The Good Shepherd

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

Come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us and we are his;

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good,

and his love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

Have you ever thought about your emotions being directly tied to how you see God and how He sees you? We are often driven by our emotions. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. How would you describe your current mood?

How you feel might be a result of what happened today or recently, what you are looking forward to, or what you are dreading. You might be over the moon with joy or excitement, or you might be in the depths of despair. Most of the time we live in between the two extremes, but how we feel is often tied to our circumstances. How is your mood today affected by what is currently happening in your life?

Living this way makes life feel like a roller-coaster. One day we're up, another we're down. This week is great, but the next might be terrible. We might make good or poor choices to contribute to the way we feel, or the actions of others might be a factor, but either way it's an unstable foundation. Psalm 100 provides a new way, a better way. Are you interested?

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

Come before him with joyful songs.

First of all, it's about choosing joy. Notice it doesn't say, 'Shout for joy when you feel like it, when things are good, when you have no reason to be sad or angry or frustrated.' It just says, 'Shout for joy, worship with gladness, and come before him with joy.' This requires us to see God a certain way. The next verse tells us how.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

How you see God and how you believe He sees you are critical to how you feel and your ability to choose joy no matter what else is going on in your life. Thinking again about your current mood and how your circumstances are affecting that, how does bringing God into your thoughts change things? If the change is for the better, you likely have a proper view of God, and yourself as His beloved child. You only need to keep the truth close to your heart. But if thinking about God makes it worse--you're angry or feel abandoned, then your view of God needs an adjustment.

This might sound overly simple, but God is God, and He is your God. He is with you and will help you. He calls Himself the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. Visualize yourself as a part of His flock. What does a shepherd do? Cares for the sheep, meets their needs, protects them, guides them. If one wanders off, He goes after it. Even sin and mistakes don't disqualify you from His love and perfect care, but believing in His presence can make a radical difference.

Believing these things will change the way you feel. Faith in His love and expecting good things from God will improve your mood. Joy and peace can come when you don't think they can.

Go ahead, try it. Begin and finish each day with belief, praise, and thanksgiving, and see where that daily practice leads you and affects your outlook.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good,

and his love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Blessed is She who Believes

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my soul rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name."

Luke 1:46-49

As I write these words, they bring me much peace. You could say the author of them knew how to look at the glass as half-full, rather than half-empty. The times and circumstances in which they were spoken were difficult and filled with uncertainty. Any idea who said them? I'll give you a hint, they come from Luke 1. That rules out Moses, David, and the prophets of the Old Testament, along with Jesus since He isn't born until chapter 2.

They are spoken by Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was most likely still a teenager at the time. She had just received the news that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah. Great news, right? Well, except for the fact she wasn't married and only had a disappearing angel to vouch for her claim to virginity. I can hear her parents now: "You saw an angel, and he said what?"

She had a reason to be freaked-out and takes off to visit her older--much older cousin. I'm sure Elizabeth was someone she loved and trusted or she wouldn't have gone to her, but she probably wasn't expecting to be greeted with such excitement.

"Blessed are you among women, Mary, and blessed is the child you will bear!"

"How do you know?"

"Oh, the baby told me," Elizabeth laughed, patting her own rounded belly with her wrinkled hand. "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"

Mary may not have believed her cousin except Lizzy's story of having a baby in her old age was just as crazy, and she needed to hear those words: "Blessed is she who believes."

The bad news? It can be difficult to believe. And it can be more difficult to believe we are blessed for believing.

But the good news? Faith is all about believing the unbelievable. Mary may not have known what was going to happen next, but faith isn't about knowing what is going to happen, it's about knowing that whatever happens will be good when God is involved. It's not about what you know, but Who you know.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my soul rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name."

Mary spoke these words long before her pregnancy was visible, before she safely delivered Jesus in a lowly stable, before He began sharing the Good News of Salvation for all, before He was crucified and rose from the dead to seal the promise of Eternal Life. But she knew God had already done great things for her and that He would again. She knew that goodness would touch others too. She knew His ways were always perfect, even when it was difficult to see.

Mary and I have never met. Mary lived in a different time-period, a different country, and a different culture. But we know the same God: The LORD. Yahweh. Jehovah. The Mighty One who has done great things for me. Holy is His Name.

