Paring Down

Things are moving ever more quickly toward our upcoming move to Des Moines and Grace Church.  Thursday marked my last official day in the office here, and Friday Mal and I held our second (and final) garage sale.  Everything left-over was loaded into my truck and hauled-off to donate.  It took two trips, and the second time we showed-up, the volunteer helping us asked with obvious incredulity, "Did all this come out of one house?"  He really would have been amazed if he'd seen everything we'd sold before we started hauling!

Seriously, it's amazing how much "stuff" we'd accumulated.  An estimator for a moving company once told me that teachers were some of the worst in terms of the quantity of stuff they accumulate.  She also told me that preachers are right next to teachers--both professions necessitate lots of files, books, etc.  Add to that my natural proclivity to be a pack rat, and you end-up with a BUNCH of stuff!  Anyway, we've reduced things by probably a third, and we're well on our way toward packing it all.  There's still a lot to be done, but, fortunately, we've still got some time before we actually begin loading.

It really feels good to get rid of so much that we don't need anymore (if ever we did need it).  It's made me wonder what unneeded practices, habits or ideas I've accumulated over the years.  It turns out that moving provides the perfect opportunity for taking stock of oneself.  As much as it helps to get rid of physical stuff, I can only imagine what it will be like to get rid of those things that weigh me down spiritually.  What an adventure life is!

Blessings Shared

Our congregation recently hosted a vist from the Children of the World international children's choir, a ministry of World Help.  Composed of 15 children from Nepal, Uganda and the Philippines, the group shared in both morning worship services, then did a full concert in the evening.  The children did a beautiful job, on all three occasions, of sharing the joy and peace they have through knowing Christ as Lord and Savior.

But I want you to know, too, of the response of the people of Old North Church.  By day's end, 61 children around the world had received sponsors.  Beyond that, an offering of over $8,000 was received to help fund clean water in Africa.  At a monthly sponsorship of $30/month, that's a total of $30,000 given/pledged over the next 12 months--in just one day!

Way to go Old North!  That kind of generosity and dedication to making a difference across the street and around the world will pay rich dividends in lives saved and souls won to Christ.  Keep up the good work!

Grace Bound

So, obviously, the Mac hasn't improved my posting frequency...at least not by much, anyway.  Oh, well!

For those who haven't yet heard, our family is on the move.  In mid-June, we're planning a move to Des Moines, IA and Grace Church.  We've been out there a couple of times now, most recently this last week. We're excited by what we've seen and what God has in store, but we're not looking forward to saying "So long!" to friends here in Ohio.

The last few years have been very significant and eventful for our family, and our friends at Old North have been very supportive. As they've heard of our plans, they've continued to be encouraging, especially as they learn that this move will put us within just a few hours of family in MO and OK.  My deepest thanks to them all!

As I said, though, we're more and more excited about the opportunities God is opening there at Grace.  The more chances we have to meet people and better understand the heart of the church, the more we can imagine some of what God has in store--and the more excited we become!  Stay tuned for details as God reveals them!

It looks to be another very exciting summer for the Simpson family.  We're looking forward to having Em and Mal back this way in a few weeks (Em for a week and Mal for the whole summer).  Em and Brock are hoping to join us in Iowa for the 4th of July, and Kim and Bobby are planning toward a visit later in the summer.  Brenda may actually get a chance to help Mal move into her new apartment at school this fall. Because of the distance, it's an opportunity she's never had.

Your prayers as we move would be greatly appreciated.  There are, of course, all the details of packing, loading, driving, etc.  Beyond that, Brenda is seeking a teaching position in an area that is currently dealing with significant education cutbacks, so your prayers on that count are especially appreciated.  God will provide, though, and we rest in that fact.

After we moved to Ohio a few years ago, I became aware of a few lines from a song that really expressed what I was feeling at the time..."It's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea, but I'd rather be here than on land."  Transitions aren't always easy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Blessings!

Something to think about...

First, I know I promised more from Vancouver. I'll try to deliver on that soon, but first, I want to share the following from Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. It hit me right between the eyes. Hope it speaks to you, as well:

I think Jeremiah 1:12 is one of the greatest promises in Scripture: “I am watching over my word to perform it.” Most stress is caused by a lack of trust. We don’t trust God to do His job. Why? We’re control freaks. But here is the problem: we can’t do what God has called us to do. Only God can do it. And He will do it. He is watching over His word to perform it.

