The Reckless Love Of God

Tonight at Venue Church Hayden, CO we sang one of my favorite current songs by Cory Asbury. Cory is a very gifted songwriter and singer. He brings me right into the presence of God by the instrumentals and then the lyrics of everything he sings. He wrote Reckless Love in late 2017.

Many people have criticized Cory for using the word “reckless” as a description of God’s Love. The same criticism occurred when John Mark McMillan wrote in 2010’s How He Loves Me lyrics using these words to describe God’s Love. “…So heaven meets earth with a sloppy wet kiss…” Get over it folks! Please take the time to realize that God’s Love extends further than what our puny religiosity can ever reveal.

Both song writers have encountered God’s Love in profound ways. They had to share their stories with the rest of us. What a blessing it is for us to be able to fall in love with God’s Love through the following songs of worship.

“How He Loves”
by John Mark McMillan

We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
when I think about the way

He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves
Yeah He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves

By Cory Asbury

Both of these songs have changed my life. There are plenty more that have touched those places in my heart and mind that were locked away because of pain, shame, fear and hurt. Today I am focusing on God’s Love. It is my choice to share this part of me with you today.

“Sloppy wet kiss” is exactly what I describe as my Mom’s kisses. They have always been what I expect when I kiss her. Mom left CO today. She returned via United Airlines and my brother, Terry who picked her up at LAX to drive her home early this evening. Mom’s precious doggie met her with kisses but not the kind I know Mom freely gives to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren…The “sloppy” kind! Mom is lost in her love for each of us. She has given us the best years of our lives with her parenting, kindness, faith and prayers. I celebrate you today and every day Mom! I love you so much and I already miss your sweet, “sloppy wet kiss”es too.

“Reckless love” is what I am grateful for when Dad and Mom left everything (except us) in Illinois for absolutely nothing in California. They journeyed across the country with their four kids with no job prospects. Their recklessness was solely motivated by their commitment to find residence in a better environment for baby Chris and Suzi. What kind of stupid is that? Or was it divine guidance? Dad and Mom risked everything for their family. And I know that they had no regrets. They were reckless in thinking that a job would be found. They were reckless in trusting that God would direct them to the right city to live in. They were completely reckless in believing that God would provide a  church that they would become life-long member of. Their reckless love is what has made their family strong, brave, courageous, humble and faith-driven. Thank you Dad and Mom for being the shining lights to each of your seven children and all of your grands and great grands. Thank you for your “reckless love.”

This evening’s dive was great. I am adapting to the new two-hour per day regime I committed to many months ago. I did my research. I interviewed my prescribing doctor. I discussed my plan with D. Then I purchased the chamber. It took about a month for every box to arrive. Then we assembled the chamber and all of the extras. Finally I was ready to step inside and experience my first dive. I have been coming into this mHBOT chamber for a month now. I average six dives a week. My ears are doing very well adjusting. I am getting used to the stuffiness inside. It’s not too difficult to acclimate. I am noticing positive changes every day. Two dramatic changes are a great joy. 1) My headaches are no longer constant and 2) I am sleeping much better.

I am also happy to report that the bruises I get from those things that get in my way or jump out at me …like the walls, doors, kitchen cabinets, closet hangers and any other environmental annoyances are healing much quicker. (Yeah, I know, I have not mastered walking straight or becoming tipless all due to my vestibular issues.) I am sure that the quick healing of the bruises is because of the oxygen that I receive from the concentrator just outside the zippers that secure me inside of the chamber. I still can not do my dives alone because the inside zipper will not open from the top and I have no way to get a good seal from the bottom. We will figure it out. D was impressed with my efforts this evening while I tried again and again to secure my dive all by myself.

Well, tonight was excellent. All systems “Go.” We are at full power. And the dives are simply wonderful.

Remember that God’s Love is “Reckless” and His Love is “Sloppy” too. He loves you so.

Suz