Who is like Him?

I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:5-6

There is so much wisdom in the book of Isaiah.

This verse alone is staggering to me. Recently I was in a situation where I saw the provision of God like I haven’t seen in a long time. Please don’t get me wrong, He provides exactly what I need right when I need it, but this was a blessing beyond what I could have imagined. My response to His gift was tears (obviously) and a question: “What kind of love is this?” It goes beyond anything that I have ever known, and then continues to surpass my imagination. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) .. and I am so glad.

I limit God’s ability and love by thinking He will only do what seems practical. His gifts are so much bigger than that. His solution to our broken world was Jesus! Who would have ever thought that such a sacrifice would be made on our behalf? Seeing His character in the Word, I don’t know why I am ever surprised by the way He reveals His lavish love to me.

What is staggering though is in the center of this verse: “though you have not acknowledged me.”

It is our nature to love someone in response to their love for us – however, when someone treats us in a way that is unloving, the last thing we want to do is show them how much they mean to us. Our first response then is not love, but instead frustration or even anger, disappointment and maybe even abandonment. This is how we can know the source of true LOVE – it is given to us when we least deserve it.

God gives us strength when we have not even acknowledged Him, so that across the world all people can know that there is no one like Him. There is no one like our God. He is a God, not just of mercy, but also of GRACE. He continues to shower us with love we don’t deserve and withholds what we do deserve.

Who is like Him?

He speaks tenderly to us when we are in the desert, and feeling completely alone.

He leads us beside still waters, giving us just what we need when we are desperate.

He gives us rest.

He remains by our side, even to the end, and even when we are so prone to wander.

He LOVES us, with an unfailing and ever-present, perfect and steadfast LOVE. It goes beyond all we can imagine, and covers all of our broken places to make them whole again. He is Restorer… Redeemer… Emmanuel: God with us. THAT is love.

Holding my World

As I was walking into work this morning, I remembered a day about a year ago that I sat in my car in the parking lot watching four or five adorable squirrels rummaging through the pine straw eating breakfast. I had a soundtrack to this moment – Kristian Stanfill’s song “Holding my World” was playing on my iPod. I started crying (surprised?) as I thought about the faithfulness of God. These little squirrels reminded me of the lilies and the ravens that Jesus spoke about.

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Luke 12:27

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24

God takes care of those He cherishes. “…while they sleep He gives to those He loves” Ps 127:2 I am reminded of this by watching squirrels and listening to lyrics telling of God’s faithfulness

So I will not worry or fret

My God is the God who will never forget

All of his goodness and all of His promises

He’s holding my world in His hands

Even more so, this truth is being made evident in my own life. For no one tells of the faithfulness of God quite like God Himself. Over and over He has proven Himself faithful. He provides when situations are completely hopeless, He provides when I have not even asked Him. He provides more than I would consider asking for, and He gives with SO MUCH LOVE.

He does this for us so often. On Friday I was thinking about what He had done recently in my own life, blessing after blessing, and I just cried. In a “I cannot even breath right now” kind of way. He literally takes my breath away with His goodness. In conversation with friends I hear it over and over again… God provides, God loves, God gives to His precious children.

Psalm 89:1 is one of my favorite verses, it says “I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.” How can I do anything other than that?

I love having the opportunity to speak of the faithfulness of God, but no one can speak as loudly as God does with His generous hands. Giving us what we need, even when we don’t know that we needed it. Grace, mercy, peace, love, and for me…. couches! 

Dodging Butterflies

About five months ago I was struggling with a serious sense of loneliness. The one thing I kept coming to God with in prayer, was that I really missed having impromptu “I love you's" in my life. For no reason, out of no where, completely undeserved, “I love you”.

After a night of praying that God would help me to see and sense His impromptu I love you's for me, I woke up to peace. That morning, on my way to work, I stopped by Starbucks to get a coffee, and the cashier gave it to me for free. No reason behind it, just because… and I knew that was an impromptu “I love you”.

Since that time, I pick up on them a lot more often - and I never tire of having Him tell me that I am loved.

Around the same time I began running. I have a favorite trail, and it has a lot of trees, and nature reserves along the path. This means that I get a lot of companions on my run. I always start the run knowing that along the way God will give me something sweet - just a little gift to remind me that He is near, and that He loves me. Once, I had a little squirrel run a good tenth of a mile with me on the path! I’ve seen sweet, tiny chipmunks, and little furry bunnies on the trail, but my favorite “I love you's" are the butterflies.

There is something so inspiring about the transformation of a butterfly. God used them in a really difficult season of my life to remind me that once I got through the mess, there was something beautiful waiting on the other side. He was right, and every time I see a one still, I am reminded of His loving faithfulness and stand in awe of His goodness.

Over the past week I have literally had to dodge butterflies! Several times they have come right at me, and I’ve had to move to get out of their way. On my run tonight I had a little butterfly stick with me for a few minutes, and I was once again reminded.

I am loved - with an unconditional, never-failing, ever present, perfect LOVE.

And so are you.

What an undeserved gift.