So Loved

For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son…

Do you have a favorite Christmas song? Do you know it by heart? If so, take a moment to sing it to yourself. Why is it your favorite? Is it the tune, the words, the meaning?

Whether it's a silly song or a serious one, it's probably easy to sing without thinking too much about what you're singing. You may not even know what it means or the history behind it, but that doesn't stop you from singing along.

Familiar Christmas carols, Christmas traditions kept year after year, and the gifts given and received often become so familiar, it's easy to overlook how special they are. Sometimes it takes a change, where certain elements are missing, to realize how much a part of our celebration they have become.

Perhaps you have experienced this: the year your family had to go without a tree, gifts, or some-one. If you haven't suffered such a loss, take a moment to think about what you would miss at Christmas—a little, and a lot. 

I don't bring this up to put a damper on your holiday. Quite the opposite, actually. Like a festive song that puts you in the Christmas spirit, I want to share words from the Bible that remind us what Christmas is all about. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  If this is your first time hearing this verse, keep reading, and if it's so familiar you could say it in your sleep, you might want to listen in too, because I'm willing to bet you need to let the words go a little deeper.

God so loved… Because God loved everyone so much, He sent His Son, Jesus, to display His mercy...

Just think about that! I mean, what else could God have given to show how much He loves us? It's not like He didn't have other grand things to choose from. He could have given us each our own galaxy. He could have given us magical powers to fly. He could have given us rivers of chocolate and mountains of ice cream. But instead of going for whimsical gifts, He chose the most precious thing to Him. Not something He could wave His hand and create in an instant, but something irreplaceable. His most precious possession. Something that said, This is how much I love you. You are so loved.

You might be asking, 'But what is Jesus to me? Why is that such a great gift? No offense, God, but a new galaxy sounds pretty cool—or the pet I've always wanted, an unending closet, a pool in the backyard…'

Yes, those things would be nice, and if you take time to think about it, He's probably given you a lot of good things—more blessings than you could think of before finishing this blog. But what makes Jesus so special? Why is He the best gift of all?

When Jesus came, His purpose was to proclaim God's love: His compassion; His nearness. God wasn't far away. He wasn't out of reach. He wasn't like a busy parent who is never home. He isn't like Santa who brings gifts at midnight but is gone in the morning. He is real and never more than a prayer away.

Like Christmas that wouldn't be the same without your favorite song, gifts, or your family, life would be very different without God's love. If Jesus never came, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be here; but if we were, there would be no hope for the future, no comfort in sorrow, no happiness to be found anywhere, no love in our hearts. This world would be a very dark, horrible place. There would be no reason to sing, "Joy to the World".

The prophet Isaiah said, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:2,6)

You see, when God sent Jesus, He was giving us Himself; His presence; His unconditional, unending love.

This Christmas I pray you will take that into your heart like never before. God could not have given you a greater gift, so believe it. You are so loved.


The LORD delights in you…He will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. (Isaiah 62:4,5 NLT)


Photos by Rick Jernberg, Dany Sabadini; FreeImages.com

Forgiven

My righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
Isaiah 53:11 (NLT)

I've been reading in the book of Isaiah lately, and the ancient prophet makes many references to the promised Messiah of Israel. Today we know he was talking about Jesus, the baby who was born to Mary and Joseph. On the night of His birth, an angel was sent to shepherds watching over their flocks at night and made this announcement: "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."

In my previous blog, I talked about Jesus bringing the Good News that "The Kingdom of God is near."  In essence, the angel was saying the same in announcing the birth of the Christ-child. "A Savior has been born to you…peace to those on whom his favor rests."  God had come near to bring salvation, peace, and joy, as the prophet Isaiah had proclaimed hundreds of years before.

In Isaiah 53, we read about Who was promised, what He would be like, and His purpose. In verse 11 it says, My righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.  This is the cornerstone of God's Kingdom. His mercy and forgiveness counts us as righteous.

