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.

Your Life is a Canvas and God is the Painter!

One of the photos our youngest daughter took of me and her three children at our front window had really good lighting effects. It was so good that one of my friends referred to it as a Vermeer. She’s an art major, so she knows these things. I had to look up Vermeer and found that his art had lots of shadows and sunlight beaming through in ways that highlighted the scene. Vermeer, like other famous artists, created many masterpieces. With brush and paint and a blank canvas, these artists would create something extraordinary. The entire scene wouldn’t show up with one touch, but as artist put brush to paint to canvas, slowly the magnificence would appear. Each canvas started out the same, blank and devoid. But at the touch of the master’s hand every one became unique and special in its own right.


Oh beloved, you are a masterpiece! Your canvas is being painted by the Grand Master Himself. Each touch of the brush, held lovingly in His hand is going to make you magnificent! Don’t struggle at the touch, but rather revel in His creation – you! There’s not another like you in all the world. You are special. You are unique. You are priceless. Run to the Master this morning and let Him put you in the best light. He so lovingly touches your life and so amazingly blesses your days. Thank Him and let Him continue what He started – you are a one of a kind!


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


Jeremiah 10:23 I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.



2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Practicing Your Life in Christ

When I first began taking piano lessons, all I wanted to do was practice. I had played by ear as a little girl on the family’s pump organ, but learning to read music and having a piano to practice on was opening a whole new world to me. My piano teacher had taught in Tyler for many, many years. She knew her stuff. She didn’t just let me play music though. I had to learn theory, the nuts and bolts...of music. When I practiced well and came to class prepared she’d put stars on my pages. I also found that playing the piano was a great place of release for me. I could get lost in the songs and find my spirit soaring after playing for a while. I still love to play piano, but I’m not as fond of reading the music as I once was. I find myself reverting back to playing by ear, especially when someone visiting requests a certain song. Nothing is sweeter than time alone at the piano, losing myself in the music. When I completely abandon myself to the keyboard letting the music flow from my heart, I find that God speaks through His gift and worship comes easier. Instead of working to make it flow, as during those early years of practice, it just flows for after years of staying close to the keys and practicing the music it has become second nature.


Life in Christ is meant to be lived in utter abandon. Practicing the faith is not mundane but magnificent when we give ourselves totally to Him. He is our Teacher, He is the Conductor and the music of our live is meant to be played for His audience alone.

Oh beloved, life can get oh so busy. We can find ourselves out of practice and unable to make the music flow. Troubles take over and the keyboard of life can become out of tune. We may find ourselves trying to keep playing and wondering why it’s off key. Run to the Master Musician this morning. Give Him your talents, your time, your desires. Let Him speak words of confidence and comfort into your life so that the music of faith can once again flow into your life. For nothing is more beautiful than a symphony of faith reaching into the heavens as you spend time with the Lord and practice His Word and your faith. He’s waiting for your presence right now. He loves you and He has all the time in the world and together you and He will work out the notes for your good and His glory!


Psalm 98:6 Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!

Psalm 119:147 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

Psalm 27:8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

Psalm 40:8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”