Late Night Wonderings

It is ok to wonder about things. Just like its ok to dream and hope. God made us with the capacity for more. So, dream, wonder, ask questions, hope. Here's where I am going with that. In my late night wonderings, 3:23 am to be exact, I was wondering - Does God need us? I t's an interesting thought. Of course, He is God and He is complete. He doesn't "need" anything but does he long for us? I can go about my life from day to day without my kids and friends and family...but. I need those I love in the sense my heart longs to be with them.

I'm thinking of the story of the prodigal son, the father in particular. He owned everything, he had another son and life was pretty complete. But he was missing his son who was not there. He waited for him. He was looking for him. He was ready to greet him. I think he planned and was thinking - when, not if, he comes home, we will celebrate, big time.

I go about my days doing the things I need to do. But if one of my kids calls, stop the presses. Everything takes a back seat to time with them. If you have little ones at home, you may not have these feelings. Thats ok. But that day they drive off to college, or move away, if you're like me, you're thinking about the next time you will see them.

So back to my wondering...does God, my Heavenly Father miss me like that? Does he need me in the sense that he longs for me as a parent misses a child or a child misses a parent? Does he wait for me when I get distracted? Does he have hopes and dreams for me?

The Bible suggests that the answer is yes. Yes, God waits for us. Yes, God has plans for us. Good ones.

The Bible is not a rule book. It is a wondrous thing that reveals God to us. Its there so we can get to know Him. We have in past times treated the Bible like an insurance policy. Doing all the things to secure eternal life. I don't know about you, but Insurance policies make for a pretty boring read. But go to your mailbox and find a letter from someone you love dearly. Now that's something you will tear into and read every line, because they are talking to you personally.

So let me wonder in my thinking. When I read the Bible, I am reading a letter to me and for me. Some of it is informational, some of it is instructional. But over all it is a love letter to me. It tells me that I am loved and very deeply missed. And I know in my heart its true because I have a longing in my heart that is met when I read it. When we encounter people we love and even strangers that we have meaningful conversations with, these are gifts. They lighten and brighten our days. I believe they are gifts from God, among many that He sends our way to love on us.

So, yes I think he misses me when I stop talking to Him, when I get distracted. I think He keeps up with my comings and goings. Like a very close friend, I think He misses me. I think He is sad when my thoughts are all messed up and I am not thinking correctly. Days I am unsure. But His word gets me back on track. If you have not read the Bible or you have read it like an instruction manual, try reading it like a love letter written to you. Personally.

Here are just a few lines that I recall to remind me that He is thinking of me.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love". Jeremiah 31:3

"When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me."

Psalm 27:10

"And may you have the power to understand as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is." Ephesians 3:18

So, go ahead and wonder. Talk to Him everyday. He will let your heart know. Our Father loves us more than we know. Jesus came to show us just how much the Father loves us. If you have been too busy and feel like you can't talk to Him because of whatever reason, just tell him. You can fix that right now. Just stop and talk to Him.

Father, I'm sorry. I have been too busy to talk to you and I don't like being distant from you. So here I am right now, right in the middle of this life... The kids, the dishes, the errands. I'm here and I love you. And I want to be near you. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. I love you too.