Father, It is Finished – Please Forgive Me

It is finished. How can we call it Good Friday? Because Jesus' sacrifice that day is Good News for the lost and broken ... people like you and me. #GoodFriday #Easter #Jesus #CountingMyBlessings

I have a hard time getting my brain around all that this day we call “Good Friday” embraces.

When I think about the betrayals and denials, trials and lashes, a crown of thorns and crowds shouting “crucify Him” … all pieces of the day that Jesus suffered and died.

How can we call it … Good Friday?

Because Jesus’ sacrifice that day is Good News for the lost and broken … for people like you and me.

People who need forgiveness. So, I’m praying…

Father, It is Finished – Please Forgive Me

Father, Your Word says…

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4:10

Your love overwhelms me … humbles me.

I am so undeserving of Your grace and mercy.

I imagine myself in the worst parts of that day. Oh, it’s easier to think that I would have been standing with John and the Marys … that I would have faithfully followed Your Son to the foot of the cross.

But I wonder, would I have been strong enough or would I have followed the crowd? Would I have been stood strong on Your truth or listened to church leaders, the ones with power and prestige.

That’s how I end up overwhelmed…

Because of Your amazing grace and unfailing love You suffered and died for them, for me!

You sent Your Son to suffer and die for…

Pharisees and Sadducees
High Priests and Temple Leaders
Caiaphas, Herod, and Pontius Pilate
Soldiers and Guards
Betrayers and Deniers
Tax-collectors, Adulterers, and Cheaters
Sinners

People like me!

So today, as I approach the foot of the cross and hear His words, “It is finished!” And my heart and mind cry out, “Father, forgive me!”

I’m so sorry!

I believe Your Word that says…

Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Romans 3:23

And…

The wages of sin is death.
Romans 6:23

I believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, that…

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12

I believe that by You grace…

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
Galatians 2:20

And that I have been made right with You, Father, by placing my faith in Jesus Christ. That this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (Based on Romans 3:22)

I trust Your promise…

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 10:9–10

And Jesus promise…

I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.
John 11:25–26

Which is why I’m overwhelmed, Father.

It is by Your grace that I am saved. Grace given to me through the undeserved suffering and death of Your Son, and my Savior, Jesus.

Thank you!

Because of Jesus’ “It is finished!” Because of Good Friday, I can say, “Please forgive me!”

And hear Him say, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Thank you, Father! That is Good News!

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

It would bless me so much if you’d take a moment to subscribe to Counting My Blessings so you never miss an update!

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5 Verses to Pray When You Need to be Sure of God’s Love

2 / 14 / 192 / 15 / 19

The cards, flowers, chocolate, and “I love yous” have all been shared.

And yet, I wonder how many of us are left longing because someone left us wanting … failing to fill us up the way we expected, hoped or believed we needed.

God's love is more than enough when life is hard and people let you down. Here are 5 verses to pray when you need to be sure of God's love. #GodisLove #GodLovesYou #Prayer #Bible #Faith

I keep thinking about Jenny Lind’s song in The Greatest Showman…

All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it’ll
Never be enough … for me.

And my heart keeps thinking…

Maybe it’s not supposed to be.

Maybe there really is nothing that can fill up that hole in our hearts and maybe it has less to do with them and more to do with us.

If you’re like me … you take that “never enough” feeling and blame yourself. You feel unworthy. You wonder what you should have done differently. You dwell on every little flaw and fault and desperately want someone to make it better.

But the expectation isn’t fair, really!

Because no one … NO ONE … can fill the hole in our hearts that God created for Himself.

God’s perfect love is the only thing that can satisfy us … His is the only love that truly is ENOUGH!

And yet, even though I know that is true with every bit of my being, I still have times when I’m a little too introspective and needy … times when I find myself lacking because I’ve questioned how God could love a total mess like me.

You too?

Today, I’m asking God to help me seek Him first when I need the assurance of love. I’m asking Him to fill me to overflowing with His perfect unfailing love.

5 Verses to Pray When You Need to be Sure of God’s Love

God is love. God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4:8b–10

Father, You are love … REAL LOVE! And you showed us just how You love by sacrificing everything for us … for me.

The truth is Father, I don’t feel very lovable most of the time. I know I’m a mess. I fail You and the people I love every day. Those who love me … let me down and I feel unlovable.

But then You remind me that Your love is not determined by how I feel or what I do, Your love is an amazing and undeserved gift. You give me everything I need today and promise me that I will spend eternity in Your presence. Your grace, mercy, and love overwhelm me. Thank you! Amen.

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
2 Thessalonians 2:16–17

Father, Jesus said … He must return to You so that You would send the Holy Spirit. The One who comforts me and gives me hope. The One who strengthens me and guides me with Your truth. The One who gifts me with “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The One who makes possible any good thing I say and do.

I can’t imagine living even one day without Your Spirit’s help. Thank you for loving me so much that I don’t have to figure this life out on my own. Thank you for a love that will never leave me or forsake me. Amen.

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:18–19

Father, please help me keep my eyes on You … even when life is hard. When people and circumstances have disappointed me. Please help me run to You quickly, when I need Your forgiveness because I’ve messed things up again!

Your love is deep and high and long and wide. It is beyond my power to understand even when I keep my heart and mind focused and seek You first. When I don’t … oh Father, it’s ugly.

I need You! Forgive me. Help me. And grant me the fullness of life and power that only Your love can give. Amen.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38–39

Father, how I need to carry these words in my heart constantly.

Nothing can separate me from Your love! NOTHING!

You were separated from Jesus as He suffered on the cross for me so I would never have to experience the misery of being separated from You.

Your love sustains and strengthens me. When the enemy taunts me with fear and worry, help me remember that You are with me and You are greater than anything this world can throw at me.

Nothing can separate me from Your love! Nothing!

Thank you! Thank you! Amen.

Each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me and through each night I sing His songs praying to God who gives me life.
Psalm 42:8

Every day, Father, You faithfully pour Your perfect love over me. Nothing in this life compares to Your love. And yet, You have graced us with relationships that give us a taste, however imperfect, of the spectacular beauty found in this gift You call love! Thank you!

May I live each day telling others about Your love. May I be blessed to show them Your love, and although I know I do so imperfectly … please, speak over them the truth of who You are and how much You love them.

And Father, may I spend every day for the rest of my life singing songs of praise and thanking You for who You are … for You are LOVE!

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

You can be sure God loves you!

Your heart may be bursting with the love of family and friends today.

Or…

You may be hurting and longing because love has let you down.

Whatever your heart feels…

You can be sure of God’s love!

He died for you! He lives for you! Nothing can separate you from His love … not today – not ever! His love fills the heavens and earth. And through His love He is giving you all you need to live each day.

Now that’s a truth to hold on to! AMEN?!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

I Dare You: Buy the Flowers by Kaitlyn Bouchillon @ It Just Takes One

I Dare You: But the Flowers

by and @ Kaitlyn Bouchillon

He Calls You Beautiful

by Leah Hughes
@ Life, Love, and Littles

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

[Tweet “I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun! “]

Deb Wolf
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No More Rules Link Party

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Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
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Thank you so much for partying with us!
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and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Have you visited the Faith ‘n Friends Link Party Board on Pinterest? It’s a great place to catch up with past posts you may have missed here at the party and/or save them for a future read! If you’d like to become a contributor to my Pinterest Group Boards – email me at deb@debwolf.com with a link to your Pinterest home page.

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When You Need to Be Sure God Loves You

2 / 11 / 192 / 11 / 19

Love…

It’s a fickle thing, isn’t it?

We don’t want it to be. In fact, most people are desperately looking for a love that is guaranteed to last.

Oh, we promise to love our spouse forever but nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. We hope our families will remain united and loving from one generation to the next but we all know that doesn’t always happen. We believe our besties will see us through no matter what but…

Love is a fickle thing. Imperfect people love imperfectly. But God loves you perfectly. Here are 4 Ways that will show you just how much! #Godislove #Bible #Faith #ChristianCommunity #BlessingCounter

So, have I cheered you up yet?

