Category: God’s Love

What Wondrous Love

I’ve been having a difficult time this year focusing on the meaning behind the Easter season. Whenever I go out to the store, there are various displays of candy and toys and other paraphernalia that people are racing to throw into their carts. Now I’m not saying that these things are bad necessarily, but sometimes it’s hard to look past all of that to Jesus and what He did for us.

And what did he do for us? Because of His great love for us, He allowed Himself to be beaten and mocked and nailed to a cross. He went through this agony for us – for you and for me – because we needed His forgiveness for our sins. And because of His resurrection three days later, we can live in freedom and abundance.

What wondrous love is this! It’s a love that we do not deserve. It’s a love that is pure and unselfish and kind. It’s a love that wants the best for each one of us…and we can receive God’s best by choosing to walk with Him!

So what has been filling your mind and life this holiday season? Are you getting caught up in things that don’t matter much in the long run? Or are you clinging to Christ and to His wondrous love for us? ❤

What Wondrous Love Is This
American Folk Hymn

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

*We’re playing the above song on handbells at church tomorrow. Prayerfully we’ll do okay! 😀 Happy Easter to each of you…I hope you have a nice time with your family and friends or however you choose to spend the holiday. Let’s just remember the One Who is behind it all.

Photo Credit: Lukas Budimaier

He Knows Our Every Need

One hundred and seven dollars. That’s the amount of money I had to spend on groceries for my husband and me. God had graciously provided it, and I went to the store earlier this evening to purchase the items that we needed.

I had made a list, so I careened through the aisles with my shopping cart, checking things off of the list as I grabbed them. Two items that I needed and that were really good deals, I actually obtained the LAST of those items on the shelf. There were several things on my list that I decided not to pick up. Although I probably should have, I didn’t add up the amount of each item as I went along to know how much my total would be.

When I pushed my cart into the check-out lane and the nice girl at the register began to scan my items, I started to get anxious. The cost of the items was adding up quickly, and it looked as if I would go over the amount of money that I possessed. I told the cashier that I would probably need to take a few items off of my purchase, and I pulled them out of the bags that they had been placed into.

My subtotal came to about one hundred and twenty dollars, but I still had coupons that needed to be deducted. As the cashier scanned each coupon, I watched the total amount due go down. When she finished scanning the coupons, the total due came to a little over one hundred and four dollars. I couldn’t believe it — I had just enough money!

I paid for the groceries and wheeled my cart out to my car, so incredibly grateful to God for His goodness. He loved me so much that He had guided my choices of items so that I was within the amount of money that I had available. It was like God was whispering to me, “It’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.”

So often I doubt Him. So many times I worry and obsess, wondering how things are going to get paid for, or how I’m going to have enough time to complete the tasks that are laid out before me. But the Lord reminded me tonight that my worries are unfounded. I have a God who knows the number of hairs on my head. He sees each tear that I cry. He has a name for every star in the universe. He is aware of every sparrow that falls to the ground. And this Almighty God cares about me.

He is so good! I pray that I will remember this special lesson that He taught me tonight, in such a way that I would recognize and respond to. When times get tough, I can recall this memory and be encouraged to keep moving forward.

The God of the Universe knows our every need, and He will provide for us as we trust in and walk with Him. ❤

Photo Credit: Crystal Knauss

Flawless

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

“Flawless,” by MercyMe

What an amazing truth! 

No matter what I’ve thought, done, experienced, or struggle with, I don’t have to beat myself up. I don’t have to rehash it in my mind. I don’t have to try to cover it up. I don’t have to attempt to be perfect.

Jesus has paid for my sins in full, and I have been wrapped in His righteousness.

He offers me (and you) grace! And all that we need to do is accept it.

Today, as we experience life…let’s let go of the desire to “measure up” in every way possible. Let’s rest in the arms of Jesus, and in His perfect love and mercy. I want so much to do this! And I hope that you will try it along with me. ❤