teacher. student. sister. photographer. jumbo. girlfriend. friend. daughter. child of God. 2012.
(via gloriayoo)
every song you love, every memory you cherish, every moment that has moved you to holy tears has been given to you from the One who has been pursuing you from your first breath in order to win your heart. this romancing is immensely personal. it will be as if it has been scripted for your heart. he knows what takes your breath away, knows what makes your heart beat faster.
a few years ago john was on a business trip to oregon. he snuck away for some time alone with God, down to the beach where he walked and prayed and finally sat in the sand to watch the waves upon the sea. then he saw it. a huge plume of water shot up into the sky, and a massive humpback whale appeared right before him, impossibly close to shore. no one else was near. the time of the whale’s annual migration had long passed. john knew immediately that this was a gift from God to his heart alone, a gift from the Lover of his heart.
john told me this story and, as happy as i was for him, i wanted a whale too. i wanted to experience God’s love for me, personally. it wasn’t long after this that john and i were in northern california speaking at a couples’ retreat. i, too, snuck away one morning for some much needed time on the beach with God. i sat on the sand, looked out to the sea, and asked God for a whale. “i know you love john, jesus, but do you love me too? that much? if you do, may i have a whale too?”
after a while, with no whale in sight, i got up off the sand and continued to walk. i rounded a corner and came upon a starfish, a beautiful orange starfish. and i knew at once it was God’s gift to me. he didn’t give me a whale; no, that was for john alone. for me, unique to me, he gave a stunning starfish. he answered my question. yes. he loved me. i thanked him for it, then rounded the next end and came upon a sight i will never forget. there before me, behind me, surrounding me, were hundreds of starfish. zillions of them. there were purple ones and orange ones and blue ones, all sizes. i burst into joyful laughter, my heart exploding inside me. God didn’t just love me. he LOOOOVED me! intimately, personally, completely. He is an extravagant, abundant Lover, and he loves to reveal his heart to us again and again. the amazing starfish were an intimate gift from an intimate God.
jesus, how are you romancing me now?
- John & Stasi Eldredge, Captivating, 116-118
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