It's like the seasons that change faithfully from year to year. Whether you live where the colors of leaves change and fall to the ground to protect the trees from a cold winter, or where the monsoons come at the same time each year, or where it simply becomes warmer or cooler, you know what's coming because nature is so consistent. God designed it this way to display His character, to remind us that whatever may be changing around us, whatever storms come our way, whatever surprises and unpredictable situations arise, that we can count on Him to always bring the calmer times, the blessings in disguise, and the obvious signs of His faithfulness.

Others can say that God doesn't...or God won't...or God can't. But God will always show who He is and what He can do. He will always keep His promises. God is always who He is whether we believe it or not. He is mighty, holy, amazing, awesome, powerful, loving, merciful, good, right, and just.

He wants us to recognize and believe Him for our benefit so we can have confidence, peace, hope, joy, and patience. Like Mary did. She believed because of what she heard God say, not because of what she could see.

I'm sure she had her moments of doubt too. Perhaps when she did, she sang these words penned by her ancestor David. We would be blessed to do the same:

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."

Psalm 61:1-4

Unless otherwise noted, story and Scripture taken from Luke 1:5-49, NIV. Paraphrases mine.

God, Help Me!

Come, let us tell of the LORD'S greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

Psalm 34:3-6

The Psalms: Some call them biblical literature, others poetry. They were originally written as songs to praise Yahweh (the proper name of the Living God, translated as Jehovah or the LORD). We use many of the Psalms to praise God today, and they remind us of His character and greatness. Current artists who write new songs to honor God and tell of His ways are simply modern-day psalmists; so are those who write inspired messages, poetry, and stories. Our words come from more than an artistic gift or imagination. They come from the heart. They come from the Spirit. They come from experience. They come from spiritual revelation--which is a big phrase that simply means, 'I get it. I see and I understand. I believe.'

When David wrote the words of Psalm 34, he had just escaped desperate circumstances. David spent many years of his life living through one crisis after another. God had anointed him to be King of Israel when he was a young boy, but he had to wait to take the throne, and King Saul wanted him dead. Others were after him too, and he escaped death multiple times. How?

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me...
I prayed, and the LORD listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.

He didn't say, 'I was in trouble so I kept my sword handy, and I was a mighty warrior!' That isn't to say he didn't have a sword or he wasn't a great warrior, but his trust was not in his weapons or his own skill and power. He may have been scared and run for his life, but in the end he was able to say, 'I asked God for help and He saved me. He delivered me from the things that scared me.' He wasn't fearless. He was afraid. That's why he cried out to God, his only hope.

We live in a society that says, 'Take care of yourself. Be self-sufficient. Protect yourself. Provide for yourself. Depend on your money. Depend on your education. Depend on your own strength...' The list goes on. What or who are you depending on? What have you placed your faith in? Who do you believe can really help you?

Rescue may come from invisible sources at times, but God often uses people and things to help us. I use a computer to type my blogs and stories. If mine broke, I would need God to provide money for a new one. I am currently healthy, but if I got sick, I would use medicine to cure me or rely on a surgeon's skillful hands (and I have!). I need a home to provide shelter. I eat food to keep my body fueled and healthy. When I am facing a crisis, emotional distress, or physical harm, others may come to my aid. But my trust is not in people or things. It's in God. I trust Him to take care of me. And when the day comes for me to leave this earth, I trust Him to take me to my eternal home in heaven.

Like David, however, I am often afraid. I find comfort in his words when he says, He freed me from all my fears. I don't think David is saying God took the fear away, but rather that He always rescued him from what he feared. And I would agree that's been true for me too. The things I worry about usually don't happen, especially when I ask God to help or protect me (or others) from those specific things. But even when they do happen, it's never as bad as I imagined. God gives me what I need to make it through, grow my faith and character, and even bless me in new ways.

People often ask me where I get the inspiration for my stories. I have a good imagination, and I can come up with tales "out of my head" easily; but the stories--the psalms: the testimonies of God's faithfulness and love and goodness come from my own life. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)  David wrote these words thousands of years ago, but they resonate with my own heart today.

I have tasted His goodness, and I have seen His faithfulness. My prayer is that you will do the same. Trust Him with whatever you need today. Look to Him for help. If you are afraid, ask Him to protect you. If you are confused or feel alone, believe He is near. You are loved. You are His. You can simply say, "God, help me!", and He will.

 

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Psalm 36:5

Scripture quotations are 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.

As I Have Loved You

This I know. God is on my side. Psalm 56:9

 
God is on my side. Wow. If I could believe that--all the time, every day, in any situation: When I am afraid; When I feel like a failure; When I have a choice to follow God and do what He says is best for me or do my own thing; What would my choice be? What would your choice be? God is on your side. Do you believe that?

