We have a silly, but sweet, little game we like to play in my house.
It’s called The Love War.
You may be familiar with the first part of it – your child tells you they love you, you tell them you love them more. In my house we keep it going to “I love you the most!” “I love you the MOSTEST!” “I love you with all my heart!”
But that’s not where it stops. Oh, no! My sweet, ever competitive middle child, Hannah, loves to go even further. After I have told her I love her with all my heart, she responds with “I love you never-ending never-ending never-ending never-ending plus a million plus never-ending….”
You get the idea. Sometimes she goes on like this for a full minute! And then I tell her she wins.
(I’m lying, though. I still love her more!)
The other day after my son Ethan “won” a love war with me, God nudged me and whispered to my heart, “I love YOU never-ending.”
I can’t even begin to describe to you how that made me feel.
I can profess my love for Jesus non-stop. I can do things that show my love for him all day. I can declare that I truly love God with all my heart.
But He still loves me more.
He loves me so much, He gave up His Son for me.
His love for me will never end. Ever. Even when I mess up. Even when I take control in my life of things I shouldn’t be in control of. Even when I ignore His whisperings in my heart.
He still loves me more.
When I watch my daughters and son tell me they love me a gazillion times more than I love them, their eyes sparkle, they giggle, and their faces are filled with joy. They truly believe that they love me the most.
I imagine God’s face is much like theirs when He tells me He loves me more.
And you know what?
He feels exactly the same way about you.
He loves you more. In fact, He loves you never-ending never-ending never-ending never-ending.
I love Psalm 136, because each verse states His love for us over and over again. To get the full impact, read the entire Psalm. Here’s a teaser for you as we get ready for Thanksgiving:
ABOUT ANDREA MITCHELL
Andrea is a wife, mom, and self-proclaimed coffee addict in constant search of just the right mug for her brew. She pretends to scrapbook, loves to read, and thinks housework is overrated. An...
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Andrea. This is possibly my most favorite post written by you…ever. Beautiful. A reminder I know I need often. He loves Me.
You are wonderful Lovely.
He keeps giving me unlimited do-overs, fresh mercies new every morning!
Andrea, what a beautiful illustration you have “painted” with your words. I love this and I love our Giver of All Good Things for never giving up on us!
What a blessing to read this THIS morning, the morning I really needed those words. Thank you.
What a great reminder. God’s love never ceases to AMAZE me.
This was beautifully written.
When you wrote this line:
“I can declare that I truly love God with all my heart.
But He still loves me more.
He loves me so much, He gave up His Son for me.”
I actually got chills. So true, and so hard to grasp.
Thank you.
XO*Tricia
THANK YOU for this beautifully illustrated truth. God has been going over and over this point with me lately-How much he loves me.
THANK YOU! :)
Sunrises and sunsets, chirping birds, laughing children. All of these God created. And then I remember – the One who created all this, loves me? Imperfect, insignificant me? THAT is when I’m most wrapped in His arms.
This totally reminds me of the children’s book “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney. I love it!
I got chills when you said you said God nudged you and whispered to your heart that he loves you never-ending. Thank you for this simple story and strong reminder.
Will you please Pray for Sarah
That was one of our favourites to read to the kids when they were babies – Id forgotten about that one!
Andrea Under Grace Over Coffee
I can’t tell you how much this meant to me today. Thank you.
Ohhhh… That was a good thing for me to read today. In all honesty, the last few days I’ve been feeling more like God is a big meanie than a loving Father. Thanks for a really wonderful reminder!
http://excerpts-kristin.blogspot.com/
Oh An, I love this. I needed to be reminded of this today. :)
So precious Andrea!!
Andrew, thank you so much for sharing this!
It was good to hear that today. Good and rich and warm. Like a deep dark cup of hot chocolate covered in whipped cream and sprinkles. I felt He loves me that much reading this. Thank you.
Oh, Andrea. I love those moments. When He reveals Himself to me like that, I know He does love me. Recently, I was singing a hymn in the car, and clear as day He told me it was the most beautiful thing He had ever heard…I assure it was not the same experience for me. He loves me with a Father’s heart.