Hey Friend,
One of the awesome things about writing this blog is that I see how God is able to use the social media to reach the ends of the earth with the good news of the Gospel. Though I do not know exactly who is reading my blog, I am able to track the countries from which my readership comes. Admittedly, I have had to Google the location of some countries that I have never heard of. That, to me, is pretty darn cool.
I have a fairly large readership from Russia and Ukraine. If you've cracked a newspaper, you know about the power conflict and struggle going on in that part of the world. I have noticed, not surprisingly, that readers from that corner of the world have been missing as of late...no surprise there because they obviously have bigger things going on in their lives. I miss them and I pray for them. It's become personal to me.
It has also made me realize that in God's universe, I am a mere gnat in terms of existence. The maker of the universe, the God who formed the planets and hung the stars in place frankly has so much to take care of. If you were to try to capture His job description, do you know how many volumes that would take? It all seems so immense and complicated.
Yet God, in only a way that He could, makes it very simple for us:
1 John 4:8 says: "God is love."
It does not say "God is love if..."
It does not say "God is love when..."
Over and over again the Bible tells us that God loves us!
It does not say God loves us if...or God loves us when...
God cannot deny himself which means that He loves endlessly without stipulations or boundaries.
He loves the pregnant teen mom in poverty stricken Haiti. He loves the orphan in Uganda. He loves the postal worker in Germany and the homemaker in Arkansas. We are all led into false thinking that God has "bigger fish to fry"...that He has world peace to think about so how can he be concerned with the little puzzle pieces that make up my life?
I so love Matthew 10:29-31: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
A God that knows the number of hairs on your head - who knows your thoughts before you even think them - who knit you together in your mother's womb; how can this God NOT care about you? It is simply impossible. As Max Lucado says, " If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it."
When you call out Jesus' name in desperation in the middle of the night, He knows your voice because the good shepherd knows each and every one of his sheep by name.
When you struggle He will scoop you up and lovingly carry you in His strong arms. He will lead you to green pastures and still waters. He will make you to lie down and rest.
Why? Because God is Love... and
Because God Loves You (period).
No matter what part of the globe we inhabit...we have one thing in common - we are loved and cared about immensely by the Creator of the Universe. He is present in our everydayness. He is the God who sees. He sees you right where you are and He truly cares about you!
The world or one tiny sparrow...He holds them both lovingly in His hand.
You are NEVER outside His love...be blessed.
In His love,
Bev
ps. I feel a spring give away coming on. Leave a comment and be entered in a drawing for a DaySpring scripture mug and Starbucks gift card.
Bev, how can you always write what I feel? It's so amazing!! Your writing is the sign to me, that God leads you with your words.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I'll work for 24 hours. German ambulance. And my coworker is the hardest proof I have. (No, not really right. The hardest comes next week.) And if I feel lost, far away from lovely persons, caught by bad emotional feelings I will read your sweet words again.
God loves us. Now and forever and with no need of any sacrifice of us. How beautiful. It's like the comforting pillow under my head, when I lay down to sleep.
Will answer tomorrow on your last answer one article before this one.
You're my sweetest encouragement.
Feel hugged.
Love you ♡
Sonja
Sonja,
DeleteSometimes I wonder if I am capturing what God would have me capture with my words. At times I feel like I am simply rambling. Your comments are such an encouragement to me. I pray all the time that God would work through me to touch others with His incredible love. I am so glad that my writing resonates with you!! You have a very stressful job and I will certainly keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you, too, touch those you come in contact with every day!
Love and ((Hugs)),
Bev
As always, my friend, wonderful words for us to be encouraged by! I am so grateful that indeed, God IS love! (no matter what!!!)
ReplyDeletePraying for you and of course, for your son.
Lisa
Lisa, my sweet friend and sister...thank you, as always, for your encouragement! God IS love and I pray that He would pour out His love on you each and every day. You are so special to me! Love always,
DeleteBev
ps. thank you for your prayers
Hi Bev,
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet words of encouragement/truth! You have just a way of phrasing your messages that hits me right where I feel them, hear them, see them, ponder them. Thank you for you taking the time to listen and write the message you have in your heart, and that Jesus is prompting you to write.
Hugs,
Joanne
Hi Joanne,
DeleteI so appreciate your comments on my various posts because you always have a way of "enlarging the view" for me. I truly appreciate your insights!! As I mentioned to Sonja, I sometimes feel like I am rambling when I write, even though I feel prompted by the Holy Spirit. I am glad that my words capture God's love and resonate with you. Please pray for me that it would be ALL about Him and not about me. Thanks for your love and encouragement!
((Hugs)),
Bev
{Melinda} In a world that seems so big and scary, especially these days, I take such comfort in knowing that I have a God who sees me. Who knows every worry and issue that I'm dealing with. Who understands my heart and mind. Beautiful post. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melinda, for stopping by. I checked out your blog and I love what you've created there - especially the baby in the chefs hat :). Not only does our God care, but He never stops caring or seeing. What a comfort!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to Y'all at Mothering from Scratch,
Bev