Crazy Love
I finally finished reading Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" - what a great book! Very challenging. I borrowed it from my pastor and I told him that if it slapped me in my face one more time, I was going to give it back! It did slap me in my face a few more times, but I didn't give it back until I finished it! So, I thought I would blog about my reflections on the book/a few things that really stood out!
#1 -
This statement is such simple truth, but it floors me when I think of the depth of it - God knew exactly what he was creating when He made me. Think about that for a second. When God made me (and you) He KNEW what he was doing! He knew all about my character, my qualities, my strengths, weaknesses... he knew! God was well aware of the person He was constructing when he knit me together. I come as no surprise to Him. God is a creator and not a duplicator... there is no other Ashley Alexander on this planet. By name, maybe... but there is no other person in this whole world like me. NO ONE that possesses the EXACT same character and qualities and struggles and issues as me. There are some that have similarities and such, but I'm the only me.
#2 -
I suck. God loves me beyond anything I can comprehend. As I read the pages and tried to wrap my brain about the love He has for me... I found my self completely incapable of doing so. I understand who He is and what He has done for me - but I don't even remotely understand! I'm sure that makes sense to some of you. I try to get it... but I cant. Because of God's great love for me - I should be so completely head over heels in love with Him. Many times we relate to God in the way that if we just do what's right or if we can just be good - then we'll be fine with Him. That's not really what God's looking for in us. He doesn't want us to just do the right things - He wants us to love Him in such a way that it changes our lives. Many of us know what it looks like to be in love - foolishly in love with another person! When you're in love, it changes everything, doesn't it!? Why doesn't it work the same way in our relationship with God?! Our love for him should change EVERYTHING! If we love him, we obey... period.
#3-
I can read all the books I want, attend all the conferences I want, hear sermons upon sermons - and ask myself "What do I need to change? How can I serve God better, love God more, live my life for Him and Him alone?" Chan says that "asking and reflecting points us in the right direction, but we have to get beyond just asking the right questions." We often have those "aha!" moments - you know.. where the light bulb goes on and suddenly you get it! We know what we need to do - but rarely do we ever act on those moments. Most of the time, our talk does not match our lives - we live and plan like God doesn't exist - and trying harder just doesn't work!
But did you know that we were not created for this earth? We weren't! I've struggled with this lately - maybe struggle isn't the right word... - but I've thought about it a lot. That one day, I will cease to exist. It's hard for me to wrap my brain around that too... sometimes I feel like all the people that are in my life will always be there - they will always exist, but that's not true either. Every person has a beginning and every person has an end. My mother will not always be here. My dad, my brothers, my HUSBAND, my BEST FRIEND - these people will die one day - as will I. This is what occured to me: If we were created for this earth... then why do we die? If we were meant to live life on earth - would we not always be here?! We were never intended to spend our forever here... so why do we live like we will always exist?! Because the truth is - we wont!
So that's it - except for one thing. Francis Chan told a story in his book about three guys in Turkey that were being persecuted and tortured in every way imaginable. He said he could just imagine their faces as they looked at each other and said, "Just hold on a little longer, Don't deny him. It'll all be worth it."
So to you (and me) I say: "Just hold on a little longer. Don't deny Him. It'll all be worth it."
(Do we really believe that?)
#1 -
This statement is such simple truth, but it floors me when I think of the depth of it - God knew exactly what he was creating when He made me. Think about that for a second. When God made me (and you) He KNEW what he was doing! He knew all about my character, my qualities, my strengths, weaknesses... he knew! God was well aware of the person He was constructing when he knit me together. I come as no surprise to Him. God is a creator and not a duplicator... there is no other Ashley Alexander on this planet. By name, maybe... but there is no other person in this whole world like me. NO ONE that possesses the EXACT same character and qualities and struggles and issues as me. There are some that have similarities and such, but I'm the only me.
#2 -
I suck. God loves me beyond anything I can comprehend. As I read the pages and tried to wrap my brain about the love He has for me... I found my self completely incapable of doing so. I understand who He is and what He has done for me - but I don't even remotely understand! I'm sure that makes sense to some of you. I try to get it... but I cant. Because of God's great love for me - I should be so completely head over heels in love with Him. Many times we relate to God in the way that if we just do what's right or if we can just be good - then we'll be fine with Him. That's not really what God's looking for in us. He doesn't want us to just do the right things - He wants us to love Him in such a way that it changes our lives. Many of us know what it looks like to be in love - foolishly in love with another person! When you're in love, it changes everything, doesn't it!? Why doesn't it work the same way in our relationship with God?! Our love for him should change EVERYTHING! If we love him, we obey... period.
#3-
I can read all the books I want, attend all the conferences I want, hear sermons upon sermons - and ask myself "What do I need to change? How can I serve God better, love God more, live my life for Him and Him alone?" Chan says that "asking and reflecting points us in the right direction, but we have to get beyond just asking the right questions." We often have those "aha!" moments - you know.. where the light bulb goes on and suddenly you get it! We know what we need to do - but rarely do we ever act on those moments. Most of the time, our talk does not match our lives - we live and plan like God doesn't exist - and trying harder just doesn't work!
But did you know that we were not created for this earth? We weren't! I've struggled with this lately - maybe struggle isn't the right word... - but I've thought about it a lot. That one day, I will cease to exist. It's hard for me to wrap my brain around that too... sometimes I feel like all the people that are in my life will always be there - they will always exist, but that's not true either. Every person has a beginning and every person has an end. My mother will not always be here. My dad, my brothers, my HUSBAND, my BEST FRIEND - these people will die one day - as will I. This is what occured to me: If we were created for this earth... then why do we die? If we were meant to live life on earth - would we not always be here?! We were never intended to spend our forever here... so why do we live like we will always exist?! Because the truth is - we wont!
So that's it - except for one thing. Francis Chan told a story in his book about three guys in Turkey that were being persecuted and tortured in every way imaginable. He said he could just imagine their faces as they looked at each other and said, "Just hold on a little longer, Don't deny him. It'll all be worth it."
So to you (and me) I say: "Just hold on a little longer. Don't deny Him. It'll all be worth it."
(Do we really believe that?)
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