The Transaction

Linking with JoAnnFore at http://joannfore.com/thursdays-with-the-voice-bloggers/
on the topic of laying down masks and how sharing our story can help others.

The story of Hannah this week really parallels my own. Crying out to God and knowing He has really heard, not because I get what I want but because He is able to come within and bring peace, no matter what happens next. 

^15-16 Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

¹⁷ Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

¹⁸ “Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant. I Samuel 1:15-16 The Message 

( the wider story below - I Samuel 1:1-28 )

desperately unhappy and in such pain...

Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably...

she entered the sanctuary...

The Transaction

a long time pain

day after day

loved, barren, tormented was Hannah

misunderstood and misinterpreted

but she entered the sanctuary

a place of refuge where she could pour out her soul

an offering to God most High

he will hide us in the secret of his presence

²⁰ In the shelter of your presence you hide them
    from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

²¹ Praise be to the Lord,
    for he showed me the wonders of his love
    when I was in a city under siege.
²² In my alarm I said,
    “I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

Psalm 31: 20-22 NIV

there I can say it like it is

no holding back

there is no time limit

there is one who is listening

I may not feel Him

I may not see Him

but He is here

He is listening

His tears fall with mine

His heart feels my every wound

the head that once was crowed with thorns

bows to touch the thorns in my life

He does not dismiss

He does not diminish

He does not excuse

He does not explain away

He hears

He cares

He moves

He responds

It may not be in my time

It may not be in my way

It may not be able to be seen by me now

But He has heard

He has heard

He has put my tears in his bottle

He has promised to one day wipe them all away

He will give the meaning to what I am experiencing

whether I can see it now or not

I can come here

He will hear

anytime

every time

all the time

I can trust Him to work

though he bear long with me

though it seems like nothing will ever change

He can give peace in my heart

this does not mean I will never be sad

this does not mean I will never feel devastated

or confused or bewildered or angry

but it does mean underneath it all are the everlasting Arms

"the Eternal God is our Refuge and underneath are the everlasting Arms" Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV

I can lay my burden down

"at the foot of the cross

I lay every burden down"

from the hymn "At the foot of the cross"

listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk7_SBxYSZs

His peace can flow in

to fill all the empty

all the void

soothing and calming all the sharp and painful nerve endings

Rest, my child

I will not rest till I have finished my work

I love you so...

Philippians 4:6-7

The Message (MSG)

^6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God

1 ^1-2 There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.

^3-7 Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.

⁸ Her husband Elkanah said, “Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren’t you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?”

^9-11 So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:

Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

^12-14 It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”

^15-16 Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

¹⁷ Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

¹⁸ “Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.

¹⁹ Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and Godbegan making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.

Dedicating the Child to God

²⁰ Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I askedGod for him.”

^21-22 When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll bring him myself and present him beforeGod—and that’s where he’ll stay, for good.”

^23-24 Elkanah said to his wife, “Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!”

So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off!

^25-26 They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, “Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life.”

Then and there, they worshiped God. I Samuel 1 :1-28 The Message


two blog posts that have really ministered to me in suffering:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/homeschoolchronicles/2013/03/on-the-way-to-easter-mourning-with-jesus/ http://natepyle.com/confronting-the-lie-god-wont-give-you-more-than-you-can-handle/

Loved and Beloved

Linking up with Jo Ann Fore at 
http://joannfore.com/your-story-matters/calm-down-2/
a wonderful site where I have found a beautiful community of women wanting to share our lives together and love and encourage one another.

Also linking with Emily Wierenga at
http://www.emilywierenga.com/2013/11/love-is-calloused-and-imperfect-prose.html                           

and with Bonnie Gray at
Faith Barista at http://www.faithbarista.com/

Loved and Beloved

^9-13 While Jacob was in conversation with them, Rachel came up with her father’s sheep. She was the shepherd. The moment Jacob spotted Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, saw her arriving with his uncle Laban’s sheep, he went and single-handedly rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. Then he kissed Rachel and broke into tears. He told Rachel that he was related to her father, that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father. When Laban heard the news—Jacob, his sister’s son!—he ran out to meet him, embraced and kissed him and brought him home. Jacob told Laban the story of everything that had happened.

^14-15 Laban said, “You’re family! My flesh and blood!”

When Jacob had been with him for a month, Laban said, “Just because you’re my nephew, you shouldn’t work for me for nothing. Tell me what you want to be paid. What’s a fair wage?”

^16-18 Now Laban had two daughters; Leah was the older and Rachel the younger. Leah had nice eyes, but Rachel was stunningly beautiful. And it was Rachel that Jacob loved.

So Jacob answered, “I will work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

¹⁹ “It is far better,” said Laban, “that I give her to you than marry her to some outsider. Yes. Stay here with me.”

