God, Help Me!

Come, let us tell of the LORD'S greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

Psalm 34:3-6

The Psalms: Some call them biblical literature, others poetry. They were originally written as songs to praise Yahweh (the proper name of the Living God, translated as Jehovah or the LORD). We use many of the Psalms to praise God today, and they remind us of His character and greatness. Current artists who write new songs to honor God and tell of His ways are simply modern-day psalmists; so are those who write inspired messages, poetry, and stories. Our words come from more than an artistic gift or imagination. They come from the heart. They come from the Spirit. They come from experience. They come from spiritual revelation--which is a big phrase that simply means, 'I get it. I see and I understand. I believe.'

When David wrote the words of Psalm 34, he had just escaped desperate circumstances. David spent many years of his life living through one crisis after another. God had anointed him to be King of Israel when he was a young boy, but he had to wait to take the throne, and King Saul wanted him dead. Others were after him too, and he escaped death multiple times. How?

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me...
I prayed, and the LORD listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.

He didn't say, 'I was in trouble so I kept my sword handy, and I was a mighty warrior!' That isn't to say he didn't have a sword or he wasn't a great warrior, but his trust was not in his weapons or his own skill and power. He may have been scared and run for his life, but in the end he was able to say, 'I asked God for help and He saved me. He delivered me from the things that scared me.' He wasn't fearless. He was afraid. That's why he cried out to God, his only hope.

We live in a society that says, 'Take care of yourself. Be self-sufficient. Protect yourself. Provide for yourself. Depend on your money. Depend on your education. Depend on your own strength...' The list goes on. What or who are you depending on? What have you placed your faith in? Who do you believe can really help you?

Rescue may come from invisible sources at times, but God often uses people and things to help us. I use a computer to type my blogs and stories. If mine broke, I would need God to provide money for a new one. I am currently healthy, but if I got sick, I would use medicine to cure me or rely on a surgeon's skillful hands (and I have!). I need a home to provide shelter. I eat food to keep my body fueled and healthy. When I am facing a crisis, emotional distress, or physical harm, others may come to my aid. But my trust is not in people or things. It's in God. I trust Him to take care of me. And when the day comes for me to leave this earth, I trust Him to take me to my eternal home in heaven.

Like David, however, I am often afraid. I find comfort in his words when he says, He freed me from all my fears. I don't think David is saying God took the fear away, but rather that He always rescued him from what he feared. And I would agree that's been true for me too. The things I worry about usually don't happen, especially when I ask God to help or protect me (or others) from those specific things. But even when they do happen, it's never as bad as I imagined. God gives me what I need to make it through, grow my faith and character, and even bless me in new ways.

People often ask me where I get the inspiration for my stories. I have a good imagination, and I can come up with tales "out of my head" easily; but the stories--the psalms: the testimonies of God's faithfulness and love and goodness come from my own life. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)  David wrote these words thousands of years ago, but they resonate with my own heart today.

I have tasted His goodness, and I have seen His faithfulness. My prayer is that you will do the same. Trust Him with whatever you need today. Look to Him for help. If you are afraid, ask Him to protect you. If you are confused or feel alone, believe He is near. You are loved. You are His. You can simply say, "God, help me!", and He will.

 

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Psalm 36:5

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

As I Have Loved You

This I know. God is on my side. Psalm 56:9

 
God is on my side. Wow. If I could believe that--all the time, every day, in any situation: When I am afraid; When I feel like a failure; When I have a choice to follow God and do what He says is best for me or do my own thing; What would my choice be? What would your choice be? God is on your side. Do you believe that?