We are loved. We are forgiven. We are free.

Later in the Gospels, we can read a wonderful story that shows what this means for one woman. She responds to this free gift of salvation by attending a dinner-party held in Jesus' honor and washing His feet with perfume and her tears. The host of the party is disgusted by her actions because she is a "sinful woman", but Jesus is moved by her gratitude and love.

"I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love."

In contrast, the man sees himself as righteous with no need for forgiveness—or at least not as much as this woman. Other than inviting Jesus to dinner, he doesn't do anything to honor Him. Why? He doesn't understand how much Jesus has given him. He hasn't been made righteous through forgiveness, but rather is self-righteous, thinking he hasn't done much that needs forgiving, and he can easily make up for his shortcomings by having the Messiah over for dinner. (Surely that will cover it.)

But it doesn't work that way. Hundreds of years before, God had said, My righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for HE will bear all their sins. The "sinful" woman understood this, the "righteous" man did not. He didn't understand that he and the woman were the same: sinful but forgiven. That's the only scale of righteousness God has.

We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. We're all sinners. Perhaps you see yourself like the man who wasn't "too bad"; or maybe you see yourself as the man saw the woman. In his eyes, she was beyond forgiveness. Her sins were "too great". But in God's Kingdom, neither reality exists.

All of us like sheep have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on HIM the sins of us all.

The sins of us all…I pray you believe that. You are forgiven. No matter what mistakes you have made, no matter what you need forgiveness for. You are. You are counted as righteous.

As the woman in the story who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, may your motive for loving God and showing Him that love be the same. Not from a heart of guilt and shame, nor from a heart of self-righteousness. But rather as one who owed a debt that you could not pay. Go in peace, dear one. You have been forgiven.




Scripture taken from Mark 1:15; Luke 2:10-11,14; Luke 7:47 (NLT); Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)
Photos by Daniela Baack, Stacy Brumley, FreeImages.com

"The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news." Mark 1:15

Christmas is just around the corner. Are you ready? Have you made your wish list? Are you hungry for Christmas cookies? Are you ready to decorate the tree?

I love Christmas. I love how December is different than any other month of the year. I love the decorations, the Christmas plays, the giving, and above all, the reason we celebrate. Christmas is a time we remember God sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins. It's a time of hope and joy.

Among all the Christmas activity, it's important to remember the story of Jesus being born in a lowly stable, the angels who announced His birth, and the Wise Men and shepherds who came to visit; but it's also important to remember that the Baby Jesus didn't stay in the manger. He grew up, became a man, and spent three years traveling around Israel to teach the message God had sent Him to share. The verse above, from Mark 1:15, was His primary message. "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."  Do you know what it means? What is the Kingdom of God? What is the Good News?

The Kingdom of God has existed from the beginning of time. We are here because God created His Kingdom and created us to enjoy it. You can think of it like a country that is ruled by a king; but it's not limited by space, a certain time period, or for certain people. The Kingdom of God is a present reality for anyone who wants to engage with Him, and it lasts forever.

Some believe we are simply here on earth by chance, an accident of nature that serves no purpose. Others believe we are created beings and we're here for a reason, but those reasons may be vague or misunderstood. But the Kingdom of God is not complicated, it's clear and simple: God is the King and we are His children—His beloved children who are loved unconditionally and valued immensely.

When Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near", He was obviously speaking to those who didn't see it that way. God didn't send His Son to preach something everyone already understood and believed. He came to change their thinking (this is the definition of the word repent).

"Repent and believe the good news," He said. So, what's the Good News? By default, good news is not bad. He didn't say, 'Repent or you're going to Hell; Repent or God will stop loving you. Repent or you're getting kicked out of the Kingdom.' That would be bad news. The good news was (and still is), "The Kingdom of God is near."

