Love me, that's all I ask of you...

If you know your musicals, you know the title of this post is from The Phantom of the Opera, but that play is not what this post is about. (I must pause to mention that at first, I typed "Oprah" instead of "Opera"...)

Anyways, to get some setting, I was walking into the gym the other day, asking God to speak to me during my workout. So, I go on the elliptical and start listening to the Julie Andrews station on Pandora (yes, I would...) and the song "All I Ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera began to play. Now, when most people think of The Phantom of the Opera, the last thing they think of is God...but when the lyrics, "Love me, that's all I ask of you," were sung over and over again, I couldn't help but think of the Lord.

I saw those specific lyrics as God's heart toward me (and us). He's crying out, "Beloved! Love Me...with all you are! I already love you with an everlasting love. Now love Me with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength." A.K.A. the first commandment.

So often, we get caught up in the second commandment - loving others, serving, fellowship, etc. - that we forget the first. I know I've done so. But praise God for grace and His continual out pouring of love unto us, so we can grow in loving and adoring Him more, then take that love so we can also love others.


I think one of the most beautiful ways of loving God is simply being still and knowing that He is who he says He is. How lovely a thing to dwell in.



PS: Praise God for reminders such as these tucked into Broadway musicals. =)

Obligatory New Years Blog

The key to life change is not the act of the will but the loves of the heart.
St. Augustine 

So many people look to the new year as a time to have a clean slate and to achieve that goal they never did last year...then two months later they forget about those resolutions. Why? Our own wills are weak. I, admittedly, have fallen into this many times. If we ever want to do something that will last, then it must be done through a heart transformed by Christ. There's no other way. It takes commitment, patience, and surrender - each difficult on their own level. 


This all leads to the life change that I want to see happen...


"....All of my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character."
Ruth 3:11b (NIV)

I've been reading through Ruth the past few days. I could go on an on about the various words that come to mind when I think of this book (comforter, protector, loving, loyal, pursued)...but there's one that struck me this morning: noble. Ruth was known as a woman of noble character. How beautiful. I want to be known like that. Clearly this type of transformation cannot be done through my own will...it can only happen through the grace of God. I simply pray that I'm so smitten by the Lord that all can happen is my character reflecting more and more His love, beauty, and grace.


Happy New Year.