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God So
Loved
by Mary Marjorie Bethea (Click here to read
author's testimony)
Introduction
Part One: "For God so
loved..."
Part
Two: "That He gave His only Begotton
Son..."
Part
Three: "That Whoever believes in Him..."
Part Four:
"Should not perish but have eternal life"
Part Five:
"Personal Testimony"
Epilogue: Stained Roses
(Poem)
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever felt alone? Do you feel so awfully alone
that your heart aches with an endurable pain? Do you feel so awfully alone
that your heart aches with an endurable pain? Have you ever looked in the
mirror only to find a face and a figure that are unlike the ones in the
magazines? You see eyes that are weary and a back that is burdened.
Have you ever fell to your knees with
tearful eyes because you have no hope? No hope to go on and to stumble another
step. No hope to see another day. Have you ever have given your whole heart to
any female or male only to have it crushed under their feet?
All of these things hurt. All of
these things cause you to desire not to see another morning. Your heart aches
with pain. It hurts so much that grief is found in your eyes and in your step.
Oh, it hurts so much. You can feel it deep within your heart, that piercing
darkness. Soon the walk becomes a stumble, and the stumble a crawl, and the
crawl a complete fall to your face. You taste the dirt. You cannot lift your
eyes to the sky. You continue to crawl on your arms as you slowly and painfully
ease your way through life.
Then comes the day. Your elbows are
tired and bloody with massive burns from crawling on them. You collapse; not
another millimeter. Your body is worn, torn and abused. This burden has almost
killed you. It has already killed your peace, happiness, joy and compassion. You
only look behind you, to the past. You notice you have climbed up a hill, the
Hill of Calvary. It is the hill whose rugged and twisted path you eased yourself
through. From above you feel a warm drop cleanse your face. What is this drop of
love? You cannot look up. You feel so sinful.
You hear a voice beckon in your ear.
A loving, tender voice, saying, "I love you, please lay your burdens upon me
and receive my peace."
You feel a rush of wind brush
affectionately against your tired and worn face. You slowly look up and see that
you lay under the Cross. In your hands are the bloody nail and the hammer. You
cannot hang on to them anymore. They have become such a burden. You sweaty palms
slowly let go as drops of rain trickle down your face. Drops of water and salt.
You raise your face to the Heavens in hope of getting rid of these dirty rags,
but your weakness invades your soul. You wearily bow your face into the miry
clay. You cannot take it anymore. Your wounded so much you feel as if you are
being torn apart. You can only lie there waiting.
Then you feel as if you are defying
gravity. A rush of wind moves through your body. What strong hands are taking
away the nail and hammer? What burly arms are caressing you in a lovely embrace?
What is this warmth, this peace? What are these cloths of gold? You are no
longer tied to this world but are released to soar with wings like eagles. You
fly above the sea until you plunge into its welcoming waters. You wallow in
peace as you swim in His word. You drink from the saucer because your cup is
overflowing. You fly high up above with Jesus Christ at your side. He loves you
so much that He aches and trembles. He receives you in His gentle arms as you
let the nail and hammer fall from your frail hands onto the ground. They are
forgotten forever. You are ready to receive His undying forgiveness.
I welcome you to read these pages
of love.
PART I
"For God so
loved the world..."
Join Jesus and I as we look at the
first part of this majestic verse. These delightful and savory words say,
"For God so loved the world..."
Do you crave deep inside to be loved?
Do you wander to and fro on this earth searching and looking for love? You look
for love to find someone to replace the hurt and wounds within your heart. Do
you wish for that perfect someone to adore your eyes, your hair, your figure and
your whole being? There is someone that already does-- and has for quite some
time. He wants to enlighten you. In fact, He is so in love with you that it
drives Him mad. He thinks about you every millisecond of the day. He yearns to
be near you. He wants to know your hurts and your experiences. He wants to take
the pain away and give you His very best. He desires to talk to you and wants to
be married to you forever.