What would have made them believe it was far away? When Jesus appeared on the scene, it was a chaotic time of political change and unrest in Israel. (You could compare it to what is going on in America today—only much worse). The Roman Empire had taken over, benefiting some but oppressing others. Poverty was widespread. Disease was rampant. People had feelings of hopelessness, dread, and insignificance. They were "poor in spirit". They had little hope for their present and the future.

But Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."  He wanted them to go from seeing themselves as doomed and destitute, to believing they were valued, forgiven, and loved.

"Don't worry; Trust God," He said. "Seek His Kingdom and all your needs will be met. Love others. Forgive. Do not fear."

He even recruited a band of disciples to help Him spread the word. "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." It was a message everyone needed to hear, and He only had three years to preach it before He would be silenced by those who couldn't take any more of His absurd teaching that God loved everyone.

How did Jesus demonstrate this free love? He drove out demons, healed the sick, gave the blind sight and the lame new legs. He went everywhere, spreading the Good News to all. "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."  We often say Jesus came to die for our sins, and He did, but His death only proved His message: You are loved. God does not hold your sin against you. He loves you. He values you. You belong to Him.

In Mark 2:5, we see this love and forgiveness demonstrated when Jesus says to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  This man didn't make a decision that he wanted to be forgiven and come to Jesus to ask for that. He didn't pray the "sinner's prayer." He was just there, in need of God's touch. Others would have viewed him as sinful and unworthy because of his crippled condition, but he wasn't unworthy. He wasn't overlooked. And Jesus didn't just say so, He demonstrated it: "I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home."  The One who had the power to heal the body also had the power to heal the soul.

Do you need to believe the Kingdom of God is near? Does it feel far away? Are you living in fear, hate, defeat, despair, or hopelessness? Do you feel unloved or less than perfectly loved?

If so, you need to change your thinking. Repent and believe the good news: The Kingdom of heaven is near. The Kingdom of God is for you. Dwell in His love and live in His grace. He is the King; You are His child; and you can trust Him.

Photo Credit 1: FreeImages.com/JuliaTikhonova

Photo Credit 2: FreeImages.com/CrissyPauley

Scripture taken from Mark 1:15; Matt. 5:2; Matt. 5-6 (various); Mark 1:17; Mark 1:38; Mark 2:5, 11

Living Loved

Shortly after my family and I moved to Washington State, we took a drive up to Mt. Rainier. We can see it from where we live, but we were told we needed to see it close up. I was expecting the mountain to be beautiful when we arrived at the 6000 ft. elevation point, and it was. But it was more than beautiful and magnificent. Seeing the glacier-capped mountain come into view at close range was an out-of-this-world experience. Almost unreal. Like another dimension of reality.

I'm sure for those who live or work there, it's become commonplace. It's not new like it was for me. It has become their daily reality. They are constantly surrounded by the beauty and take-your-breath-away views. They hike the trails, drive the roads, see people come and go; It's their life. And hopefully, it doesn't become so familiar that they forget how truly wonderful it all is.

Spiritually-speaking, this happened to me. I grew up on the mountain of believing I was loved by God, and it was a wonderful reality. I'm not sure when that began to change exactly, but it did. Instead of believing I was loved unconditionally, it became conditional. Others came along and told me, 'You can't stay here for free. You have to earn the right to live up here.' I desperately wanted to hang on to His love, so I did whatever I thought I had to do to be worthy of it: Being good; Making the right choices; Doing things to earn God's favor. And by the time I began to realize how far I had slipped from a belief in His unconditional love, I was fully immersed in duty, guilt, pride, fear, self-righteousness, and misery.

I felt worthless to God. I was constantly swimming upstream. I was never good enough. I was always falling short of what I thought I should be. But I didn't want to turn my back on Him and run away, so I kept trudging forward, trying to reach the top of the mountain again, but I never got any closer. I remained in the valley of He loves me if...

To make a long story short, God eventually woke me up to the fact I was living that way, and I knew I needed to stop. His love for me was not conditional. He didn't love me more because of all the things I was doing right, and He didn't love me less because of all the ways I was falling short.

