Struck By The Ultimate Love

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Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope that y'all are enjoying the holiday. I had a great time with Jakub this weekend in celebration of today, but that's not what this post is about.
Lately I have been surrounded and constantly reminded of the overwhelming love that God has for us. I wanted to do a post today as a little reminder to myself, and to you, that there is a love that nothing else compares to. It's the kind of love that doesn't just sweep you off your feet; it knocks the breath out of you! On days that I get a clearer picture of what that really means I can't hardly do anything but sit in silence, amazed and utterly confused how anyone could love me with so much intensity and devotion. Here's just a few verses that are speaking to me at the moment of how lovely He is and how unworthy I am:

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:16-19 

If that doesn't demonstrate love, I don't know what does. What makes this verse so powerful to me is that I have felt each word of it dealing with depression and seeing God move in such a mighty way.

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:19-23

Just reading this verse makes my heart pitter patter!

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,  and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel,put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption."
Psalm 130:3-7

I think that verse sums it up. He brings us unfailing love and full redemption, what more could you want?

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12

Can you imagine this?! Lately I've been knocked upside the head with the realization of how deeply God knows me and cares for me. I can't imagine that one day I will know him with that same clarity!

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its ardor unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away." Song of Songs 8:6-7

This is one of my favorite verses. God's love for us is as strong as death. Do you grasp that?! Over the past several years, dealing with death, this verse has had real meaning to me. You cannot come back from death, once it's got you, it's got you. His love for us is just as constant and never ending; circumstances have no impact on if He loves us. His strong devotion is as unyielding as the grave!

Whether you have a "valentine" or not today, remember that you are loved by the Ultimate Lover and he knows how to woo you better than anyone else. His love for you is stronger than you can comprehend. Let His love knock the breath out of you ever once in a while.