“God so loved us!!!” GOD so loved us…God SO loved us…God so LOVED us…God so loved US! As we focus on these FOUR words and the magnitude of God’s giant love and great sacrifice for us, we can love the unloveable one more day…one more decade!

We’ve heard, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ but Jesus taught that what does kill us, makes us more fruitful. It may seem a high price to pay at the moment, but the harvest of blessings will far outweigh the sacrifice…by the bushels!

Because our sin was judged and paid for on the Cross of Calvary, our Father gives us gifts we don’t deserve – He calls this grace – and He withholds the punishment we do deserve – He calls this mercy. The price is paid, redemption is finished – we call this is freedom!

Every life is precious to our Faher in Heaven, and it is His heart’s desire to reconcile every soul to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ…to first believe and receive His great salvation and abundant life here, and then to rise again and be with Him forever!

After all the instructions given in Ephesians, and knowing our human failure and frality, this last verse is a blessed reminder of God’s grace to those who love the Lord undyingly. This is the one thing we do, we love Him forever because of His ‘dying’ love!

God bridged the gap between our helplessness and His Holiness through the perfect sacrifice of His own Son who washes away every sin and stain, reconciling us to the Father. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness…this is the message we share!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could love each other with the heart and mind of a child, as siblings who share the same parents, home and upbringing? The closer we walk with our Heavenly Father, the more tangible this becomes…boldly, freely loving one another.

Relationships, jobs, finances, daily responsibilities and life in general can zap our strength and energy. But as we commit our way to the Lord and diligently seek Him in the midst of it all, He truly strengthens the hearts as nothing else can! Thank You, Lord!

God has given us a new covenant… Instead of the law with all of it’s rules and rituals, we trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ to save us, God’s immutable Word to encourage our hearts and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring it to remembrance in times of need.

God’s Word has a promise for every hurting heart, comfort for every grieving soul, eternity for every searching child. And every promise, comfort and hope is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. He came to meet your deepest needs, to be with you today!

Praise the Lord who is our salvation, strength and firm foundation. When we are weak and under attack, He will show Himself strong. He is our Rock, our Fortress and our Deliverer, and as we take refuge in Him, His favor surrounds us like a shield!

Jesus said that as He lives, we shall live also. Yes, we serve a risen, living Savior who, by the power of His resurrection, makes death for the believer but a hiccup in the timeline of eternity, and this life worth living! We have nothing to fear!

God has given us a high calling as ambassadors to share His great love with others. He is the vine and we are the branches…channels of His love to a world in need. The more love we transmit, the more the needy will be satisfied and flourish for His glory!

Picture the Great Shepherd tending to us as His precious lambs, drawing us near and protecting us, keeping us close to His heart…establishing boundaries because preditors exist. These – His loving boundaries – give us security and safety because He cares for us!

God actually considers us His very own children and regardless of how messy life gets, this is our true identity in Christ. We are joint heirs with Jesus, sons and daughters of the Most High God, and He who has lavished His love on us still loves us through it all!

From the second we invite His Son into our hearts and lives, we are members of God’s family. Jesus calls us brothers and sisters and, together wih Him through the power of His Spirit, we sing praises to our loving Father God! What a joy to know He sings with us!

God re-writes the stories of our lives with His supernatural, miraculous pen, dipped in the precious shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Through Him, our old story is irrelevant because God’s final edit is the only one that exists and it makes Him smile HUGE! 🙂

God’s thoughts about you, toward you and for you are unfathomable, and He has great plans for your life…quite possibly greater than you have for yourself…and that is pretty awesome to think about!

Even if we are forsaken by family or friends, we are always cherished by the heart of our Father God. His Word guarantees that He will never leave us, never forsake us! Never!!!

Knowing He was dying for the sins of His crucifers as well, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Rather than following the enemy’s schemes, let us choose Jesus’ example to forgive. He will lead us to freedom, life and victory!

God loves us as we are, not as we should be. Nobody is as they should be…that is why we need Him so. God’s light shines the brightest as we love others who are also not as they should be. By this, some may see and desire a relationship with our God of Love too!

Through the love that Jesus has sacrificially shown to us, we have the opportunity to allow others to see His love through us. This brings heaven to earth in real time, in the lives of real people…people who need His amazing love…people just like you and me!

Our loving God forgives every failure, His goodness strengthens us when we are too worn or torn to be kind, and He sings over us with love when we lose the song in our hearts…because He is our Love, He is our very Breath of Life, and He is our Song!