You may be wondering, "What is His
name? Who is this perfect gentleman?" His name is Jesus Christ. He Himself
resembles love. This innocent and pure love was taken to the Cross-to be pierced
with our hurts, anger, hatred, jealousy, strife and sin. Why did He do this? How
could this happen?
He did this because He loves you so
much that even words cannot not express how "wide, long, high and
deep..."(Ephesians 3:18) His love is for you. He is the Lover of your Soul. He
is in love with your eyes. He is in love with your appearance. He is in love
with everything about you. He believes that you are a beautiful masterpiece that
His Father created with His own Hands. Can you not see the fingerprints of God
that lay upon you? God has gently and tenderly mended and knitted you together.
He has crafted your earthly vessel to be what He desires you to be. He has
planned your existence before the creation of time. You are beautiful and there
is no one else that will be like you. Can you not see all the love that swells
up in Jesus for you?
Jesus yearns for you to accept His
love. He is next to you right now as you read this weak attempt to describe His
love. He desires to put His arms around you. Lean back against His warm arms and
allow them to change you, to give you a love and peace that no other man or
woman can give. All you do is accept and believe in Him. Believe that He can
fill your heart and be there for you in your time of need. He can do so
immeasurably more! He will fill that lonely void and erase the darkness and
depression. No person, thing or any else in or outside of this world can
separate you from this unwavering love, " For I am convinced that
neither life nor death, neither angels or demons, nor the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in else in all
creation, will be able to set us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
PRAISE GOD! Let us give thanks to the
Son who gave up His life that you may know this love. He is your true love and
the first love of your life. His love never abandons, but only fills your groans
with laughter. This leads us to the second part of the beautiful verse of John
3:16.
Let us continue with Jesus Christ at
our side.
PART II
"...That He
gave His Only Begotten Son..."
The yell of a pounding hammer is
carried throughout the earth, heaven and hell. There is a shriek of pain.
BANG! A moan. Who is this man who slaughtered upon a tree? Who is this
man that is condemned and yet does not rebuke? Who is this pure and steadfast
love that you nailed to present as a sweet and fragrant offering to God?
BANG! You hear the complete stillness as the Cross-rises up against
the hot afternoon sun.
How striking is this Man of Sorrows!
How beautiful is this love that is here before you on the Cross! This
unconditional love! How beautiful are these wounds that are life. These are
wounds that overflow upon your own broken body to mend a broken heart. It is
before your eyes, yet you do not see. This glorious sacrifice blinds you with
His light and truth. A complete darkness envelops the sky. As the earth quakes a
soldier's fearful voice proclaims, "Surely this was a righteous man!"
The darkness envelops the whole heavens until it reaches the deepest corners of
your soul. There is another low moan.
"Please Father!"
The Father turns away from His cries.
He trembles in pain as He turns His head. He must not look. He yearns to reach
out and carry His Son's marred body in His warm arms to the Heavens. He yearns
to comfort and heal Him with His Almighty love. He cannot. He has to turn away
so that you may not be convicted guilty and that you may escape the penalty of
death. You too turn your back. You head little by little down the Hill as you
hear a whisper from the lips of love proclaiming, "Please Father, forgive
them, they do not understand. Into your Mighty Hands I commit my spirit."
Death finally dies. You continue to wander down the Hill with your back turned.
You continue to amble through life, but the sweet sacrifice lingers in your
mind. You hear a voice whisper tenderly in your ear, "I love you, please lay
your burdens upon me and receive my peace." You see the picture of an
unbroken Lamb, whose blood is without blemish. You pretend to not have seen
anything that was above the supernatural. You cannot shove the glorious picture
out of your mind, "...That He gave His only Begotten Son..."
Are your eyes blind that you cannot
see of what a majestic gift you are given? Please kneel before the Cross and
unwrap its beauty. How beautiful is His gift! Jesus is reaching out to you with
beckoning and welcome arms. He wants to gather you in His arms and carry you
close to His heart. Lean your head against His breast. Can you not hear His
heart beating with love for you? Jesus' love is your shelter, your sweet peace.
