My God's Love Is Real

A few words of an old song are…“Yes, God is real for I can feel Him in my soul…” I love to feel the love of God.

The real love of Jesus is felt in our deepest innermost being. But, what we feel is not only to make us feel good, but to give us the power to love like God loves. Let the real love of God come from us to touch others. It is not natural love to serve others, but God’s love moves us to love.

I remember in Haiti many ways that my husband and co-founder, George DeTellis, loved the Haitian people. One morning, Rosette, a laundress for the missionaries, came to work late. It had rained the night before, and her leaking roof soaked her few possessions. She had to put her wet belongings out in the sun before coming to work. Pastor George had a pig project because a disease had wiped out the pig population in Haiti. That morning, Rosette received a pig. When Rosette’s pig had piglets, she would return one piglet to the mission for someone else in need to receive. She also was able to sell some piglets to get a new roof.

When we started our high school, it was a four mile walk for most of our students. Pastor George wanted every student to have their own bicycle. Soon, a container arrived full of new bicycles. Then, there was a coconut tree disease, so Pastor George gave our students coconut trees to plant. Yes, he was called to preach, but the real love of God kept moving in him to love the Haitian people. In one of our mission classes, he explained, “It’s not my love for the Haitian people. It is God who loves the Haitian people.” 

In John 21, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Again and again, “Do you love me?” Peter’s heart was hurting and pierced as he tried to persuade Jesus that he really did love Him. Then, Jesus asked Peter to feed His sheep; to care for people. Yes, God’s love is real, and what you receive you can freely give. Because God’s love is unlimited, the more you love others, the more love God will pour into your life.

My great-granddaughter, who is almost three years old, has her mother pray over her each night as she goes to sleep. One night, my granddaughter missed the prayer time. My great-granddaughter screamed until her mother prayed with her. Has she already known how to receive real love from a real God? 

I remember seeing her the day after she was born and asking my son to sing softly in her little ears, The Love of God.

The lyrics of Stuart Townend’s hymn, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us, truly sums up how much God loves us: “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure that He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns his face away as wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.”

We want real love. God’s love is real. He has shown us His love and as we receive His love, we also can show love to others. You are loved…for real. ~Jeanne DeTellis Loudon