When I was pregnant, I wondered who Lydia would be. Now when I think of my little girl, I imagine her bright blue eyes and shy smile. I realize all-the-same that I love her so deeply not because of what she’s done, but because of who she is. She’s my daughter.

Many days I look at Lydia and think about what it means to be a child of God. Now that I am a parent, I think about what it’s like for God to be like our Father. I wonder how He must love running to comfort us or hold us when we are upset, and how He must love meeting every one of our needs!

Lydia is growing, and at almost three-and-a-half months old, she seems to be hitting new milestones every few days. From rolling over to laughing to reaching for toys, I am in awe of this little one. As she’s becoming interested in what’s around her and gaining head control, I’ve noticed that she’s started turning outward while I hold her so that she can face the world. Lydia is learning that she has the choice and the control over where she looks and where she moves.

As Lydia has gotten older, she often prefers to look out at the world. Yet there are certain moments in the day, especially if she’s tired or not feeling well, when she will choose to curl up and bury her face into my chest. My entire heart melts as I embrace her, rock her, and hold her close. As a newborn, that’s all she really knew how to do. But now, there is something even sweeter about her choosing to turn in to me when I know that she has the choice to turn away.

And with this I’m learning how much God must love it when we choose Him in our day-to-day moments.

We have the ability and the freedom, not just to turn away, but to walk away.
Yet when we choose
to turn in
to rest in the arms of our Father,
He delights in us.

L O V E . I S .

We all have choices to make. God loves us so deeply that He gives us a choice to love Him back, yet He is longing for us to choose Him. And it’s not just the one time we accept Jesus as Lord that we choose to follow Him. It’s all the little moments that we turn into His arms, every day, that He loves.

Often in marriage, I have found that love is not simply a feeling, but more-so a choice. After nine years with my husband, five of those married, some days choosing to love would not be the most convenient, natural, or the easiest option.

Yet I choose him.
I choose to trust him even when it’s easier to be angry.
I choose to ask for his forgiveness even when it’s easier to be defensive.
I choose to listen to him even when I have other things I could be doing.
I choose to love him even when I have momentary doubts or fears.

Often in my relationship with God, I have found that love is not simply a feeling, but more-so a choice. Even after ten years of following the Lord, some days choosing to trust Him would not be the most convenient, natural, or the easiest option.

Yet I choose Him.
I choose to trust Him even when it’s easier to be angry.
I choose to ask for His forgiveness even when it’s easier to be defensive.
I choose to listen to Him even when I have other things I could be doing.
I choose to love Him even when I have momentary doubts or fears.

B E L O V E D .

God chose us. He chose to send His Son to die on a Cross as the penalty for our sins, so that we could justly receive the forgiveness of our sins and be placed in right standing with God. Because of His choice, we now have the privilege of experiencing fullness of life in a personal relationship with Him.

And
in case you’re doubting today,
God chose you
and
you are never too far gone
to choose
to run back
into the arms of Your Father.

Just as Kevin and I love Lydia not because of what she’s done, but because of who she is, God loves you not because of what you’ve done, but because of who you are. We are His beloved children, and He is longing for us to choose Him.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him… ‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’” (Luke 15:11-24)