Unhook the binds on your heart that He may spread His wings and give you rest
with their shadow. He stands right now on top of the world proclaiming your
name, shouting on the top of His lungs, "I LOVE YOU!" Please accept
this love that was crushed that we may know love and have complete freedom.
You must believe!
PART III
"...That
whoever believes in Him..."
Today, the Jesus Cab Company is
taking you on a trip that takes you out of these mortal walls into your Heavenly
dwelling. You have been invited to a great feast, a wedding feast. You have
received the beautiful invitation many, many years in advance. It asks you to
bring only your heart to surrender, nothing else.
You are amazed how so much is
promised. You need not pamper yourself. Ladies, you do not need to spend many
hours in the powder room! Gents, you do not need to mousse up your hair and
splash on cologne! This is because the Host of Hosts asks you to wear but one
outfit--the blood of Jesus. You are to expect the unexpected. You are to receive
what you do not deserve.
The Cab takes you back to the top of
the Hill. How many times will you stray back down? You enter into His House at
awe of the pearly gates. How beautiful! You enter into His majestic house to
behold the beauty of His nature and grace. How majestic and powerful it is! He
leads you to the dining room. What a feast He has prepared for you! His entire
masterpiece is spread upon the stained wooden table. You drool as you stare at
what He Alone has prepared for you. YUMMY, YUMMY! He has planned so
well in advance!
He needs not expert chefs because he
is the greatest chef! His own hands have beaten the dough and cracked the eggs.
His own feet have squashed the wine grapes. What a beautiful sight it is! How
superb! There is a sound of growling stomachs from among the others that are
invited. Many mouths water, many knees go weak. The Host motions to gather
around The Feast. He must serve the food to His guests. You must begin to
partake of the wine and bread! There is a slight hesitation. Some take a few
steps to The Feast and draw back. Others gather around with mouths open only to
be found speechless. You have been invited to this wonderful feast and what a
privilege it is!!
Will you draw near in hunger and
thirst? Or will you RSVP only to say you are not available?
The Host has called your name and has
invited you to sit right next to Him at His table. He wants to get to know all
about you. He wishes to know your joys; your troubles and your mind. Which
choice will you make? Are you fainting with thirst?
John 3:16 states, "For God so loved
the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him,
should not perish but have eternal life." God loves you so much that words
cannot even explain how wide, long, high and deep the love of God is for you!
That is why He gave His Son on the Cross-for you. He wants you to spend eternity
with Him in Heaven wallowing in His precious love.
God also tells us "All have
sinned and have fallen short of the glory of the Lord" (Romans 3:23). We
are sinners since the first day we were born! Can you not see it in the way our
world works? We kill innocent people. We lie and hate our very own brothers and
sisters! We are filthy sinners. I believe its safe to say that you have
disrespected your parents, told a white lie and been jealous at least once
before in your life. We must admit that we are sinners and only Christ can save
us from this darkness. Without Christ we are sentenced to everlasting death.
Also, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 states, "Now I pass onto you of what I have
received, of which is most important, that Christ died for our sins as the
Scriptures say and He was buried and on the third day rose to life as the
Scriptures say." We must believe this will all our hearts and not just say
it with our tongues. You believe that President Abe existed but this is very
different! You must believe in Jesus with all of your heart! You must
believe that Christ died for you and rose to life on the third day! This alone
shows that God has power over sin and death! Praise God!
God also tells us "Whoever
accepts Him and believes in Him, they will be called children of God"(John
1:12). We are called children of God! He is our Father! He cares for us!
If you are thirsty and are ready to
partake of the Feast, please pray this prayer:
Lord, I want Christ to come into
my heart. I know I am a sinner and I want Christ to reveal Himself to me. Please
forgive me of my sins. He is the reason I live and the reason why I can become
free. I believe in His Name with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Please
come into my heart and fill me with His love. Please start your wonderful
cleansing in my soul. In Christ's name, Amen.