You’re probably thinking … what in the world is wrong with her. Aren’t we supposed to be all warm and fuzzy as we talk about love this week?

Well…

You know I wouldn’t start this discussion if I couldn’t give you hope and tell you about the perfect unfailing love that is forever and no matter what…

God Loves You Always and No Matter What

The other night I found myself wide awake for a couple of hours pondering and praying about what to write here … a relatively common occurrence for me.

Anyway…

I didn’t sense any clear direction so I finally gave up and went back to sleep.

But the next morning as I sat and read my scheduled Bible Reading, God whispered … “this is how much I love you!”

4 Ways You Can Be Sure God Loves You

1. God loves you – He sees you. He hears you. And He rescues you when the time is right!

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey
Exodus 3:7–8

God’s people had been suffering under slavery and genocide. And it was time to act. Moses had been raised in the house of Pharaoh and understood the ways of the Egyptians.

But God had also allowed him to live for years as a shepherd and nomad to teach him all he needed to know to lead the Children of Israel through their wilderness wanderings.

Whatever you are going through, whatever has you burdened and enslaved … when you cry out to God you can be sure He sees, He hears, and He is preparing a way to help you.

2. God Loves You – at the perfect time He saved you.

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.For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
John 3:16–17

God not only showed how much He loves … He proved He is the very definition of love.

Perfect self-sacrificing love!

Love that saves and promises a future filled with hope.

And what does He ask in return?

That you and I would believe in His one and only Son, Jesus!

I love the way the Life Application Bible defines belief…

To believe is more than intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. It means to put our trust and confidence in Him that He alone can save us. It is to put Christ Jesus in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting His words as reliable and relying on Him for the power to change.
Life Application Bible Notes John 3:16

God’s love not only provides for our eternal future … His love provides a way to make today better, too.

3. God loves you – He gave you His Holy Spirit Inspired trustworthy Word so you might be able to know Him.

For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.
Psalm 33:4–5

I believe the Bible is a miracle.

The Bible was written:

over a 1500 year span (from 1400 B.C to A.D. 100)
over 40 generations
over 40 authors from many walks of life (i.e. – kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, scholars)
in different places (i.e. – wilderness, dungeon, palaces)
at different times (i.e. – war, peace)
in different moods (i.e. – heights of joy, depths of despair)
on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe)
in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek)
~ Bible Facts – All About God

And…

Through all those details … from Genesis to Revelation, the message. of the Bible points to one single message … God loves you so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus!

There will always be people who try to “edit” it’s words and their meaning. Argue the accuracy of the message because of time and translations. Dispute the motives and intentions of those who put the canon together. Debate inaccuracies and inconsistencies. And challenge it all based on “science.”

But that eliminates the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter wrote:

You must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
2 Peter 1:20–21

I believe … that same Holy Spirit is the one who still affirms, “the Word of the Lord is right and true!”

4. God loves you – He will give you everything you need each day.

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
Exodus 4:11–12

Moses response was…

“Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
Exodus 4:13

The Life Application Bible Notes say…

It is easy for us to focus on our weaknesses, but if God asks us to do something, then He will help us get the job done. If the job involves some of our weak areas, then we can trust that He will provide words, strength, courage, and ability where needed.

Whatever God asks or allows He will give you and me everything we need one day at a time.

I”ll admit, I have to remind myself often that my needs are not determined by my wants.

The Life Application Notes offer a great set of questions to ask when you feel like you don’t have what you need…

Is this really a need?
It is really good for me?
Is this the best time for me to have this?

Even when you and I answer “yes” to all three questions, it’s important to remember that our greatest needs are spiritual and eternal. And God’s “no” or “wait” may be exactly what we need to grow closer and more dependent on Him.

God’s grace, mercy, and love!

Love between imperfect people is … well, imperfect.

But God’s love…

Sees, hears, and rescues.
Saves from sin, death, and satan’s power.
Is in His Word so people might know Him.
And meets the needs of His children every single day!

That’s not just how much He loves people … God wants you to know, that’s how much He loves you!

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

It would bless me so much if you’d take a moment to subscribe to Counting My Blessings so you never miss an update!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

The Wonderful Truth about Who You are in Jesus

10 / 18 / 18

I don’t know about you, but I can be my own worst enemy.

Why is it so much easier to think about what I’m not rather remembering who I am?

And you’d think after years of experience with this bad habit, I’d have learned a thing or two about consistently taking negative thoughts captive and replacing them with God’s truth.

That I’d be better at thinking less about who I am and more about whose I am!

So, I’m making a list. One I can grab any time I need a truth pep talk.

Seriously, I don’t believe God wants me to sit around dwelling on who I’m not when He has given me all I need to remember who I am in Him.

Maybe you struggle too! Maybe you, like me, need a regular reminder that…

We have the presence of His Spirit.

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Think about that for a minute. You and I have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling within us! And I for one, am ready to quit pushing His voice to the background while I waste time listening to the lies that defeat and discourage me.

It’s time to make a more permanent change. So, I’m making a list of God’s promises to help me. I hope it helps you too!

And as you read through the list of verses, put your name or a personal pronoun in each blank…

The Wonderful Truth about Who You are in Jesus

Who You are in Jesus:

♥ You are Known – God Thinks about You

How precious are your thoughts about ________, O God. They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:17

♥ You are Loved

I am writing to ________, who has been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. Jude 1:1

♥ You are a Child of God

But to _________, who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become a child of God. You are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. John 1:12–13

♥ You are a Friend of Jesus

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command … Now ________ is my friend, since I have told you everything the Father told me. John 15:13–15

♥ You are a New Creation

If _________ belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV)

__________ has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

♥ You are Chosen and Holy

Even before He made the world, God loved ________ and chose _________ in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4

♥ You are Chosen and Loved

God loves _________ and has chosen you to be His own people. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

♥ You are Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ

When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. So ________ also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:10–11

♥ You are a Citizen of Heaven

________ is a citizen of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20

♥ You are God’s Masterpiece

For ________ is God’s masterpiece. He has created ________ anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

♥ You have God’s Peace to Guard Your Heart and Mind

Then ________ will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

♥ You have Strength for Life

________ can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

♥ You are Victorious

Can anything ever separate ________ from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ________ through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:35, 37

♥ You are Forever Safe in God’s Love

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate ________ from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither ________ fears for today nor _______ worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate ________ from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate _________ from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39

You know it’s funny…

When you and I focus on ourselves, on our faults and failures, it’s easy to get lost in the negatives … in what we’re not. But when we take those heart and mind discouraging thoughts captive and replace them with the truth…

The truth of who you are in Jesus.
The truth of who I am in Jesus.

Then and only then do we have everything we need.

Because we are known and loved, a child of God, a friend of Jesus, a new creation, chosen, loved, and holy, a citizen of heaven, and God’s masterpiece. And we have everything we need to live fully alive in His presence. We have strength, peace, victory, and we are forever safe!

Forever!

Whew! I need to keep this close and change my thoughts more quickly because in Jesus … it is well with my soul. And it’s well with my heart and mind, too!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

What Side are You On? The Great Divide

by Lisa Burgess
@ Lisa Notes…

How to Keep a Strong Faith When Disappointed

by Maree Dee
@ Embracing Life in the Midst of the Unexpected

Lessons I’ve Learned in the Space
Between Family Photos

by Michelle Skillern
@ Mrs. Designs

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

[Tweet “I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun! “]

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Thank you and God bless!

Verses to Pray When You Need to be Sure God Loves You

8 / 9 / 18

Earlier this week, I shared a post about an email exchange I had with a reader who said…

“I’ve had a problem all of my adult years. I’ve been unable to feel God’s love.”

You can read the rest here.

I could relate to her email … I’ve had times when God felt distant and I doubted His love, times when life didn’t make sense and answers seemed distant.

