"I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.." Psalm 26:3
This past week, my x-father-in-law, Arthur W. Berry (PopPop) passed away at the age of 91. My son and I have wonderful memories of PopPop and we loved him dearly. As we began reminiscing about PopPop, I heard my son's observation ..."he loved us even when others didn't...!" We remembered that no matter what ~ successes or failures; right choices or wrong ~ PopPop loved and supported us. Yes, he may have questioned why we were doing what we were doing, but he loved us. What a precious gift and we will miss him.
In reality, that amazing love and support was only a glimpse of God's eternal and unconditional love toward us. Try for a moment to imagine, the immense depth, width, height and length of God's love. The God who knew us when we were created in our mother's womb; the God whose thoughts of us outnumber the grains of sand; the God who reaches us through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus, humbly born in a manger to bring us abundant life.
As we celebrate Christmas remember the King of Kings, born in a manger, for you and me! Born because of God's faithful and unending love toward us!
"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life." John 3:16
Resources:
"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." Psalm 33:4
"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:8
"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."