Before Jesus gave His life for all mankind and rose from the dead, conquering sin and death for all time, He gave His disciples a command; He said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)

What's interesting about this command is that it wasn't really new. From the beginning of the Hebrew Nation when Moses led God's people to the Promised Land of Israel, God had given them a few commandments that Jesus Himself said were the most important:"Listen to God...love God with all of your heart...and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:28-31)

The central part of Jesus' message was love. God's love and mercy for all people was the Good News He came to share. It wasn't earned love, it was love to simply receive: To believe in God's forgiveness, mercy, and blessings and live in that love in every area of life. Not to be religious. Not to follow a long list of rules. Not to offer sacrifices to be forgiven of sin or live under the curse it had brought to the world; But to live in freedom, peace, joy, and love.

So why did Jesus call this a "new" command? Loving others was nothing new, but the original command said '...love your neighbor as yourself.' (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus changed it when He said, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." At first glance, this command actually seems harder than the first, even impossible. To love someone as I love myself, I can probably do that most of the time if I really try, although I'm sure I would still fail at it plenty. But to love others as God loves me? He's kidding, right? How can I possibly love even those closest to me that much, let alone people who annoy me, have different beliefs, hurt me, or are just idiots? Thanks for raising the bar, Jesus--as if it wasn't already high enough. (Eyes-rolling Emoji)

But the beauty of His command can be seen when I take a closer look. It's not just about loving others as God loves me, it's about believing just how much I am loved. God does not expect us to give something that is not a part of us. While some have the ability to love more than others due to upbringing and receiving plenty of human love themselves, no one can love like God loves innately. We simply are not born with that capacity in our broken humanness. We are too selfish, fearful, and weak. We can only love like that when God's love is the central part of our being; and the only way to have that is to receive His love every day, every hour, every moment.

Knowing how much of God's love I'm receiving can be difficult to measure. How much is all? How much is enough? How much am I receiving today compared to yesterday or last month or last year? But here's a good gauge to go by: if you're having trouble loving others, if you're having trouble keeping any of God's commands, you're not receiving enough of His love.

"As I have loved you..." Think about what that means. It means a lot of things, and it means different things to different people. But this I know: It means God is on my side; and He's on yours too. Hear it, believe it, and live like it. Live loved. Live forgiven. Live free. He loves you, He loves you, He loves you; and He is for you, not against you. He is on your side.


Psalm 56:9 (NLT); Mark 12:28-31: paraphrase mine

The God Who Sees Me

There is a story in the Old Testament about a man and his wife who wanted to have a child, probably many children, but the woman was barren. Despite all signs pointing to the contrary, God promised the man he would have a son and as many descendants as the stars in the sky. You have probably heard the story of Abram and Sarai, who were later named Abraham and Sarah. If not, I will fill in the details for you, which in America today would be considered scandalous or even criminal.

But in that day, the suggestion Sarai made to her husband and his agreement to sleep with her servant in order to have a child through Hagar was likely culturally acceptable. This arrangement created problems between Sarai and her servant, however, and caused Hagar to run away. I have done Bible studies and heard sermons that focus on Abram and Sarai's lack of faith to believe Sarai could be the one to bear a child to Abram, as later happened, but I want to look at another part of the story. What happened when Hagar ran away, why did she come back, and whom did she encounter during this time of crisis?

First of all, a little background: Hagar was a slave from Egypt. She was Sarai's maid. Considering Sarai's trust of Hagar to be the one to bear her husband a child, I am guessing Hagar was a faithful, dutiful servant. There is no hint in the narrative of any problems between Hagar and Sarai before this decision was made. But afterwards, when Hagar learned she was pregnant, the text says she no longer respected Sarai and likely became disobedient. Whether this was because she saw herself as being more valuable than a mere slave because she was Abram's wife now too and could give him something Sarai couldn't, or because she hated Sarai for putting her in that position is unclear; but the mistress-servant relationship was lost.

Hagar didn't serve Sarai as she once had and Sarai became harsh with her, causing Hagar to run away. When Hagar came to a well in the wilderness, she stopped and an angel met her there. This reminds me of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman by a well. When He spoke to her and asked for a drink, she responded with "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9) In that day, Jewish men typically did not associate with Samaritans, let alone a woman. And in Hagar's day I don't think an angel of Yahweh approaching a slave-woman was commonplace either. Abram and Sarai were royalty, worthy of such a visit, but a maid was just a slave.

