Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Story of Love

     Once upon a time there was a beautiful love story. You were the delightful daughter. He was the loving Father. A villain entered the story and kidnapped you away. The villain told you lies about who you were. He tried to distort your beautiful love story, yet your face never left the Father’s gaze. He never stopped pursuing you. He sent a Rescuer who rescued you back. Now you are His.

     In the beginning, in the shadow of the Trinity, you were created for love. You were created in love. You were brought here to be loved. At the very core of your existence you are the object of His great affection. Your life is a manifestation of the greatest love story ever told.

     God had you in mind when He formed the earth. He made it for you. The beauty of the mountains, the depths of the sea, the blue skies that never end, sunrises and sunsets are gifts from His heart to yours. But you, dear one, you are His masterpiece. It is for you that Jesus came. All He has ever wanted was to love you. He relentlessly pursued you to bring you into His embrace. He dances over you. He sings over you. He is enthralled with your beauty

     How does the mind grasp it all? How does one move forward to receive that gift that seems so costly? Shouldn’t there be some way to pay Him back? Shouldn’t it cost something? His love is a gift, free to all who will accept. He invites you into His life to be loved in ways beyond your comprehension. In the stillness of His embrace, you discover His life. It indwells you waiting to be offered through you, showing you the things that matter.

     God is all about relationship. Relationship is about response. He has no expectations on you. His expectations were fulfilled by Christ. Because He has no expectations, you are never a disappointment to Him.

     You have been lied to. Things have been stolen from you. But the Rescuer has come to restore all that was lost. Your sins have been forgiven, past, present and future. You will never be punished for them again. The Rescuer took the punishment of your sins upon HImself. He paid the price, your penalty is forgiven. With mercy and grace He takes you to the cross where forgiveness awaits. He reveals your sins to you to rescue you from them so that you will no longer bear their weight. He bore the weight so that you wouldn't have to. He reveals to restore. He yearns to free you from your captivity.

     It is finished. Jesus came to restore all that has been lost. He came to show you the love of His Father. He wants you to believe and see yourself as He does. You are His Beloved.

     You are not who you thought you were. You are so much more. He came to heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds. He will exchange your ashes for beauty. You are His treasured possession. He wants you to know.

     He loved you first. You are here on this earth because He loves you. It was love that formed you and brought you here. He will move heaven and earth to come to you personally, individually, by name.

     He has known you for a lifetime. He has loved you for all eternity. Your picture is engraved on His palms. You are His and He is Yours. Your life is His great love story. It is for you that He came.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
©copyrighted:  2009 Julie L. Todd


20 comments:

Lelia Chealey said... Reply to comment

He has known me for a lifetime and loved me for an eternity...I love that Julie!

Love you and know I'm praying as you miss your Daddy on your 1st holiday without him.

love,
Lelia
But can you imagine sitting listening to John and Mary re-enact the empty tomb out in person?? Oh my goodness...

Crown of Beauty said... Reply to comment

Redeemer is the name I love most about Jesus, although His other names are just as significant and meaningful. There is something so precious about Jesus rescuing me and restoring me... like a precious jar that dropped and fell, I was picked up by Jesus and He painstakingly and lovingly put the pieces back together.

LisaShaw said... Reply to comment

Aww, this is beautiful Julie my dear sister. What a love story we all have in our LORD.

I pray that all is well with you and your family.

Love you.

Tea with Tiffany said... Reply to comment

This is the reason I am SOOO passionate to live!

GOD is LOVE!

Can we ever tire of hearing the truth? The greatest love story ever told includes you and me? Tell me more, tell me more, Lord!

Love you,

Tiffany

Peggy said... Reply to comment

Ohhh Julie How this blesses me & fills me with His precious love this Glorious day!

May you find strength, comfort & peace through your own precious words to find JOY still in knowing that Your Redeemer Lives & Loves & is Looking for you His beloved!

May His Resurrection give you the assurance you need to grieve & still be comforted in the arms of Our sweet Redeemer & King! God bless & cover you with His Heavenly Love!

Shanda said... Reply to comment

I think of you often.
Thanks again for sharing your Papa.

Faye said... Reply to comment

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL POST!HAVE A GREAT DAY! BLESSINGS, FAYE

Gretchen said... Reply to comment

how does the mind grasp it all?

Mine doesn't.

But I sure loved this, Julie. Sighing in contentment and gratitude in Seattle. xxxoogretchen

Amy said... Reply to comment

Simply beautiful!!

Love and peace,
Amy

The Dementia Nurse said... Reply to comment

This was absolutely awesome, Julie! Thank you for voicing the truth of our God so eloquently. It definitely lifted my spirits today.

Karen said... Reply to comment

Beautiful words about our loving relationship with the Lord....

Loved the reassuring "you are never a disappointment to Him.", but I've felt like I have broken His heart in times past when I turned away from His love...

How wonderful that He accepts us, just as we are...

Angela Nazworth said... Reply to comment

I loved this---truly the greatest love story ever told--and I am a lead character....stunning.

Sharon said... Reply to comment

I love this, what a beautiful love story! It's all about the Love, I pray that all is going well for you and your family.
have a beautiful day my friend

Deanna said... Reply to comment

O.K. Julie, You did it again. I'm sitting here with tears rolling down my cheeks. After reading your last few posts and knowing how we are walking around in the sludge of bondage with the muck of cares of this world, I needed to be reminded of His love once more in the way that God has given you words to express it. Too bad it takes tears to break this old Woman Marine but hey what ever it takes. Who knew the battle I would really fight would be to learn to embrace the Love that He has for me. May the Lord fill you up and overflowing this beautiful day! Rejoicing in your gifts from Him!

Kathy Schwanke said... Reply to comment

Beautiful post Julie! I noticed in your comment to Tracy that you are steps ahead of me in wedding planning and ours comes first! Yikes!

Wondering where you found your dress???

LisaShaw said... Reply to comment

Was thinking of you so I dropped back by. Love you.

Tracy said... Reply to comment

What an incredible love story! It is a joy and privilege unspeakable to be the object of His love. This is so beautifully written. Thank you, Julie! It's been too long since I've been by, but I think of (and pray for) you often.

How awesome that you, Kathy and I are walking this "wedding of our firstborn" journey. It's a special time. Glad to have read your comment on Kathy's blog about your dress...I'll check Sears. With everything that's done, Breezy's Mom & I have yet to find our dresses. Guess we better get on the stick! ; )

Love & blessings,
Tracy

Billy Coffey said... Reply to comment

Found you by way of Tiffany's blog, and so glad I did. What a beautiful story you tell. That I am His and He is mine has gotten me through many a rough day!

Beautiful Grace said... Reply to comment

I never tire of reading about or experiencing His love for me. Thank you, Julie.

Debbie Petras said... Reply to comment

You have been certainly been given a gift for writing. Your words touched me as I consider that God has known me and loved me forever. Oh, I want to meditate upon this. Even though I know this, it's so good to really really know it.

Lisa Shaw is one of my favorite sisters in Christ. I'm so glad to see that she reads your blog too. Thank you for visiting me at Heart Choices. And I'm so glad to meet another blogger like you.