Before Jesus gave His life for all mankind and rose from the dead, conquering sin and death for all time, He gave His disciples a command; He said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)

What's interesting about this command is that it wasn't really new. From the beginning of the Hebrew Nation when Moses led God's people to the Promised Land of Israel, God had given them a few commandments that Jesus Himself said were the most important:"Listen to God...love God with all of your heart...and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:28-31)

The central part of Jesus' message was love. God's love and mercy for all people was the Good News He came to share. It wasn't earned love, it was love to simply receive: To believe in God's forgiveness, mercy, and blessings and to live in that love in every area of life. Not to be religious. Not to follow a long list of rules. Not to offer sacrifices to be forgiven of sin or live under the curse it had brought to the world; but to live in freedom, peace, joy, and love.

So why did Jesus call this a "new" command? Loving others was nothing new, but the original command said '...love your neighbor as yourself.' (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus changed it when He said, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." At first glance, this command actually seems harder than the first, even impossible. To love someone as I love myself, I can probably do that most of the time if I really try, although I'm sure I would still fail at it plenty. But to love others as God loves me? He's kidding, right? How can I possibly love even those closest to me that much, let alone people who annoy me, have different beliefs, hurt me, or are just idiots? Thanks for raising the bar, Jesus--as if it wasn't already high enough. (Eyes-rolling Emoji)

But the beauty of His command can be seen when I take a closer look. It's not just about loving others as God loves me, it's about believing just how much I am loved. God does not expect us to give something that is not a part of us. While some have the ability to love more than others due to upbringing and receiving plenty of human love themselves, no one can love like God loves innately. We simply are not born with that capacity in our broken humanness. We are too selfish, fearful, and weak. We can only love like that when God's love is the central part of our being; and the only way to have that is to receive His love every day, every hour, every moment.

Knowing how much of God's love I'm receiving can be difficult to measure. How much is all? How much is enough? How much am I receiving today compared to yesterday or last month or last year? But here's a good gauge to go by: if you're having trouble loving others, if you're having trouble keeping any of God's commands, you're not receiving enough of His love.

"As I have loved you..." Think about what that means. It means a lot of things, and it means different things to different people. But this I know: It means God is on my side; and He's on yours too. Hear it, believe it, and live like it. Live loved. Live forgiven. Live free. He loves you, He loves you, He loves you; and He is for you, not against you. He is on your side.


Psalm 56:9 (NLT)
Mark 12:28-31: paraphrase mine

Summer of Love

Summer Love is a popular theme-setting for romance novels. I fell in love with my husband during the summer, and I have written several books where the main characters either fall in love over the course of these mid-year months or at least meet during that time. I think one of the reasons this happens in real-life, not only in books, is because summer often involves more time with others than usual. Without school and our regular routines to get in the way, there is more opportunity for meeting new people or having fun and relaxing times with those we already know--but we may have been too busy to notice before.


Summer is a good time for new things to happen. It might be something unplanned like making new friends or even falling in love, but it can also be a time to set goals or try something new. Similar to the way we set New Year's Resolutions, we can also think of summer as a mid-year new start. Longer days, more free time, or being involved in a focused summer ministry can provide windows of opportunity the rest of the year may lack. With that being said, what do you have planned for this summer? What do you foresee happening in the next three months before school starts again and you get back to "regular life"?

No matter what your plans are, how lazy or busy your days may be, (or even if you live in the southern hemisphere and winter is before you instead of summer), I'd like to offer a few suggestions of how you can be intentional about how you spend the coming months and how you can live a season of love. I will use the word LOVE as an acronym for living these months with purpose, focus, and joy.

L is for Listen:

Start the new season by listening. What is God saying to you? If you don't know, spend time with Him and listen for how He is leading you, what He wants to teach you, and any changes you need to make. This might involve specific plans, saying yes or no to certain activities, being involved in a summer ministry, going to camp, hanging out with family or friends--whatever. But are you listening? Are you allowing God to direct your steps or just doing your own thing?

Listening also involves hearing and believing the truth. Are you believing in God's love for you? Are you believing in your value and worth to Him? Do you believe He cares about your life and how you live it? Do you believe He has good things in store? If you are feeling like a failure, hopeless, or it's just been a bad year so far, do you believe He can rescue you? Do you believe He can give you a fresh start?

