Thursday, 31 January 2008

In Love with You

Last Sunday, I was feeling just so 'nuah' after a week of house arrest. Though I had enough sleep the entire week, I just couldn't get myself in time for church and it was the 5pm service. Talk about sloth.

Nonetheless, I managed to get there just as worship was ending and (gasp!) I realised I had missed out on Bob Fitts' leading worship. I do not idolise him but I cannot deny that he is my all-time favourite worship leader. No! It is not because of his good looks. But yes, he is good looking. Rather, there is always this wonderfully sweet anointing on him each time he sings and speaks that makes me feel so drenched with the goodness of God. Through his songs, my faith and confidence in a God who is Big, Strong and For Me is renewed. And there is this quiet, stillness I sense in him that invites me to gaze upon the beauty of Jesus again.

Tears just began welling up the minute I heard him sing. But those tears were not those of despair nor misery. I can't quite begin to describe them fully except to say that I was enraptured by the beauty and purity and kindness of God. Wendy later said that it was good for me to be reminded of God's love for me. But I don't think it was a reminder at all. I think it was a fresh revelation.

I mean I have always believed that God loves me. Jesus loves me. These words "I love you" from God I believed. But hearing these words from God , "I am IN love with you" made me stop.
God is IN love with me? Why? Why would God be in love with me? Perhaps there is no distinction between the phrases 'I love you' and 'I am in love with you'. But on Sunday, there was. They made me wonder, 'God - the creator of the entire universe and all things beautiful - is in love with me. What does He love about me?'

It reminded me so much of how it is like between Roy and I. Even though we have had years of friendship and courtship between us, I often like to ask him the same question 'What do you love about me?' And his answer would often infuriate me - "I love you because you are you." "What do you mean?" I would cry. I could not accept that he could just love me for NO reason except that I was who I am. "What was it about me that you love? Surely there must something specific you can name that you love about me?" I would badger on hoping to find an answer. On hindsight, I felt I needed him to give me specifics about what I did or my personality or my character before I could believe he really loves me and that he is not in love with his ideal of me. However, pure love is not conditional and not determined a person's behaviour. Thank God!

With God, I realise that His love for me is unconditional and is not based on what I am capable of or my track record. He just loves me because I was His idea. He just loves me. It is a fact that still blows me away, and I can't say I have fully grasped it. And I know that is why He has blessed me with such a wonderful friend, confidant and companion in Roy. Through Roy, I have been catching glimpses of what unconditional love means. Thank you honey for teaching me how to love, how to trust and how to have faith. Thank for loving me with the 'agapou' love.

And as I end off, I would like to leave you with the song from Bob Fitts' new album, restore. This is the song that made me stop and ponder , 'God, are you sure you are in love with me? Why?'. I pray that as you read this lyrics, you will allow yourself to be told by God again just how much He loves you.

In Love With You

Spirit whisper sweetly now
I hear You in this quiet hour
Humbled by Your tender power
You embrace me

Constant as the morning breaks
Endless never-changing grace
Words that sin cannot erase
You say them still

I am in love with you
I am in love with you

How Your tender heart must break
When perfect love is turned away
But words of mercy never fade
I forgive you


Restoring love that never ends
A brand new day just now begins
Reaching for my long best friend
You embrace me
I am in love with you
I am in love with you



Your precious Son
His perfect blood
This costly way
He died to save
He rose to say
I am in love with you
I am in love with you

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