He loves me. Period. Not if... not when... not because... He just does, and there's nothing I can do either way to change it. I am loved. That is my reality. And it's magnificent, like living on that beautiful mountain and getting to be there every day. Not once in awhile. Not when I reach the summit after a long climb. No. I wake up there, and I don't leave. 

It's amazing how much doesn't matter when I truly believe that. It's like living in another dimension. It moves me from the valley of fear, uncertainty, and trying to measure-up, to the high places of grace, hope, and peace where living-loved is the only rule. That's my reality, and there's plenty of room in God's Heart for you too. We are His children. We are His treasure. We are His delight.

Are you living loved today?

How Big Is Your God?

"I will show them my wonders."  Micah 7:15


I know it's summertime and school is out, but I have a couple of questions for you that might take a bit of thought. So dust off your thinking-cap and put it on for a minute. I promise it will be worth a few moments of your summer.

First question: How big is your view of God?

Second question: What is the cry of your heart?

These two questions go together, but let's start with the second one. What is the cry of your heart? What do you want? What is important to you? What do you wish you could change, or what are you hoping for?

Now back to the first question. How big is your view of God? Do you believe He cares about the cry of your heart, and do you believe He has the ability to help you? Are you looking to Him for that?

There's no problem, dream, or desire too big for God, nor too small. God wants you to come to Him with all of the cries of your heart. Perhaps today your troubles are few. Just little things that don't seem that important. Take them to God anyway. Get in the habit of praying over the little things, and when something much bigger comes along, that will be your first course of action. Perhaps you already have big things to deal with. If you haven't involved God in your circumstances yet, don't wait another day to ask for his help, guidance, strength…whatever you need. And if you've been praying but it doesn't seem like much is happening, hang in there because He won't let you down.

In Micah 7, we can read about the cry of Micah's heart and how God responded. Micah was a prophet who was living in a time of great despair. He wanted things to be different, and he was looking to God to bring change. "I watch in hope for the LORD. I wait for God my Savior." (Micah 7:7)

One of the things Micah wanted was to see "fruit" in Israel. He wanted to see goodness and love and peace instead of hatred, violence, and evil. But he knew the people would never get there without God, so he prayed for them. He asked God to come and be their shepherd. To guide them with love. To teach them and heal them and have mercy.

God's response?  "I will show them my wonders."

We have a big God, and He wants to show us His wonders—things only He can do, and things He can help you do. He wants to respond to the cry of your heart and give you a bigger view of His love, His power, and His goodness. So go to Him with your hopes and dreams and those that have been shattered. And then wait with hope because He will be there. To rescue you, love you, guide you, and show you His wonders.

I watch in hope for the LORD. I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me…though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. (Micah 7:7-8)



Photo credit: FreeImages.com/APatterson

Be Still, Not Stressed

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10


Imagine going to school one day and the teacher of your most stressful class says, 'Today we're not going to do anything. I'm giving you the whole class-time to rest, think, read, interact with others in a relaxing, enjoyable way. We're not going to learn anything new, I'm not giving you a new assignment. That test scheduled for tomorrow? Forget about it. Just come back tomorrow and we'll start fresh with new things.'

Wouldn't that be nice?

Imagine facing a busy afternoon and evening with soccer practice, dinner on the road to piano lessons, an evening choir concert, and a mound of homework when you finally get home, but then everything gets canceled because of a snowstorm, and you end up with a fun and stress-free time of playing in the snow and reading a book you enjoy while sipping hot cocoa because you already know school will be canceled tomorrow.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Life can be very busy. Between school, activities, chores, time with family and friends, homework and tests to study for, let alone any unexpected things that can really throw your day into chaos, each day is a huge challenge. Things you enjoy get overshadowed by the stress of others. Important things get put off. Time with friends gets spoiled by conflict. Any time you do have alone just seems lonely. Parents and teachers get on your case. Others treat you poorly. Life is not exactly something you're enjoying—just enduring.

