God loves YOU - Believe It!

It’s easy to tell someone you love them. Our Caleb will tell me he loves me almost as often as I want him to. All the grands say I love you with ease. But ask Caleb for a kiss and he is hesitant and most times says no. A high 5 is always available and sometimes a hug. But a kiss is rare. Yesterday he told me he couldn’t give me a kiss because he’d get worms! I know! He has been told not to kiss the puppy because he’d get worms so he pulled a great excuse out of his pocket just in time to keep from having to give me a kiss. 

Often we say the words I love you. It’s all over the world. On pillows and signs, on windows and plates. It’s written out in smoke signals and chocolate as well. It’s a great greeting and something we all enjoy telling people as we depart from one another. And yet just like Caleb withholding his kisses, human love might withhold something. Human love can be lost, can be scrimped on and can be forgotten. 

But when I tell you that God loves you, I’m not talking fondness or compassion or consideration. I’m not talking companionship, affinity or like-mindedness. I’m talking love. It’s beyond me how He loves us. It’s beyond you. It’s beyond earth and every earthly relationship ever created or observed or enjoyed. God loves you. Yes, He loves the whole world. But He loves you. If you were the only person on the face of the earth He’d love you. Unlike the world, whose love ebbs and flows with every human feeling imaginable, God’s love is constant. It never changes. It never recedes. It never recoils from whatever is thrown its way. God says I love you with an everlasting love and He means just that. He’s not moved by your emotions or your commitment or your fickle heart. He’s only moved by Himself and God IS love.

Oh beloved, it’s time to believe. It’s time for you to quit looking at your flaws and your faults. It’s time to stop counting the times you’ve messed up or disappointed someone. It’s time to leave behind the past with its mistakes and missteps. Yes, those things happen. But God loves you. It’s time to quit counting things as the ration of His love. It’s time to stop measuring yourself by others’ expectations. It’s time to quit beating yourself up over wasted time. God loves you. Are you seeking freedom? God’s love will free you to be all you can be. Are you seeking acceptance? God’s love is the proof that you can be accepted. Everything you aren’t He is because of His great love. 

Go ahead and abandon yourself to God’s love. He speaks His love Words over you from Genesis to Revelation. He adds nothing to His love because His love is enough. With His love comes grace and mercy and peace and joy and contentment. But you can’t find those things, not really, apart from His love. Everything you have looked the world over for is found in Him. Letting God love you just the way you are because of Who He is will change you completely. His love changes everything. You won’t have to worry about what might happen if you let yourself be loved, for God will never leave you or forsake you. His love is immutable. It is irreversible. You can’t do a thing to make Him love you less and you can’t do a thing to make Him love you more. He just loves you.

Rejoice, precious one for He calls you His beloved. All you have to do is accept His love shown in the manger, on the Cross, at the Tomb and beyond. Christ is the epitome of this eternal, everlasting love and Christ can be your all in all. Christ’s love compelled Him to make the sacrifice for you. His love is your hope for today and your faith for tomorrow. Christ has made a way for you to be accepted in the beloved. Because of this great love, He’s with you to guide you, protect you, redeem you, and keep you all the days of your life.

Psalm 117:2 For He loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Romans 8:38 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. NLT

1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. NLT

God Wants Your Heart First

Marriage can be a wonderful picture of our relationship with Christ. If the marriage, the courtship, the relationship is full of the gifts of the Spirit, it’s easy to return that love.

When Danny asked me out he didn’t call me up and put demands on me. He didn’t order me out with him. He asked and I might say he asked very nicely. Danny’s kindness was a huge draw. He always treated me with tenderness from the beginning.  He was a hunter, a fisherman, a biker and all man. But because he knew how to be nice to me I liked him all the more.

If he’d been harsh or indifferent or demanding I would not have responded so well to him. I don’t like harsh, indifferent and demanding one bit. None of those “virtues” ever makes a person want to obey, toe the mark or submit. None of those qualities draws people, encourages folks or increases trust and fellowship. Rather they cause avoidance.

