Well, What Do You Know?

That’s a phrase we might say when we’re surprised about something, like a vowed bachelor announces he’s getting married. If someone asked me the question: “What do you know?” It wouldn’t be because of a surprise factor. I’m not surprised at all that I KNOW God loves ME! I know that God is NOT dead. I’ve seen way too much evidence otherwise. I’ve experienced way too many of God’s blessings. I know they didn’t come by coincidence. I know it had to be God Who did THAT for me, or gave me that, or showed me that and that’s when I looked up to heaven and said, “I know that was YOU, God!” I know God sees me right here where I am right now. I’ve been loved so much that it’s the story of my life.

What I know about me and my story, is what I want to be your story, too! I want it to change everything, including how you look at God, yourself, and other people. I want you to live in confidence that when God looks at you, He sees beauty. He sees value. He sees hope. He sees kindness, strength, love, compassion. He sees a precious treasure beyond compare.

When God looks at you and me, He doesn’t evaluate us based on our family history or what we have accomplished, or how popular we are. He doesn’t consider our education, our resume, OR our bank balance. What might impress others, doesn’t impress God. Whether we behave well, or not, His love for us is unconditional. He doesn’t love us because we’re wealthy or smart or good. He loves us because we’re HIS! We are a unique work of His creation. Isn’t it time we see ourselves as God sees us? “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called Children of God.” (1 John 3:1)

May I get personal? I am going to heaven someday. You may think, “Well, you must be very good.” On the contrary, I am not very good. I am going to heaven someday because of this one truth: God loves me AND you so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for us. We are not able to measure the vastness or the intensity or the overwhelming goodness of God.

These are days when many people are going through dark nights and deep waters. When those are YOUR days, please know that God loves you. His love is revealed in Christ on the cross. The Bible makes it perfectly clear, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”(John 3:16)

This old gospel song, “I Am Loved” by Bill & Gloria Gaither, speaks our “knower’s” truth:

I am loved, I am loved; I can risk loving you
For the One who knows me best; Loves me most
I am loved, you are loved; Won’t you please take my hand
We are free to love each other; We are loved.

I said if You knew You wouldn’t want me;
My scars are hidden by the face I wear;
He said, “My child, My scars go deeper
And It was love for you that put them there”

Forgiven, I repeat it, I’m forgiven;
Clean before my Lord, I freely stand;
Forgiven, I can dare forgive my brother’
Forgiven, I reach out to take your hand.

I started this blog out with what I know. I want your “knower” to know, too! Please know God is hard at work, handcrafting all the details for you and your beautiful future. He sees you. He loves you. We are SO loved by ALMIGHTY God. Doesn’t that AMAZE you? It sure amazes me.