GOD is...
calm | "care-less" | elegant | faithful | happy | kindred | optimistic | passionate | valiant | vulnerable


God is Passionate

When we're embraced by holy love, our joy is boundless.  Seemingly infinite.  We feel we could BURST.  We did the right thing, although we "didn't feel like" doing it beforehand.  All the sweat and strain wasn't wasted.  Now is harvest time, and the storehouses of our soul are overflowing.

There is a much greater joy, however.  It comes from the conviction and reality that God loves me regardless what I do, or don't do.  He accepts me unconditionally.

He never tells me to shape up.  He tells me that He already shaped me perfectly.  Psalm 139

He says that He loves me passionately, profusely, proactively, and positively!  He's the eternal Lover of mankind individually.  Whether numbering 6 people or 6 billion people, the Source of all life knows the number of hairs on my head.  (That's not a whole lot, of course, but He's got the exact count on everybody else too!)  He also has the count for the 3 trillion plus cells in each of our bodies.

In the movie "Remember The Titans", the coach prepped his football players with the impassioned: "It's OUR time.  It's OUR time."   For you and me, it's our time too.  We can relish or reject God now.  Our choice.  Many people ignore Him, which is worse than outright rejection, since doing so is innocuous.  Like the frog placed in a cool pot of water, the gradual increase of heat cooks his goose.  Apathy kills.

Where does God's compassion fit in?  Before I send out an SOS, God is ad hoc.  In my time of need, per C.S.Lewis, God's megaphones His love to me.  He was there all along, but I wasn't quiet enough to hear that still small voice.

God cries everyday.  He wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35).  He yearns for us to make good choices, and is so grieved when we don't, knowing how hard the consequences will be for us.  God also grieves when we're afraid.  He sees our weakness and awaits our prayer for His immediate intervention. 

God grieves because we, His adopted children, are being ravaged as sheep among wolves.  He is not off on a sports safari in a distant galaxy.  He's right here among us, closer than any parent or friend.  He knows and feels the full intensity of our pain.

How does God respond to human pain? 

For unbelievers, He points them to the perfect, wonderful Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29; 19:30).  He offers full salvation (Executive Pardon) to ALL who will simply and humbly receive it; Rev. 3:20. 

For His adopted children, He reminds us of His peerless presence and purpose.   By His scarred hands, He carefully and sovereignly weaves the negatives of life to transform us into the positive likeness of His Son, King of Kings.  He fits it all together, fashioning us for eternity; Romans 8:28,29.