God is the Lord of Heaven and Earth. He is to be worshiped and revered. He calls us to repentance as we give our lives and hearts to Him. But He does not beat us over the head. He does not tell us we’re useless, worthless or unredeemable. We are all that without Him, but He does not bring up our worthlessness and push us to obey with an iron fist.

Instead His love woos us to complete surrender. The sweetest devotion is between two who love one another without reservation.  God loves us without reservation. And He wants us to love Him the same. When the Lord and a sinner like you and me meet with the grace and faith of the Cross we are overcome.  We are undone.  We realize our own state of affairs and we cry out to Him. And greater than the greatest earthly husband, He sweeps down to our level and scoops us into His arms, the very ones that were spread on the Cross to show His love for us.

Maybe you’ve been rebuffed by someone who should have been kind to you. You may have been in a relationship where there is no freedom to fail or to shine. You may have heard that God is watching you and will get you if you don’t straighten up and fly right. You could be afraid to truly come near to God for you have been afraid He will know the real you and discard you, disown you or worse. Maybe the enemy of your soul has called you out, beat you up and left you without hope. But he is a liar and the father of all lies.

Oh beloved, God does indeed have a plan and He does want your obedience, for His Word says to obey is better than sacrifice. But first He wants your heart. He is wooing you this very moment, speaking His love Words into your heart. His voice is gentle and calm and beckoning. He says to you this morning, I AM your greatest love. I AM your staunchest ally. I AM everything you are not and yet I AM willing to share all of my nature with you. Everything I do I AM doing for love.  When I speak your name into your heart you will never have to fear for I AM always calling you in love.

Won’t you trust Him today? Won’t you give Him your heart and mind? Won’t you stop a moment and quit running from the very One Who loves you beyond all belief? Let Him show you through His Word that He loves you and He’s for you and that beloved is why you can follow Him, obey Him as you live in the light of His Word.

Psalm 89:15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

Psalm 44:3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was Your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from Your face that helped them, for You loved them.

Psalm 80:3 Turn us again to Yourself, O God. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.

Isaiah 43:1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

Psalm 139:1-6 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!

You and I have a Heart Condition

I am a movie buff. There are certain movies I can watch over and over. They’re the “feel good” kind. I like to feel better after watching a movie. Uplifted, encouraged. I watched one of my favorite movies last night. The male character was a heart attack victim who got help from a friend’s mother. The mother ended up in love with him and he loved her too.  She had no problem expressing her feelings, but he did. It cost him. His inability to submit to the love he felt caused him health symptoms – heart problems. 

In the end of the movie, love wins out. I like that. I believe that. But heart trouble can cause love to be disjointed or disavowed. True love covers a multitude of sins. It thinks of the object of affection first and foremost. It protects, defends and remains. I like that too. Real love is long, and wide and huge and worth it.

Heart trouble is such a personal thing. Often it can be hidden. Often it can be ignored. Often it can be replaced with other things so that hopefully no one will notice. I’ve met all kinds of people who have heart trouble. Pastors, preachers, husbands, wives, teachers, speakers, me.  The problem with heart trouble is that left untreated, sure death will occur. For some it’s physical death and eternal separation. For others it will be the death of their ministry, their marriage, their careers. For unless a person really loves, the heart is not in it. Unless you and I get up in the morning and find the focus of our love and live it for all its worth, we will fail, we will fade, we will lose our strength and our joy.

For the believer, we have wonderful news! God is love! We can find true love, receive it fully and bask in its glory. When we have this Love, Agape love, we can love ourselves, love others and love where God sends us, who God sends us to and what He wants us to do.  We love HIM because He first loved us. But there’s more, oh so much more.  We love each other because He first loved us. We love our calling because He first loved us. We love our fellow believers, ministry partners and spouses – because He first loved us.

