Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

• 1 John 4:10

I am like a flourishing juniper;
    your fruitfulness comes from me.”

• Hosea 14:8

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!

• 2 Corinthians 10:1

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

• 1 Kings 19:12-13

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

• Revelation 3:20

“The evening breeze caressed the trees, tenderly
The trembling trees embraced the breeze, tenderly
Then you and I came wandering by
And lost in a sigh were we

The shore was kissed by sea and mist, tenderly
I can’t forget how two hearts met breathlessly
Your arms opened wide and closed me inside
You took my lips, you took my love so tenderly”

• Jack Lawrence, Tenderly

I heard this song played on the Sleep Noise channel.  No lyrics, just soft piano music.  I found myself singing what I remembered of the lyrics.

It reminded me of God’s love.  God speaks in a whisper.  If your music is cranked up really loud, God will not shout, but somehow you will hear something.  You will wish to turn down the volume to hear what you missed.

But God does not intrude.

God stands at the door and knocks.  He does not barge in.  He wants you to open the door willingly.  I doubt if the food that He brings with Him casts a pleasing aroma.  You must want Him to enter before you notice that the meal He brings is better than anything you ever tasted before.

But God does not intrude.

Paul describes Jesus to the Corinthians as humble and gentle.

These days, the heartthrobs of our world are brash and in your face.  They take charge.  They demand center stage.

Jesus is His own stage.  He is gentle and kind.  Once you experience Him, you will realize that you never really knew love before.

But God does not intrude.

When we get to Heaven, we will meet other people who wanted to be in the presence of God forever.  That is the entire point of life itself, to love and praise God, and enjoy Him forever.

But God does not intrude.

Why?  He wants to be surrounded by people who love Him enough to seek Him.  Following the latest trend leaves you with something stale once the newness passes.  But knowing God is everlasting and somehow words cannot describe the majesty.

And somehow, I wanted the Rosemary Clooney version.

Here is Rosemary Clooney singing Tenderly.

And thinking of Jesus being humble and gentle, when I think of tender love, I think of this song, Softly and Tenderly.

Here is Alan Jackson singing Softly and Tenderly.

And lest we forget Elvis singing Love Me Tender.

My wife has been gone for three years, but the thing I miss the most is her soft voice and her tender touch.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.