Take a deep breath. Now let it out. That is the effect Jeremiah 1:12 has on me. Takes all the pressure off of me! I constantly remind myself that I cannot do it. And in some strange way, it helps me relax. It also keeps me in a place of raw dependence upon God. And that is the most peaceful and powerful place on the planet.

Does any of that grab you? I’ll tell you which phrase caught my attention: We can’t do what God has called us to do. “Of course we can,” I thought. But as I reflect on it, no, we really CAN’T do what GOD’S called us to do. We can do lots of things, lots of good things, in fact. But the things GOD calls us to do can only be done in His strength.

So, if I’m doing things in my own strength, am I doing what GOD’S called me to do, or what I’ve chosen to do? Something to think about.

Update from Vancouver

Yesterday was our first journey downtown together, though Kim and Bobby had been down there a time or two already. Kim and I headed that way mid-day and caught up with Bobby and one of his childhood friends who was in town for a day or two. After a quick bite at McDonalds, we headed to the Rusky Dom (the Russian Pavilion). It was only a short wait to get in, and it was pretty cool. Russia will be hosting the 2014 Winter Games, so much of what we saw was promo for that. One really neat thing, though, was a short line we happened upon. We checked it out promptly joined the queue. Here's what it led to:

Yes, that's a genuine Olympic torch we're holding! At the Rusky Dom, no less!

We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting the Saskatchewan Pavilion (got our picture taken with a real Canadian Mountie), passing Canada Hockey Place (some interesting sights outside the arena there), and generally having a good time downtown. Then we headed to BC Place for the Vancouver Victory Ceremony (aka "Medals Ceremony"). We ended-up sitting TWO ROWS from the Mountie honor guard that raised the flags for each set of winners. We witnessed only the second gold medal ever awarded a Canadian on Canadian soil (the place was pretty pumped!), and we got to see, via a video link to Whistler, Lindsey Vonn receive her gold. All in all, it was a huge day!

Today, we're headed back downtown to see the Olympic Cauldron (should get a better view now that the "Free the Torch" campaign has yielded results) and ride a trolley to Granville Island. Then (hopefully) we're going to go help make signs for a children's outreach we're helping with on Saturday. Which leads me to...

I've been so impressed with the ministry I've seen taking place all around. Yesterday, alone, we saw a Gospel of John distribution in what appeared to be 12-15 different languages, we passed the Salvation Army distributing free coffee, and we were approached by a Jews for Jesus volunteer. It's very encouraging to see so much going on. Join me in praying that, through it all, God will be glorified and many will be drawn to Him!

Well, time to get ready to head back out. More to come!

Vancouver, here I come!

I'm posting this from my hotel in Seattle as I prepare to board a shuttle later today for Vancouver, BC. Our oldest daughter, Kim, lives and works there, and I'm finally getting a chance to visit! Can't wait to see her, and I can't wait to see Vancouver, especially this week! We're planning to be at the medal ceremony Wednesday night of this week and catch any free Olympic stuff we can find along the way.

I'll try to post some pics later this week.

Until then, U-S-A, U-S-A!

Blessings!

OK, the new MacBook hasn't quite inspired me to post everyday (obviously), but two weeks is still pretty soon...at least for me, anyway.

So last night's forecast called for 5"-7" of snow (part of "Snowmeggadon" or "The Winter Powerhouse" that buried the east coast). When we got up this morning, this is what we found--

Obviously, these Ohio inches are much thicker than those I've seen in other places! Some South Florida friends suggested (via FaceBook) that I "grab a good book." I guess settling in by the fireplace and reading a "good book" would be nice, but since we don't have a fireplace and we've got to be able to get to church tomorrow, I spent the better part of the day moving snow, one of my new "least favorite things."

Oh well, such is life in NE Ohio. All joking aside, it was much worse over Virginia way. At least we don't have anybody without power (that I know of , anyway). Hope it's warm where you are, and, if that's not the case, I hope you're able to stay warm and safe.

Blessings!

It's finally happened...

First, I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. I guess with our Christmas production, the Christmas Eve services, seven or eight round-trips to the airport and everything else, the time just got away from me.