Something I learned this week is that most of you can relate to the faith/feelings conundrum, too!

My earlier post shared a list of things I believe you and I need to know and do when the enemy taunts us with doubts that discourage and overwhelm us.

Be Honest with Yourself and God.
Take Your Doubts to God in Prayer.
Live Your Faith Until You Feel God’s Love.

Today I want to focus on #2 and pray…

Verses to Pray When You Need to be Sure God Loves You

God loves you!

Psalm 13:1–2

O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Father, thank you for showing us the honest men of faith throughout Scripture. Even David, “the man after God’s [Your] own heart” experienced times of doubt, times when You seemed distant.

I believe You want me to be honest about my feelings. I believe You want me to come to You with anything that troubles my heart or mind. I believe You hear my prayers and I believe You love me.

Thank you, Father! Please hold me close. Give me a sense of Your presence and love. “Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief.” In Jesus name. Amen.

God loves you!

Romans 8:38

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us
from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither our fears for today
nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the
powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Father, Your Word tells me that You are love and You are with me … nothing in this world can separate me from Your perfect unfailing love. Forgive me, Father! Although I know Your Word is truth, I am still prone to fear and worry — things that distract me and tempt me to doubt Your promises. But Lord, no matter how I feel, nothing can ever change who You are. You are LOVE! I can trust You … today, tomorrow, and forever. Thank you! Amen.

God loves you!

Psalm 86:5–7

O Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for Your help.
Listen closely to my prayer,
O Lord; hear my urgent cry.
I will call on You whenever I’m in trouble,
and You will answer me.

Father, thank you for every word of hope and promise, for faith-filled prayers of people like David, for examples that show me I can come to You with the rawness of my life … with my regrets and worries, doubts and fears. You love me and hear the cries of my heart. Thank you. Lord, may I remember to pray without ceasing, and may I come to You with my praise and gratitude more than I cry out for solutions and intervention.

You are love. Perfect love.

By Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, help me trust Your promises. Remove my doubt and fill me with the truth of Your Word. I will hold Your promises in my heart and remember that You are: patient and kind, forgiving and merciful, holy and just. Your love is a fact greater than my feelings. Thank you! Amen.

God loves you!

Lamentations 3:22–23

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.

Father, thank you for Your never-ending, unfailing love. Thank you for mercy that will never stop no matter how I feel or what I’ve done. Thank you for giving me a fresh start each morning.

I surrender my feelings to You today. I give You my doubts, my fears, my insecurities. Fill my heart and mind with Your truth. Help my faith to grow and may my feelings overflow with heartfelt love for You … the One who loves me most and best as You cover me with underserved mercy and grace. I love You, Lord. Thank you! Amen.

God loves you!

Psalm 23:6

Surely Your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Father, You are good. Your love never fails. And because of Your perfect goodness and love, You pursue me. You work in my life in ways that are always for my good and for Your glory. Open my eyes that I might see the mighty and beautiful things You are doing in my life. Fill me with the things of Your Spirit – with faith, hope, and love.

Give me an eternal perspective Lord, full of hope and promise knowing that I can trust You completely. Whatever my feelings, nothing will change who You are … Holy and Perfect Lord of lords and King of kings, Creator, Redeemer, Comforter, Father, and Friend.

Thanks and praise now and forever. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Friend, the truth is … our hearts and minds deceive us. We’ve been told to “trust our guts” even though we know gut feelings are less than reliable.

But we have someone in our lives who is perfectly reliable. Someone who loves us so much He died to show us…

I read the following in my Life Application Bible Notes this week…

If the Bible makes no other point, it shouts this one: God loves us! His love had no beginning and is incredibly patient. All we need to do is respond, not try to earn what is freely offered.

God has said in many ways, “I love you. I have demonstrated that love to you by all I’ve done for you. I have even sacrificed my Son, Jesus, to pay the price for what is unacceptable about you—your sin. Now, live because of my love. Respond to me, love me with your whole being; give yourself to me in thanksgiving, not as payment.” [The price has already been paid!]

Live life fully. In the freedom of knowing you are loved!

No matter how you and I feel, the fact is … God loves you!

Have a wonderful weekend and rest in the Father’s perfect love!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

I Quit! – How Fear of Failure Kept Me from Finishing

by Diane Ferreira
@ Worth Beyond Rubies

When You Don’t Know How to Embrace the Delay

by Maree Dee
@ Embracing Life in the Midst of the Unexpected

Did You Make it Home this Summer”

by Carlie Lake
@ From Dust Towards the Heavens

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

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Things You Need to Know When You Don’t Feel God’s Love

8 / 6 / 188 / 13 / 18

Earlier this summer I received the following email from a reader…

I’ve had a problem all of my adult years. I’ve been unable to feel God’s love. He is always very remote for me. I have almost constant feelings of guilt. I try to be a Christ-like person, but too often fall short in my thoughts. I have a very difficult time getting rid of unChirstlike thoughts, When someone hurts me, I try to forgive, yet I ruminate on the injury. I just can’t stop the thoughts so I feel like I’m displeasing God. I feel his disapproval. I read scriptures to help me. I have many memorized. I have whole chapters of scriptures memorized. I pray and read the scriptures daily. I do good things, yet those feelings remain. I attend church every Sunday.

I just wondered if you had any suggestions. Maybe it’s lack of faith on my part and I just need to accept that God loves me as I am.

I replied to her email with the following…

I’m so often humbled by God’s timing as He works in our lives. I found myself nodding as I read through your words because I can so relate to times when I long for an extra measure of the feeling of God’s love and He seems silent.

One thing I know for sure – God loves you and He is with you! You are seeking Him and He promises that He will be found by those who seek Him. And that He is with them.

I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me! Jeremiah 29:11–13

“Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

These are the verses I hold close when I don’t feel God’s love or His closeness in my life.

I’m certain of this as well. It is Satan, the enemy of our souls, who wants you to doubt God’s love and presence; he is the one who wants you to doubt God’s forgiveness and continue to struggle with guilt.

God promises that if you and I repent … He forgives us. He promises His love and presence. I remind myself that even when I don’t feel Him with me. He is.

A Scripture I turn to and trust is Psalm 139.

O Lord, You have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from Your presence!

You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
You are still with me!
v. 1–7, 16–18

You are are seeking Him and doing all the things you should be doing to grow closer to Him. You are doing the things that honor Him and please Him. Try not to let your feelings get in the way – He is pleased with you and He loves you! You can trust His promises.

Thank you so much for reaching out! It is always a blessing to hear from one of my readers.

God bless you! Deb

I’ve thought about this email exchange often since and wondered if you might also have times when God seems silent … when you don’t feel His love. So, I made a list of things I want to do when my feelings and faith fall flat.

Things to Do When You Don’t Feel God’s Love

1. Be Honest with Yourself and with God

I love that you and I can turn to the pages of Scripture and find many examples of men and women who honestly struggled as they walked with God. Even David, the “man after God’s own heart” honestly voiced His feelings of emptiness and longing.

O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever?
How long will You look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Psalm 13:1–2

2. Take it to God in Prayer

And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 1 John 5:14

You and I can be confident that God wants us to seek Him, to grow in faith, to trust His love, and to experience His loving presence. When we pray to know and love Him more, we can be assured that He will not only hear our prayers … He will work in our lives to grant our request.

3. Live Your Faith Until You Feel God’s Love

When you and I can’t feel God’s loving presence – it’s important to remember feelings are just that … they’re feelings. They are not necessarily the truth.

God is always with us. So, even when our faith feels small—God is near.

I love the account in Mark 9:17–29 – Jesus’ disciples had been trying unsuccessfully to deliver a boy from an evil spirit.

As Jesus approached them, the father of the boy pleads, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

Jesus answered, “What do you mean, ‘If I can’? Anything is possible if a person believes.”

