deep, deep love

January 20, 2014January 20, 2014 Rachel Atwell2 Comments

It’s hard to grasp the love that God has for each of us. I know my understanding – if you can even call it that – pales in comparison to what its really like.

On Saturday, I heard a song talking about this love and it came in an unexpected place.

As I watched the funeral of Sean Gauley, a dear brother of a friend I worked with a few summers ago, they played the song “Oh The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus”.

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above

Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He came to pay our ransom
Through the saving cross He bore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Those He died to make His own
How for them He’s interceding
Pleading now before the throne

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Far surpassing all the rest
It’s an ocean full of blessing
In the midst of every test
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Mighty Savior, precious Friend
You will bring us home to glory
Where Your love will never end

In the midst of every test, this family has reason to sing – because of the deep love of the Jesus they know.

I knew these words were something I needed to think about when we stood to sing the same song at church yesterday.

Oh the deep, deep love…

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Psalm 57: 9-11

If you’re reading this, I hope that you’ve accepted this love Jesus offers to all.

• • • • •

To watch a recording of the beautiful, Christ-honoring funeral of Sean Gauley, click here.

Atwell Adventures

on this day, 6 months ago

January 7, 2014January 15, 2014 Rachel Atwell3 Comments

Six months ago, around this same time, I was sitting in church beside my Mom.

It was probably the most unique Sunday of my life – just six short hours later, I was going to be married in the same sanctuary.

Even though I had been up since about 6am running wedding day errands, there was something so calming about being in church that morning. It reminded me what our wedding day was all about – our Savior. Without Him being our foundation, it would all be in vain.

As the congregation sang at the beginning of our wedding ceremony,

“In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand!”

What a happy six months of deepening the love of our Savior and love for each other!

Happy 6 month-a-versary, G!

31 days

31 days – fall 2013 – sunday at church

October 25, 2013January 15, 2014 Rachel Atwell1 Comment

Spending our Sunday’s in a local church isn’t really a new tradition for either of us, but it’s a new tradition in the sense that we now go as “The Atwell’s”.

This tradition didn’t require much creativity or thought {since it was already apart of our lives pre-marriage} but is probably one of the most important in our marriage that we’ve established as newlyweds.

Going to church helps us grow individually in our walk with Christ, gives us a community that supports and encourages us, and challenges us to grow together towards Christ.

Do you think attending church as a family is important?