Love Story for the Brokenhearted

“If Brennan Manning writes it, then I’m going to read it.”

That is how Mark Batterson starts the foreword to Brennan Manning’s new book, The Furious Longing of God, and I could not agree more. Manning, the original ragamuffin, has done it again with a thought-provoking book that looks at the “radical, no-holds-barred love of our Heavenly Father.”

Consider this from the book’s back cover…

“…a love story for the brokenhearted. For those who are burdened by heavy religion. For those who feel they can never measure up.”

Is it obvious why I relate to his writing so much? Those themes permeate this blog.

As many of you know, it was Manning’s book, Abba’s Child, that radically transformed my view of God and His feelings toward me. This book looks to expand on the theme of God’s love…something I definitely need to be reminded of.

I have provided links for these two books, along with Ragamuffin Gospel, below. Order your copies today!

I’d love to hear your feedback on the book or how Brennan Manning has impacted you in the past.

All We Need Is Love

Melody and I are having an absolute blast here in gorgeous Great Exuma, Bahamas at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa. We left our camera cord at home, so we are not able to get the incredible photographs that we have taken thus far to the computer, but they will follow soon.

We came through the Miami International Airport this past Saturday, and, as we rounded a corner headed to our gate in the “D” terminal, our attention was arrested by an unexpected gift of grace. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, I suppose, the airport had created a display with the words “ALL WE NEED IS LOVE” spelled out with letters that were at least 8 feet tall and that were covered with thousands and thousands of fresh flowers.

It was absolutely breath-taking.

I took out our camera and started snapping photos…trying my best to get the entire display into one frame.
As I was steadying the camera to take the shot, I heard the reactions of other travelers (in at least 4 different languages) as they first caught site of the display. I lowered the camera and spent the next few minutes watching expressions as individuals rounded the corner and the stunning display came into full view. Individual travelers, families, and young and old couples alike all stopped to admire the beauty and take pictures of their own. We met a young couple headed to Cancun who asked us to take a photo of them in front of the word “LOVE” and chatted with them for a few minutes. We asked them to take one of us as well…and here it is.

I was still thinking about the message of this display the next morning as I was reading and journaling. The myriad of fresh, vibrant-colored flowers were gorgeous and the display would have been breath-taking even if the display had just been blocks of square Styrofoam. But the fact that the message of LOVE was so huge and so gorgeous and absolutely stopped people in their tracks was such a God thing.

I started looking up verses…

A new command I give to you: “Love one another.” John 13:34

This is my command: “Love each other.” John 15:17

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galations 5:14

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscious and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

I think Jesus agrees…all we need is love. As I reflected on the message of the Miami Airport display, I was convicted of the many times I have been anything but loving…even in the name of Christ. How many times have I come across brash and arrogant and narrow-minded in an effort to be doctrinally sound? How many opportunities have I missed to share God’s love because I have been so focused on my plans and my agenda? That night, I looked up the Beatles tune on YouTube and let it play over and over again. Here it is…enjoy and join me in becoming a better agent of God’s love.