And then my favorite part…

The father instantly cried out, “Lord, I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Jesus responded by healing his son.

I believe the most important thing you and I need to remember is…

God’s love is a fact not a feeling!

God is love! 1 John 4:8

Our feelings don’t, they won’t, they can’t, change God’s love.

While you and I were still sinners – God sent Jesus!

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9–10

He promises His love is never-ending.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22–23

And that nothing can separate us from His love.

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

So, where does that leave you and me?

Thanking and praising God – for His faithful forever love!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

That’s a prayer and a promise to hold close to our hearts each and every day!

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When You Need to Know You are Forgiven and Loved

4 / 23 / 184 / 24 / 18

I need God’s forgiveness!

No matter how hard I try, I mess up the obedience and love part of my life every single day!

I don’t obey God the way He wants me to. I don’t even obey Him the way I want to.

I tell Him how much I love Him but with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength … I fall short again and again.

Remember Paul’s words…

I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:18

Yeah, that’s me!

Maybe, like me, you ask God for His forgiveness but continue to beat yourself up over your weaknesses and failures … especially those things you keep on doing even though you know better and desperately want to stop.

If so…

Let’s take a look at God’s word of truth…

When You Need to Know You are Forgiven and Loved

The first thing you and I need to remember is God is the perfect Father…

♥ God made you and loves you so very much!

He does not hold your sins against you. He wants to forgive you … so much so, that He sent Jesus to suffer your punishment and mine. He suffered and died to pay the price that set us free!

“I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Isaiah 44:21b–22

Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ.
Oswald Chambers

♥ God wants us to surrender our failures to Him.

Why?

Because when you and I confess and repent…

We agree with God that our failures are sins that go against His will.
We take an honest assessment of our lives and realize our need for Him.
We acknowledge our sorrow for what we’ve done or what we’ve failed to do.
We ask Him to give us the desire and help we need to obey Him in the future.
We admit that we are totally dependent on God … we need Him.

Confession and repentance are the flat-out falling of the sinner before the Savior. It humbly recognizes that He is King of kings and Lord of lords, that He is God and well, we are not.

And the good news is…

If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9

And it’s not only a washing away the marks of sin, but it’s also … the power of the Holy Spirit to change stony, stubborn hearts into kind, responsive hearts.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:26–27

How cool is that?!

♥ You and I are more than just forgiven; we are new creations!

Through Jesus death and resurrection and through the power of His Spirit, you and I have a new perspective and a new heart.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17

We are being made new every day. We have a new covenant … a promise, written on our hearts that gives us a personal relationship with the God of the universe.

We belong to God!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1a

If you’re like me, though, you still have past failures/sins that haunt your thoughts and wear you down.

If so, this is the best news of all…

♥ Sins that have been confessed and repented are forgiven and gone for good!

We don’t need to wallow in self-loathing and memorialized guilt.

Even when our faith is weak, our conscience is sensitive, and memories haunt us God’s word affirms that through Jesus every confessed sin is gone for good!

I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Psalm 32:5

His love is as high as the heavens and His forgiveness is as far as the east is from the west.

He does not punish us for all our sins;
He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
Psalm 103:10–12

I love this quote!

“Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.” ~ George MacDonald

That’s it! LIFE! NEW LIFE! REDEEMED LIFE!

♥ You and I can LIVE celebrating God’s forgiveness and love.

Jesus is both willing and able to forgive us. It’s not some reward He holds in front of us trying to get us to do better.

It’s a gift of love.

Love confirmed on a cross two thousand years ago.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Love so complete it has one desire…

“The desire of His heart is always restoration – not condemnation. When we truly repent, God will forgive us.” Mary Southerland

When you and I struggle with guilt. When it’s hard to let go and move on … stop and remember just how much God loves you.

He is greater than your feelings.

He is your loving, forgiving, heart changing Giver of LIFE!

That my friend is a reason to celebrate with joy!

Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Psalm 32:1 and Romans 4:7

And if for just a moment you’re thinking…

You don’t understand. You don’t know what I’ve done. You don’t know how far I’ve fallen away. How I’ve ignored and neglected Him.

Read these words from Charles Stanley…

“When you stray from His presence, He longs for you to come back. He weeps that you are missing out on His love, protection and provision. He throws His arms open, runs toward you, gathers you up, and welcomes you home.” ~ Charles Stanley

One of my favorite parables is the story of the Prodigal Son.

The image of the Father watching and waiting for His son to return home. The picture of Him running to embrace the child who had rejected His love and squandered His blessings.

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

That’s the Father who loves us!

May you and I keep returning home in humble repentance knowing we are forgiven and loved … the celebration of LIFE is just beginning!

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This is for You – the One Exhausted by Life

2 / 26 / 182 / 26 / 18

Yes, I’m talking to you! You’ve poured yourself into your family and friends. You’ve worked your tail off and you’ve got nothin’ left.

You are poured out! Exhausted by life!

If you’re like me … you feel guilty, too.

Because you love your people!

And even though you’re running on fumes … there’s no quitting, no giving up. You will keep doing what you need to do no matter how hard it is.

So, I’m sharing the best advice I’ve been given over the years … the things that helped me most. Well, they helped when I remembered to do them.

3 Helpful Tips for the One Who’s Exhausted by Life

When You’re Exhausted by Life

1. Fill Your Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional Tank

Spend time alone with God

It’s easy for me to set my quiet time aside when life gets crazy . . . but that’s when I need it most. When I’m exhausted by life, I need time alone with God most.

I love both the BibleGateway and YouVersion Apps. They are full of reading plans and devotions that will fit any season of the year or of your life.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Eat a healthy diet.

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ~Jim Rohn

When I’m exhausted I crave sugar and junk food. Gotta love that sugar rush. Right?! But I’ve learned I have more energy and feel better when I stick to a natural diet plan full of fruits, vegetables, and protein.

Take time to rest.

It’s better to cross a few activities off your list than to regularly deny yourself the sleep you need. And if you have little ones that get up during the night … do your best to nap when they do or go to bed a little earlier. I was always tempted to try to get something done when they were sleeping but the truth is most things can wait … get some sleep!

“Sleep deprivation is an illegal torture method outlawed by the Geneva Convention and international courts, but most of us do it to ourselves.” ~Ryan Hurd

Set aside time for fun with family and friends.

There is something about laughter that energizes me like nothing else. It’s a wonderful way to put stress aside and forget what’s troubling me . . . even if it’s just for a little while.

“How would your life be different if… you decided to give freely, love fully, and play feverously? Let today be the day you free yourself from the conditioned rules that limit your happiness and dilute the beautiful life experience. Have fun. Give – Love – Play!” ~Steve Maraboli

Simplify where possible.

Rev and I simplified and organized before, during, and after our move last year. We love it! Keeping our surroundings simplified gives us less to take care of and worry about. We used the Kon-Mari method and asked one simple question of every item in our home … Does it bring me joy?

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” ~Hans Hofmann

Fill your day with worship

Praise God for who He is and for all He does. Turn on your favorite worship tunes and sing with your heart and mind focused on just how very much your Father loves you. A simple act of praise and worship can fill your spirit with joy, energy, and God’s all-sufficient grace to do what you need to do.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:1–3

When You’re Exhausted by Life

2. Set Clear and Specific Boundaries

Know God’s will.

Know God’s yeses and nos. Know what He approves and what He doesn’t. Ask Him to make His will evident in your life and then follow where He leads you.

“My dreams had to be His dreams, the ones He placed in my heart. They couldn’t be the ones I thought I should have, or needed for the purpose of making other people like me.” ~Stormie Omartian

Know and live your priorities.

You can’t be and do everything for everyone. Write a mission statement and live by it. Plan. Set goals. Know your best “yes” so you can say no when necessary.

“You have a purpose in life. You know in your heart what’s most important to you. In fact, your mission and values are expressed every day, by how you live–you just may not realize it.” ~Stephen Covey

Be willing to say “no.”