A couple of quick updates...we were blessed to have all three girls in for Christmas. What a treat! In fact, I caught-up with Emily and Mallory in the St. Louis airport on their way home. I'd been to MO to be with my mom for her most recent heart cath (everything came out great, thanks for asking), and my return flight happened to be their connecting flight. They flew out of OKC that afternoon, I met them in the terminal that evening, and we flew home together. Pretty cool! Then Kim caught the red-eye out of Seattle a few days later, and Em and I met her at the airport early one morning.

And, now, the big news: I've finally gone over to the "dark side." That is, I am typing this post on a new 15" MacBook Pro that replaces my recently deceased Dell laptop. I refuse to become one of those "Apple snobs" (let's be real, we all know some), but I work with some guys whose opinions I really respect, and they use Macs. We'll be able to work together more efficiently and seamlessly, plus, I have to admit it looks pretty cool, too. Like any new computer (and then some), it's taking just a bit of getting used to. It's going to be fine, though.

I might even enjoy it so much I'll post weekly!

It got me to thinking....

So I had occasion recently to attend my first-ever Catholic funeral. It was an interesting and moving experience. Having been in worship ministry most of my adult life, I was pleasantly surprised at how much of what I experienced wasn't totally new to me. Some of the congregational responses, etc. were things I'd heard in ecumenical services over the years. And two or three of the congregational songs could have come straight out of the Baptist Hymnal!

There was a printed service order for the occasion, and I found it relatively easy to follow. Despite all the detail contained in it, though, it was very obvious who in the congregation was Catholic and who was not. There were several times when the Catholic members of our group responded, and very naturally I might add, with something not contained in the program.

So, it got me to thinking....

What do we include in our services that makes some people feel like outsiders? What "ritual" do we follow automatically that, while at least at some point was meaningful to us, makes guests or new believers or those new to our congregation feel lost or out of place?

The knee-jerk response, of course, is "Nothing!" But asking that question of those of us who have been there long-term is rather akin to asking a skunk what that odor is. He doesn't smell it any more!

So, how intentional are we willing to be about discovering and resolving those things? Or would we rather stay comfortable and undisturbed--and maybe lonely, too, if it keeps others from joining us?

I don't know, it just got me to thinking....

Time Warp

So I'm in the grocery store the other evening, going through the self-serve checkout, when the irritatingly smooth artificial voice informs me that I've purchased an "age-restricted item." Quick study that I am, I came to the realization that it wasn't likely either of the two candy bars I was purchasing. That left the cough syrup that had occasioned my trip--though it had no alcohol or decongestant in it.

According to the voice, "an associate" was on the way to assist me in completing my purchase, and, sure enough, up walks a young lady barely more than 1/3 my age. (I started to say "half my age," but then I did the math. Math can hurt.) I asked her if I was being carded for cough syrup, and she said I was, but she, sadly, didn't have to look at my driver's license (or any other card) to recognize that I was more than old enough to buy it. She quickly swiped her employee ID and punched-in a few numbers. Then she was on her way and I on mine.

Is it just me, or does it strike anyone else as odd that a teenaged store clerk had to approve this cool, but middle-aged, pastor's purchase of a simple cough syrup? Maybe I'll eventually be able to prove myself as responsible as that clerk...

People Don't Know What They Used To...Why Not?

Since I've been home much of this week with some sort of viral fun, I've had way too much time to watch TV (mostly Andy Griffith, M*A*S*H, Bonanza, etc.). Another show I've been watching is Cash Cab. If you haven't seen it, it's a great show where unsuspecting people get into a New York cab and become contestants, for the duration of their ride, on a TV game show. They have to answer a series of increasingly challenging general knowledge questions for cash prizes.

In an episode I saw just a few minutes ago, the couple in the cab was asked a $100 (most difficult) question that they couldn't answer. In fact, they didn't have any idea at all, so they used what the show calls a "Street Shout-Out" where the cab pulls to the curb and the contestants flag down a passerby and get his/her input. Fortunately for these contestants, the pedestrian they asked knew the answer for them. Though they didn't know enough to be sure whether or not he was right, they took his answer because they didn't have a clue.

The question: "Name one of the four New Testament books known as the gospels."

Now, I know our culture is biblically illiterate, but it was still a shock to my system to see it played out so clearly on this game show. Then the thought occured, it was only a shock because I'm not spending enough time with non-believers to see it more often. If I was doing my part, seeing it played out on TV wouldn't have come as such a shock.

