June 15, 2012 Christmas everyday!

Dear God,

Last night I was asking God to show me a sign that He loves me. Something! Anything! Even a hug, something tiny.
I finally felt like I was being led to a verse in the Bible, 1 John 4:8.
I thought it said something like God is love but I wasn't sure so I looked it up.
The verse that actually caught my attention was 1 John 4:9.
"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him".
At first, I thought, "Yes I've read this multiple times. Cool."
But when I read it again, a word that hasn't ever stood out to me before suddenly put on a huge cape and neon lights. I couldn't ignore it.
Might. Of all the words in that verse, the word might stuck out.
My initial thought was wait a second... might. He didn't promise anything, God said I might have a chance to live through Him. Awesome.
Thanks God, that's really reassuring.
I might live through Him.
But I stopped my rage before it turned into a monsoon and read it one last time.
Suddenly the verse hit me in a new way.
God sent me this incredible gift. And I have a choice to take it. The great thing about God is that He gives us a choice. We don't have to take anything from Him, it's not forced. If He forced us to love Him, it wouldn't mean anything. We'd be like robots. Control and choices are things that have been bothering me lately and seeing that God gave me a choice lifted some weights off my shoulders. I have a choice. I have freedom. I have the freedom to mess up. I have the choice to make mistakes and live a crazy, carefree life that wouldn't please God. He could easily force us all to do things exactly the way He wants.
But He trusts and loves us enough to give us the choice anyway.
I loved that.
Knowing that God has bestowed this love and trust upon me made me realize that I want to live for Him. I don't want to let Him down or waste His precious gift.
This is the best gift I've ever received!
It's better than underwear!
Let's not waste this precious gift God has given us. Let's show God He CAN trust us with freedom and that we won't waste this gift.
It's like Christmas everyday!


Love you,

Amen.