Hagar's reaction to the encounter isn't clear at first. The messenger asks her, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8) Hagar responds truthfully and the angel instructs her to go back and be submissive to her mistress, then speaks prophetically, telling her she will have a son and many descendants, more than she can count, just as God promised to Abram. At this point Hagar realizes who is speaking to her and declares, "You are the God who sees me." (v. 13)

Her words are similar to the woman at the well who after meeting Jesus told others, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" (John 4:29) In both cases the women knew their sins had been exposed, and yet they weren't threatened by that. If you are trying to hide your sin from God, don't bother. He already knows and He loves you anyway. Allow that truth to set you free. He sees you for who you really are, and that's okay!

Whether you have been wrong, wronged by others, or both, do you believe God sees you? Does He know your name? Does He know your plight? Does He know where you are coming from and where you are going? Does He know your fears, the lonely road you walk, the mistreatment you have suffered? Do you believe He comes to meet you on the journey of despair, heartbreak, confusion, and pain? Do you believe you are worth such love?

Considering that Hagar did go back, faithfully served her master, and endured more mistreatment later, I think she believed where her true value was found. Not in what she gained or gave in this arrangement; Not in how well she served or didn't; Not in what others thought of her; But in the God who saw her. She knew she mattered to Him, and that was enough.

It's okay to ask, 'Why?'

Last year a friend of mine passed away from cancer. She was young. I had only known her for a few years, but she had a big impact on my life. She's a sweet, kind, and loving person. She has a daughter who had recently gotten married, and her life was full of joy.

 

One day I got a message that she was sick. A few days later she was undergoing chemo treatments, and while they were somewhat effective, it wasn't enough. Other complications arose, and she didn't feel well most of the time.

 

Her attitude was amazing. Her spirit never faltered. She had so many people praying for her, and she believed God was going to heal her. I believed He was going to heal her.

She died.

Why?

I have a very blessed life. I have not encountered much tragedy, sickness, or life-altering events. Some, but not a lot. The most difficult times I've had in life are as a mom. 

 

Motherhood is stressful, emotional, and exhausting at times. It's also full of joy and wonderful moments. But it's hard when I'm tired. It's hard when my kids face difficulties I can't fix. It's hard when others tell me I'm doing it wrong.

 

The second-most difficult thing has been medical issues I've had from time to time. I don't tolerate pain well. I am slow to recover from surgery, and I've had six of them. Ugh!

During moments of pain, weariness, distress, frustration, and heartbreak, I've often asked, "Why? Why, God? Why are you allowing this to happen?" (With quiet tears, louder ones, and all-out sobs that shake my whole body.)

I used to feel guilty for asking that. How dare I question God, right? I've heard others say we shouldn't. I've heard people facing great difficulty, sickness, or tragedy say, "I won't question God; I'll just accept His will." If they are sincere, I applaud them. If they're not, I pity them. To not cry out to God in a time of need? That's not right. That's not what He wants.

In God's Kingdom, everything happens for a reason. If we make poor choices that lead to natural consequences, those negative results can wake us up to how we are treating our bodies, how we treat others, time we are wasting, talents we are tossing aside, family and friends we are pushing away, etc. 

 

And if things happen through no fault of our own, God has a reason for allowing it to happen. It's okay to ask, 'Why, God?', but don't walk away in disgust, anger, or pain. Run to Him, cling to Him, and wait for the answer.

"Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you." God invites you to ask, to seek, to knock...to say, "What is going on? Why is this happening? What are You doing? Am I safe? Am I ever going to recover from this? What's Your plan?"

He might not answer immediately, then again, He might. Perhaps He is waiting for you to ask so He can tell you the reason, show you the next step, or provide the way out. 

 

Or maybe He will ask you to wait; to trust Him for now and see what is to come. But one thing is for sure: He will answer.

