God's Love

I wanted to share some thoughts about God's love that have encouraged me lately:

IN CREATION
We see God's love in what He created for us. Here's a great quote from Love and War, by John and Stasi Eldredge: "We live in a love story. We are created for romance and we have an insatiable capacity for it. Now, God gave us such a heart; it was one of His first gifts to us. (You have to have a heart to live in a love story.) Then He gives to us this world that is so breathtakingly beautiful. "The earth is filled with the love of the Lord" (Psalm 33:5). You see it in the fact that He made grass just firm enough that it stands up straight like a carpet, but not too firm that it hurts you when you run on it with bare feet. And He makes snow just firm enough for snowballs and sledding, but not so firm that it hurts us when it falls; it falls so softly. He makes birds and their songs just loud enough to be delightful, and He creates our ear to delight in the sound. Do you begin to see the tenderness and the love of God through all creation?"

IN HIS ATTENTIVENESS
The Lord pays attention to our troubles because He cares. He's aware that the Andersons are having trouble finding an affordable car to buy. He knows that my sister doesn't need to be sick when she's already challenged by her responsibilities as a single mom. (Please pray for her, by the way. The doctor is checking a lump on her throat.)
The Lord also pays attention to every minute of our lives, including the ones that we think are insignificant. He sees all the hugs that my daughters give me, and He's aware of their willing attitude as they do their chores. This stuff is important to Him.
Abba also sees the good that He has put in our hearts, the gifts He's given us for displaying His glory, and the plans He has for using those gifts for His purposes. We don't have to be discovered to be important. We don't have to sweat to make God's will come about. He will see to it. That's a relief and an encouragement.

IN CHERISHING PEOPLE
The Lord places infinite value on every person: "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold....but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). The Lord has challenged me to see every person as precious, because that is how He sees them.

God bless you!
Sandra