He loves you...

For many years, I lived with the head knowledge of Jesus dying for me but not a heart knowledge.  I grew up in a Christian home and my parents read me my children's Bible, so I knew the story of Jesus well.  And at the age of 15 years, I gave my heart to the Lord but still only had this head knowledge of Him dying for me.

I grew up, got married, had kids, read my Bible more out of obligation and very rarely went to church.  Then one day my daughter got sick.  Not just a cold, but very very sick and no medicine helped her or made her better.  One morning while driving in my car, I cried out to God - I was so desperate.  "Father" I said, "please give her illness to me, I will be the sick one, I will carry this for her, just heal her and give her her life back...".  "No Nadine" He answered me softly, "You can't carry this for her.  But Jesus can and Jesus did".  Suddenly I had a picture of Jesus standing in heaven more than 2000 years ago, asking God:  "Father, please give their sin to me.  I will carry it for them."  In that moment, I finally understood the kind of love Jesus went to the cross to.  A love that is so unconditional that it will lay its life down for you.  Even bigger than the love a parent has for their children.  

Two thousand years ago, a man who was fully God loved you so much that He said He will take your punishment, He will carry your burden, He will die for you.  And He did it without ever sinning and without ever complaining.  He just did it because that is how much He loves you.  He loves you.  He loves you.  He loves you.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Be blessed

Nadine

PS:  Just to give feedback on my daughter, she ended up having brain surgery.  But God healed her and she is now perfectly healthy and happy.