Whatever breaks our hearts today is within the clear reach of God’s healing power. The bandages of His Holy Word are provided for us to apply, and the Holy Spirit is available to nurse our wounded hearts back to health over and over again! Thank You Lord!

Love rejoices in the truth… It searches for the matter behind the matter. It gives the benefit of the doubt, speaking on behalf of others, believing in people and seeing the image of God in them with careful insight. Love…Christlike love…never gives up. Never!

When we know Who empowers us – the God of Heaven, the Creator of all things, the Savior of our souls – we will trust Him for the courage we need to relay His message to a world in need and we will be fully protected under the shadow of His Almighty Hand.

We are never alone, never forgotten… not in our deepest sorrows, sleepless nights, or dullest days. God knows and records every heartache we feel and collects every tear that falls. His love is everlasting, His comfort is sure and His encouragement is coming!

When we partake in the Lord’s Supper of His broken body and shed blood, we are blessed in mind, body and spirit. This simple symbol of remembrance is not a toilsome act to adhere to, but a great privilege to strengthen our faith and celebrate our Savior!

God’s Word preserves our lives through every situation, struggle or problem. Though we each have a cross to bear, God gives us a promise to stand on, a purpose for the experience, and hope for the future.

It’s admirable to have knowledge – to know God’s Word and what it means – but applying that knowledge and pouring God’s heart of love, mercy and grace into the lives of others is what makes a difference. Like a hand inside a glove, love brings knowledge to life!

Once we set our eyes on Jesus, it is comforting to know that we can truly leave all of our past – decisions, choices, sins and mistakes – behind us. We are only responsible for how we move forward…with our eyes on the prize, walking freely in God’s grace!

When it gets too hot to work out in the sun during these hot days of summer, it is encouraging to know that God ordained rest…especially resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ who redeemed us from all our sin, and helps us in all our struggles.

As we don ourselves daily with the helmet of salvation – recalling where our salvation lies and covering our thoughts with His redemption – we have the ability to take every thought captive, to focus on the prize and set our course for obedience and victory!

Today is our country’s 242nd anniversary, a day to celebrate the freedoms we still have, and a reminder that every one of them came as a cost – as did our Christian freedom, which came a the cost of God’s only Son. May we be forever grateful for both! Happy 4th!

God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient; He loves us unconditionally and fully understands our best labors and human limitations. When we accept Him, we can stand on His promises with confidence…knowing we are accepted, loved and approved.

Rather than trust in our own wisdom or wealth, we can trust in the Lord who guided Ruth to the field of her kinsman redeemer. The God of time and chance guides our steps to exactly where we need to be…to the right place at the right time, often to our surprise!

As nice as it is to be acknowledged for who we are and what we do, it is important to remember friends and family, and to encourage them as well. As we appreciate them and let it be known, surprisingly, we feel uplifted too. Funny how that works!

Love is the overarching attribute of God woven throughout His Word. Thus, it is the the virtue He bids us to reflect above all others. It is that deep, abiding love from Him that leads us to perfect unity in the home, workplace, neighborhood, church… everywhere!

As we wait on the Lord for the job, healing, child, spouse, the loved one to come back to Him, the financial breakthrough, whatever it is…and as we put our hope in Him and His timeless Word…He does a mighty work in us, shaping us more into His glorious image!

It is vital to remember the emptiness of all Jesus delivered us from, and it is enlivening to focus on all He provided for us through His finished work on the cross of Calvary! We are forgiven of every sin…past, present and future…and joyfully alive in HIM!

God’s protective arms of love are all around us today and forevermore…. Like the mountains that surround His treasured City and People, His Holy Spirit is unmovable, unstoppable and continually shielding and sheltering us!

God’s Word encourages us to never ever stop praying about everything for everyone at all times. There is incredible power as we pray to our all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God! And we can persevere because He will never give up on us!

Bills, job or career, home or location, illness, marriage or singleness, children or lack thereof, loneliness, etc. can imprison us. Regardless of what robs our joy, Jesus Christ is our only hope and joy-giver…breaking every chain! And HE is worthy of all our praise!

We may not know where life is taking us, but we do know how to walk…in the love that has been poured into our hearts through Jesus Christ. As we pass His love on to others, we will not only be a blessing to them, but to our Father…and knowing that, blesses us!

God sacrificed animals for the first time and made clothes out of their skins to cover Adam and Eve’s sin and shame. This was a picture of our redemption that He would provide through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. His covenant to us forever! Holy and Awesome is His Name!!!

