"I love you too, with all my heart!"

Every morning as I send my youngest off to school, Joshua shouts, "I love you, mommy!"

"I love you too, son!"

But that's not enough for my littlest one...He continues to shout, as he peddles his bike further down the street, "I love you with all my heart!"

Joshua's shouts always make me smile; "I love you too, with all my heart!"

I'll never forget the day I truly experienced the depths of God's love. Quite honestly, His love surprised me. If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you'll probably recall my life-changing encounter...

I had just graduated from Bible College and at the same time was going through the painful process of divorce. As a result of the divorce, I was also losing my credentialing as a licensed minister. I was Devastated...Broke...Working two jobs...and had no plans for my future. Though I loved God passionately, I began making horrible decisions that left me at the end of a bar...the object of the game...get as drunk as possible as quick as possible...BUT God had different plans. As I sat at the end of the bar...The Holy Spirit whispered to my spirit, "Julie, there is no place you can run that my grace won't find you still." I remember thinking "God this is a bar...You're not suppose to be in a bar." Every sermon I had preached about grace became ALIVE. Grace no longer remained a mere theory but a personal experience!

Today, as we celebrate Valentine's Day...I couldn't help but think of the love that set me free...the love that rescued me. In the midst of my depravity God stepped in and saved me from my own self-destruction. He is The Good Shepherd Who searches for the lost sheep. His love supersedes our greatest imaginations.

Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)

We can't merit God's love but we can respond to it by loving Him back (with all our life).

Today, I sense God saying I LOVE YOU. And I can't help but respond back to Him with "I love you too, with all my heart!" How about you? How will you respond?