Dearest brother Steve!  Your message was beautiful music to my ears!!  Thank you so much for your personal and heartfelt response; I know it blessed others as well.

I have often said that my previous great fear of Jesus' love being conditional was because of the "abandonment" of most of the male leaders in my life.  And I must state that "abandonment" can take on many forms and have different definitions.  And when it is coming from a father or a husband (or more than one husband) who is supposed to love, care for, and nurture you, it certainly can impact your view of the Lord Jesus, whom you cannot see or touch.  In minds like mine in this state, unconditional love does not exist; in fact, there is work to be done to secure that kind of love!

BUT...

The indescribable grace and mercy of our Lord ...  His grace covers it all -- He understands, He restores, and He renews.  And when we belong to Him, He will watch us turn on Him, disobey Him, disbelieve His word, and hurt Him  --  always and faithfully never leaving us and always forgiving us, redirecting us, and loving us -- unwaveringly and without fail.

I too believe Him; I believe His word, and I believe in His grace.  Believing Him is the only way I can truly please Him, and this is why He has now blessed me with His love, His peace and His rest --- that which I have desired for so long.  Right now, more than anything, I want to be found resting in His peace in His righteousness when He returns (2Peter 3:14).

Sometimes I feel like a broken record on this subject, but then again, I can never tire about talking and writing about such a wonderful and undeserved gift.  You are right -- His grace is absolutely and completely amazing!!

Thank you again so very much!  Praise be to the one and only, Jesus Christ!

Your sister,
Stacy