itsawonderfilledlife

Numero uno … that which is in first place.

My life is filled with so many that I love, and I am blessed to be loved back. But I have to say I have a numero uno.

I believe that our world was created by an intelligent, purposeful being. I was not there, and I cannot fathom HOW He did it (years or days I do not know, but I believe he could have done it in seconds if He chose it), but I believe that He, Yahweh, created our world, and everything in it.

I believe in the prophet foretold, Holy Spirit conceived, virgin born, Immanuel … who is the God with us.

I believe in the carpenter, the healer, the miracle maker, the teacher.

I believe in the wrongly convicted, crucified, dead, and risen Savior, who will come again.

He, is the God who created humanity knowing we would choose to deceive, to lie, to sin. He also knew what it would take to redeem humanity, the blood of His own, innocent, perfect, yet human, son.

This is the God who created me in my mother’s womb, knows the number of hairs on my head, and knows of the length of days I will arise and take breath. He knows my thoughts, and my flaws … and He loves me anyway.

He is the only one who truly loves me, without expectation of my loving in return.

But, I do love, in return. I love my God, my Creator, my Redeemer with increasing, although flawed, measure. It is in my receiving of His limitless, complete love and forgiveness that I have a hope and a future.

My favorite words in the Bible are Lamentations 3:21-23:
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
or his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”

In a commentary on those verses, was the following description of understanding of these words, and of the God they are about, and the God who I strive to live for:

“Jeremiah’s remembrance of God’s faithfulness brought about a change in the prophet’s emotions. As long as we contemplate our troubles, the more convinced we will become of our isolation, our hopelessness, our inability to extricate ourselves from the present trouble. But when we focus on the Lord, we are able finally to rise above, rather than to suffer under, our troubles.Every day presents us with a new opportunity to discover and experience more of God’s love. Even in the midst of terrible sorrow, Jeremiah looked for signs of mercy. Great is Your faithfulness: Here is the heart of the Book of Lamentations. The comforting, compassionate character of God dominates the wreckage of every other institution and office. God remains “full of grace and truth” in every situation (Ex. 34:6, 7; John 1:14).”

He is my numero uno.