The Greatest Love

I'm reading a book right now called the Sacred Romance by John Eldredge. He shares a few excerpts I was really touched by. Like this analogy to help describe God's love for us (from a book called Disappointment with God):

Suppose there was a king who loved a humble maiden. The king was like no other king. Every statesmen trembled before his power. No one dared breathe a word against him, for he had the strength to crush all opponents. And yet this mighty king was melted by love for a humble maiden. How could he declare his love for her? In an odd sort of way, his kingliness tied his hands. If he brought her to the palace and crowned her head with jewels and clothed her body in royal robes, she would surely not resist - no one dared resist him. But would she love him??

She would say she loved him of course, but would she truly? Or would she live with him in fear, nursing a private grief for the life she had left behind? Would she be happy at his side? How could he know? If he rode to her forest cottage in his royal carriage, with an armed escort waving bright banners, that too would overwhelm her. He did not want a cringing subject. He wanted a lover, an equal. He wanted her to forget that he was a king and she a humble maiden and to let shared love cross the gulf between them. 

Eldredge, then goes on to say - The king clothes himself as a beggar and renounces his throne in order to win her hand. The Incarnation, the life and the death of Jesus, answers once and for all the question, "What is God's heart toward me?" This is why Paul says in Romans 5, "Look here, at the Cross. Here is the demonstration of God's heart. At the point of our deepest betrayal, when we had run our farthest away from him and gotten so lost in the woods we could never find our way home, God came and died to rescue us." 


He loves us very much. : ) I believe he made so much of this world just to delight us. Flowers and sunsets and rainbows and shooting stars and little babies and on and on and on. His sunsets are like embraces to my heart and soul. I once saw a huge field at night filled with sparkling fireflies and it was more beautiful than any special effect I've ever seen.


And yes there are more things in this world that aren't beautiful, that hurt, that bring tears, that break our hearts. But we can't focus on those and let them harden our hearts and steal the joy of the love God has for us. We can't let them blind us to the beauty that is around us at all times and in all circumstances.  


He knows the pain we carry, has sympathy for the heartache we face. And he eases the burden so greatly when we will just walk beside Him.

Mountains and Meadows

I have one of those crystal clear memories from when I was in Yosemite in El Capitan Meadow, probably about 7 or 8 years ago. I was just sitting there in the tall grass and there was a breeze and I was totally in awe of the world around me. I remember thinking I have to remember this exact moment.

A couple weeks ago I was feeling kinda far away from God, ironically because of the distraction and busyness of the Christmas season. I didn't even know what to pray at the time, I was just kinda sitting there, early in the morning before the sun came up. A cup of coffee and a candle lit. Meaning to be seeking Him but not really having the words, feeling distracted, bothered by the clutter around me.

Out of nowhere, I start getting pictures in my head of Yosemite. For a few minutes I sat there just remembering that amazing place, like a slideshow. I felt like God was showing Himself to me. How grand and great and almighty and beautiful and perfect He is. How everything with him is in perfect order, no clutter, nothing out of place. It was very beautiful and peaceful and comforting. I kept calling it to mind throughout the day, it felt like a love letter or something : )

Then the very next day my friend Chris posted this quote on Facebook - “The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.”
-John Muir

It hugely touched my heart, and I googled John Muir. Turns out he is the person responsible for preserving Yosemite as a National Park! He lived there and had a great love for it. I started reading his description of it and couldn't believe it. I shared with Chris my 'slideshow' experience from the day before and he shared with me that John Muir was a Christian who regarded nature as God's Cathedral. 

The statement nature as God's Cathedral really struck me. It comes close to describing how nature often makes me feel. Especially sunset and sunrise, I can't really explain it. Expressing it was what I was going for in my painting.

The mountain in the painting is a combo of 2 scenes at Yosemite, El Capitan and Horsetail Falls, so its geographically incorrect, but it comes close to conveying the feeling and memory of awe in my heart that I felt then, and do now, at the sight of Gods Glory being displayed in nature and light. 

~ I have to add to the story now. Minutes after posting on Facebook my friend Nikki said this painting had special meaning for her and she would like to buy it. I really don't want to part with it, but I believe it was meant for her and I said yes. She was married in Yosemite, so I can imagine it carries even more precious memories for her.

So this morning I couldn't sleep, and I went to their Yosemite album and I am attaching the picture I found there. Amazing. And Nikki and her husband Cory both love God which just makes it all more evident its all from Him!!!!!!! Wow!!!