Saying “no” is hard for me. I don’t like disappointing anyone. But living out too many yeses stresses me out and makes me cranky and miserable. Most people would rather hear my “no” now, than deal with my crankiness later.

“I know saying ‘no’ is hard now but you’ll only have to feel bad for a little while. If you say ‘yes’ you’ll worry and feel bad until the event, through it, and probably long after. I think I’d rather shorten the misery.” ~A Very Wise Friend

Guard your heart and mind.

Limit your time on social media and the news, and avoid gossip altogether … both personal and celebrity. Choose your entertainment carefully. Consider the possibility that what you are putting into your mind may be a huge source of your stress and anxiety.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

Set happiness boundaries.

Simply put … you are not responsible for someone else’s happiness and they are not responsible for yours.

Trying to please everyone is a recipe for stress and frustration. You can’t control other people’s happiness. Live for God’s glory and let the rest play out as it will. ~ Me

When You’re Exhausted by Life

3. Live for God’s Glory

Live for an audience of One.

Living for God’s glory has as much or more to do with my attitude than it does my actions. I want my attitude to come from a heart’s desire to glorify God in everything and then follow through with actions that follow His will. It’s a huge goal. One I am only able to even begin to do…

When I keep my eyes on Jesus and make obedience my heart’s desire … I can do all things through Christ because He gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NCV)

With Jesus’ help, I can do what I need to do and say no to all the things I don’t! And with His help, I can know which is which!

“I don’t believe there is one great thing I was made to do in this world. I believe there is one great God I was made to glorify. And there will be many ways, even a million little ways, I will declare His glory with my life.” ~Emily P. Freeman

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to Your name goes all the glory
for Your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1

So, if you’re someone who read the title of this post and said, “Yes, I’m exhausted by life!”

Don’t give up!

It takes determined and intentional effort which I know is hard when you’re tapped out … but you can do it and oh, it is so worth it!

Write the 3 tips on a note card and use them as a bookmark in your Bible…

I will make choices to fill my spiritual, physical and emotional tank.
I will set clear and specific boundaries for myself.
I will live each day for the glory of God.

With God’s help and by His grace you and I can have the wisdom and strength we need to live today for His glory!

“We do not segment our lives, giving some time to God, some to our business or schooling, while keeping parts to ourselves. The idea is to live all of our lives in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and for the honor and glory of God. That is what the Christian life is all about.” ~ R. C. Sproul

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10 Ways God’s Love is Perfect, Unconditional, and Unfailing

9 / 4 / 178 / 19 / 19

John wrote, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 1 John 4:16

Not just that He loves but He is love!

The Bible says God’s love is perfect.

The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Exodus 34:6

Unconditional.

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4–5

And unfailing.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

It’s amazing, isn’t it?

No matter what you and I have done. No matter where we’ve been. No matter how we feel.

Maybe you need to hear these words today…

You are loved – perfectly, unconditionally, and unfailingly.

God loves us simply because love is who He is. Love comes first!

But…

Even though I know the verses and the songs I still have days’ when I don’t feel very lovable. When memories of missteps and failures leave me doubting.

So, I’m taking His Word and making it personal. Maybe it’s the encouragement you need today, too.

10 Ways God’s Love is Perfect, Unconditional, and Unfailing

God’s Love is Self-sacrificing

This is how much God loved (insert your name): He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. John 3:16 (NLT)

God Made Me in His Image

God spoke:“Let us make (your name) in our image and likeness. Genesis 1:26 (NLT)

God Calls Me by My Name

He says, “Don’t be afraid because I have saved you. I have called you by name (your name), and you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (NCV)

God Calls Me Good

God looked over everything He had made (your name); it was so good, so very good! Genesis 1:31 (MSG)

God Knows Everything About Me

You know me (your name) inside and out, You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Psalm 139:15

He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! Matthew 10:30

God Cares About My Circumstance

Is anyone crying for help? God is listening; If (your name) heart is broken, you’ll find God right there. Psalm 34:17-18 (NLT)

God Has Plans for My Future

I say this because I know what I am planning for you, (your name)” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

Nothing Can Remove God’s Love for Me

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate (your name) from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39 (NLT)

God’s Love For Me is Forever

Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalm 89:2 (NLT)

God’s Love Gives Me Life

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in Your strength and glory. In Your generous love, I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless You every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to You. Psalm 63:1-4 (NLT)

A full life today and eternal life in His presence.

Perfect LOVE

“Nothing can separate you from God’s love absolutely nothing. God is enough for time, God is enough for eternity. God is enough!” ~ Hannah Whitall Smith

Unconditional LOVE

“God wants us to know that His love is unconditional, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still unlovable sinners. We didn’t have to get clean, and we didn’t have to make any promises to God before we could experience His love. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love.” ~ All About God

Unfailing LOVE

“God’s unfailing love for us is an objective fact affirmed over and over in the Scriptures. It is true whether we believe it or not. Our doubts do not destroy God’s love, nor does our faith create it. It originates in the very nature of God, who is love, and it flows to us through our union with His beloved Son.” ~ Jerry Bridges

What a blessing to know that no matter how you and I feel, even when we fail and doubt, God’s love is perfect, unconditional, and unfailing. That is something to celebrate!

How will you celebrate God’s love today?

For additional verses to encourage you, check out … 90 Bible Verses about Love.

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How to Conquer Fear and Trust God’s Will One Day at a Time

7 / 10 / 1711 / 3 / 17

Do you have anything in your life you’d do differently if you could get a do-over?

I think everyone has lots of little things and maybe even a few big things they think . . . if only I had or if only I hadn’t.

Yeah, me too.

Of all the dos and don’ts, I have one big thing I would change if I could go back and start over.

One thing I wish I’d learned years ago. It’s where my faith would crash into life and my faith fell short. And unfortunately, I was a slow learner . . . it took a list of hard life lessons for me to finally get it.

What is my one thing?

Simply this…

Fear is a horrible waste of the precious gift of time.

Allowing “what ifs” to volley back and forth through my mind robbed me of joy, contentment, happiness, and peace.

So, if I could make one change (have one do-over) it would be to…

Enjoy life more by trusting God’s will for me, and rejecting “what if” fear.

Here are just a few examples:

What if they don’t like me?
What if I fail?
What if I can’t have children?
What if something happens to my husband, my child, my parent?
What if I get sick?
What if my love gets sick?
What if my child fails?
What if I’m rejected?
What if, what if, what if..?

Maybe that thing you fear is on my list. Maybe it’s not.

Now before I go any further, I want to remind you that fear is normal. In fact, it’s an important tool God gave us to caution and protect us.

But…

When fear dominates and fear of tomorrow lessens today’s joy or keeps you and me from truly living our God-given calling, then it’s time for a closer look and a faith check.

I looked for a list of the most common things people are afraid of and found…

The Unknown
Pain
Illness
Loneliness
Embarrassment
Rejection
Failure
Death

I guess my list was pretty typical.

Typical or not, this is important…

Most of the things I feared never happened. A few of the things I feared did.

But…

My fear didn’t influence or change the events of my life! All it changed was the way I lived.

Because I missed being all in.

I failed to be fully engaged and didn’t celebrate and enjoy the present because I was afraid of what might or might not happen tomorrow.

You see, what I know now that I wish I’d believed long ago is…

Fear doubts God’s love.

Whatever God allows, good or bad . . . Everything He allows or withholds comes from His immeasurable love.

He is love. Love is His character and He cannot deny or betray His character.

True, bad things happen. But God has used even the bad things, sometimes more so than the good things to bless my life, grow my faith and draw me closer. I can look back now at the worst events and experiences and praise God for the way He used them for my good and His glory.

With God’s counsel and help, you and I can conquer fear.

The following verses are more than just words . . . they are truth.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? Psalm 56:3–4

There is no fear in love. Perfect love puts fear out of our hearts. People have fear when they are afraid of being punished. The man who is afraid does not have perfect love. We love Him because He loved us first. 1 John 4:18–19

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

Here are a few quotes that inspire me, too.