 

He will explain Himself. He will teach you something, lead you forward, prove His love, strengthen you, carry you... He will give you whatever you most need.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

 

--King David, Jesus, Me

Scripture taken from Matthew 7:7; Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46

God's Love...More Than You Think

Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Not death or life, angels or demons, nothing today or nothing to come…nothing at all can separate us from His love—I mean, just look at what Jesus did for us! What more proof do we need? 

(Romans 8:37-39)

 
When you think of God's love, what comes to mind? He loves me…He forgives me…He loves me even if I sin or ignore Him? I certainly hope so, because it's true! His love for you is unconditional. There is nothing you can do to earn God's love or make Him love you more.

Your only barrier to experiencing His love is receiving it—but even if you don't think you deserve His love or try to push it away, His love will still reach you in the form of blessings, protection, care, rescue... He loves you too much to leave you completely on your own, and nothing can separate you from His love.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

Nothing can separate me from God's love.

 
If you believe that and are trying to receive as much of His love as you can, I'm sure you have experienced the benefits. It makes a difference in the way you see God, the way you see yourself, and the way you see others. It brings peace and joy. It leads to greater faith. And it makes you more loving.

We can never reach the end of His love, there's always more for Him to give, and there are also new ways we can think about His love. What do I mean by that? Here are a few examples:

You know God loves you even when you make mistakes, sin, and fail; He loves you for what you aren't. But do you know He also loves you for who you are? In other words, He doesn't just love you, He likes you. He loves the unique person you are—who He created you to be. He loves your personality: whether you are outgoing or shy, perky or chill, spontaneous or thoughtful, funny or serious, talented or not… You are His unique creation, and He loves you just the way you are.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

He loves me just for who I am.

 
He also believes in you. Whatever your passion is, He loves that about you and wants to see you reach your full potential. He knows you can succeed, and He wants to help you. There is no need to do it alone or prove anything to Him. He knows who you are and who you can be. So believe what He tells you about yourself. Believe it when He says, "You can do this!" And when you feel weary or overwhelmed, let Him carry you.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

He believes in me, and I'm not on my own.

 
He invests in you. As much as He likes you for who you are, He knows you can be so much more. He knows you have more love to give, more courage to show, more talent to exercise, more traits to refine, and more hope to endure through the challenges. Your life is not a random series of events, problems, good times, bad times, struggles, and victories. It's all part of a plan: God's divine purpose for you. From the moment He first thought of you, He designed every detail of your life.

He knew when you would obey and when you would rebel. He knew when others would be there for you and when they would let you down. He knew what your needs would be, and even if it hasn't always seemed like it, He's been with you every step of the way. And He's not done yet. He is willing to invest whatever it takes to help you rise above your doubts and fears, your weaknesses, your past hurts, your current obstacles, and any unbelief you have about His love for you and your value in His eyes.

Repeat this truth to yourself:

I matter to God;

He has a plan and purpose for me.

 
He is your biggest fan, your loudest cheerleader, your most encouraging and supportive teacher, your greatest mentor, your source of strength, and your best friend. You are His. You are His workmanship. You are His beloved treasure.

Repeat these truths to yourself:

I am His;

I am His workmanship;

I am His beloved treasure.

 
Maybe you don't believe all that yet, but He wants you to. Jesus said,“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20 NKJV)

How does a tiny mustard seed become the largest plant in the garden? It simply becomes who it was designed to be, despite its small beginnings. You can do the same if you are firmly rooted in His love.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow deep into God's love and keep you strong.
(Eph. 3:16-17)

Rom. 8:37-39, Eph. 3:16-17 paraphrase mine
Mustard Seed Photo Credit: David Turner, February 23, 2005. CC
Mustard Plant Photo Credit: www.bibleistrue.com
Sand Heart Photo Credit: FreeImages.com/Jan Willem Geertsma CC

Christmas Joy

Do you know anyone who has a difficult time coping during the holidays? Is December a stressful or difficult time for you? Have you ever heard others say, "I can't wait until Christmas is over"? Have you ever said this yourself?