²⁰ So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. But it only seemed like a few days, he loved her so much.

^21-24 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife; I’ve completed what we agreed I’d do. I’m ready to consummate my marriage.” Laban invited everyone around and threw a big feast. At evening, though, he got his daughter Leah and brought her to the marriage bed, and Jacob slept with her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maid.)

²⁵ Morning came: There was Leah in the marriage bed!

Jacob confronted Laban, “What have you done to me? Didn’t I work all this time for the hand of Rachel? Why did you cheat me?”

^26-27 “We don’t do it that way in our country,” said Laban. “We don’t marry off the younger daughter before the older. Enjoy your week of honeymoon, and then we’ll give you the other one also. But it will cost you another seven years of work.”

^28-30 Jacob agreed. When he’d completed the honeymoon week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.) Jacob then slept with her. And he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years.

^31-32 When God realized that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb. But Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and had a son. She named him Reuben (Look-It’s-a-Boy!). “This is a sign,” she said, “that God has seen my misery; and a sign that now my husband will love me.”

^33-35 She became pregnant again and had another son. “God heard,” she said, “that I was unloved and so he gave me this son also.” She named this one Simeon (God-Heard). She became pregnant yet again—another son. She said, “Now maybe my husband will connect with me—I’ve given him three sons!” That’s why she named him Levi (Connect). She became pregnant a final time and had a fourth son. She said, “This time I’ll praise God.” So she named him Judah (Praise-God). Then she stopped having children.

30 When Rachel realized that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She told Jacob, “Give me sons or I’ll die!”

² Jacob got angry with Rachel and said, “Am I God? Am I the one who refused you babies?”

^3-5 Rachel said, “Here’s my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her. Let her substitute for me so I can have a child through her and build a family.” So she gave him her maid Bilhah for a wife and Jacob slept with her. Bilhah became pregnant and gave Jacob a son.

^6-8 Rachel said, “God took my side and vindicated me. He listened to me and gave me a son.” She named him Dan (Vindication). Rachel’s maid Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. Rachel said, “I’ve been in an all-out fight with my sister—and I’ve won.” So she named him Naphtali (Fight).

^9-13 When Leah saw that she wasn’t having any more children, she gave her maid Zilpah to Jacob for a wife. Zilpah had a son for Jacob. Leah said, “How fortunate!” and she named him Gad (Lucky). When Leah’s maid Zilpah had a second son for Jacob, Leah said, “A happy day! The women will congratulate me in my happiness.” So she named him Asher (Happy).

¹⁴ One day during the wheat harvest Reuben found some mandrakes in the field and brought them home to his mother Leah. Rachel asked Leah, “Could I please have some of your son’s mandrakes?”

¹⁵ Leah said, “Wasn’t it enough that you got my husband away from me? And now you also want my son’s mandrakes?”

Rachel said, “All right. I’ll let him sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s love-apples.”

^16-21 When Jacob came home that evening from the fields, Leah was there to meet him: “Sleep with me tonight; I’ve bartered my son’s mandrakes for a night with you.” So he slept with her that night. God listened to Leah; she became pregnant and gave Jacob a fifth son. She said, “God rewarded me for giving my maid to my husband.” She named him Issachar (Bartered). Leah became pregnant yet again and gave Jacob a sixth son, saying, “God has given me a great gift. This time my husband will honor me with gifts—I’ve given him six sons!” She named him Zebulun (Honor). Last of all she had a daughter and named her Dinah.

^22-24 And then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and had a son. She said, “God has taken away my humiliation.” She named him Joseph (Add), praying, “May God add yet another son to me.”

Genesis 29:10 - 30:24 The Message

To be cherished and beloved
to be desired and wanted
to have someone so love you and want to be with you that seven years of work seem like only a few days
this is all I have ever wanted
this is all Leah so earnestly desired

and yet what she experienced was
a father who instead of valuing her as precious and valuable,
put her in an impossible situation for his own gain

a husband who had never wanted her in the first place
trading one night of cheished love making for a lifetime of alienation
even after years of service and many children Jacob still did not even refer to her as his wife
he gave her what duty required but no more
he had  never chosen her and never desired her

a relationship with her sister marked by increasing bitterness,
strife and competition

I so relate to Leah and her struggles
I feel like my whole life has just been one long pursuit of trying to feel loved and beloved
Just like Leah, year after year, hoping marriage, children, meaningful work or accomplishments
will ____________

I just keep trying
I cannot seem to stop thinking
maybe this
maybe now
maybe then
maybe here
maybe there

maybe at this church
maybe at this biblestudy
maybe in this small group
maybe in this homegroup

I find, as did Leah, the great struggle of my life, in this season,
 is to not succumb to bitterness and resentment
competition and strife
manipulation and seeking to control others
withdrawl and coldness
rage and wrath