If you have accepted this invitation,
PRAISE GOD! You are now free from sin! Jesus promises freedom in the Truth
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free. If the Son has
therefore set you free then you are free indeed"(John 8:32,36). You are
going to experience the infinite mind of God as you grow. Below, there are six
simple instructions to help you grow in Christ.
Secondly, your name is written in
Heaven "...rejoice that your name is written in Heaven"(Luke 10:20).
You are now a child of God and are a brother or sister to millions of believers
around the world! Welcome to the family! Let's have a party right now! Put on
your dancing shoes and get ready to move! Allowing Jesus to come into your heart
is the best reason to jump up and down in celebration! Praise God!
Here are six
things that will help you grow as a follower of Christ:
1. Pray
2. Go to church (find a church near
by that truthfully preaches the Lord's Word, the Bible)
3. Read the Bible (I recommend
starting at the Book of John)
4. Get baptized in water
5. Tell about Christ to other
people
6. Obey God
PART IV
"...Should
not perish, but have eternal life."
You lift up your useless hands with
the energy that is left within you. You lift up your heart to the Cross--as a
soothing gust moves through your body. You surrender, as love's own wounds
over-pour with blood. Blood sprinkles from hands and feet as they slowly begin
their operation. Blood overflows as they envelop your heart to begin the heart
surgery. Jesus takes your heart and the scalpels. He is ready to cut away
anything that hurts deeply within your heart. Is this loneliness? Is this
depression? Is this despair? You have waited in the waiting room for so
long. Your name has been called. Will you rise? Or will you stay asleep because
you are bored for waiting so long?
He is ready to take the needle and
thread. He is ready to mend your heart with His everlasting love. It is an
everlasting love that will never let your heart break again. It is an
everlasting love that aches when you ache. An everlasting love that draws you
near as it yearns to be near you. Surrender to Him and allow Him to change you!
He is the Great Physician and is ready to reveal His love to you. Surrender all.
Surrender all to Him that He may award you with eternal life. Please receive His
love named Jesus. With Him you will have eternal life. He will give you a life
in which your sufferings will not destroy you. With Him by your side, you can
face anything in life and not be overcome with sorrow.
It is a life in which these fleshly
walls will be destroyed and you will be taken to the Heavens. Receive the
graciously given life in which you will cry no more over a broken heart. The
pain will be taken away. The mortal life will end on the glorious day when you
will be with God and worship Him before His glorious throne. Your eternal life
starts immediately when you accept Jesus into your heart. You have a close,
close friend that will be there for you.
Turn your eyes to the Heavens and see
that the Creator is watching over you with attentive eyes. He is a friend that
listens to you, who listens to your troubles! Please lean upon Him! Forget the
past, as the Father changes you in the deepest parts of your soul. He will take
you broken and wounded heart. It does not matter what condition it is in. It may
be completely dead or it may be so heavily burdened that it is suffocating. He
will take it and give you a complete new one. He will love you. You are
wanted. He loves you. He has loved you.
You have gone astray on the rocky
path and hurt yourself on deadly thorns. Jesus takes these thorns upon His Head.
You no longer need to have them sting your heart. They no longer need to wind
themselves around your heart and squeeze until you just cannot feel or even
breathe. The Father will prune the thorns. He has thrown them upon His Son's
head. You no longer need to suffer. Gently lean your head upon His chest. He
will comfort you. He will stay constant. He will stay near to you so that you
may swim in His peace. He is wise and holy. He is the only one that knows your
very own hearts desires.
