining armor on a white horse and everything. The damsel can be a bit uncooperative though. She keeps running away from Him. She turns her back on him, sometimes intentionally, sometimes without even being aware she’s doing it, and sometimes she honestly does it in spite of him. But in the back of her mind she knows she can always come running back to him and he’ll smother her in tight hugs and swing her in a circle. Here’s the kicker. She’s going to run away again, and again, and again, and again. But He is her relentless lover, her untiring pursuer.
I am the uncooperative, rebellious damsel and Jesus is my relentless lover. I love that Alyssa calls him that in her book. She says, “I think God is the relentless lover, and we are his first love. That’s why he never stops pursuing us. He’s not a vengeful God who wants to ‘get back at us’; he’s a patient, loving God who wants to ‘get us back.’” He’s pursuing us, constantly wooing us, trying to win our affections, get our attention. I literally am getting butterflies just typing about this. It’s so exciting! GOD WANTS US, HE LOVES US! There is no better news in the world than that. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” His love will never run out or go away, no matter how much we run away. He’s trying to draw us to him, so let him.
In our crazy unpredictable schedule here I’ve somehow found the time to read her book and wow has it been good. It has spoken straight to my heart and what’s going on in my life right now. I’m only about half way through it and there have been more than a few tears shed. Her book first explains that the Bible, God’s word is the most beautiful love story, the most eloquent love letter, and most relentless proclamation of love that God has given us. Jesus is in love with us. Think of someone who you know loves you a lot. Not get that love and multiply it times infinity. That sounds so cheesy to say, but I do not think that we have, can, or ever will grasp just how big, strong or awesome the love is that God has for us.
This love story is the best of all too. There’s a knight in shining armor on a white horse and everything. The damsel can be a bit uncooperative though. She keeps running away from Him. She turns her back on him, sometimes intentionally, sometimes without even being aware she’s doing it, and sometimes she honestly does it in spite of him. But in the back of her mind she knows she can always come running back to him and he’ll smother her in tight hugs and swing her in a circle. Here’s the kicker. She’s going to run away again, and again, and again, and again. But He is her relentless lover, her untiring pursuer.
I am the uncooperative, rebellious damsel and Jesus is my relentless lover. I love that Alyssa calls him that in her book. She says, “I think God is the relentless lover, and we are his first love. That’s why he never stops pursuing us. He’s not a vengeful God who wants to ‘get back at us’; he’s a patient, loving God who wants to ‘get us back.’” He’s pursuing us, constantly wooing us, trying to win our affections, get our attention. I literally am getting butterflies just typing about this. It’s so exciting! GOD WANTS US, HE LOVES US! There is no better news in the world than that. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” His love will never run out or go away, no matter how much we run away. He’s trying to draw us to him, so let him.