I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
-Jeremiah 31:3
We get this idea in our heads... somewhere along the way... that God is powerfully snobby. Cold. Vengeful, even. That He keeps scores and settles them. That He's a watch dog, ever-vigilant and ready to attack. That He's a cranky old man, finding fault and calling us out. That He's a distant father, stingy with love, affection, forgiveness.
We couldn't be more wrong.
See this beautiful field? These wildflowers? He made them for you. For you to enjoy. For you to notice. For your mind to think, Who could make such a thing?
Spring? He wanted you to see it. He wanted you to wonder. He wanted you to marvel, to ponder, then to set out with a burning question in your heart: how did this beauty come about? Who is the artist?
He wanted you to pass a field - much like this one I pass by so often- and see proof of a Creator. To see, with your own eyes, His wildly beautiful heart. And He wanted you to know that He's the ultimate artist with the ultimate inspiration:
Love.
Love for you. If ever love moved someone to create, it was God. This beautiful-hearted handcrafter started before you were born, creating. Drawing. Drawing you. Drawing you with loving-kindness.
Drawing you with wildflowers in a field. Forget candy from a guy... dinner from a dad. This One created all the flowers in all the world with you in mind.
You are a muse to the world's most famous artist and didn't even know it.
That's because You, my dear, are loved with an everlasting love.
You are being drawn with ever loving-kindness.
God as a crooked judge? A mean old man? A distant father? We've had it all wrong. Follow His hand. Study His art. Seek out His heart. At the end of it all you'll find a patient, beautiful God and His immediate, everlasting love waiting for you.
In case you didn't pass by your field today, I wanted you to know.
29 comments:
How lovely! You started my day with a smile. I am going to go out in my "field."
This was absolutely beautiful! I am going to post a link to it from my blog.
Thank you for this wonderful start to my day.
FlowerLady
Perfect message Brin, you never fail! Hugs!
How beautiful, and how true! Thank you for sharing your field with us! Blessings, Becky~
How'd you know that I have thought that? ;> Thank you for these words today. (I still think you need to write a devotional.)
Be still my heart....Brin, beautiful, just beautiful. He loves us like no one can. Thank you for your words today. Heather
Just beautiful and a very nice thought.
We are loved beyond our comprehension. Too often we pass by the gifts--the blessings with unseeing eyes. Thank you for making me stop this morning and ponder...and to be thankful.
I wonder about the misery that happens in the world and where is God when things like the earthquake in Haiti happens, the tsunami in Thailand or hurricane Katrina.
I believe nature and the earth that holds her "is" God ...
I've always marveled how a lovely field of wild flowers look so 'put together' .. and yet when a few errant ones grow in my yard .. they are an eyesore and considered weeds .. just a funny thought .. about perspective. God's orchestration of spring is inspiring ... my humanly arranged garden .. an imitation .. perhaps that's the answer about the weeds.
was thinking of what our minister says all the time...but who says he is always right. he teaches that you are punished for what you do wrong.
Thankyou for this beautiful post. It's what has been on my mind lately as I see all the beauty of spring. After so much legalism and religion in my life I am learning slowly to see and understand more and more the Grace and Love of God. Anne.
I needed a field today. Thank you. I remember now.
Just found your blog, through FlowerLady's Link. So glad I did, very very blessed by it!! Will visit again!
Beautiful Blessings~Kelly Maria
PS~ Having a giveaway, would love for you to be a part of it.
I was just talking about this the other day in regards to Infertility and being good enough. I was talking with some friends and wondering if I can't have a baby because I just haven't been good enough! It's soooo stupid to think like that, but I get caught up in the why when I just need to be thankful and trusting.
You are so right... I don't have a field, but at the edge of my back yard I had apple blossoms and flutters of soft petals fell all through my day today.
Gosh Patty, I hate to think about a God that punishes people when they are "wrong." Just what is considered wrong?
Lovely. Thank you again Brin!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder of our Father's love. Perfect to start my day.
Brin, this is a beautiful message, and well recognized by those who
have been through trials and know that God is our loving father. We so want to believe it's about us, don't we? You're wise beyond your years:)
Debbie
I am perfectly satisfied that my Father [in Heaven]. . . my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured Being. Why? Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have His spirit!"
-Heber C Kimball, Journal of Discourses, February 8, 1857
A true writer has the knack of making us pause for a minute and really think, so you are indeed a 'true writer', Brin. If we as humans are multi-faceted then why wouldn't our Father be as well? I think He is loving to His children but at the same time can be firm in his expectations. I look forward to the day I can bow at His feet and declare my respect and love. (smile)
Brin, this is what I needed to hear. I'm sitting here sobbing for the first time in so long. I have purposely distanced myself from God because I felt overlooked by him and I have felt that so long. I prayed this evening that somehow He's show me how he's more than the trivial 'love' I pursue in all the wrong places. then I come to this post tonight. right after seeing this video on Facebook. He loves us. I know it in my head and the little girl that accepted his love with such childlike faith knows it...but me right now, I find it so hard to accept. thank you for posting.
Brin, this is what I needed to hear. I'm sitting here sobbing for the first time in so long. I have purposely distanced myself from God because I felt overlooked by him and I have felt that so long. I prayed this evening that somehow He's show me how he's more than the trivial 'love' I pursue in all the wrong places. then I come to this post tonight. right after seeing this video on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150145261140048
He loves us. I know it in my head and the little girl that accepted his love with such childlike faith knows it...but me right now, I find it so hard to accept. thank you for posting.
sorry this was the video I referenced..forgot the link..
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150145261140048#!/video/video.php?v=10150145261140048
How could anyone disagree with that? I only wish I could really understand His love for me. One day, when I see Him face to Face! :)
Lydiann
beautiful. and true! thanks for the reminder.
love.
may we lay down in the green pastures
beside the still waters
His left hand under my head
right hand about my waist
love
it is for me.
A Father that loved us enough to give up His own Son for us--I have only one son---I just can't see myself being so loving and unselfish---even if it could save a world of lost people. How great is our God---not a mean, old man---but an awesome Heavenly Father who loves us enough to watch over us 24 hours a day---to give us beauty and love---and lots of things to think about. And on top of all that--He wrote us all a love letter that has lasted all these many years and outsold any other book. I don't thank Him nearly enough!
And I thank you for posting this!Lovely.
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