Are you experiencing heart trouble? You either gave up on love altogether or you got left at the altar, stood up at the restaurant or put out in the cold in the church, the meeting house, the ministry. You feel great pain, your heart is wounded and your breath is short. It’s hard to go to bed; it’s harder to get up. As the song goes, “You’ve lost that lovin feelin”. You had it, you enjoyed it, you were betrayed and you gave it up.  You could be thinking it’s never going to return for you. You can’t find the spark to get it going anymore.  You’re going through the motions, reading all the lines, practicing the part, but love is not there. You may look good, talk right and seem fine. But your heart is broken or your heart is untouched by the Master’s hand. Either way, it’s a slow death and a sure curse.

If you’re having heart trouble, if you’re having trouble expressing and receiving love, then run to the Great Physician, the Lord Himself! He will either repair your heart or He will give you a complete transplant! He will fix what’s wrong and make it all new! He will restore the love, restore the joy, restore the ministry and more. His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on you. You can count on His surgery working every single time. You can count on Him giving you a transfusion of love, forgiveness, peace and joy. No other doctor can fix you. No other person can change you. But God can!

Oh beloved! God loves you and He’s for you. So much so that He’s unwilling to leave you on the gurney of pain, in the intensive care of injury or the morgue of lifelessness. Let Him give you His infusion of love, His heart of ministry and His blessing of grace. To live in the light of His love is glory! Oh how marvelous, oh how wonderful is the Savior’s love for you!

I Corinthians 13 (entire chapter)

John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.

Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

Proverbs 17:3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

Proverbs 27:19 As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.

Colossians 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

Romans 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

Swim, Dance, Delight in God's Love Today!

“I love you” is probably one of the most used phrases in the world. It’s a greeting, it’s a good-bye and it’s a comforter. Seeing a spouse, our first thoughts are to say it. Leaving family and friends our last thing is to say it. When problems arise in the lives of our friends and family through grief, discouragement or pain, we always want to hug them tight and say “I love you”.

What does it really mean “I love you”? Is it simply a kindness like a pat on the back or a “bless your heart”? Is it something to get you past an awkward moment or get you through a rough patch?

Real love is aggressive. It snatches you from the flame. It grabs you when you want to walk away. It stops and listens. It keeps on keeping on long after the first thrill. It stays the course. It makes the rounds. It is found in the everyday and makes it fabulous. It’s found in the mundane and makes it anointed.

When the Lord says, “I love you” He means it. He’s giving of His very nature for God is love.  Love is so important to God that He gave us loads of Scriptures about it. How to find it. How to receive it. How to have it. How to give it. How to let it take over your heart and mind and soul.  Because of God’s Agape love, we don’t have to settle for less. We can have His perfect love poured into our hearts and we can pour His perfect love into others’ lives. Without God’s love we’ll simply be going through the motions. You know, scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Good ol’ boys. Cliques.  Without His love we won’t really love or be loved at all.

It may be hard for you to believe at times, but God loves you! He marvels at how you are made, He is thrilled at how you are unique and special. He pours His love on you day and night and never turns off the flow. He walks with you in the dark places. He dances with you in the joyful times. He sings to you in the nightmares of life. He prays over you without ceasing. He sees your ending and it is a very happy one. He will never stop loving you, no matter what happens or who walks away.  His love for you never fails. His love for you endures forever.

Oh beloved, rejoice in His love today! Swim in it. Dance in it. Delight in it.  You can’t use it up, mess it up or block it up. He says I love you and I AM for you and together you and I, the Lord, will stay the course all the way to heaven!

I John 4:16 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.

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

Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Jeremiah 31:3  The Lord appeared to Him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

Time to Forgive Everyone Everything

I bought a metal plaque this week-end at a little Christian bookstore inside Gospel Light Church where we held our CMA Seasons of Refreshing. It read simply, “Forgive Everyone Everything”. It caught my eye and it caught my heart.


I’ve heard it’s possible, but I’ve never met anyone personally who doesn’t love their own children. I admit we parents have no idea just how in love we are going to be while carrying the baby, but at the moment of birth we are forever undone over this bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.



