How He Loves Us

One thing non-believers will say often about what bothers or holds them back from God & religion is the concept of a judging, controlling, harsh God who looms over them watching & punishing them for their wrongdoings. The thing is that He is not any of these things.

The reason God is called Abba, Father, is because He is our creator & so He takes on the role of a father. He loves us unconditionally. That means that no matter how many times we screw up or how badly we do, He may be upset with us as any parent would, but He will forgive us because that Agape love is there.

A parent would be deemed "bad" if they did not impose expectations or some sort of rules for their children to follow. Children need direction, Child Development 101! When children try to take things into their own, inexperienced hands, it will almost always go awry. They need the direction & guidance of their more knowledgeable, wise & experienced parents to help raise & lead them down the paths that they know is in the best interest of their child.

Children dont always want to follow the rules. The backtalk, the whining, the "but whhhyyyyys??"

This is why many people questions God's plan or the laws in the Bible. Why shouldnt you partake in premarital sex? Why shouldnt you go to a party & drink? Some people say that there are so many rules & so many things that can't be done. "Doesnt God want you to have any fun"?

Sometimes in life we dont always get to do the stuff we want to do (or that everyone else is doing), but its okay because we know that our parents know what is best for us, even if we cant see it.

Some people are disturbed by the fact that followers of God seem to get upset, moved to tears, by their faith or when they feel they have fallen short of God's expectations. I was moved to tears during "How He Loves" this past Sunday because I fall short a lot y'all & it does shame me when I am in front of my father, just as it would shame me in front of my earthly father had I fallen short of an expectation (which, growing up, happened many-a-time, & many-a-time I was, indeed, brought to tears...lots & lots of them). I get so caught up in life, in school, come on in Twilight. The fact is that sometimes what I know should be getting done just isnt. It is extremely humbling that my Father forgives & loves me even after He knows the other things I do & think of all day besides Him.

This may be a stretch but I feel like one of the things that holds people back from religion is the aspect of admitting you are wrong in something ( so much sometimes) & having to be comfortable with being able to say, " I know nothing, Im a weak & dirty sinner", praying to & putting full faith in an unseen Father. I think that is hard for people to jump into.

This whole "living for God thing" is about living for something other than yourself. Now thats not to say you dont enjoy your life or take a backseat to others, not at all! It is an everyday, conscious decision that, when given an option or choice, nine times out of ten you choose the hard road because you know its the right road.

Yes, you do have to give up control of your life, you give it over! Let me tell you something, you will never be so rewarded, blessed, overcome as when you do that. To give yourself completely to the Lord (which btw, I havent in all areas. Its hard!) is the most releasing thing you can ever do because you know that are taken care of 100%.

Even if life gets bad, tragedy strikes, money goes, health plummets, you are still taken care of. You are still okay.