Perhaps you love this time of year and try to make the best of it, but the attitudes of others bring you down; or maybe you strive for joy, but no matter how positive and festive you try to be, you end up stressed, disappointed, and have moments of anger, fatigue, frustration, or despair.

I know I've had those moments, and it always feels out-of-place. Decorating the tree, shopping for gifts, enjoying a family dinner, attending a Christmas event… All of these things should bring joy; but inevitably one or more brings something else, and the moment that's been planned so carefully is suddenly spoiled.

Holidays can also be a difficult time for some because things bigger than petty wishes haven't been fulfilled. Tragedy, loss, illness, or loneliness can bring on much greater feelings of despair and depression. But whether we're talking about small disappointments, stressful days, family issues, or life going horribly wrong—the story of Jesus coming to earth is all about hope. Rather than focusing on the difficulties, the pain, or the stress that Christmas may bring, our eyes must turn to the One who can help us rise above anything that is clouding our joy. This is the true spirit of Christmas.


If you take a good look at the birth of Jesus and the events leading up to it, you see it was not all warm and fuzzy with holiday lights and traditions. A young Jewish girl had a lot of explaining to do. The man she was engaged to nearly left her. We don't know how her family and friends reacted to the news of her pregnancy, but I'm sure it was a stressful, life-altering time for Mary.

Then there was the long ride to Bethlehem when she was due any day, going into labor and delivering her baby in a stable, and the only crib available was a feeding trough softened by prickly hay? It wasn't exactly a silent night, I imagine.

And yet we read in Luke 2:19, after the shepherds had come to see the baby, that Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Her first-born child may not have come the way she had expected or hoped, she may have felt alone, confused, and scared, but she knew this baby was the hope of Israel, her homeland, and He would bring her much hope as well…"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." (Luke 1:46-47)

Some people like to make a big fuss about removing the word Christmas from holiday greetings, business slogans, and town festivities. But a far greater loss is when those who claim to celebrate Christmas don't actually live by the love, hope, joy, and peace Jesus has for us. Jesus doesn't want me to simply acknowledge His birth; He wants His birth to transform me. He doesn't want me to say the word "Christmas" but not live in the reality of His presence. Christmas is love. Christmas is joy. Christmas is hope. Christmas is peace. This is what Jesus came to bring. Are we receiving these wonderful gifts and sharing them with others? Are we looking to Jesus to help us with any difficulties we are facing? Are we stressed-out, angry, weary, and frazzled, or are we living in the peace Jesus offers us when we simply come to Him?

One of my favorite sayings of Christmas is: Don't leave Jesus in the manger. A nativity scene or a children's play about the birth of Jesus is a good reminder that He came, but we must also remember why He came: A Savior has been born to you…(Luke 2:11) To us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Do you need His guidance today, His strength, His rescue, His protection, His love, His tender care, His peace, His joy? This is why He came. I pray you will remember that this season and throughout the coming year. I wish you more of Jesus.



Photo Credit: "Gerard van Honthorst 001" by Gerard van Honthorst - The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gerard_van_Honthorst_001.jpg#/media/File:Gerard_van_Honthorst_001.jpg

God's Kingdom

"The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."

Christmas is just around the corner. Are you ready? Did you shop till you dropped on Black Friday, or do you still need to get started? Have you gotten a tree and untangled the lights, or do you have those tasks ahead of you?

I love Christmas. I love how December is different than any other month of the year. I love the decorations, the Christmas plays, the giving, and above all, the reason we celebrate. Christmas is a time we remember God sent His Son into the world. It's a time of hope and joy.

It's easy to get caught up in the shopping, decorating, and activity of the Christmas season and completely forget about Jesus. But it's also possible to remember the story of Jesus being born in a lowly stable, but to completely forget He didn't stay in the manger! Jesus grew up. He became a man and spent three years traveling around Israel to teach the message God had sent Him to share. The verse above, from Mark 1:15, was His primary message. "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."

