the love of God.

Over the past month or so i've been OVERWHELMED. I can't quite describe what has happened or what has changed, but like a sudden rush, i've learned and known the love of God.  for ME.   ME? SERIOUSLY? 
I don't quite know that i've ever REALIZED the personalized nature of His love for me.  The moments of thanksgiving that come to mind are stirred by things that would not necessarily matter to you, but to me, they have meant the world.  its amazing to see this intimate touch.  and to recognize it as such...

On a completely different note, do we really and i mean REALLY KNOW what brokenness is???  while i suppose we do to a degree. do we know what it is to have everything ripped out from under us, in reality... not in mind or in heart... but we have so much than God that we are consistently able to trust in, its easy to run to family.  to friends.  to community.  but do we run to the cross.  do we prepare to be persecuted?  do we believe that being a living sacrifice is really an important way to be living?  and if we REALLY believe that, do our lives exhibit that... OR, are we simply a living offering.  i can offer all that i want, but if its not enabling me to NEED God more, is it really a sacrifice?  To me, a sacrifice is something that it kinda hurts to live without...

just a thought.