WOYWW: God Loves Meeee!

Here is how I start.

I look for a picture that represents what 

the Bible verse says.

This time it is a teaching about fear.

I trace the picture, maybe changing some things-

this time, I changed Isaac Mizrahi to Jesus!

After painting the picture, using 3 shades of flesh,

I use a pencil to trace the outline 

and make the picture clearer.

I want to learn calligraphy,

and I am practicing every day!

 "Do not be afraid." Mark 6:50

"Perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18

As is usually the case, the first reading points out a theme in the gospel reading of the day to emphasize it. Today's gospel is from Mark 6 and tells the story of the disciples being sent off to Bethsaida by Jesus while He goes off to pray by Himself. Jesus from afar, sees the disciples being tossed on a boat by a storm. It is still dark, and when Jesus walks on water toward them, they become afraid. These strong husky fishermen cried out in terror at seeing a "ghost"!

"Get a hold of yourselves!" Jesus says, "It is I. Do not be afraid."

In 1 John 4:11-18, the writer tells us that God is love and in love, there is no room for fear. It is good to examine ourselves and see if we have any fear or doubt that we need to root out. Fear of what the future holds, fear of death, fear of losing someone or something, doubts about our capabilities at work or as a mother. Perhaps we can never fully rid ourselves of some fears, and some are really absurd (like my fear of butterflies!), but we can follow John the Apostle. John in his gospel confessed 6 times that he was the apostle Jesus loved. It is not mentioned in any other gospel, but John knew Christ's love for him was real.

 We too can know with certainty that God loves us and wants the best for us. All we need to do is read the Bible, which to me, are His love letters to us. We can feed on it, and make it a part of us. The prophet Jeremiah said, "When Your words came, I ate them. they were my joy and my heart's delight."

"...God is love..." 1 John 4:8

One of the most important revelations we can have is the fact that God loves us. God loves ME! We might say, oh, I know that!!! I've known it since I was a kid. John 3:16. I've heard that so many times!

But do we let it inside us so it changes the way we think, the way we feel every day, the way we treat others? Do we let it invade our heart and mind and spirit? Are we healed of hurts and pains because we know God loves us? Are we so confident in His love that we can get through our challenges and trials victoriously and not allow the enemy to whisper that it's just not true! Do we know in the dark that God loves us, when our mother just died, or our daughter is breaking our heart, or our husband is seeing another woman, or someone is ridiculing us?

We have to work at getting this truth to become REAL in our lives. One of the ways is to confess it, say it out loud. In Psalm 45:1, it says: "My tongue is like the pen of a skilled writer." What we say,our words, like that of a good writer, can touch our heart and mind, so that it can change us. And we need to use our tongue to write the promises of God in our heart. NOTHING, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35).

I like writing "thank you"s to God in my journal and I started to number them after I read Ann Voskamp's book, "One Thousand Gifts". I am now in #3999. I like to list what God does for me, the big things, and the small. Recently I wrote that Luigi took Josh and me out to dinner, and yesterday, my niece Elyse helped me pick out a dress to buy. 

I thanked God for Lucy who stayed up late to clean up after our get together with good friends who made me laugh a lot! I can look at my journal and see all the ways God surrounds me with love. And it reinforces my spirit, and makes me strong and confident. 

It is good to watch out for signs of God's favor. It is not so good to take for granted all the wonderful offerings of love God woos us.

Previous Posts

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I find a lot of inspiration

visiting my friends here:

Testimony Tuesday,  Titus 2 Tuesdays, 
Count Your Blessings, Word Art Wednesday, 

Whatever You Want Wednesday,Winsome Wednesdays, Share the Joy, 

What's It Wednesdays, Unite, WholeHearted Home,

 Rubie Tuesday Link Up, Be Inspired

 A Little R and R,  No Rules Weekend Blog Party

What We Accomplished, Wow Us Wednesdays
The Weekly Creative, Three Word Wednesday
Great Blog Train Bloghop

Thoughtful Thursday,  Hearts4Home Thursdays, Thought Provoking Thursday

Thriving Thursdays with Serving Joyfully

Thursday Favorites, Desire to Inspire Legacy Leaver Thursday

Creative Things, Bloom! Soul Survival, Inspiration Gallery
Family Fun Friday, Hearts for Home Thursday

Blessings!

Patsy