It’s not always a honeymoon. Kids are imperfect. Parents are imperfect. They step on our toes when they’re little and then they step on our hearts when they’re older. Many times we punish inconsequential things and overlook the big stuff. We try to let them know they’re loved no matter what, but we also try to get them to do things right.



Still and all, they are our heart walking around outside our bodies. No matter what age they are, they are our babies. Our son walked in this afternoon for a quick hello and my heart melted all over again, just like it did the first time I laid eyes on him. Our middle daughter texted an I love you tonight and my heart skipped a beat. I texted I love you to our oldest daughter and got the same in return. Gave me great peace.



Our family is like most families. We get bent out of shape, we don’t always see eye to eye, but in the end, when it’s all said and done, we love one another.



Last night I quoted the plaque. I just don’t have the words to express our complete and inescapable sorrow over such dear, dear friends losing their 35 year old daughter in a car accident. We hold our children’s hands so tightly, even the grown ones. We get accused of clinging and more, but it’s that fragility of life that keeps us parents catching our breath over and over again.



I know you will understand won’t you that today is a good day to forgive everyone everything. I know this because God forgave me and I am the most imperfect person ever known. I didn’t deserve grace, I didn’t merit it or pass any tests for it. But God in His infinite, perfect love, reached down and gave it to me. So I just pass it on to others, especially my children.



Oh beloved, let God love you! Let God forgive you! And then, let God lead you to forgive everyone everything. It really doesn’t matter does it in the long run what it was because God has buried all our sins in the deepest sea – as far as the east is from the west – never to be counted against us again. God knows the struggles you have, He knows the hurts you carry and He knows the burdens that seem oh so heavy. But He’s made a way to help you when you’re low, relieve you of your load and bless you with good days and opportunities to love and forgive. He is trustworthy even when all looks hopeless. He really does love you, He really does hear your prayers, He really does want to walk with you and guide you all the days of your life and that’s all that really matters.



I John 4:10 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.



Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.



Psalm 18:6 But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.

All Hope is Not Gone!

Saturday mornings when our kids were little were full of preparation for fun. We rarely ever had a bad Saturday. We were either all outside working and playing in the yard or headed to see family or taking a leisure ride to the lake or to hike. Sometimes it would be rainy or bad weather and we’d have to stay inside but even then we played and watched old movies and cartoons. Saturdays were pretty much just great leisure days.

For the followers of Christ, this particular Saturday in History was not so much fun.  The believers who had followed Jesus into Jerusalem just the week before were now disconsolate.  The ones who had spoken of undying devotion were nowhere to be found. Everyone who had believed was faced with the Lord’s absence. Those who had been healed, delivered and set free were wondering if they would have to return to life as it was before. I’m sure they were thinking that if Jesus, the Perfect One, could be arrested, tortured and killed - it might happen to them as well.

He told them it would happen and He told them not to fear. He told them He would come again to get them and that He would send them a Comforter to help until He returned. But He was gone now. As far as they could see with their eyes, it was indeed finished. Their hope was gone.

Oh beloved, God knows your situation. He understands that you may be having a bad day or a bad month or a bad year. He had a very bad day one Friday, as He was made to take the place of the guilty prisoner. He was mocked for His belief, He was denied His rights, He was pronounced guilty even as He was forgiving the world.

Run to the Lord this morning and let Him give you an awesome Saturday! No matter what you are facing, it’s all been taken care of through the Blood of the Lamb! Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to go alone. Rejected? Fearful? Mourning? He’s with you! Discouraged? Downhearted? Lonely? He’s there for you! He promises that if you put your trust in Him, He will make good out of bad, triumph out of failure and joy out of sorrow.

Let Him give you all His love for His Name is Love and your name is Beloved! Let Him care for you for He is your Comforter always, even unto the ends of the age!

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.

Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

Isaiah 61:3 To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.

God is Love and He Loves You!