Do you know what that means? What is the Kingdom of God? What is the Good News? The Kingdom of God has existed from the beginning of time. We are here because God created His Kingdom and created us to enjoy it. You can think of it like a country that is ruled by a king; but it's not limited by space, a certain time period, or for certain people. The Kingdom of God is a present reality for anyone who wants to engage with Him, and it lasts forever.

Some believe we are simply here on earth by chance, an accident of nature that serves no purpose. Others believe we are created beings and we're here for a reason, but those reasons may be vague or misunderstood. But the Kingdom of God is not complicated, it's clear and simple: God is the King and we are His children—His beloved children who are loved and valued.

The message of Christmas never changes, no matter how old you are. Do you treat the holiday as if it's only for children and forget about all the ways God wants to bless YOU? His gifts to us are eternal—ongoing year after year, no matter the season. But Christmas is a good time to be reminded of the love, peace, joy, guidance, and hope He gives.

When Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near", He was obviously speaking to those who didn't see it that way. God didn't send His Son to preach something everyone already understood and believed. He came to change their thinking (this is the definition of the word repent).

"Repent and believe the good news," He said. So, what's the Good News? By default, good news is not bad. He didn't say, 'Repent or you're going to Hell; Repent or God will stop loving you. Repent or you're getting kicked out of the Kingdom.' That would be bad news. The good news was (and still is), "The Kingdom of God is near."

What, do you suppose, would have made them believe it was far away? When Jesus appeared on the scene, it was a chaotic time of political change and unrest in Israel. The Roman Empire had taken over, benefiting some but oppressing others. Poverty was widespread. Disease was rampant. Demon-possession was plaguing individual lives and communities. People had feelings of hopelessness, dread, and insignificance. (Sound familiar?) They were "poor in spirit". They had little hope for their present and the future.

But Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." He wanted them to go from seeing themselves as doomed and destitute, to believing they were valued, forgiven, and loved.

"Don't worry; Trust God," He said. "Seek His Kingdom and all your needs will be met. Love others. Pray for your enemies. Forgive. Don't be angry. Do not fear."

He even recruited a band of disciples to help Him spread the word. "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." It was a message everyone needed to hear, and He only had three years to preach before He would be silenced by those who couldn't take any more of His absurd teaching that God loved everyone.

How did Jesus demonstrate this free love? He drove out demons, healed the sick, gave the blind sight and the lame new legs. He went everywhere, spreading the Good News to all. "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."  We often say Jesus came to die for our sins, and He did, but His sacrifice only proved the message He had been preaching until His throat was raw: You are loved. God does not hold your sin against you. He loves you. He values you. You belong to Him.

In Mark 2:5, we see this love and forgiveness demonstrated when Jesus says to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  This man didn't make a decision that he wanted to be forgiven and come to Jesus to ask for that. He didn't pray the "sinner's prayer." He was just there, in need of God's touch. Others would have viewed him as sinful and unworthy because of his crippled condition, but he wasn't unworthy. He wasn't overlooked. And Jesus didn't just say so, He demonstrated it: "I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home."  The One who had the power to heal the body also had the power to heal the soul. 

Do you need to believe the Kingdom of God is near? Does it feel far away? Are you living in fear, hate, defeat, despair, or hopelessness? Do you feel unloved or less than perfectly loved? If so, you need to change your thinking. Repent and believe the good news: The Kingdom of heaven is near. The Kingdom of God is for you! Dwell in His love and live in His grace. He is the King; You are His child; and you can trust Him.

Scripture taken from Mark 1:15; Matt. 5:2; Matt. 5-6 (various); Mark 1:17; Mark 1:38; Mark 2:5, 11

Photos by Karen Barefoot,  Fred Fokkelman, Anissa Thompson, Marinela Prodan, Dany Sabadini (Freeimages.com)