“The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.” ~Max Lucado

“It is good to remind ourselves that the will of God comes from the heart of God and that we need not be afraid.” ~Warren Wiersbe

“The fear of man strangles us, because we can never please everybody; but the fear of the Lord frees us, because it challenges us to live and serve for an audience of One.” ~ Paul Chappell

“Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming who God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and [God’s] love.” ~ Rick Warren

I memorize verses and quotes so I have them quickly available when fear tries to take over and ruin my day.

Verses remind me that…

You and I can know with confidence—God is with us in every circumstance.

Whatever He allows, problem or persecution, stress or worrisome thought . . . He is present strengthening, guiding, helping, and holding us in the palm of His hands.

When you and I conquer fear and trust God’s goodness and love we have all we need to live courageously.

Sure, in this world we have troubles and if we had to face them on our own we’d have plenty of reasons to be afraid. But we have the truth of God’s Word and the presence of His Spirit to give us strength and the blessing of His unfailing love to give us courage.

Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.” Joshua 1:9

God’s love has the power replace fear with faith-filled courage.

Where God’s love is, there is no fear. God’s perfect love takes away fear. 1 John 4:18

So yes, the one thing I’d do over . . . I would faithfully know and trust God’s love that gives the power to conquer fear!

Because even when you and I don’t understand our circumstances, we can be completely confident that God’s plans and purposes are based on love.

With God’s help, you and I can refuse to waste the gift of right now by asking God to hold us close, remind us of His unfailing love, and give us all we need to conquer fear.

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When You Want to Know What God’s Love Looks Like

1 / 4 / 171 / 4 / 17

If we’re going to look at all our relationships through the lens of our relationship with God through Jesus, we have to begin there.

The Bible says “God is love.” 1 John 4:16

But what does that mean?

What does God’s love look like?

It’s an important question to ask and answer because the Bible says we should, “love others the way God loves us.”

So, again…

What does God’s love look like?

This is how God showed His love to us: He sent His one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through Him. This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent His Son to die in our place to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9–10

God’s love looks like Jesus!

And you and I know what Jesus’ love looks like through the eyewitness testimony of His disciples.

John wrote, “We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us.” 1 John 1:1–3

What can we learn about Jesus’ love from the words of those who spent time the most time with Him?

Jesus’ love is undeserved.

But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

Jesus’ love is compassionate.

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Jesus’ love is sacrificial.

He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:6

Jesus’ love is caring.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28–29

Jesus’ love is patient.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9

Jesus’ love is personal.

Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am. John 14:1–3

Jesus’ love is inclusive.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16–17

Jesus’ love is complete.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus’ love is forever.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Jesus’ love is selfless.

No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father. John 10:18

Jesus’ love is in complete contrast to the world’s view of love.

Let’s look at a summary of definitions of the word love from various dictionaries and thesauruses…

Love is an intense feeling of deep affection and personal attachment; tenderness or a strong feeling that leads to delight, devotion, and admiration; to treasure, hold dear, and cherish.

People generally love others based on something those individuals have done or qualities they have which makes them desirable . . . how they make them feel.

The bottom line is . . . with worldly love, there is a reason the individual wants to love. Making self/selfishness the basis of love the world’s way.

Ouch!

Is it any wonder love dies and so many of our relationships fail?

We need a better way and that way is modeling the love of Jesus.

Friend, Jesus loves you completely.

Not because of what you’ve done or the qualities you possess but simply because He chooses to love you.

A. W. Tozer said it this way…

“Jesus Christ came not to condemn you but to save you, knowing your name, knowing all about you, knowing your weight right now, knowing your age, knowing what you do, knowing where you live, knowing what you ate for supper and what you will eat for breakfast, where you will sleep tonight, how much your clothing cost, who your parents were. He knows you individually as though there were not another person in the entire world. He died for you as certainly as if you had been the only lost one. He knows the worst about you and is the One who loves you the most.”

Stop today and say, “Jesus loves me just because He chooses to love me!”

Say it again and again.

If you’re already having trouble keeping that New Year’s Resolution . . . Jesus loves you!
If you feel like you’re starting 2017 in a pit of your own making . . . Jesus loves you!
If you’re just putting one foot in front of the other trying to survive . . . Jesus loves you!

Whatever your circumstances, take heart!

No one loves you more than Jesus and He’s exactly what God’s love looks like!

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The Truth – When You Have Jesus You Have More Than Enough

12 / 7 / 1612 / 7 / 16

I read this devotion by Louie Giglio the other day and it blessed me so much I wanted to share it with you.

Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him, for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world, but without Jesus, you will never be completely satisfied.

If there is a growing discontent deep inside your heart—a hunger that hasn’t been completely satisfied by the people, pleasures, parties, material things, or accomplishments—today is the day to open your heart to the idea that it is Jesus that you were made for. But you have to walk away from “less,” and ask Him to become your “more.” Jesus is enough for you, and He is here.

[Tweet “”Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need.” Louie Giglio”]

Wow, that’s like a smack up the side of the head, isn’t it?

Jesus is exactly what you and I need. He is exactly what a hurting and broken world needs.

Jesus is enough!

Enough love.
Enough peace.
Enough strength.
Enough contentment.
Enough joy.

Enough!

When you’re stressed out by Christmas preparations – Jesus is enough.
When your kids are having a “let’s drive mommy and daddy crazy” day – Jesus is enough.
When you neighbors are less than neighborly – Jesus is enough.
When the news from your doctor is unsettling – Jesus is enough.
When the next report of terrorism hits the news – Jesus is enough.
When life gets turned upside down – Jesus is enough.

I want to replace every anxiety ridden dissatisfied thought with these words…

Jesus is enough!

Because this one thing in a fallen and hurting world is absolute.

God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. Philippians 4:19

The love you crave. The forgiveness you don’t think you deserve. The strength you want. The peace you need. And the forever future you hope for. Everything you need.

Because His promises are true. Guarantees for today and for always.

Promises like…

“Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

And…

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord, your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

And one more…

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Psalm 139:3–5

As I’ve dug into the truth of God’s Word and written The Faith Project this year, a few verses stand out. Verses like this one…

Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God. Hebrews 12:2

Jesus is enough!

Yet, I can still foolishly turn my focus to current events—global and/or personal.

It’s hard to focus on Jesus, when what’s right in front of our noses is screaming for attention.

I think about the challenge like this…

Jesus calls Himself our Shepherd which makes you and me sheep.

Picture yourself part of the flock. You’re calmly munching away on grass when there’s a stirring around you. Hoofs are shuffling and bleating gradually increases. You look up as wooly bodies start to press in around you.

Then you see them . . . wolves prowling the perimeter.

But here’s the question.

Where will you look?

Will you keep your eyes on wolves you can’t outrun or outmaneuver or will you look to the Shepherd who has promised to protect you? Who will give His life for yours? Who goes before you and behind you?

This is the deal . . . your Shepherd is there for you. He loves you. He has promised that nothing will separate you from His love and nothing is too difficult for Him. He will protect you.

Will you focus on the Shepherd and watch Him defeat your enemy or will you let gaze at the danger with fear and doubt?

My friend, your enemy has been already been defeated on the cross. And because he has been defeated…

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

Jesus is enough.

Jesus the Word, who became flesh.

In the beginning, there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made by Him, and nothing was made without Him. In Him there was life, and that life was the light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. John 1:1–5

Remember Louie Giglio’s second sentence… “Your heart was created by Him, for Him.”

You and I will never be satisfied until we find our purpose in Him.

But when we do, when Jesus becomes our “more” . . . our enough.

We are satisfied.
We know and live our God-given purpose.
We no longer fear the future.
We have peace that passes understanding.
And we celebrate with joy.

Because we have everything we need. We have Jesus and He is enough!

Mary DeMuth wrote, “When Jesus isn’t our everything, our enough, we pursue every other thing that fills.”