Sure, we can bemoan the fact that people don't know enough about the Bible, OR we can enagage them and create in them a desire to know the word by introducing them to The Word (see John 1:1). (BTW, "John" was the answer they got from the guy on the street. They got their $100.)

All's Well That Ends Well

We had a bit of a scare the other night...

My wife calls her dad just about every night. He recently turned 80 and his health is not the best. Add to that the fact that he lives alone. My wife is incredibly faithful to call and chat for jus a few minutes virtually every evening.

It's not too unusual, though, for them not to connect on occasion (he doesn't exactly sit at home waiting for the phone to ring). Sunday night was one of those occasions, and we didn't think anything of it. When she couldn't get hold of him on Monday (after trying for a couple of hours), she thought it wise to give her sister a ring (she lives nearby and their dad frequently goes by her house). Her sister usually talks to him every day, too, but she didn't think anything of it when he didn't answer Monday. When my wife and her sister compared notes, though, they realized nobody had talked to him for over 24 hours.

Given his medical issues and a history of falls, there was some serious concern going around. My wife's sister and brother (who also lives in the area) headed over to the house to check on their dad. Fortunately, they found him sleeping soundly in his chair, the TV blaring away. As it turned out, the phone wasn't working in the room he was in. The next nearest phone never stood a chance of being heard with the TV volume set where it was--especially once he dozed off.

So, "all's well that ends well," and, in this case, it ended very well. The hard truth for all of us, though, is that one of these days it's NOT going to "end well"--at least not in a physical sense. It reminds me of the story of the good shepherd, the one who left his 99 sheep to go find the 1 that was lost. Our concern for my father-in-law pales in comparison to God's love in seeking out a world that has turned its back on Him. Just as my wife's siblings went looking for their father, so, too, God sent His only Son to "seek and save that which was lost"--to bring us back to Him. Sure, our bodies will one day die, but things can still end well, VERY well, if we respond to His great love in the person of His only Son, Jesus Christ.

So how will it end for you? Well.....or not?

His Will vs. My Wants

I had a conversation with a good friend this week, much of which focused on discerning God's will. He's looking at some unexpected opportunities, and he's trying to make sure he doesn't stay when he should go or go when he should stay.

We covered a lot of territory, both theological and practical (and not that theology can't be practical), but I think I can sum it up pretty well in one statement: When God's will and my wants don't line-up, guess which one's off the mark?

I had the opportunity to hear author Ruth Haley Barton this summer, and she talked about praying "the prayer of indifference." On first hearing that term, I thought, "The last thing I want is to be indifferent." As she explained it, though, it made perfect sense...My prayer of indifference is simply asking God to help me set aside my own preferences in order that I might be totally open to whatever He has for me. Too often, my understanding of God's will is colored by my own desires and preferences. The prayer of indifference, then, really leads me to a passion for the things God desires.

Lord, take away my wants and lead me to a point of indifference where all I desire is You. Amen.

My wife and I had an interesting experience yesterday. Before I go there, though, a little background would be in order...

Over the summer of 1981, Brenda and I travelled as part of a Christian musical group known as the Continental Singers. We were part of Tour G (one of about 15 tours tours that summer), a group of roughly 40 high-school and college young adult vocalists, instrumentalists and techs who gathered in CA early in the summer to learn a 75 or 80 minute program that we shared across the US and, for a couple of weeks or so, in Great Britain. It was a wonderful summer, and as much as I enjoyed going overseas, one of my favorite parts of the whole endeavor was seeing parts of our own country that I'd never seen.

As best I can recall, it must have been the latter half of July or so when we did a concert in a place called East Liverpool, OH. For whatever reason, I remember that stop better than most. I think we may have been there for a Saturday night and a Sunday morning (a longer stop than most), and I remember that we stayed with the pastor and his wife (family?) in a house right behind the church. It was an area that had seen some tough times, but I remember our visit there very positively.

Two years ago, we moved to OH, and I'd repeatedly seen signs pointing toward East Liverpool. So yesterday afternoon, we finally decided to make the trek down that way. It was only about a 40 minute drive, but it took us back a lot farther than that! Fortunately, I had the impression that it was a Christian Church, so I Googled "First Christian Church East Liverpool, OH." (I also recalled the church being right downtown). We programmed the resulting address into our Garmin and drove straight to the church we'd last seen over 28 years ago!

