Tuesday 5 July 2011

Please, Be My Guest : {duck-egg blue and teacups too}


I have Em from {duck-egg blue and teacups too} on my blog today for my second "Please, Be My Guest" post!

I wish I was more like Em and had a cool blog name, but, alas, I don't.  What is also cool about Em is that aside from loving God she loves to crochet, and so do I!  In fact, she whet my appetite for crocheted coasters that I now can't stop making!  Aside from the brilliant post below from Em, you can also find her at her beautiful blue blog and also on Twitter.  You will love her as I do!


Hi, I’m Em! Lovely to ‘meet’ you all! I’m a wife, mama of a boisterous 5 year old boy, a sweet 3 year old girl and their bouncing baby sister. My husband and I live a modest life in a seaside suburb, and are the young adults’ pastors in our local church. I blog some bits and pieces over at {duck-egg blue and teacups too}.

I’ve never done a guest blog post before, and admittedly, I’ve been super nervous about sharing here for Paula. It’s a huge privilege isn’t it? Being invited in, given the microphone, so to speak! But Paula and I share somewhat of the same heart, as I’m sure you, her readers do. That heart where a Saviour resides! So I thought I would share what has been on mine, if you don’t mind :)

As a church, we have been reading ‘The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. If you haven’t read it, I thoroughly recommend it! I’ve been a Christian for many years, and each time I have read this book (this is the third, I think!) I have been floored by simple truths I have ‘known’ seemingly my whole life. But knowing, and really knowing are different, are they not? My head knows many a thing, but sometimes it takes a while for that same thing to make its place in my heart.

God’s love is one of those things.

Did you know that God made you so that He could love you, enjoy you, and adopt you into His family?

I cannot read that statement aloud without a lump developing in my throat!

He made you to love you. Not because you have something to give (and you do!), simply to love and enjoy you. A love you don’t have to strive for… I can almost physically feel a weight fall off my shoulders, can’t you?

I don’t know about you, but I often feel like I need to earn His love. Some days I feel more deserving of it than others… yet, at our absolute worst, He sent His Son; while we were steeped in sin.

My mind often can’t comprehend it. I don’t believe it often. So I meditate on those scriptures we all ‘know’ so well. We can quote them, yet do I honestly believe it?  Honestly? No, sometimes I don’t! I don’t understand how He could! And after I’d read a chapter in the ‘Purpose Driven Life’, and while my mind had one of those arguments with itself, over this crazy, God-love, I sat down to write, and out came a love letter.

I’d love to leave it here, with you:

To my beautiful daughter,
I see you.
You are my treasured possession. My child. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I made you without reservation, on purpose. I gave up everything I loved, my only Son, so that you could know me. Nothing could ever separate you from my love now.
I made a place for you that you don’t have to strive for.
Don’t strive.
“Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” Rest in me. Take your place in my family, in my house. You are a pleasure to me. I delight in your life.
I watch you. I think about you more than you could understand. I smile. Not because of what you do for me. Just because you are you, and I love you. While you were steeped in sin, I chose you to be mine.
Before you had chosen me, I set you apart. I sent Jesus. I want to capture you with my love, lavish it upon you.
Let me. Believe.
And remember who you are in me.
My heir. My child. My friend.

Love, God.

Love Em xx


Don't forget to pop on over to Em's beautiful blue blog and say hi!

4 comments:

  1. Lovely post.
    So good to meet you Em. xx

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  2. Guess what I've started to read this week? The Purpose Driven Life! I love the letter at the end. So beautiful - and the Truth. xo

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  3. Ahhh that's my girl! ;-) And a great guest choice Paula, she is indeed very loveable with a heart for The King! xx

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