Love Letter One...Genesis

When someone writes from God's perspective, it opens up a lot in me~especially conversation with Him.  Sometimes I smile because I have wondered the same thing or even had a very similar thought. 

As I read how Dr. Crabb has written this book, I have had a lot of smiles and I am only at the beginning! Here are two quotes from Love Letter One...

"But I had a plan, I always do. I chose Abraham, just one ordinary, God-dishonoring man, to begin a whole new civilization...of course Abraham failed, like everyone, like you. That's why I told you not to fear failure. If you do, you'll live for success you can never achieve."

"And then it comes to Jacob. He was self-centered, manipulative, insecure mess from day one. Oh, he was resourceful, clever, and full of ambition, the kind of man who would have made it big in your world. But those talents were not what it takes to make it big in My story. So I went to work on him. I revealed myself seven times to Jacob to let him know he needed Me if his life was amount to anything. He's a good picture of how I change people, slowly, through problems in their lives and failures on their part and an infinite amount of patience and grace on My part."

"Read the story of Jacob and take heart: I can transform anyone into the likeness of My Son. But the process is never easy or short. It took nearly 150 years filled with terrible family problems to change Jacob into Israel, into a man who learned to trust me in the struggles of life."

When I read about these two examples, these thoughts come to mind...

• Yes, growth and transformation come through painful circumstances...

• I do not need to fear failure...

• I have hope about how long it might take this ordinary person to be transformed...and it's ok if it's a lifetime...

• It reminds me of God's great patience, His grace, His mercy, His tremendous love....

• He has a plan and a story~I want to live into it...

At the end of this first chapter, Dr. Crabb asks a lot of questions (to God) that are still very unclear to him about Genesis.  He ends with saying, "You told me to be honest. God I am not really all that warmed by Your first love letter...I think I need to read more. Thanks for listening." 

And then he writes a response from God that I would agree totally with, "I always listen. And I'll never turn away from you. Yes, keep reading."

...walking into today with a grateful heart for soooo much~what about you???