Welcome back friends!
I took a bit of a break over Christmas and due to some unexpected events in our family life, my break was extended longer than I'd anticipated. All is well - just in case you wondered - but God most definitely had some ideas of His own about my schedule over the past few weeks!
Ah, the best laid plans, right?
"Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
God's word never lacks for wisdom, does it?
Even though my days have been full, there has still been so much on my heart that I've wanted to share with you all. Seems like every day God challenges me with another issue that just stirs me to my soul.
Here's a few of the things I've been pondering:
Religious Freedom
Resolutions
Vision
Gun Control
Measuring Success
Abortion
Friendship
Redemption
I KNOW! That's quite a list I've got there, but God is not silent and I'm certainly not going to shy away from a controversial topic if He calls me to share His truth regarding it.
Life's about to get pretty interesting around the Courageous Heart blog - hope you've got your seatbelt on!
For now, I want to tell you about what you'll be reading over the next 32 days.
I'm very excited to do this - it's a challenge in a way, but it will be an amazing month as we focus on one of God's greatest attributes - His LOVE for us.
Did you know that in just 32 short days we celebrate Valentine's Day?
Arguably one of the best excuses to eat chocolate in our whole calendar year.
I mean, really - what's Valentine's Day without chocolate?
Oh yes, and there's that love thing too.
Hey! I love chocolate - does that count?
Ok, sorry, I'll re-focus now. Chocolate is my 'squirrel'. You'll get that reference if you've seen the Disney movie "Up".
Alright, really, I'll re-focus now.
Over the next 32 days - beginning today - I'll be sharing 32 Days of "Love"ly Thoughts
One each day up until Valentine's Day.
According to BibleGateway.com, the Bible has 698 references to "Love" (NIV 1984 version)
That's a LOT about love.
Way more than those advice books you can find in your local Barnes and Noble (no offense to them).
I figure that if God wrote about LOVE 698 times in His word, then it's pretty important for us to read it and live it, don't you think?
There are a lot of examples of un-lovely behavior and words in our world today, so perhaps focusing on 32 things God has to say on the subject will help change at least the world within our arms reach.
If we are close enough to reach out and hug those around us, we are close enough to show them love.
So let's start here with one of the greatest promises in all of God's word.
Jeremiah 31:3.
"I have loved you with an EVERLASTING love."
It's what we all long for deep down - someone to love us for ALL TIME.
And check it out - this verse begins with the past tense - "I HAVE loved".
Meaning that God loves us now, has ALWAYS loved us and wait for it......
He ALWAYS will.
Forever.
Eternal.
Everlasting.
Rest in that promise today.
With a Courageous Heart,
Robin
Love that it's an accomplished fact - "I have loved". No need to question if/when, He's already loved us before we even knew Him.
ReplyDeleteIt means so much that it says I "have" loved you...it's already decided and done. We don't have to wonder if/when He chooses to love us...He started loving us long before we even knew Him. Awesome!!
ReplyDelete