From the outside, anyway, things didn't seem to have changed that much. The town seemed to have endured some more tough times since our last visit, but the church appeared to be in very good repair. The very fact that it still seems to be a very viable congregation in such a difficult environment was an encouragement to us.

I'm still not sure why it was so important for me to go see it again. Maybe it was partly the challenge to see if we could find it (which I don't think we would have without Google and the Garmin). I think it was also something in me that just wanted to see if a congregation in which we'd made a very small, albeit meaningful, investment was still there. Maybe it's my age, and I'm looking more intently than ever at what kind of difference I've made with my life. Whatever the reason, though, I'm really glad we took the time to do it. I wonder what other things from my past need to be tracked-down?

BEING Instead of DOING?

We've got to spend less time DOING and focus on simply BEING who God has already made us to be. Does that statement from my last post sound like I'm suggesting that we cease giving any thought or attention to what we DO? Well, please know it's NOT what I meant. But just yesterday our pastor posed a very good question--"Does God care more about who we are OR what we do?" The answer, of course, is that God cares much more about who we are.

"But who we ARE determines what we DO," you might say, and you're quite right. It's a matter of focus, though. (And, yes, DOing certain things can help influence who we become.) Nonetheless, I really believe we need to put more effort and attention into helping people recognize who God has called them to BE and less time in asking them to DO more and more.

One of the biggest challenges in that, though, is measuring how well we're able to help people BE. Measuring character is difficult, while measuring what and how much people DO is a lot easier. And, for good reason, we have a deep-seated need to measure how well we're accomplishing our goals (how else do we recognize where we need to improve?). The BEing, though, has to come before the DOing.

Back to the original point, we aren't really who God desires us to BE until it leads us to DO the things God calls us to do, but it's got to start with a recognition and understanding of who God has made us to BE.

More on that to come!

BEING vs. DOING

Thanks to Mark Batterson (for his recent blog post) and Dr. Jerry Sheveland (for his sermon Sunday) on being who God has made us to be. It was such an encouragement, and a great reminder, to hear again that we need to quit trying to fit some contrived mold and simply allow God to move and work in and through us, making us who HE desires us to be. We spend so much time doing things that we think will help us look/act/talk/sound like a pastor/father/husband/whatever that we fail to simply let God live through us. We've got to spend less time DOING and focus on simply BEING who God has already made us to be.

Brent Allen our pastor here at Old North, will be starting a new series this Sunday on our identity in Christ. He'll be talking about who we are and Whose we are. If you're in the area, join us this week at 9:30, 11:00 or 6:00. If you're not, check it out on the web at www.oncmedia.org/podblog/ .

Blessings!

rel·e·vant

rel·e·vant \ˈre-lə-vənt\ adj.
bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent: a relevant remark.

I've now have the title for the book I want to write...Reclaiming Relevance. I'm convinced that too much of what we do as churches and worship ministries is driven by what we've done as churches and worship ministries. History and heritage are important gifts that are not to be overlooked, but I'm convinced we spend an inordinate amount of time and energy holding onto those at the expense of having a "bearing upon" or being "connected with the matter at hand." And that matter is proclaiming the glory of God and His unfathomable grace to a profoundly unaware and desperate world.

I know that the term "relevant" has gotten some bad press in certain circles, and that's OK. Relevance has served as the excuse for shallowness and lack of preparation in far too many instances. It can be used as a reason to dilute truth. In these applications, so-called "relevance" deserves the condemnation it has received.

On the other hand, scripture commands us to be "relevant" in the best and truest sense of the term. What has more "bearing upon" the foundational questions of good and evil, life and death, meaning and purpose, than the truth of God's word? This truth, of course, is unchangeable. Our delivery of it, though, must always be evaluated in terms of accuracy and effectiveness. If that evaluation reveals a need for change, we have abdicated our responsiblities as salt and light if we fail to implement it--whether it suits us or not. How dare I allow my preferences to supercede my God-ordained responsibility to present His truth in a way that it can be heard and understood by the world around me?

Anyway, my book (if I ever write it) will likely focus on the issue of relevancy particularly as it pertains to worship. It will likely cause offence to some whom I deeply admire and respect, but they will, hopefully, hear my heart even if they disagree with my approach. Who may agree or disagree, though, can't be the determining factor in whether or not I write (or what I write).