It might be difficult to believe God has a plan in the midst of chaos, disappointment, and weariness, but He does. His plan either involves giving you peace and joy in the middle of your difficult days, or it might involve Him rescuing you from things that aren't meant to be there.

Let's face it, teachers, parents, friends, enemies, and our busy world are not likely to change. There are few "free days" with no demands, conflict, or difficulty. The surprise snowstorm can only relieve your schedule for a day or two. You need more than a temporary escape. You need a solution, and you need it today.

"Be still, and know that I am God."

It might seem like an impossible command,

but let's consider the rest of Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (v. 1-3)

Being "still" doesn't mean you do nothing; it means you seek God's refuge and strength. You believe you are not alone. He is with you. So admit your weakness, your fear, your weariness, and seek His help. Trust Him with your daily struggles. Trust Him in troublesome moments. Trust Him when you're scared. Trust Him when difficult things rock your world.

Psalm 46 talks about God helping Israel during a time of war. And life can be a battle. But God is with you in the battle, He is with you in the storm. And He is mighty. Verse 8 says, Come and see what the LORD has done; And He invites you to come and see what He will do for you.

"Be still, and know that I am God."

Be still, not stressed. Trust. Be still and wait for His rescue, His help, His peace. Be still and believe you are loved, you matter to Him, you are His.

Food for the Soul

Spring is a time of new life and new beginnings. In the plant world, spring is necessary for the survival of many species. Without the spring that brings new life to dead plant matter, life as we know it on earth would cease to exist.

Death is a natural part of life. Everything that is currently living is dying. From the trees that add another ring of "age" to their trunks, to you and me who are one year closer to the death of our natural bodies. From the spring flowers that will soon fade, to the insects that pollinate them and complete their own life-cycle; everything living today is dying. It's the natural order of things.

The good news? Dead seeds, with a little help from water and the sun, overcome their lifeless state and form new plants, flowers, trees, and fruit to produce new seeds that will also die but then return to life. This also is the natural order of things—or rather, the supernatural. It's the way God overcomes the curse of death on this world, just as He first created everything out of nothing "In the beginning…"  He is the giver of life we read about in the Bible:

The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil...The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”...

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

(Genesis 2:9,15-17; 3:1-8)

In the same way we see death-to-life in the plant world, we can also see it in our existence as humans. The curse of death God warned about became a reality when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and every day our bodies are dying but are also fighting to remain alive. We eat food to overcome the dying state of our cells. New nourishment provides energy to overcome the natural order of decay, and we live another day. Even if we must go without food for a day or two, our bodies have a built-in storage system to provide our cells with reserve energy until we can get a new supply.

Most of the time we don't think about it that way. We simply eat food because we get hungry and it tastes good. We give our bodies what it needs with very little thought to survival. It's only when our bodies become run-down, sick, or unhealthy that we think more carefully about what "fuel" we are giving it and make better choices—what is "good" rather than what will do the job but have unwanted side-effects.

Similarly, our spiritual need to overcome a natural decay of our souls is necessary. Jesus talked about seeds being planted in good soil, and good fruit being a result of good nourishment. Jesus has given our spirits new life through His death and resurrection, but they are still prone to decay—to discouragement, despair, fear, hopelessness, poor thinking, apathy, and fatigue. Like our natural bodies, my spirit needs nourishment every day to overcome its natural tendency toward death. I can't expect to have a healthy heart if I'm not eating the best food for the soul.

Sometimes girls say to me, 'I got really close to God for awhile and I was doing really well, but now He seems distant and I don't know what happened.'  That's like me saying, 'I ate really well last month and felt good, but now I'm back to my old eating habits, feel run-down, and have no energy.'  We can't live on last month's nutrition; We have to keep eating right every day. The same is true with seeking and knowing God and thriving in your relationship with Him. A new day needs new "food", and without it, your spirit will begin to die.