Whatever your starting point, listening is the first step to what comes next. In Isaiah 55, God says, "Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food." He's not talking about what you put into your mouth; He's using food as a metaphor for what is best for you. He knows what you need. He knows what will make you thrive. "Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen and you will find life."

O is for Opportunity:

If you have a lot of free time ahead of you, how can you use that as an opportunity to try something new, grow in your faith, or reach out in love to others? Or if you're going to be busy, how can your busyness be productive? How can you make the most of whatever opportunities are before you? Live with purpose. Live intentionally. Love intentionally.

In Isaiah 55, God also reminds the people how He displayed His power through King David. He was a mere shepherd-boy God raised up to be a great leader. And He says, "I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David...I, the LORD your God, have made you glorious."

No matter who you are, where you are, or what you are doing, God's glory can shine through you. There are always opportunities to make a difference, trust God more, and allow Him to guide you each day. This might involve helping out around the house, spending time with your siblings or a friend who is lonely, helping out at your church or in your community. It doesn't have to be "big" things. Look for opportunities to do the small things as well as taking on larger tasks, goals, or projects.

V is for Virtue:

First of all, let me define virtue. Virtue is any behavior that displays moral values or standards. Synonyms of virtue include: goodness, integrity, decency, and purity. Love itself is a virtue, along with honesty, patience, and kindness. How can virtue be a part of whatever you spend your time doing? How you treat others? How you do your work? How you help others?

How you do something is just as important as what you are doing. You might have an opportunity of a lifetime to travel, be involved in a unique ministry, or take steps to make your future dreams come true, but pride, arrogance, and poor choices could drastically alter your experience. So listen. How is God leading you or speaking to you about what is to come? How can you make the most of it? What virtues are important to consider when starting out and making daily choices along the way?

If you aren't doing anything this summer that seems very significant, or you're not sure what lies ahead, virtue still plays a huge role. You might wish you were doing something more exciting or that you had specific plans, but your attitude can be the difference between a boring summer and an amazing one. Sometimes the best things happen when you don't plan them. "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." (Is. 55:8)

Just having an open heart, helpful hands, and making the most of every opportunity might lead to things you never dreamed. Spreading goodness, kindness, and joy to others--that's enough of a plan. Combine it with listening to God and looking for opportunities around you: that's a recipe for a summer of love.

E is for Encouragement:

Finally, I want to encourage you to hope for the best. No matter what you do or don't do in the coming months, God goes before you and He will lead you. He wants the best for you. He wants you to feel loved, valued, worth His time, and as someone who has so much to offer others. If He has led you to make specific plans this summer, trust Him each day, ask for His guidance, rely on His strength, and believe everything is going just as He has planned it, even if things go sideways. Failure or success is a matter of perspective, not results. Trust Him to lead you and trust Him with the outcome, no matter what that may be.

If you have no plans, either because you haven't felt led in a particular way, you said no to a specific opportunity, or you just haven't thought about it until now, be encouraged that it's not too late. There is still plenty of time to listen, take whatever opportunities come your way, and make virtue a part of everything you do. Just pray, love, seek God, and believe you can have a wonderful season before you.

Seek the LORD while you can find him.

Call on him now while he is near.

Isaiah 55:6

Scripture quotations are 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.
 
Love sign photo by Terri-Ann Hanlon/Freeimages.com
Girl photo by gilles van leeuwen/Freeimages.com

You Belong To God

You belong to God.

Take a moment and let that sink in. Think about what that means.

You belong to God. You are His. He made you for His own possession. God made you because He wanted to. On purpose! For a purpose.

Have you ever made something or done something you're really proud of? Think about the time and effort you put into it. Your heart and soul. Even if it was a simple drawing, craft project, or another form of art. Perhaps you are into photography or baking or making music. Or maybe you are an athlete who helped your team win that big game. These things take time and creativity, and when you create something that is beautiful or do something that creates excitement or enjoyment, you take pride in your effort; you take pride in what you have accomplished.

God feels the same way about you. You are His handiwork. He designed you to be just as you are: from your outward appearance and intricate inner-workings of your body, to your personality, talents, and passions. He designed you, and He is proud of you. Even if you never do things that are great in the eyes of others. Even if you're not exceptionally smart or talented. Even if you make mistakes. You are His. You belong to Him. You matter because you are a human being created in His image. Because you live and breathe and have an eternal soul. There is nothing anyone can do, not even yourself, to change that. You are and forever will be His unique creation, and He loves you dearly.