Aren’t you tired chasing after things that can’t satisfy? Don’t you want more than a pretty picture to put on Facebook? Wouldn’t you like your Christmas to be more than a pile of presents and stressed-out exhaustion?

May you and I make Jesus enough this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

Here are some ideas to help you get started…

Simplify Gift Giving and Enjoy Christmas More
Watch The Nativity Story as a family.
Hang a Christmas stocking for Jesus and fill it with thank you/love notes.
Choose family activities that will serve and bless others.
Pray together. Start a family prayer journal.
Attend church and celebrate with your faith family.
Talk about the ways Jesus is enough.
Be full of joy! Smile and laugh more.

And… a few final quotes from Louie Giglio…

“God calls each and every star by name. It’s not likely He has forgotten yours.”

“In spite of our foolishness and rebellious hearts, God has pursued us with relentless passion and patience, fully expressing to us His unfathomable love through the mercy and grace of the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ.”

“Don’t overcomplicate God’s will. Just stay connected to Jesus. Love Him. Look into His eyes. He will lead. Follow. Repeat.”

Jesus is enough!

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12+ Things to be Thankful for When Life Hurts

11 / 14 / 1611 / 14 / 16

Pray continually,and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NCV)

Really?

Whatever happens?

When I was curled up in the fetal position broken and feeling like I’d never feel happy again giving thanks was not a priority.

Slowly, I began finding reasons to be thankful . . . not for my circumstances but for my blessings. And I believe that’s how you and I can be thankful “whatever happens.” Not thankful for “whatever” but thankful for countless other blessings in the midst of “whatever.”

So, I want to share my list of things to be thankful for when life hurts with you!

12+ Things to be Thankful for When Life Hurts

1. Be Thankful for People

Whatever happens – there are people in your life who care about you. God put them around you because He loves you. Even the annoying ones are there to teach you something. And if you’re feeling lonely today. Look around. You are not alone. Reach out. Ask for help. Let God use people to bless you.

We have so much joy before our God because of you. We cannot thank him enough for all the joy we feel. 1 Thessalonians 3:9

2. Be Thankful for Provision

You have a roof over your head. You have food to eat and clothes to wear. You drink clean water. No, you may not have every want realized but I’m guessing, like me, you have more than you really need. Stop looking at what isn’t today and thank Him for what is.

My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.Glory to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen. Philippians 4:19–20

3. Be Thankful for Possibility

This moment is not the end. God is at work in you and in your circumstances. Keep an eternal perspective and thank God for being greater than your whatever.

Jesus looked at them and said, “For people this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

4. Be Thankful for Prayer

Prayer is an amazing gift. The God of the universe loves listening to your prayers. Take your whatever circumstances to Him and thank Him for the blessing of prayer.

When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you. Matthew 6:6

5. Be Thankful for Pardon

You don’t have to make amends or earn your forgiveness. By God’s grace, through Jesus, you and I can just tell God we’re sorry and ask Him to forgive and help us change and . . . we are forgiven. Wow!

But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9

6. Be Thankful for Patience

God is able to give you the patience you need to endure in any situation. Not by your strength but by the power of His Spirit you have all you need to live today.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. Colossians 1:9

7. Be Thankful for Peace

God is able to give peace when life is in turmoil. Peace when peace seems impossible. Just ask Him to help you focus on Him and not on your whatever.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

8. Be Thankful for Perseverance

God will give you the strength you need today and He will give you enough strength when tomorrow arrives. One day at a time, you can have all you need to persevere.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. Romans 5:3–4

9. Be Thankful for His Plan

You are here at God’s pleasure. He has a plan for you. A plan based on His love. You and I can be thankful for the hope we can find in that truth.

O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. Psalm 40:5

10. Be Thankful for His Power

God is in control. When your life is out of control you can trust the power of the One who created the world, raised Jesus from the dead, and holds you safely in His hand.

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! Great and powerful God, your name is the Lord All-Powerful.” Jeremiah 32:17,18b

11. Be Thankful for His Presence

God is with you whether it feels like it or not. He has given you the Holy Spirit who faithfully reminds you . . . God loves you and wants you to find your hope in His eternal promises.

For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Romans 5:5

12. Be Thankful for His Promises

Not one of God’s promises is too good to be true. You can trust Him. He has kept every promise in the past and He will continue to keep His promises into the future.

Know then that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God. He keeps His promise and shows His loving-kindness to those who love Him and keep His Laws, even to a thousand family groups in the future. Deuteronomy 7:9

Bonus. Be Thankful – You are Precious to Him

He loves you! He calls you precious. The God of the universe knows everything about you and delights in you.

He will rescue the poor when they cry to Him; He will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. Psalm 72:12–13

Jesus’ words are true. “In this world you will have trouble.”

He also says, “But take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

When “whatever” happens and it’s hard to give thanks. Join me and read through this list. You and I have so many incredible eternal blessings that have the power to give hope and encouragement and reasons to give thanks.

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When You Need to Remember – God Loves You

10 / 26 / 1610 / 24 / 16

Why do you worship God?

Seriously, stop for a minute and think about it . . . why do you worship God?

Do you worship Him because…

You were brought up that way?
The Bible tells says you should?
You like getting together with like-minded people?
It’s good for your children?
You don’t know it just seems like a good idea?

Something to think about, isn’t it?

There is a good answer. One that may even become a good reply to anyone who asks you why you’re a Christian or why you go to church.

I worship because God loves…

Worship is our response to who God is and what He does, and God is love. Everything God does comes from an outpouring of His love.

It’s true, He is righteous and just, holy and beyond our understanding but worship . . . worship is giving God all we are and all we have simply because He loves us.

[Tweet “When you and I worship we are giving God all we are and all we have simply because He loves us.”]

Do you remember the last verse of the hymn – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

That’s worship. Our response to God’s love.

You may not feel very lovable today. Maybe you’re discouraged, lonely, and hurting. Maybe life is just really hard right now and you’re having a hard time feeling the truth of just how very much your Father God loves you.

I want to remind you just how precious you are to the God of the universe. The One who is the beginning and the end. The One who needs nothing from you but still wants a relationship with you. Who wants to meet your every need now and eternally.

When You Need to Remember – God Loves You

1 John 4:8–10

God is love.

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

God gave His one and only Son to suffer and die for your sins and mine.

Don’t you love the words? “God showed how much He loved us…”

Unimaginable sacrifice so you and I could be forgiven and spared an eternity of the punishment we deserve for our selfish disobedience. And we’ve done nothing to deserve it. Nothing.

But God chose to love anyway . . . because it’s who He is.

That’s love! Real love. God’s love.

Romans 8:37–39

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The enemy of your soul wants you to believe you are too guilty and your sins too great to be forgiven. But it is impossible for you to be separated from God’s love and forgiveness through Jesus. You are secure in His saving grace.

No power. Nothing the enemy can do. Absolutely nothing can make God stop loving you.

Ephesians 1:3–5

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.

God decided in advance to adopt you into His family through Jesus.

Did you read that? It gives Him great pleasure to call you are His child. He chose you . . . you were on His mind before the creation of the world and promises that every spiritual blessing you have in Christ Jesus will last forever.

Ephesians 3:17–19

I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God.

God’s love for you is total and complete.

I love the explanation of these verses in the Life Application Bible:

God’s love is wide—it covers the breadth of our own experience and reaches out to the whole world. It is long—it continues the length of our lives. It is high—rising to the heights of our celebration and elation. His love is deep—reaching to the depths of discouragement, despair, and even death.

That’s a reason to worship!

Psalm 136:2–3

Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love lasts forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love lasts forever.

God’s love for you is unchanging. It is faithful, true and lasting. His love does not depend on your performance nor will it end if you fail.

The love you and I crave is found in the heart of God . . . Father, Son, and Spirit.

And that my dear friends, is a reason to celebrate. It is why we worship God with surrendered lives.