Like Leah, most of the big decisions of my life have already been made
my perameters are in place
the transformation must come from within

I can look back and blame or accuse but the fact remains
this is where I am
this is how the choices of others have affected me
this is what I have committed myself to
the decisions I have made

I need you
I need your love so desperately 
day in and day out
the need is so deep
apart from you
there is no hope at all

So many things that used to make me feel good about myself
on which I relied to feel meaningful, purposeful
attractive, useful
loved and beloved

have all been stripped away
my sense of having a competent mind
my sense of having a face and appearance that is attractive to others
my sense of being able to be pleasant company and a good friend
having a body that I felt was attractive, athletic, strong and healthy

an ability to be organized, efficient, productive with my time and energies
an ability to keep a tidy, hygenic living environment
an ability to relax and enjoy life
an ability to be graceful, gracious, thankful, keep a positive outlook
to be thankful , cheerful, easy-going
I feel stripped of all this

naked and humiliated and repulsive to all

ashamed

And yet I know you seek through all this to bring me to yourself

to a relationship where I am desired, loved and beloved

not because of any of those things

not because they are wrong

but only because they are fragile

they can be lost in a moment by sickness, tragedy, the selfishness of others, death

I believe you want me to find all my need, all my identity 

all my sense of worth and value and being precious

not from anything I do or don't 

anything I am or am not

but from you and you alone

You alone are the Fountain

the Unchanging Rock that nothing can move

no matter what my past

no matter what my circumstances

no matter what my failures

no matter what my lack

You are the source

you are the deep well 

In this is love

not that we loved God,

but that he loved us

and gave his Son to be 

the propitiation

for our sins.

I John 4:10 NKJV

This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.    I John 4:9-10 The Message

None of us deserve your love

none of us can earn your love

you desire us

not because of us

but because of 

who you are

and what you are able to do

and what Christ has done

therefore we are secure 

when we trust in you alone

'The LORD your God 

in your midst

The Mighty One 

will save, 

He will rejoice over you

with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love, 

He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

"The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying

Yes, I have loved you

with an everlasting love,

Therefore with cords of lovingkindness

I have drawn you."

Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

"... How I bore you 

on eagles wings and brought you 

to Myself."

Exodus 19:4 NKJV

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. 

I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message

"Beloved, if God so love us, we also ought to love one another."

I John 4:11 NKJV

Oh Lord, 

may we truly believe and receive your love

into every nook and cranny

every hidden place

every place of shame

and lack 

and hurt 

and disappointment

let your love overwhelm

amaze

transform

from the inside out

a firm foundation

to completely change

our every encounter

with every other person 

we encounter

to change 

everything about us

so that we may 

know your enabling

to love others

in the same way 

you have loved us.

Hallelujah!!



related post:
http://christslovetoyou.blogspot.com/2013/07/it-really-is-impossible-woohoo.html

Deep calls to Deep

 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls, all your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalm 42:7 NIV

Speaking up for those who have no voice

for those who suffer in silence, in darkness, in obscurity

for those who have heard the lying words saying 'you are just an accident'
a random occurrence
you were not wanted
you are not important
no one cares for you
your life is not significant
 it would be better off without you
no one wants you
no one even notices you
no one even cares

you are meaningless and insignificant


God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made
created to know and love me
perfectly fashioned to flourish in my love
to display my  wonders and glory
to dwell in my depths

you are no accident
you have value and meaning because of me
it matters little what others think or say
it matters what I think and say

I am God that
I created light out of darkness
life out of void
meaning our of purposelessness

come know me

Come pour out your suffering, your agony, your pain your confusion, your questions
I am here
I care for you
I am listening

"We will tell others that there is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still" 
said by Betsie Ten Boom in the Ravensbruk concentration camp under the power of the Nazis
"They will believe us because we were here!"  The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Love speaks out
to those who are reeling from the effects of unspeakable violence
to those who have had their voice taken away before it was even formed
to those who have had taken from them what they did not even know they had yet
to those who suffer from unthinkable cruelty
to those who see no hope of any kind
to those who cry, how can there be a loving God who has the power wisdom and ability to change __________ and yet did not intervene
did not prevent
why was I not spared this horrible life shattering experience?

