A few weeks ago I was driving to meet up with a friend for coffee. (Now there's a shocker, right?) It was a rare and therefore especially appreciated kid-less excursion, which meant the music was Momma's choice. But more importantly, it could be as loud as I wanted. Now, I'm acutely aware of the fact that I likely was creating some funny moments for those sitting next to me at a stoplight, being that I'm usually perceived as a soccer mom through and through, Dodge Caravan and all. And let's face it, when you can hear the ever so pathetic attempt at bass coming through a minivan stereo...well, it's hilarious. Especially when the soccer mom is clearly jamming, oblivious to all the laughter and fingers pointed in her general direction. But it really didn't matter to me. Not this particular morning.
I was in the zone.
I was kid-less, excited about coffee, had the stereo turned up embarrassingly loud and found myself hitting the backward arrow over and over and over. The entire drive was filled with one song. Which is not normal for me. So that right there tells you something. I'm not sure what exactly, but it tells ya something.
I've always been astonished at the existence of Christ's love for us. It's been in the last year and a half that I think I've started to scratch the surface of understanding how thorough it is, though. How perfect. How complete. How deep.
At times it's a tough love. At times it's comforting. It is forgiving, yet just. It is exceedingly abundantly more than we deserve, yet given so freely. It is perfect and true and unconditional.
It shows up in ways we sometimes don't expect it. Communicated in a manner that is as unique as the people whom are being communicated to. Scripture that hits us "just right" on a certain day. Words that a friend speaks to us that appear to actually be more from the mouth of God than anyone else. Tangible blessings. A song. A note. And yes, even the allowance of hard time in our lives. For it is God's love that uses those times to stretch and teach and change. Love that isn't ever going to let us remain comfortable in settling for less than the best God has for us.
What struck me as I listened to this song over and over, though, is that all of those forms of love...the various characteristics displayed and communication tools used...they all trickle down from one idea. The idea that God sacrificed His Son. Jesus sacrificed His own life. And we must never, ever take that for granted.
It's a pretty big deal.
So when God chooses to show me His love through a friendship or a good conversation. Through someone that has chosen to not just accept me, but celebrate me. Through the gift of someone's time or resources or encouragement. Through people that honor, defend and respect me and my children. Through the effort God takes to show me exactly what I need to see or hear or sense any given day to understand His love on a deeper level. When He chooses to peel back another layer, allowing me a fresh glance of His love for me, it should absolutely rock my world.
Even now, I can't listen to this song without having to wipe away a tear or two from my eyes. For "big picture" reasons and "little picture" reasons, obvious ones and ones filled with a bit of mystery...it is a song that will forever bring a rather large smile to my face when I listen to it. On that kid-less day as I drove towards a cup of coffee...the impact of these words was far greater than ever before.
It's hard to put into words the epiphany I had. And I obviously realized that it's just a song, just words penned by another imperfect human being and just a simple drive towards a cup of coffee and a pretty stellar conversation. But...I also realized that Love was here. Now. Flowing from His blood of sacrifice. Manifesting itself in provision, comfort, hope, satisfaction and answered prayers. And it caused me to have to fix my eye make-up more than once before I walked into that Starbucks...since we wouldn't want anyone to know that I'm human and sometimes shed a tear or two.
Be that as it may, this song will forever hold a precious spot in my heart. Not because it taught me that God loves me. Not even because it reminded me that God loves me. But because it, well, it did more than just that. It reminded me that He remembers me. He adores and cherishes and treasures me.
You may think it's just a cool song that I've more than likely already blogged about with a completely unrealistic rooftop-themed music video. That's totally fine with me.
I hope that it's so much more, though. I hope that whether it's for a "big picture" reason or a "little picture" reason, it's one of those perfectly designed moments in your own journey that will give you a landmark to look back on as it did me, regardless of how many times we've heard the song.
Tenth Avenue North.
Love is Here.
Come to the waters, you who thirst and you'll thirst no more
Come to the father, you who work and you'll work no more
And all you who labor in vain and to the broken and shamed
Love is here, love is now
Love is pouring from His hands, from his brows
Love is near, it satisfies
Streams of mercy flowing from his side
'Cause love is here
Come to the treasure, you who search and you'll search no more
And all you who labor in vain and to the broken and shamed, yeah
And to the bruised and fallen
Captives, bound, and broken-hearted
He is the lord, He is the lord, yeah
By his stripes he's paid our ransom
From his wounds we drink salvation
He is the Lord, He is the Lord
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