Are you drained and tattered? Let the
Lord heed your sighs. He knows you better than anyone else ever could. Place
your burden upon Jesus' back. His yoke is light. He suffered for you. He died
for you. Allow His peace to shatter your fears as He mends your broken heart
with His special Hand. An Almighty Hand that will transform you. He will
transform not only your heart, but also your whole being. He will fill you with
His hope as you wait the day in which you will be with Jesus in His Heavenly
Kingdom. Jesus will lead you to springs of Living Water. If you believe in Him
you will never thirst. If you come to Him you will never hunger. The Feast will
provide. You will go through life with a new joy. He will bestow upon you His
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). You will become more like your ultimate
destiny, Jesus, as you enjoy eternal life.
PART V
Personal Testimony
I walk through school hallways in
which Jesus is rebuked everyday. He is rebuked through curses, crude jokes,
lies, perversion, lust and pride. I walk through school hallways as a student
with the Word of Life written on my heart. It is written on my tongue. I
must proclaim His wonder! I stand for what is right and true. I
must tell others of God's goodness and grace. How I love the Lord and
savor His Word!
Throughout my entire life, no male
has ever been interested in me. No male has looked upon me with attraction and a
gentle love. I have never experienced an equal love with another male on this
earth. I have never been kissed. I have never felt the warmth of someone's arms.
I have never been on a romantic date. I have never heard the sweet words
whisperd in my ear, "I love you." I have never had a male wonder what I was
doing at a certain time. I have never had any male think I am the most beautiful
creature on this earth. I have never had a male who wants to know everything
about me.
With Jesus I have overcome
loneliness. It is still hard to see other lovers flirt with one another! How
hard is it to listen to romantic love songs only to know I do not have anyone to
share them with.
If you have felt that way too,
remember that you are not alone. I fell over a maturing boy only to have my
heart crushed with reality. How hard I fell. How hard my heart was crushed. You
are not alone. I have prayed over and over again for God to fill this
lonely void within my heart. He told me that I must seek Him alone and see Him
as the first love of my life. Everyday, this leaky heart is being repaired. I am
in the operating room right now as He takes His needle and thread and operates.
Everyday I feel more whole and more connected to Him as my first love. He is
interested in me. He looks upon me with attraction and a gentle love. I
experience His love everyday. His tender Spirit kisses me. I feel the warmth of
His arms every second of the day. I go on a romantic date whenever I open His
Word. I hear the sweet words whispered in my ear, "I love you." Jesus
thinks about me all day. He thinks I am most beautiful creature on this earth.
He wants to know everything about me. Each morning He continually fills this
lonely void in my heart with His presence. This heart of mine overflows.
He is the answer. He is love. He will
remove your loneliness, grief, despair, sadness and darkness within you.
Let Him.
Epilogue
The following is a poem that God Most
High graciously gave me through a time of renewal and seeking Him alone. A time
of surrender, a time of giving up.
Stained
Roses
These many sweet
morsels I gladly savor as they slowly dissolve
To overflow a dry cup with
over-pouring milk
My own dry mouth faints deeply within a cement
soul
Crying in a dead thirst to be mended by tender hands
A soul leaps as
a rush of peace yearns to be closer
To your pounding breast madly in love
with my ugly rags
Beating louder to intrude into a closed door that will not
surrender
The rusty key closed in these sweaty palms
Cling tightly to
nothing
As I wander to and fro behind the door
Your Feather protects this
hurt and broken vessel
The shadow of this tree covers my clay with the finest
gold
A yearning desire to an eternal hurt soul stumbling
Caught, I feel
You gather my hurt body in your warm arms
A bloody tear trickles down my
cheek as it covers and operates
As I slowly unlock the door that screams
loudly in its hinges
To free these raw and red fingers that grasp the bloody
nail and hammer
Only to crush with the eyes that blankly stares at the
blameless death
I am before You on that hill, that moon-less night
Ready
to feel the Son pierce these lonely, cold walls
Ready to receive
forgiveness
"Now to Him who is able to keep
you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and forevermore" (Jude 24-25)
Mary Marjorie
welcomes your comments and correspondance. Please contact her at Bethea16@aol.com. | 
