Jessica's 5-year-old birthday present for her daddy...
(sorry about the water damage)
When Jessica was in Sunday School around 5 years ago, she was learning words to describe God. One that quickly became her favorite word was "Incomprehensible." We, as God’s children don’t have all the answers on this side of heaven - but, we do have God revealing His purpose and showing His glory through and in our lives by experiencing His love and mercy towards us and one another through our relationships.
The bible tells us that:
“IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE WHICH HE LAVISHED UPON US!” ~ Ephesians 1:7
His love & mercy for us are “Incomprehensible” and yet, He chooses to have relationship with us to demonstrate His love in our lives as we enjoy our child/Father relationship with Him. As John Piper states, “God is most glorified, when we are most satisfied with Him.”
When Jessica was 5 years old she put this little book together with Debbie. It’s about ‘family’, but concentrates on “Daddy”. In this case, that’s me. It reads...
“I love to cuddle with my Daddy.” “I love to lay by my Daddy.” “I love to be on my Daddy’s shoulders.” “I like to be strong like my Daddy.” “I like to golf with my Daddy.” (We were mini-golfing ~ the only kind I know how to do!) “I love it when my Daddy pulls me on a sled.” “I love my Daddy, and he loves me!”
The Bible says, “If you, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children... (just normal humans full of faults and failures, but still know how to love our kids... how much more does God love us?)...How much more does the Heavenly Father want to give every good and perfect thing to us?” How he longs to draw us into close relationship with Himself.
A reporter asked me how we could have faith in the midst of such tragedy? As I thought about that I couldn’t help but dwell on the picture God gave me of my girls with their Lord, looking down on us and smiling. I know that being close to my Heavenly Father keeps me close to my girls because they are with Him.
All of God’s purpose, all of God’s mystery and His people bringing glory to His name are all lived out in our relationships to one another. As Jesus said, “The world shall know you are my disciples if you love one another.” That is the Father’s love displayed as we accept it and give it out to others. This all starts in our relationships at home with our families and the people God puts in our lives. ~Joe