Knowing more of the love of God.

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“The love of God.”

The nest of Love is “Rest.”

 

My memory goes back to my years as a little boy when I was invited to go fishing along with my village to the big river down in the valley. It was where a rich man would use a bulldozer to change the course of the river and have plenty of fish.

 

When I woke up, everyone was gone and I was left “home alone.”

I remember not being able to sleep for fear of oversleeping and being left behind.

Sure enough, I fell asleep so deeply in the morning hours because I was tired of waiting for the morning. I remember crying bitterly in disappointment. Not so much for the fried fish at the side of the river but something deeper than an arrow sinking in my chest. Trust was shattered and belief in the word given was mortally wounded.

 

To make matters worse my step brother went to the big city where he learned to play a new sport called basketball. He came back with a basketball and bounced around and made the motion to pass me the ball but did not release the ball from his hands and I felt again deceived and ridiculous.

 

Then my older sister Adela and I had a quarrel so that when my disciplinarian mother came back I confidently called as the witness to my case the mate Corina knowing that this time my sister will certainly be spanked due to the preponderance of my evidence and an eyewitness.

 

My mother, as a swift judge, asked Corina, “Who is telling the truth, Adela or Gerardo?” (I must have smiled an “I got cha this time” Attitude toward Adela, my still lying to this day sister.”)

 

To my amazement Corina said that “Adela was speaking the truth” and I was spanked. I am sure the spanking must have hurt, I do not remember, but what I have never forgotten is the false witness of Corina. Years later Corina died and I was not sad nor I was happy either but I do remember Corina as a lair.

 

Later in life I remember my grandma and my admiration for her because she kept her word. Much later I remember Ruthie, my wife, as a person in whose word I could trust and REST. So, I married her gladly because I could rest in her word and walk away on a trip knowing that my friends who were there waving their hands with her to say goodbye to me might make their advances on her but I rested knowing that it was not their behavior that I trusted but that of my wife.

 

My mentors, great and small, men and women are admired by me because of their word when given was a “word kept.” I love people with Iron in his or her words.

The reason why I write this letter is because I am rejoicing in the following verse from the word of God and I want you to believe in it and for you also rejoice with it.

“REST in the WORD of God.”

 

“Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 

 

I rejoice in the fact that God rests not on my love for him, but in his unchangeable love for me. God rests in his love for me… Alleluia! "GOD LOVES YOU FOR HIS OWN SAKE."             

God loves me to the point of rejoicing for me with singing.

 

This is unthinkable, it is hard to believe, but because “God says it” I believe it and that settles it. “God keeps his word.”

 

Rest in your love for me dear Lord. I trust and rest as in a nest in your word given to me.

Thank you Jesus. Thank you. Thank you.

 

Gerry Gutierrez.

 

Third letter to my friends and family from Tacoma Washington.