Every time we tell our story of how the Lord redeemed us out of the miry pit of sin and shame, it will put a smile on our faces and a perk in our steps…as if it just happened all over again. Not to mention, it will sow seeds, water, or reap a harvest of souls to Jesus!

God keeps His covenant promises to us. As with most covenants, we are to do our part as well…to believe Him and His Word, to trust Him and obey Him and to reverence Him in humility. And when we do, we will see His covenant promises shine forth like the sun!

We might think the Lord is taking too long, but He reminds us that He has not forgotten us. Instead, He is waiting to do a mighty work in us that can only happen through our current situation…transforming us into His glorious image!

He was, is and always will be the Great and Mighty God of all Creation, and He is as real today as ever! He is still creating a new work in and through us, and in this crazy world we live in. We have a Living God, a Living Savior…from everlasting to everlasting.

Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful dads! And whether our dads are here or passed on, whether they were great dads or left us wanting…we have a Heavenly Father whose compassions never fail; He is gracious, merciful and loving, always and forever!

So often in the waiting, the Lord teaches us valuable lessons of faith, trust and wisdom. Though the need for answers can seem urgent and the waiting can be long, He knows our thoughts and concerns, hears our cry, and He has a plan. He is on it… Guaranteed!

His arms are strong and mighty to protect us, His strategies are powerful and sure to deliver us, and His heart is full of love to guard and comfort us. He is our shield of faith and our refuge, and nothing will ever subdue our Giant, Amazing, Miracle-working God!

Even in those quiet hours upon our beds, He is with us… He watches over us, knows when we can’t sleep, listens to our silent prayers and gives us peace. It is a precious time to remember the God who never forgets us.

Knowing the One True God through believing in His Son Jesus Christ is the path to salvation and peace…peace with God. It is when we bow before Him, welcoming Him into our hearts and lives, that our journey takes a turn to find our souls are at rest.

There is no god in all of heaven or anywhere on earth as great and strong as our God! Awesome are His deeds and mighty are His works! As the song says, “How great, how great is our God!”

It is important for us to hear praises to the Lord from our own lips, and for the afflicted to hear it as well. It encourages us and everyone around us, and it exalts the One who is worthy of all glory, honor and praise! So praise the Lord, it will change our world!

If you feel foolish or weak today, take heart! God chose you to shame the wise and the strong. Your foes will be amazed and confounded by the strength and wisdom pouring through you from the heart of your God.

No matter what battles we face from day to day, our strength is in the LORD who goes before us, walks with us and stays behind us. He’s got your back! 

Why do we worry and fret? Jesus himself reminds us of the One we believe in…our great and mighty, all-knowing, all-powerful God! We can believe Him and His living Word! He loves us, He is with us, He is for us!

The exciting part of staying connected to Jesus…through the water of His Word and the sunny communion of prayer…is when we see fruit that only He can produce. It is then that He is glorified, flourishing through us as only He can!

Like a protective Daddy, the Lord is ever by our side, scoping out the trail ahead for obstacles that will trip us up. As we place our hand in His, we can trust and rest assured that He is making a way for us through the wilderness of this life.

It is amazing how the Lord makes our plans play out just as they should when we give them to Him. The outcome may not look at all like what we planned at the start, but how blessed we will be to see everything came to fruition at the end, just as He planned.

God’s Word is the original GPS. No matter where we are on the road of life, we can trust it to light our way. If we get lost, it will get us back on track and bring us to our ultimate destination.

In this day and age, who couldn’t use more strength and peace!!?!!! May we each find all we need in the Lord who is the God eternal, the God who gives and provides all the strength and peace His children ever need. May you know and feel His peace today!

There is no greater joy and blessing than to trust fully in the Lord our God, to put all our hope and confidence in Him who is our Hope! Wishing you joy and blessings today!

No matter what or who comes into our lives, we have an eternal God who is on our side, in our court and cheering us on…playing offense and defense on our behalf! He is our faithful Provider, Protector and Deliverer! We can rest in that and rejoice!

The greatest place of true rest is under the shelter of our God who truly is our refuge, sanctuary and fortress. As a mama bird protects her young, He will shelter us under the shadow of His Almighty Wings. Don’t ya just love that!!?!!!

The uncharted waters of this life can be furious at best, but we have everlasting hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is not only an Anchor for our souls, but ‘The Anchor’ for every storm! Through Him we have full access to the very presence of God. How glorious!

