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God's Overzealous Abundant Generosity

God’s Overzealous Abundant Generosity

January 20, 2019 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Celebration is the theme of the winter winter for our family. We welcomed a newborn into our home this past fall, enjoy family and Thanksgiving bounty, birthdays for two of our kids and Christmas, all within the matter of a few short months. This weekend we watched our youngest son turn 2 and melt with delight as he opened plush teddy bears and plentiful gifts.

As parents, we feel caught between wanting to lavish our children with presents, so they can see a glimpse of how much we love them, while not wanting to spoil them and feed the “me-centric” spirit of our culture.

So while we watch our little ones gleefully open presents, we ponder whether it’s better to just hide some of the remaining presents for the next birthday or holiday, so as to space out the seemingly overwhelming abundance.

What would you do?

But today, as more toys were opened in celebration of the precious life of my son — filling up all the remaining square footage of our modest but beautiful home — I couldn’t help but wonder, “God, how do you see us? How do you give gifts?”

I felt the resounding sense that God’s generosity is not sufficient or adequate, but His love is zealous, abundant and outrageously generous — ‘gratuitous’ as my ultimate frisbee buddies might call it.

God’s love is more than enough. It’s fierce and overwhelming.

And yet, because I know His character, I know that he holds back as well. He didn’t hold back in Christ, but he holds back in all that he wants to give us… frankly, because we can’t handle it.

If God were to give us all of His love at once, we’d simply die. Really. I mean that. It’d be like a supersonic shockwave of unrelenting, exuberant love.

How do I know that?

Look at His word. I challenge you: read the Bible cover to cover this year and as you finish the last chapter, I dare you to tell me that you don’t see an unrelenting love of a Father who is passionately pursuing his faithless and undeserving children — because, while we don’t deserve His love, it is ours — helplessly ours. We can’t run from it or hide from it. He just loves us.

How can he not though? We are made in His image.

Just like my son is made in my image, I can’t look at him and not see me. I see my nature and likeness engrained in his essence, and I love what I see.

I’m not perfect as a dad — in fact, those that know me know that I’m nowhere near perfect. But even as an imperfect father, I want to give the world to my kids. I want all good things for them. Even if that means seasons of pain because their is greater life and pleasure on the other side of that temporal disappointment and challenge.

And if I, as an imperfect father, want such good for my kids, how much more does God have beauty and goodness and abundant life in store for us?

Today, pause and open yourself to God’s overzealous, abundant generosity. He is crazy about us, and if He holds back a gift, know that it’s only because He loves us enough to not let His love destroy us.

“Lord, we serve You, an unrelentingly loving Father who knows what’s best for us, even when we don’t understand it. We can’t comprehend your goodness towards us. Help us to receive your generosity and enjoy you fully, while knowing that there is always more. We love you Daddy-Father.”

Filed Under: Worship Tagged With: Father Heart of God, Generosity, love

Let Love In

Let love in

December 28, 2017 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Our kids wake up early. I rise at 5:30am, not to be “holier than thou”, but because, if I don’t, I get no chance at solitude in the day. So when a couple of ours woke at 6:30 this morning, we tried to convince them to sleep it out a little longer. My son was not having it.

In the middle of a temper tantrum in the darkness of a pitch-black room, I hung my head in desperation, pleading with him to lay back down and keep sleeping. Giving no relent in response to my exhaustion, I pulled my tearful child close to me and gave him a hug. The tears slowed. I was on to something.

“You want me to snuggle with you?” Immediately, he responded and headed towards his makeshift cot on the floor (because he insists on sleeping next to his sister, who he lovingly calls “gigger” because he can’t pronounce “sister”). He stopped his wailing, laid down on the giant overstuffed Costco teddy bear and sniffled on the floor next to me.

Love.

It all comes back to love, doesn’t it?

How many problems and stresses do we endure, when, if we would just let love in, we might solve or dispel in an instant?

When I’m anxious about work, fearful that a client will be frustrated or disappointed… love reminds me that I’m okay, even if I do fail.

When there is conflict in marriage… love reminds me that we’re on the same team.

When the brightness of day doesn’t overpower the darkness of hopelessness you feel inside… love says that you’re not alone, and that it’ll all be okay.

And when we scurry about from place to place, seeking meaning in gifts, or trophies or affirmation… let God’s love into the deep places that long to be held, stilled and quenched.

It will change your life, your pursuits, your interactions and expand your ability to freely love those around you. Let love in.

Filed Under: Soul Care Tagged With: love

To Live As Christ Reckless Love Featured Image

Reckless Love

August 3, 2017 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Heard this song from Bethel the other day. Really powerful! I hear it was first written by Cory Asbury; this version is led by Steffany Gretzinger (whose album “The Undoing” is one of my all-time favorites).

Before I spoke a word
You were singing over me
You have been so, so
Good to me
Before I took a breath
You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so
Kind to me

[Chorus]
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it
I don’t deserve it
Still You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

[Verse 2]
When I was your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so
Good to me
When I felt no worth
You paid it all for me
You have been so, so
Kind to me

[Chorus]
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it
I don’t deserve it
Still You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

[Bridge]
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
No lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me

Filed Under: Worship Tagged With: Bethel Music, love

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