For God so loved the world!!!

Since this is "Valentine's Week"....let's talk a little about L-O-V-E.

What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word "Love"?

Is it the love you feel for your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend?

Maybe how you feel about your children?

Maybe you think of the love you have for a parent...or a friend?

For today....let's talk about the love of God....the love that He has for us.

John 3:16 (KJV) - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is the ultimate love....He loved us so much that He sacrificed Jesus for us. Now...go back and imagine the love that you have for your child....could you do what God did??? I have to be totally honest....I couldn't do it. There's no way that I could sacrifice Jess. I gave birth to her, I love her dearly, and how could I willingly send her to her death...especially a slow, painful death?

But, God did just that!!

All because of His wonderful, awesome love for us!!!

I've shared with some of you about a saying that I coined several years ago....

"It's not odd, it's God".

When I taught Sunday school, Pappy printed this for me and I attached it to the front of the podium that I stood at to teach. I've felt this way for years about things that happen that so many label as "luck"...or just a "coincidence".

I don't believe in those things...luck and coincidences, I mean.
I believe totally in blessings:

Psalm 24:5 (KJV) He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Here's an example:

As you already know, I adore Jeremiah 29:11....
actually 11-13....
but, verse 11 means so very much to me because if you read the New Living Translation, it contains my favorite word of all time....HOPE!!!

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Plus, as you know...I love cardinals...because when I see one, I'm reminded of God's love for me.

So...guess what happened Sunday night?

As we were singing during the service, the words to the song were on the screen....over the top of a picture of a cardinal perched on a snowy branch.

It was beautiful...and it made me smile feeling that it showed up just for me!!!

Then....guess what scripture Pastor Dallas used to speak on?

Jeremiah 29:11!!!

Now....was this "luck"...no...it was God letting me know how very much He loves me.

Do I think that I was the only one there He feels that way about???

Of course not.

But, here's what I'm getting at.....

Each and every day....each and every one of us....need to look for ways that God is trying His very best to let us know that He loves us....He cares for us....He wants the best for us....He adores us!!!

If we'll just try....all thru our day...we'll be more aware of things that He's doing to show us His love.

Here are just a few of ways God chose to bless me yesterday:

***My precious sister-in-law took me to lunch for a belated birthday lunch.. she bought me two little gifts that contained the word "hope".

***The lady at the restaurant brought us a piece of birthday cake to share because she knew we were celebrating my birthday (even after I explained to her that it wasn't actually my birthday, that it was a belated celebration)

***We went to the mall and found a place to park at the very front.

***I ran into a special young man who is a friend of mine and Pappy's. We hadn't seen him in a while and we had such a nice visit.

***We went to a store and I was hesitant to buy this particular plaque that I really liked (you know how frugal I am).....but decided I wanted to get it for Pappy for Valentine's Day. When I went to the checkout, the lady asked if I was over 50...which meant I got a 15% discount!!!

Try not to think about things like this that happen as just a part of your normal day....take the time to look at things like this as God smiling on you...showing you His love!!!

For more about how much God loves you..

click here.

By the way...here's a pic of Pappy's plaque.... don't you think it's very appropriate for Valentine's Day???

In His Love...and with mine!!!