You belong to Him.

Do you believe that? Does it make a difference in how you think and live each day? It probably does in ways you don't think about much, like getting up every morning and going about your day, doing your homework, participating in activities you enjoy, and interacting with others. Your life has purpose and meaning. You learn, find enjoyment in things, and love others because that's what you have been designed to do. God made you to be curious, creative, social, and to grow in new ways. When we don't engage with the people and opportunities around us, we become bored. Sometimes we get too busy or life gets complicated, and we wish everything would stop, but if it did, we would feel lost because without anything to do or relationships to engage in (even those that are complicated), we cease to matter--at least in our own eyes. We do matter to others and to God--always; but losing touch with life, the good, the bad, and the in between makes us feel lifeless, worthless, and alone.

Living your day-to-day enjoyment and struggles is one way to keep life meaningful, and even the routine, mundane things have their place. After all, if you never did your homework, went to soccer practice, or cleaned your room, you wouldn't learn much, get better at your sport, or have clean clothes to wear. You would also cause frustration for your teachers, coaches, teammates, and family. You can do a lot to enhance the lives of others and make them feel valued by simply doing your part. (Just think how you feel when you are assigned a group project and you're the only one who does any of the work.) Life is often about cooperation, teamwork, and being helpful, so look at your everyday life as a constant opportunity to be a blessing to others, and the best place to start is in your own home, school, and community.

Another way to show your belief that you belong to God and matter to Him is to have dreams and do what you can to make them come true. God has given you specific talents, abilities, gifts, and passions. Some you may have already discovered and others will come later, but what are your current dreams? What do you hope for? What do you want--for today and for the future? You may think those are just your dreams, but are they, or has God given them to you? Is that what He made you for, what He aspires for you to have, to be, to do? Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever asked Him? Do you believe Him when He says 'Yes, and I can get you there,' or 'No, but follow Me and I'll show you something even better.' ?

You belong to God, and He has given you a life to live. You are of great value to Him and to others. Your life has purpose and meaning. You may not know what all that involves yet, and you will never know just how much you mean to God and those you love (and others you may not even know you have touched or will reach in some way), but believe it anyway. Believe you are His. Believe He made you for a reason, for many reasons!

Believe you matter, and tackle one day, one task, one challenge, one goal at a time--with His guidance, help, and love. And no matter what happens, never give up on your God-given dreams. He is doing things in your life already to make them come true, and He won't stop. Listen to Him, trust Him, and follow Him; And He will take you there.


For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

The God Who Sees Me

There is a story in the Old Testament about a man and his wife who wanted to have a child, but the woman was barren. Despite their old age, God promised the man he would have a son and as many descendants as the stars in the sky. You have probably heard the story of Abram and Sarai, who were later named Abraham and Sarah. If not, I will fill in the details for you, which by American standards would be against the law on several levels, but at that time were culturally acceptable.

One day Sarai made a suggestion to her husband and he agreed to sleep with Sarai's maid, Hagar, to conceive a child through her. Not surprisingly this arrangement created problems between Sarai and her servant, and Hagar ran away.

There is no hint of any problems between Hagar and Sarai before this decision was made. But afterwards, when Hagar learned she was pregnant, she no longer respected Sarai and became disobedient. Whether this was because she saw herself as being more valuable than a mere slave because she was Abram's wife now too and could give him something Sarai couldn't, or because she hated Sarai for putting her in that position is unclear; but the mistress-servant relationship was lost.

Hagar didn't serve Sarai as she once had and Sarai became harsh with her, causing Hagar to run away. When Hagar came to a well in the wilderness, she stopped and an angel met her there. This reminds me of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman by a well. When He spoke to her and asked for a drink, she responded with "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9) In that day, Jewish men typically did not associate with Samaritans, let alone a woman. And in Hagar's day I don't think an angel of God approaching a slave-woman was commonplace either. Abram and Sarai were royalty, worthy of such a visit, but a maid was just a slave.

Hagar's reaction to the encounter isn't clear at first. The messenger asks her, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8) Hagar responds truthfully and the angel instructs her to go back and be submissive to her mistress, telling her she will have a son and many descendants, more than she can count. At this point Hagar realizes who is speaking to her and declares, "You are the God who sees me." (v. 13)

Her words are similar to the woman at the well who after meeting Jesus told others, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" (John 4:29) In both cases the women knew their sins had been exposed, and yet they weren't threatened by that. If you are trying to hide your sin from God, don't bother. He already knows and loves you anyway. Allow that truth to set you free. He sees you for who you really are, and that's okay!

