"Longer"

Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean

Higher than any bird ever flew

Longer than there’ve been stars up in the heaven

I’ve been in love with you.

Stronger than any mountain cathedral

Truer than any tree ever grew

Deeper than any forest primeval

I am in love with you.

  -Dan Fogelberg

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The way in which our God loves us. May this serve as a reminder for you. I pray that someday, if not already, you will see just how greatly He wants you to come back to Him. The Lord's love for you is everywhere. You just have to see beyond what the world is projecting. Look beyond materials, look beyond man-made creations. He exists in all the things He created (especially within every person you encounter regardless of how unpleasant they may seem).

It takes a lot more effort to see God in everything and everyone, but I promise you once you learn how to do it, you will begin to see just how great his love is for you. I'm still learning (far far from being perfect) YET I'm already so overwhelmed by the goodness of it! 

The Lord's love for me manifests itself in the sky. Regardless of where I am in the world, the one thing that stays consistent within my sight is that very thing. Day or night, the sky always extends far beyond what my eyes can see. I will never forget that night I spent at Bantayan when I was just sitting under the stars. Moments of profound grace. It was such an intimate moment for me, as if the Lord was saying:

This is how much I have loved you. You are more precious and worth so much more than the beauty of the stars at night. Try to count how many there are, and triple that number. That is how many times I will try to capture your attention when you stray away from me. See how brightly they shine? That is how I see you. What a lovely sight to behold. Remember that as a daughter of Eve you can still claim your place as the crown of creation. This moment I have designed specifically for you. This moment is yours alone, but I'm allowing you to share it as well with the one around you. Treasure this memory. Let it remind you to never give up on me. As long as the sky exists above you, so too will my love surround you.