Do you ever watch the news and then fear for your own safety? Do you ever go on social media sites and end up angry, discouraged, or hurt by what other people say? Do you ever watch a television show or read a book that makes you question your faith and beliefs? Do you hang around others who negatively influence your thinking and decisions? Which "tree" do these sources represent, do you think? The "tree of life", or the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil"?

To have a healthy and thriving spirit, I must give my mind and heart what they need to overcome the natural order of spiritual decay. What was God's warning to Adam and Eve about eating the wrong fruit? They would die. What did He say about all the other "good" fruit in the garden? Eat freely!

Why did Eve decide to disobey and eat the "bad" fruit? It seemed good, it was appealing to her eyes, and the serpent (her enemy) said it was good for gaining wisdom. But was it true? No. She believed the enemy instead of God, and what was the result? Fear and shame.

Any "food" you eat that results in fear, shame, worry, doubt, discouragement, anxiety, despair, feeling bad about yourself, or making you question God's love for you, is not good. Good food should result in everything else Adam and Eve had in the garden: security, joy, peace, and living in the presence of God. Deep, soul-touching love does that. Lies do not, even when disguised as the truth.

Feed you soul with the truth—real, life-giving truth: You are loved; You are valued; You are safe in His care. His Word is filled with these truths, so read your Bible. He promises to lead those who ask for guidance, and help those who are in need. So ask, and listen, and follow. He promises to be with you always, in every situation, decision, and pursuit.

The LORD hears his people when they call on him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

(Psalm 34:17-18)

Scripture taken from the New Living Translation (NLT).

God's Love…More Than You Think

Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Not death or life, angels or demons, nothing today or nothing to come…nothing at all can separate us from His love—I mean, just look at what Jesus did for us! What more proof do we need?

Romans 8:37-39

When you think of God's love, what comes to mind? He loves me…He forgives me…He loves me in spite of my sin and shortcomings?  I certainly hope you believe that, because it's true. His love is for everyone, it's unconditional, and it's free. There is nothing you can do to earn God's love or make Him love you more. 

Your only barrier to experiencing His love is receiving it—but even if you don't think you deserve His love or try to push it away, His love will still reach you in the form of blessings, protection, care, rescue, and that pull you feel toward choosing what is right: What is truly best for you and others. He loves you too much to leave you completely on your own, and nothing in heaven or on earth can separate you from His love.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

Nothing can separate me from God's love.

If you believe that and are trying to receive as much of His love as you can, I'm sure you have experienced the benefits of believing more deeply. It makes a difference in the way you see God, the way you see yourself, and the way you see others. It brings peace and joy. It leads to greater faith. And it makes you more loving. How else have you seen it make a difference? Each of us has a unique story to tell about how God's love has rescued, transformed, healed, or changed us.

But can we still go deeper? Is there more of His love to receive? Always! As Paul said, May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully…(Eph. 3:19 NLT) We can never reach the end of His love, there's always more for Him to give. But there are also new ways we can think about His love. What do I mean by that? Here are a few examples for you to ponder.

You know God loves you in spite of your mistakes, sins, and failures; He loves you for what you aren't. But do you know He also loves you for who you are? In other words, He doesn't just love you, He likes you. He loves the unique person you are—who He created you to be. He loves your personality: whether you are outgoing or an introvert, perky or melancholy, spontaneous or a planner, funny or serious, analytical or creative, emotional or even-tempered, organized or a scatterbrain, talented or not…You are His unique creation, and He loves you just the way you are.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

He loves me for who I am.

He also believes in you. Whatever your passion is, He loves that about you and wants to see you reach your full potential. He knows you can succeed, and He wants to help you. There is no need to go it alone or prove anything to Him. He knows who you are and who you can be. So believe what He tells you about yourself. Believe it when He says, "You can do this!" And when you feel weary or overwhelmed and He says, "Let me carry you," don't be too prideful to let Him.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

He believes in me, and I'm not on my own.

