Jesus Loves Me, This I Know...

Psalm 117:2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 15:12-13 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus loves me, this I know...

I sang the simple children's song in Sunday school as I was growing up, and my children sang it when they were young. I'll bet that most of you know it, too...  my guess is that when you read the words above, you could even hear the tune. The song is so simple and uncomplicated... as uncomplicated as God's love for us.

Scripture tells us over and over again... from Genesis to Revelation, God's covenant love and faithfulness endures forever. Quite simply, He loves you. He is your Rock and your Redeemer. It is a promise and a truth that saturates the pages of the Bible.  

It is my prayer that you would love Him back. That you would invite Him into your entire life. In Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your mind."  I pray that you would open your Bible and begin to read -- not just for answers, but to get to know the One who loves you completely. Spend daily quality time with the One who loves you deeply. The One who laid down His life for you. The One who offers you the gift of eternal life.  

Love Him back... love Him with all your heart, soul and mind. Pray to Him, talk with Him, praise Him and honor Him with your choices; know and follow His Word. Know Christ Jesus, the One who's love is so complete, that nothing can separate us from Him. 

Wherever you are in your journey, whatever is going on in your life, I pray that you take comfort, and find strength and peace in this simple truth... in this simple song... 

...Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

Dear Heavenly Father, I simply want to thank You for Your love that covers me completely. Thank You that Jesus loves me. Thank You for Your amazing Word that clearly tells me so. Amen.  

Praise, Thanks, Worship

Psalm 30:12 That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD, my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalm 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 103:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Luke 5:26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

Revelation 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

As I sat down to pray today, I had quite a list of requests, petitions, intercessions and concerns... things that were heavy on my heart... 

I needed His peace. 

I gently laid my list down and placed it to the side for a moment... And then... I humbly praised Him. And I thanked Him. And I worshiped Him.

And as I went to the LORD in praise, thanksgiving, and worship, He refreshed my heart, He restored my soul, and He reminded me that He is God -- that He has not changed.  It felt good to sit in His Holy Presence, wrapped in His peace.

As I returned to the requests, intercessions and concerns, I began to pray for each precious, compelling need; but I prayed with a renewed heart, a renewed peace, and a renewed promise of His control and His Presence...  and as I began to pray, I was reminded that God is mighty, sovereign, and He is worthy to be praised. 

Praise be to You, Wonderful Counselor.  Your ways are perfect.  I thank You that You freely give Your wisdom, pouring it out to us through Your Word.  I praise You as I sit at Your feet, listening to Your counsel, learning Your ways.  I praise You for hearing every prayer I lift to You... every intercession, every concern, every request.

Praise be to You Almighty God.  LORD, I sit in awe of You. You are ever patient, ever compassionate, ever faithful. Your mercy and grace is new every morning. Thank you that I am found, and that You will never, ever let me go. Father, You are my constant companion, holding my right hand. 

Praise be to You, my Heavenly Father.  You are LORD of my life, LORD of my family, and LORD of my home. You are leading my family on an incredible journey as we are centered on You and Your will for us. I praise You and thank You because You love my children even more than I do. It is, quite simply, hard to fathom a love so intense; so incredibly deep. I praise You because You hold them tightly in Your mighty hand. I give them to You freely; use them for Your kingdom; and never, ever let them stray from Your path. And, yes, while Your path will include trials and lessons for our family, it will be filled with abundant promise, security, purpose and love. I praise You and thank You for Your constant Presence in our life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Your Tent of Meeting

Exodus 33:7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting."

Exodus 33:9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.

Exodus 33:11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.

Before the tabernacle was built, Moses would pitch a tent outside the Israelite camp and meet with God. I can just imagine Moses walking a distance away from the distractions of the camp and carefully pitching the tent, with great anticipation and expectations of meeting with God, the Creator of the universe. There, in his tent of meeting, the LORD would speak with Moses.

Where is your tent of meeting? Do you have a place where you go to spend purposeful time with God? I believe we all need a tent of meeting. I encourage you to find that special, quiet place where you can meet with God and peacefully focus on Him...  your Heavenly Father.

My tent of meeting is in my living room, on a comfy couch where I have my Bible, devotionals and my computer.  It is where I grab a cup of coffee, read my devotional, pray and soak in my Bible...  it's my designated meeting place with the Creator of the universe. While, yes, God is everywhere, and yes, I can pray to Him anytime... when I want to be quiet, and have that daily focused time with Him, I retreat to my tent of meeting.

I encourage you to pitch your tent daily!  When you are in your tent of meeting, read, pray and absorb His Word.  Ask the LORD to teach you, give Him your prayers and petitions. Draw close to Him and soak in His Presence.

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that we can pray to You anytime, anywhere.  I praise You that You are ever-present.  LORD, when we go to our tent of meeting, I pray that this is a special, focused time with You...  set apart for quality time spent between a child and their Heavenly Father. I am humbled that You want to meet with us and spend time with us daily. I pray that I always look at this blessed daily time with You with anticipation and expectation.  Amen.