Whether you have been wrong, wronged by others, or both, do you believe God sees you? Does He know your name? Does He know your plight? Does He know where you are coming from and where you are going? Does He know your fears, the lonely road you walk, the mistreatment you have suffered? Do you believe He comes to meet you on the journey of despair, heartbreak, confusion, and pain? Do you believe you are worth such love?

Considering that Hagar did go back, faithfully served her master, and endured more mistreatment later, I think she believed where her true value was found. Not in what she gained or gave in this arrangement; Not in how well she served or didn't; Not in what others thought of her; But in the God who saw her. She knew she mattered to Him, and that was enough.

It's okay to ask, 'Why?'

Last year a friend of mine passed away from cancer. She was young. I had only known her for a few years, but she had a big impact on my life. She's a sweet, kind, and loving person. She has a daughter who had recently gotten married, and her life was full of joy. One day I got a message that she was sick. A few days later she was undergoing chemo treatments, and while they were somewhat effective, it wasn't enough. Other complications arose, and she didn't feel well most of the time. Her attitude was amazing. Her spirit never faltered. She had so many people praying for her, and she believed God was going to heal her. I believed He was going to heal her.

She died.

Why?

I have a very blessed life. I have not encountered much tragedy, sickness, or life-altering events. Some, but not a lot. The most difficult times I've had in life are as a mom. Motherhood is stressful, emotional, and exhausting at times. It's also full of joy and wonderful moments. But it's hard when I'm tired. It's hard when my kids face difficulties I can't fix. It's hard when others tell me I'm doing it wrong. The second-most difficult thing has been medical issues I've had from time to time. I don't tolerate pain well. I am slow to recover from surgery, and I've had six of them. Ugh!

During moments of pain, weariness, distress, frustration, and heartbreak, I've often asked, "Why? Why, God? Why are you allowing this to happen?" (With quiet tears, louder ones, and all-out sobs that shake my whole body.)

I used to feel guilty for asking that. How dare I question God, right? I've heard others say we shouldn't. I've heard people facing great difficulty, sickness, or tragedy say, "I won't question God; I'll just accept His will." If they are sincere, I applaud them. If they're not, I pity them. To not cry out to God in a time of need? That's not right. That's not what He wants.

In God's Kingdom, everything happens for a reason. If we make poor choices that lead to natural consequences, those negative results can wake us up to how we are treating our bodies, how we treat others, time we are wasting, talents we are tossing aside, family and friends we are pushing away, etc. And if things happen through no fault of our own, God has a reason for allowing it to happen. It's okay to ask, 'Why, God?', but don't walk away in disgust, anger, or pain. Run to Him, cling to Him, and wait for the answer.

"Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you." God invites you to ask, to seek, to knock...to say, "What is going on? Why is this happening? What are You doing? Am I safe? Am I ever going to recover from this? What's Your plan?"

He might not answer immediately, then again, He might. Perhaps He is waiting for you to ask so He can tell you the reason, show you the next step, or provide the way out; or maybe He will ask you to wait, to trust Him for now and see what is to come. But one thing is for sure: He will answer. He will explain Himself. He will teach you something, lead you forward, prove His love, strengthen you, carry you... He will give you whatever you most need.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" --King David, Jesus, Me


Scripture taken from Matthew 7:7; Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46

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 even if I sin or ignore Him? I certainly hope so, because it's true! His love for you is unconditional. 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... He loves you too much to leave you completely on your own, and nothing 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. 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.

We can never reach the end of His love, there's always more for Him to give, and there are also new ways we can think about His love. What do I mean by that? Here are a few examples:

You know God loves you even when you make mistakes, sin, and fail; 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 shy, perky or chill, spontaneous or thoughtful, funny or serious, 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 just 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 do 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, let Him carry you.

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. 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 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 have 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 source of strength, and your best friend. 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 He wants you to. Jesus said,“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 to be, despite its small beginnings. You can do the same if you are firmly rooted in His love.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow deep into God's love and keep you strong.
(Eph. 3:16-17)

Rom. 8:37-39, Eph. 3:16-17 paraphrase mine
Mustard Seed Photo Credit: David Turner, February 23, 2005. CC
Mustard Plant Photo Credit: www.bibleistrue.com
Sand Heart Photo Credit: FreeImages.com/Jan Willem Geertsma CC