He invests in you. As much as He likes you for who you are, He knows you can be so much more. He knows you have more love to give, more courage to show, more talent to exercise, more traits to refine, and more hope to endure through the challenges you face. Your life is not a random series of events, problems, good times, bad times, struggles, and victories. It's all part of a plan: God's divine purpose for you. From the moment He first thought of you, He designed every detail of your life.

He knew when you would obey and when you would rebel. He knew when others would be there for you and when they would let you down. He knew what your needs would be and how they would shape you and draw you to Him. And even if it hasn't always seemed like it, He's been with you every step of the way. And He's not done yet. He is willing to invest whatever it takes to help you rise above your doubts and fears, your weaknesses, your past hurts, your current obstacles, and any unbelief you are still having about His love for you and your value in His eyes.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

I matter to God;

He has a plan and purpose for me.

He is your biggest fan, your loudest cheerleader, your most encouraging and supportive teacher, your greatest mentor, your defender, your source of strength, and your best friend. In other words, He's got your back! You are His. You are His workmanship. You are His beloved treasure.

Repeat these truths to yourself:

I am His;

I am His workmanship;

I am His beloved treasure.

Maybe you don't believe all that yet, but you want to. You want to feel special, protected, valuable, and loved. You want to be the best version of yourself. You want to make a difference in this world. You want to be or do what seems impossible to you now, but it's not. 


Jesus said so...“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20 NKJV)

How does a tiny mustard seed become the largest plant in the garden? It simply becomes who it was designed by God to be, despite its small beginnings…and you can do the same, if you simply believe.

Praise Him with music and dancing,

for the LORD delights in you.

(Psalm 149:3-4)

Rom. 8:37-39 and Ps. 149:3-4, paraphrase mine.
Love Ring Photo Credit: FreeImages.com/jaime101. CC
Mustard Seed Photo Credit: David Turner, February 23, 2005. CC
Mustard Plant Photo Credit: www.bibleistrue.com

When God Seems Far Away

Sometimes girls ask me, "How do I grow in my relationship with God? How can I know Him better?" Sometimes they add: "I read my Bible and pray, but it doesn't seem to help. He seems far away."

If you can relate to this, you're not alone. And I think there is more than one answer to these questions. First of all, if you want to grow in your relationship with God and know Him better, reading the Bible and praying is a good place to start, but if you are already doing this and you still feel lost, God seems distant, or you're not sure what He is saying to you, you're probably closer to Him than you feel.

When it comes to "measuring" your relationship with God, feelings are not always an accurate scale. If you are reading your Bible, then God is speaking to you and you are listening. If you are talking to Him, asking for things, and trusting Him to help you, guide you, teach you, etc., you may not see any immediate results or have instant feelings, but His words are in your mind and in your heart, and that makes a difference. So be patient and wait for the promise Jesus gave when He said, "You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you…Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit." (John 15:3-5)

Another thing to consider is God's timing is not usually our timing. We like immediate answers. We like instant change. We prefer to fix, solve, and do things ourselves, but God tells us to wait on Him. In Psalm 37:7, David penned these words: Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. And in Psalm 62:5, he says, Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

When Jesus says to "remain" in Him, waiting is often involved. I must trust in His promises, believe He is with me, and rest in His love. This can be frustrating at times, but it can also be super-rewarding! I always grow closer to Jesus when I wait on Him, and I know Him better at the tail-end of my waiting. I see why I needed to wait, purposes He had in mind I never considered, and I experience His faithfulness. This helps my faith to grow, and it helps me to grow. I become more patient with life. I become more patient with others. I love more.

They say 'knowledge is power', and when it comes to knowing God more deeply, that is definitely true. He strengthens me. He gives me courage. He produces things in me I didn't think I was capable of. So when others say God seems distant even though they are seeking Him, I know God has them in an amazing place…a time of waiting. If you are there now, trust that He is with you. He has wonderful things to show you, teach you, and give you.

Just wait…and you will see :)


Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.