If you can’t tell by looking at my surroundings, my life revolves a bit around children. I’m Ashley, the Children’s Director at Grace Lexington, which means my job is amazing and includes the care of our 600+ regular attending children. I’m also a mom of 2 girls – Evie and Maggie, which means my life at home is a constant series of Mom? And uppies? And tripping over the toys left all over the floor.

I’m constantly surrounded by children – at home and work. One of the things I love about that is it constantly reminds me that I am a child – a child of God. What does it mean to be a child of God and why do I love that reminder?

I love how The Message translation of the Bible describes being a child of God in 1 John 3: 1. “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.”

Being a child of God means we are extended the marvelous love of our Father.

As a parent, how do you love your child?

 I know that can be tricky for those of you who didn’t have a strong parental figure growing up or who maybe are not parents. So, what I’d like you to think about is in the best, most extravagant, most wonderful way, how can you imagine a parent loving their child?

Words that come to my mind are unconditionally, fully, with forgiveness, goodness.

Now take those words, the most extravagant way you can imagine love, and apply them to how God feels about you, his child.

God’s love for us is extravagant. God’s love for us in unconditional. God forgives us. He loves us fully. He wants us to carry his goodness and mercy with us every day of our lives.

God loves us. That doesn’t mean we don’t face hardship. Bad things happen to our children, right? As much as we try to keep that from happening. We try to protect them, but we can’t always do that. In that same we, we face hardships. We make decisions that force us into challenges and sometimes away from God. For many of us this season right now is hard. This season right now is a challenge. For others, you may have done something that you now regret, or you’ve had to make decision that this world has told you is taking you away from God.

But we are God’s children, and he still loves us. His goodness and mercy are with us and he wants us to receive that.

Sometimes I find that there are people who think they’ve moved too far away from God or that there is something about them or something that has happened to them that will keep God from loving them. I’ve sat with kids before who have home lives that don’t demonstrate the love of a parent in a way that represents the love of God. They don’t know how to receive God’s love in this way.

I want you each to know that you can never move too far, there is nothing about you that takes you away from God, nothing can happen to you that will keep God from loving you.

I had the privilege of hearing the amazing Danielle Strickland speak at the digital Orange Conference last week. She said a thing, and I loved it so much, I want to share it here, “God is love. And you are loved by God.”

That’s it guys. It’s not that hard. God is love. And you are loved by God. Right now in this weird time and place that can feel so hard. Right now despite your missteps or regrets. Right now.

Take some time today to reflect on God’s love. Are you open to receiving it? Open your heart. Forgive yourself.

Remember the scripture - “We are called children of God – that’s who we really are!”