So what do you think?

More transitions...

I've long been impressed by the calm and peaceful way most elderly couples can look back at the events of the past --even hard or tumultuous times. From their vantage point, they know that the events of the past have worked themselves out and things are fine. Those who are believers can even see God's hand at work through those events.

My desire is to live NOW with that same perspective, knowing that God will, indeed, "work things out" in a way that will honor Him. Maybe it's just the phase of life we're in, but it seems like every day/week/month (choose one) brings about another very major transition: job change move oldest finishes college/leaves the country middle at college youngest off to school parents ill death of first parent empty nest. The early years of our marriage were that same way--getting married grad school full-time job first home children arrive--and God has certainly worked good out of all of it. The transitions of the last months and years have been, almost entirely, positive and exciting changes. In retrospect, about the only difference we'd have wished for would have been some of what we've seen with our parents. (Even in not being able to sell our house, we can see God's hand at work.)

Change can be exhilarating, exhausting, exciting, frightening or some combination of all the above. It's exciting to me to see what God has done in our lives over these last several months, though certain parts of it have been a bit exhausting, too (e.g. carrying loft beds, step-by-step, up to the fourth floor!). It's even more exciting to imagine what He's got in store for us in the days to come, and my imagination is really pretty limited in comparison to God's incredible creativity (to put it mildly).

So, with all due respect to what we've seen recently, here's to the future! I can't wait to see how God is going to work in our lives and the lives of those we love. Even if we'd never seen it before (and we certainly have), His word teaches His faithfulness in every situation. So bring it on--I can't wait to see what He's going to do!

Blessings...

So Much More

In a few hours, I'll be leaving to pick-up our middle daughter from college in Oklahoma, swing by my parents' house in MO, and then drive back here to OH. Emily's finishing her sophomore year in college already! In less than two weeks, Kim, our oldest, will be coming in from Mexico for a visit, and in just over three weeks, Mallory, our youngest, will be graduating from high school.

My wife and I have been blessed so far beyond anything we could even begin to imagine or deserve when it comes to our daughters. They are each unique, of course, but they each love God and are serving Him in the way they sense Him leading. They are beautiful, both inside and out, and they bless Brenda and I in ways they don't even realize.

What's amazing to me is that it was only about 3 1/2 weeks ago (or so it seems) that they were toddlers.......or in preschool.......or even in grade school. But here they are--our youngest about to graduate, our middle daughter half-way through college, and our oldest already a graduate and serving God in Mexico. No more than we knew about being parents when they came along, it's clear that God deserves all the credit and we are simply the beneficiaries of His goodness and grace.

Of course, that's really true in every area of our lives. Even in those situations in which He chooses to use we humans as tools to effect His will, the blessings, the results, are totally from Him. In this particular case--our girls--it just seems like He did it overnight! Whatever His timeline was, though, His blessings are magnificent beyond measure.

To God be the Glory!

No Need, But Lots of Want

I was driving home late the other night (I'd been to Pittsburgh to see my Marlins beat the Pirates 10-4!) when I heard a song I'd heard many times before. Casting Crowns is a group that everybody in our family enjoys, and their song "In Me" is nice enough, but I'd never paid it a whole lot of attention. Until the other night, anyway.

As I was cranking the CD up to help me stay awake, two phrases of the chorus seemed to jump out at me like they never had before--

How refreshing to know You don't need me.
How amazing to find that you want me!

You know, the almighty God of the universe who created all that it and has every resource imagineable at his beck and call really doesn't need you or me. He would still be perfection itself, the ultimate completeness, even without me. Neither does He need me to accomplish His purposes in the world. He is more than capable of realizing every aspect of His perfect will without my help. As much as I long to serve Him, it is kind of refreshing to know that His will isn't dependent on my performance.

At the same time, though, it's rather disconcerting to realize that the source of so much of my identity and sense of self, serving my God, really isn't necessary for His success. It leaves me feeling a bit lost and out of touch. But, how amazing to find that you want me!

He doesn't NEED me, but He desperately WANTS me. Can you fathom that? I don't think I fully can, but what I do understand of it shows me more than I've ever realized of God's incredible character and nature. He doesn't need me, but He wants me because HE chooses to.

What an amazing God we serve!

Blessings!