I’ve lost two of the three December pounds that seemed stuck to my butt. I’m thrilled! I don’t know when I’ll arrive at the “goal weight” but what I do know, is that with God, I WILL get there!
I’ve deducted that I know few things in my 35 years on this planet. This fact continues to be confirmed the longer I live.
The one I’ve become most familiar with this past year, is God’s love. That’s a rather sad statement as I willfully gave the Lord my heart 17 years ago! I knew in my head He loved me, but only until recently has that dropped down to my heart and the only way I can describe it now, is that I’m…intoxicated.
Intoxication:
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1.
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inebriation; drunkenness
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2.
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an act or instance of
intoxicating. |
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3.
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overpowering exhilaration or
excitement of the mind or emotions.(1) |
Sure, to the obvious correlation – alcohol, I’m no stranger. While intoxicated, I’ve been busted by the college campus police. I remember another drunk night that the local police chased my buddies and me through the woods. No, they didn’t catch us, but that’s not the point. Only now do I see the irony, that I became a cop years later. I had an understanding of some people that I interrogated that my “cleaner” peers had no insight. I don’t write this to sound funny or nostalgic about the “old days” – only mentioned because I am now certain that God still loved me then and held my heart close to His.
And each and every time I’m tempted to get righteous, just filled up with my special holy self (gag!) at all the “sinners” I’m surrounded by, I feel my spirit cringe, and remember many, some times blurred by alcohol and other times smothered in thick denial, in one way or another…that was me too. Each and every one of those “past days” God loved me. Disappointed, sure. Loved? Absolutely!
I can’t count the times I’ve thought, “God, why didn’t you quit on me? WHY?”
One word.
There’s no adjective capable of fully capturing this love.
I was gifted Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers by my friend, Joann. I was both intimidated by the Bible-like thickness and excited as Rivers is one of my dear friend Jen’s heroes. Eagerly, I dug in.
This book is a love fest! As I dug into Redeeming Love , I felt my heart ping ponging. It is based on the Biblical book, Hosea. While I read Mrs. Rivers’ “fictional” account, I decided to read Hosea in my private time.
There in the introduction, in Eugene Peterson’s understanding of God’s words, The Message translation,
“God loves us in just this way – goes after us at our worst, keeps after us until he gets us and
makes lovers of men and women who knows nothing of real love.”
Then in the second chapter of Hosea, I saw what God did for me, not once, but repetitively continues to do for me (you too!).
To Start All Over Again
He turns HEARTBREAK INTO HOPE! He builds up! Not just in this eating addiction recovery, but in my love affair with the world, marriage, broken relationships, pride, finances and in my relationship to Him.
Know what this Heartbreak into Hope transformation is sponsored by, the source? LOVE. His love. His redeeming love!
God is love. He is a noun and a very active verb.
God’s love continues to buckle my knee in humility
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17b-19 (New International Version)
Alright, so I don’t know a lot – but what I do know now, is that when I choose Love, God…I don’t get hungover, I get a clearer mind, calmer spirit, less pooch and more joy. When I’m filled with His love, I get kinda giddy! And all I have left to say is,
Are you filled to the measure of the fullness of God…are you intoxicated by His love? Do you know and believe that He desperately loves you? Or, are there other “things” (distractions) that you’re choosing to be intoxicated by? Hey, I’m not judging you – I’ve been intoxicated by Boones, brews, cool job titles, world statuses, and buffet lines. I’ve nearly passed out while in a European chocolate aisle section and buffet lines by the calorie-filled choices…ahhh, the choices! But today I know what I truly want to be intoxicated with! Do you?
I1) Intoxication. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intoxication (accessed: January 13, 2009).