God will show Himself faithful as we simply trust and wait for Him to work His miraculous plan… In His time, He will be exalted in our lives and a our land!

Nothing we do for others goes unnoticed by God…not the sacrifice of time and energy or our labor of love. As we pour our presence, service, prayers and thoughtfulness into other’s lives, God knows, sees, and He is our ultimate rewarder.

With all the temptations in this world – food being only one of them – it is comforting to know that God always gives us a way out, a way to avoid doing things that we will regret later. Even when we are faithless, He is ever faithful. That is grace!

God offers His amazing love, endless mercy and infinite grace to anyone that will accept His free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. This is where, when and how we become His beloved children, born into a new beginning and an abundant life!

Jesus taught the balance of speaking the truth in love, and He exemplified it as well. He’s all about relationships…in the church and the home, and mostly with Him. His Word is truth, and the truth is He loves us!

Oh, how He loves us! Faithful He has always been and faithful He will be…for all the years in days gone by and throughout eternity!

God sent us everything we have been hungering and thirsting for in the gift of His Son. When we go to Him, we find all our souls will ever need in this life and for all eternity!

Love covers all…offenses of others, and mine too! The Lord is so good to show us the way to love and unity…and mostly, to friendship! And who doesnn’t need friends!?!! Today, I thank Him for YOU! May God bless each of you with love and friendship!

God blesses us with so many wonderful surprises in the here and now, but we have NO idea what unimaginable, supernatural things He has in store for us in the future, and throughout eternity. It is truly unconceivable!

Remain…that is all He asks us to do…to stay connected to Him, to love God and others as He has told us to. As we stay connected to Him…the True Vine…and drink deeply from the well of His Living Word, His love will flourish from our very souls.

Jesus’ life was plucked from Him at the cross to reconcile us to God and, rising again, He not only gave us eternal live, but abundant life here and now! Rather than just give us the bouquet, He gave us the whole field. Oh, what a God! Oh, what a Savior!

Each of us can be so thankful that our Mother’s chose to give us life! Whether she is here or in heaven, what a gift this life is…and how blessed we are to have it! Happy Mother’s Day to wonderful mothers everywhere!

The God of peace wants to be our refuge in every situation…telling us to cast, actually hurl, our cares upon Him. His shoulders are broad and can bear our every burden as He gives us unfathomable protection and peace. So don’t be shaken!

The Son, our Great High Priest…risen, perfect and holy…sits at the right hand of the Father atoning for the sin of all mankind. He accomplished the work He came to do, thus He sits, resting. And we, too, can rest in Him and His sacrifice once and for all!

God designed you, made you and is forming you more each day into the image of Jesus Christ…to do all the wonderful things He planned for you before the beginning of time! He NEVER looks at you in the mirror and wishes you were someone else!

Running life’s race based on our own strength, talents or personality will only lead to exhaustion and ultimate burn out. But as we trust in our real Power Source, the True Vine of Jesus Christ, we enter His rest…trusting Him to pour His life through us!

Friendship is a gift from God. It is a relationship that can be nurtured and will flourish over time as we support each other through all of life’s ups and downs. A true friend loves at all times and, praise God, Jesus is the best friend of all!

Delightful! Whoever thought God’s Word could be so delightful!!?!!! It is full of wisdom and truth for every part of our lives…it is our faithful counselor! What a delight!

God gives us permission to rest in Him, to be anxious for nothing! He never slumbers or sleeps and He promises to be with us until the end of the age. Yes, we can lay our heads down and sleep with faith in the very Lover of our souls who cares for us!

God is love and as His children pass His love on to others, they will see His love and, therefore, see Him! Oh how we pray it is so!

Through Jesus Christ who signed our adoption papers with His own precious blood, we have full access to our Heavenly Father and the privilege of an intimate relationship with Him, wherein we too can call Him Abba…Daddy!

It is comforting to know that we can plan and, even as we may waver from time to time, the Lord is still in control. He watches out for us, directs our paths and makes sure His purposes are fulfilled in us, through us and for us! Oh, what a Savior!

God’s grace is more than enough to cover all the sin of all the world all the time for all time… Through the Gift of His Son, this overflowing grace always has been, is now, and always will be AMAZING!!!

Experience teaches us that we cannot trust others 100% of the time and, worse yet, we even let ourselves down. But it is comforting to know that as we walk in His wisdom, the Lord is trustworthy 100% of the time and then some!