I do not know
we cannot answer
but the same one we accuse

God says

I did not spare my own son
I did not spare myself
I gave him to suffer
I gave him to those who were cruel, heartless, intent on murdering the innocent to save themselves

I did not intervene

Christ Jesus suffered for sins once for all 

the just for the unjust, that he might bring us back to God. I Peter 3:18

He who spared not his own son,

 but freely gave him up  for us, How shall he not freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

a God that we could understand would be too small to meet our needs (unknown source)

deep need
I believe God is love
I also know horrible things happen
inexplicable
unspeakable
incredible
seemingly random, entirely avoidable, many times apparently meaningless
we are all helpless really to keep our own lives from harm, suffering, loss
totally helpless to keep those we love

we need the deep of God in the depths of our need

for those whose voices have been silenced by violence
some even before they had a voice

there is more than this life
there is more than we see and know

the depths of God
God hears the voice of those who cry out
of those we can no longer hear
they are not hidden from God

God is just
God is justice
God is truth
there is nothing hidden from him
there is nothing that can be excused, denied or avoided before him
He does not forget
no matter how much time has passed

For our God is a consuming fire Hebrews 12:29

mercy and truth together
there is a coming day
when all that is now murky and obscure will be completely revealed
every hidden thing
all will be exposed for what it truly is
brought into the light of his perfect light and truth and justice and mercy

and the truth is that we all need mercy

this life is not all that there is
there is more than we can see or know

there is always God
God who so loved

God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that anyone who believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

¹⁰ Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.¹¹ Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.Psalm 85 :11 KJV

only God can do this!
mercy and truth together

A perpetual fountain 
What is there that is certain and unchanging?
What treasure can never be stolen away, or corrupted

That can never be taken away
can never change
a continual fountain of 

hope,

mercy,

love,

truth, 

power, 

resource, 

wisdom 

anything else I so desperately need

Deep calls to Deep

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... James 4:8

what can I do?

know God

let this change everything
live in truth and love empowered by the Holy Spirit

see and treat all persons
as precious and valuable
because of Him
worthy of dignity and respect
consideration and compassion
truth and mercy

42 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?^[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”

⁴ When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.^[c]

⁶ O my God,^[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
⁸ The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
¹⁰ As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 42:1 Hebrew Maschil
2. Psalm 42:2 Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read I see the face of God.
3. Psalm 42:5 Following Masoretic Text and Targum; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read The help of my countenance, my God.
4. Psalm 42:6 Following Masoretic Text and Targum; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate put my God at the end of verse 5.

Fear Not, I am Father God

The true children of God are those who let God's Spirit lead them. The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us children of God. And with that Spirit we say, 'Father, dear Father'. Romans 8:14-15  International Children's Bible

fear says, "what you dread most will happen to you and you cannot prevent it..."
fear says,  "no one will help you..."
"you will be all alone..."
"no one really cares for you..."

fear says, "this will all be for nothing..."
"all your hard work will come to ruin..."
"your life is not significant or meaningful..."

God says, "I am your loving Father." (John 1:10-12)
"No matter what happens, I will be with you." (Isaiah 43)
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Jesus says, "I know what it is like to suffer bitter betrayal, rejection and loss
Even vicious cruelty, hatred and unspeakable violence
I have borne the rage of the religious, the self-justified

I know what it is to feel utterly forsaken
to lose what is most dearest to your heart

There is meaning even in your deepest grief and loss
your overwhelming sense of confusion and despair

there is meaning you cannot see or feel yet
but that does not mean it does not exist
there is meaning because of me not you or anyone else

Jesus answered, 'I am the way. And I am the truth, and I am the life. The only way to the Father is through me. John 14:6 ICB

what looked like a terrible defeat and  a powerless victim was really the hour of triumph
for it made a way for us to be together

For Christ also suffered once for sins, 

the righteous for the unrighteous, 

to bring you to God. I Peter 3:18 NIV

Hush my child, I am here

I am strong

I am wise

I have ample provision

I will be with you

I care for you (I Peter 5:7)

I love you

no matter what you may suffer in this life

it has an end point

for I will wipe away all tears

We will be together forever

it is only a little while you are here

trust me

I will make your little while count for eternity

no matter how insignificant, random or meaningless it appears to you now

come here to me and crawl up in my lap

you can tell me all about __________

rest your weary head

and let me rock you to sleep

to read Isaiah 43: 

http://christslovetoyou.blogspot.com/2013/04/43-but-now-this-is-what-lord-he-who.html

From Richard Rohr: "In Jesus, God achieved the perfect synthesis of the divine and the human. The incarnation of Jesus demonstrates that God meets us where we are as humans. God freely and fully overcomes the gap from God’s side. The problem of redemption is already resolved once and for all, long before its dramatic illustration on the cross. Bethlehem already revealed that it was good to be a human being.

For the Christian, spiritual power is always hidden inside of powerlessness, just as God was hidden and yet revealed in a defenseless baby. If God is ever to be loved and shared, God had to risk both human embodiment and human vulnerability. This is the only thing that enchants and evokes the human heart. We do not properly fall in love with concepts or theological ideas (although some do try); persons fall in love with other persons.

In a weak little child, God is both perfectly hidden and perfectly revealed—and fully lovable."