“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1
“… And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, to know that this love surpasses knowledge…” Ephesians 3:17-19
“Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:8
Love.
It’s a pretty common theme in the Bible, in a lot of sermons, and in everyday life. Now maybe in everyday life it’s not as obvious all the time, but on this trip, God has been speaking love over me constantly. He has shown me how He loves me through different people I have met, songs I’ve heard, ministries I have worked with, circumstances I have ended up in, and in so many other ways. He has shown great provision in times of need and every month, He has shown me that He knows what I need before I really know.
He has also shown me to every extreme I can imagine that I am His (and I know there’s more in store because His imagination is greater).
“About Benjamin he said, ‘Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.’” Deuteronomy 33:12
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” Song of Songs 6:3
It has been awesome to see and experience.
But I know me. I tend to forget things like this. I have to be told a lot or reminded somehow or both. So a few weeks ago, I did something that at the beginning of the Race I would have said “not likely” to. Actually, I would have said that there were less painful ways to piss off my mother. I got a tattoo.
The meaning of the heart is obvious (I hope). The double infinity is the best way my mathematical mind represents the meaning I glean from the first three verses above. “His” because, like the other verses remind me, I am.
I didn’t realize, however, how much the small tattoo would change small things in my every day life. I have answered the question “What does it mean?” many times and have no doubt I will answer it again. I have spent the last few weeks in Swaziland with kids trying to rub it off my arm and it starting many conversations. And I’m only in month 6!!
What an interesting and unexpected way to gain the opportunity to talk to more people about the love of God!!
Until next time!!
P.S. And for future reference… While it’s wasn’t unbearable, there are less painful ways to piss my mom off. J