The next time someone asks you, “Why do you worship God?”

You can answer, “I love God because God is love and He loves and cares for me. I’ve seen His love in Jesus and it has changed me. Worship is my response to God’s love.”

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and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

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How to Celebrate the Wonderful You God Made and Enjoy Peace

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You’re wonderful!

Yes, you!

But if you’re like me, you’ve already thought of a dozen ways to disagree those words. I never think of myself as wonderful.

Most of the time I go straight to the superficial . . . to appearances. And all I see are imperfections.

I started treatment for acne last week. Seriously, there should be a law – once you have to cope with wrinkles you shouldn’t have to deal with acne too. It’s just wrong!

That’s just the obvious stuff. I could share a long list of things that are not wonderful.

And don’t get me started on my not wonderful thoughts, words, and actions.

I desperately need grace!

Grace that looks past the surface to God made wonderful.

Two important things you and I need to know about being wonderful.

Whether you feel like it or not…

1. God made you wonderful.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

I love the way the MSG. says it…

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

It’s not about feelings. Whether you “feel” it or not, God made you wonderful and marvelous . . . one of a kind. Perfect for His plans and purposes. Out of all the possible DNA combinations, God chose 46 chromosomes specifically for you.

There are 8,324,608 possible combinations of 23 chromosome pairs. Each chromosome contains dozens to thousands of different genes. The total possible combination of alleles for those genes in humans is approximately 70,368,744,177,664. This is trillions of times more combinations than the number of people who have ever lived. ~Reddit.com/AskScience

“You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.” ~Max Lucado

2. Celebrate being wonderful if you want peace.

Obsessing about all your flaws and faults robs you of both peace and happiness.

Satan wants to steal your joy kill your purpose, and destroy your kingdom usefulness.

The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. John 10:10

But God in His mercy changes all that when we keep our focus on Him and celebrate His life-giving love and power.

The second part of Psalm 139:14 in The Message Translation says.

I worship in adoration—what a creation!

What a creation! That’s you! That’s me!

You are not a blend of flaws and faults. You are God’s marvelous creation!

How to Celebrate the You God Made and Enjoy Peace

Make a list of your greatest strengths and abilities. You’re kind. Smart. Funny. Musical. Artistic. Strong. Make a list of everything you do well.
Make a list of things you like about the way you look. Just do it. Beautiful eyes. Cute nose. Strong arms. Find a minimum of 5-10 things to celebrate.
Ask your closest friends to help you make your list. They love you. You’ll be surprised by the blessings they see in you and the things they like about you.
Spend less time thinking about yourself and more time loving others. You will feel better about yourself. I promise.
Refuse to compare your appearance, gifts, or abilities with anyone else’s. Comparing is the thief of joy and peace. Don’t do it!
Do your best and have peace with the rest. Live today with enthusiasm. Then put the day behind you and start again tomorrow.
Take a Facebook break to take a break from comparing. Everyone puts their ideal on social media. If you find yourself discouraged while scrolling through posts . . . walk away.
Reject negative self-talk. Stop it! If it’s sin, confess it, receive forgiveness and celebrate God’s grace.
Forgive yourself for unhealthy and unwise choices. Don’t deny what God has done through grace. Forgive yourself for past mistakes.
Do something positive every day to become the person you want to be. Let God work in you to grow you for His purposes. Learn something new. Exercise. Eat a healthy diet.
Do something for someone else every day. Your family. Your friends. A neighbor. A stranger. Be kind. Smile. You will feel better about yourself.
Limit your time with toxic and negative people. You can’t avoid them all but you can lessen their ability to discourage and defeat you.
Be patient – think long term. Expect progress, not perfection. One of my favorite sayings is, “Baby steps are still steps.”
Cherish values like honesty, integrity, kindness, etc. Follow the Golden Rule and treat others the way you want them to treat you.
Speak a minimum of five positive and encouraging things to yourself every day. Remember Stuart Smiley’s quote,”I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.”
Do one nice thing for yourself every day. Take a long bath. Read a chapter of your favorite book. Light a candle. Use your good dishes. Celebrate today.
Pursue a close relationship with the One who created you. Spend time in prayer and Bible study. Ask Him to help you become the best version of the you, He created.
Ask God to help you see yourself the way He sees you. He loves you so much! The God of the universe calls you precious.
Remember how very much God loves you. Memorize His promises to speak truth to your heart when you feel discouraged.
Remember – God looks past the surface to the heart. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

5 Verses to Remember How Much God Loves You

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” John 15:9

But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 2:4–5

The Lord your God is with you; the mighty One will save you. He will rejoice over you. You will rest in His love; He will sing and be joyful about you. Zephaniah 3:17

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Finally, and this is important…

Have an eternal perspective.

All of the things that discourage and annoy you are temporary. Your soul, who God made you to be in Him, in His image, will last forever. And that person is someone to celebrate.

So, there you have it . . . the post I needed.

Maybe you need it too.

God loves you. He made you YOU for His glory and for His plans and purposes, and for eternity. It’s time to celebrate His goodness by celebrating you!

Leave your prayer requests…

and pray for others who have left requests.

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I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Father, It is Finished – Please Forgive Me

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5 Verses to Pray When You Need to be Sure of God’s Love

You can be sure God loves you!

No More Rules Link Party

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Thank you and God bless!

4 Ways You Can Be Sure God Loves You

1. God loves you – He sees you. He hears you. And He rescues you when the time is right!

2. God Loves You – at the perfect time He saved you.

3. God loves you – He gave you His Holy Spirit Inspired trustworthy Word so you might be able to know Him.

4. God loves you – He will give you everything you need each day.

God’s grace, mercy, and love!

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The Wonderful Truth about Who You are in Jesus

Who You are in Jesus:

No More Rules Link Party

Thank you and God bless!

Verses to Pray When You Need to be Sure God Loves You

God loves you!

Psalm 13:1–2

God loves you!

Romans 8:38

God loves you!

Psalm 86:5–7

God loves you!

Lamentations 3:22–23

God loves you!

Psalm 23:6

No More Rules Link Party

Thank you and God bless!

Things to Do When You Don’t Feel God’s Love

1. Be Honest with Yourself and with God

2. Take it to God in Prayer

3. Live Your Faith Until You Feel God’s Love

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When You Need to Know You are Forgiven and Loved

♥ God made you and loves you so very much!

♥ God wants us to surrender our failures to Him.

Why?

♥ You and I are more than just forgiven; we are new creations!

♥ Sins that have been confessed and repented are forgiven and gone for good!

♥ You and I can LIVE celebrating God’s forgiveness and love.

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3 Helpful Tips for the One Who’s Exhausted by Life

When You’re Exhausted by Life

When You’re Exhausted by Life

When You’re Exhausted by Life

3. Live for God’s Glory

I will make choices to fill my spiritual, physical and emotional tank.

I will set clear and specific boundaries for myself.

I will live each day for the glory of God.

Leave your prayer requests…

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You are loved – perfectly, unconditionally, and unfailingly.

10 Ways God’s Love is Perfect, Unconditional, and Unfailing

God’s Love is Self-sacrificing

God Made Me in His Image

God Calls Me by My Name

God Calls Me Good

God Knows Everything About Me

God Cares About My Circumstance

God Has Plans for My Future

Nothing Can Remove God’s Love for Me

God’s Love For Me is Forever

Perfect LOVE

Unconditional LOVE

Unfailing LOVE

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

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Fear is a horrible waste of the precious gift of time.

Enjoy life more by trusting God’s will for me, and rejecting “what if” fear.

I looked for a list of the most common things people are afraid of and found…

Typical or not, this is important…

Fear doubts God’s love.

Whatever God allows, good or bad . . . Everything He allows or withholds comes from His immeasurable love.

With God’s counsel and help, you and I can conquer fear.

Here are a few quotes that inspire me, too.

You and I can know with confidence—God is with us in every circumstance.

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…