When I met Danny in person the first time I was incredibly shy but I knew, I just knew that here was the opportunity to soar higher than I would ever fly on my own, to go farther out on a limb than I’d dare to alone, that with him there would be more cymbals clanging and ocean waves crashing! Was I scared? A little. But suddenly my heart said, this is your chance, this is your moment, this is your man.  He was daring, I was shy. He was a traveler, I’d never gone anywhere without my family. He was different; I didn’t want to stand out. He was cool, I was not.  He was handsome and I felt beautiful with him. He had the most magnificent hands I’d ever seen, strong as an ox. I’ve never wanted to let go of those hands, ever.

When I met Jesus, it was the same. I wasn’t sure where I was going, I didn’t know much about Him, but I just knew that it would be good because He would always be with me.  All the issues of life that we carry around with us, the heavy backpack of stuff just lifted off my shoulders and He wrapped His loving arms around me.  Oh I needed some work, but He never let me feel that way. Occasionally I would succumb to lies of worthlessness, uselessness, ugliness, but He always lifted me out of my pain and agony, even when self-inflicted.  He is the beauty in me, He is the peace in my heart, He is the voice in my throat and the words in my mind. As God scooped me up and held me in His hands, I knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt that this was love! Real love! True love! Perfect love!

I thank my precious, beloved husband today for asking me out on this day 40 years ago. I thank him for saying I Do and never reneging.  I thank him for helping me, encouraging me, forgiving me and going on with me. We didn’t know much about each other when we first got married, but the more we know each other, the more we love each other and the more we trust and value each other. 

This is how our walk with the Lord is -It’s the same with Jesus – the more I know Him the more I trust Him. The more I trust Him the more I am willing to live a life of excitement and daring as together we go out on a limb and He produces His fruit in me.

Oh beloved, you may be sitting here this morning saying to yourself that you are unworthy, unlovely, of no value and totally useless. You may have been discarded by someone you love dearly. It does happen. But the Lord says to you this morning, I AM your King, I AM your Provider. I will never walk away from you. I will never concentrate on your faults or issues. I AM going to show you that I love you and the more you realize My great love for you, the more your faults and issues will fall to the wayside. Let Me love you, walk beside you and guide you.  My plans for your life are beyond your wildest imaginations and they are all good for I AM love and you are loved!

Run to the King this morning – you have complete and total access to Him! He will always welcome you into His presence and He’s always rejoicing to see you – for He loves you and He’s for you and that, beloved, is all you will ever need!

Jeremiah 31:3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Titus 3:4-5 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

John 15:9  Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

Psalm 16:11  You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

You are God's Delight and He Loves You Always!

My 2^nd grade teacher was harsh and unkind to me. She was often fussy and I never felt I could do anything right. I cried daily and my stomach was always tied in knots. I could not wait to get out of her class.  Years later I met her on the street and she was so complimentary of me as a student.  She told me over and over how much she enjoyed me being in her class and told people standing with me that she loved me. It was very confusing to know how she treated me but to hear her tell others how great I was. Which was true? The way she treated me or the words she said?

Perhaps you’re dealing with those issues today. It’s hard I know. You do your job well. Whether it’s at home or at work or in the ministry – you know you’ve done the right thing. Yet you are constantly demeaned and belittled. Maybe you are just overlooked and undervalued. 

Oh beloved, the first thing you have to know is that God is with you!  He promises never to leave you or forsake you.  I promise on the authority of God’s Word that if the words are not encouraging and kind they are not from Him! He says to you, never do I speak harshly or assume wrong. My desire is to love you first and help you second. You are my delight and I will always speak love, even in correction. If you are hearing disparaging or antagonistic words they are not mine to you. I love you, I love you, I love you and I will always be for you.

Run to the shelter of His Word this morning and read!  Always know that God speaks love. Remember that as Jesus Himself stood overlooking Jerusalem, He wept! For love of the people His heart was pouring out for them even then. Trust Him to work out the issues that are causing you such hurt and frustration. Let Him lead you and watch as His marvelous plan unfolds. His plan is always full of love and is always good.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?

Psalm 121:1-2 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

1 John 4:8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16  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.