God loved us THIS MUCH!!!!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life~John 3:16"



I was planning on using a different scripture this morning, in fact had it all typed out and then deleted it to put this wonderful verse that I'm sure we have all memorized before as children. It is the bible verse for todays VBS session at my parents church that we are helping out with. We have probably all memorized this verse as children, and today still know it by heart. But as we live life do we know just how much God loves us? I'm afraid that we probably don't as we often get busy buying into what the world wants us to focus on and forget the wonderful reality that God gave his only son so we can have eternal life. It's unimaginable for me to think of giving up one of my children's life to ensure the everlasting life for the world, but I'm not God. But just the thought of loosing one of my children volunteerily demonstrates what a sacrifice of love God gave for each of us.



Any one that has children knows that we love them unconditionally even through the tantrums, back talk and any other rebellion that may come our way. God's love is the same way, he loves us inspite of our sins, he has already paid for our sins through the death of Jesus, and all we need to do is believe, have faith, and ask him into our hearts.



This evening at VBS the entire evening will be focused on what God did for us, and how much he loves us. Please pray with me today that the children's hearts will be opened to the message and those who are not yet saved will find salvation through tonights VBS message. And if anyone reading this has not been saved please please please call, or email me, I'd love to share this message of salvation with you in person. Okay sorry to be coming across as a bit preachy this morning, remember I'm just another human with a sinful nature trying to live my life for Jesus who loves me. To end this morning I think I'll leave you with a wonderful song by David Crowder that illustrates beautifully just how much God loves us.



How he loves by David Crowder

He is jealous for me,

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realise just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.



And oh, how He loves us so,

Oh how He loves us,

How He loves us all



He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves.



We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about, the way…



He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves.