Author: Jayne Lawson

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27

My dad was a big guy… literally. Everyone called him “Guy,” which was our family name. His side of the family came from Ireland and Scotland, so his complexion was very fair. His eyes were sky blue, and before turning gray, he had hair the color of sun-streaked straw. For a while, he played guitar and the bass professionally. His upbringing was not the easiest, which may have been one of the reasons why he left home at 17 to join the US Navy. He wasn’t a perfect man, but he was my father, and I loved him dearly!

If you look at me, you wouldn’t automatically see that we were related. My skin is olive colored; my eyes are brown. My hair (again, pre-gray years) was dark brown, almost black. But if you look closely, there are many similarities. For example, we happen to have identical birthmarks! Second, we both have a natural talent for music. He could sing; I can sing. He could play guitar; I can play guitar. He could write music; I can write music. Third, we have the same family ancestry. Because there are so many other characteristics we both share, there is no doubt he is my dad.

There are those who believe that I am a distant relative of an ancient bacterium that eventually evolved into what I am today. I’ve never heard of a bacterium that could display any kind of emotion. I’ve never seen a bacterium that could sing. I see no family resemblance. Definitely not my father.

Some say that primates and me have a common ancestor. Well, I’ve never seen a gorilla that can walk upright. Yes, they can do so for a very short amount of time, but most of the time, they walk on all fours. Social emotions like love, empathy, and guilt are not found in primates. Family units (mother-father-child) are also missing. We have the ability to use comprehensive speech and the ability to infer what others think by behaviors. Not them. No, there is no family connection here. There is no shared ancestry. A few similar physical characteristics, like an opposable thumb, does not make a chimp my father.

By definition, a father is one who begets, or the male who nurtures and raises a child. My dad and I are tied to one another in so many ways. Genetically, our DNA can prove we are related. Emotionally, we have a family tie that is unbreakable. Physically, we share lots of similarities. Historically, we can trace the commonalities in our ancestry. It is quite clear that I am the image of my father. It’s indisputable.

It is the same with my heavenly Father. While I am not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent as God is, if you look closely, there are so many characteristics that connect us. For instance, I have a heart that can love. I can bestow mercy upon others. I can raise my voice in song. I can help where there is a need. I can encourage others. I have a soul within me that is eternal. Just like my earthly father, there is no doubt to whom I belong spiritually. I am a child of God, and I was created by Him for a purpose. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

I am a special creation. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14) To believe otherwise is foolishness.

I know I was created in the image of God. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” (Genesis 1:26) He is my heavenly Father now and forever!

You will notice we say “brother and sister” ’round here,
It’s because we’re a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.

(from “The Family of God” by Bill & Gloria Gaither)

“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7

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Earthly fathers may disappoint, but our heavenly Father never does!

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3

Do you ever wonder why we worship God? I was thinking about this, and at first, my mind wandered to things that God has done for me. It’s easy to worship Him when I think about the prayers He has answered for me. Then I thought, ‘If God never answered my prayers, would there still be a reason to worship Him?’ Of course the right answer is “yes,” but why is that the right answer? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years that explain my reasons to worship God regardless of what He does or doesn’t do for me.

1. God is holy. “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.” (Psalm 99:9)
2. God is merciful. “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” (Psalm 145:8)
3. God is righteous. “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” (Psalm 119:142)
4. God is infinite. “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:7)
5. God is immutable. “For I am the LORD, I change not;” (Malachi 3:6)
6. God is wise. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33)
7. God is faithful. “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
8. God is forgiving. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
9. God is love. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
10. God keeps His Word. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

These are so many more reasons as to why God alone is worthy of our worship, but the most important reason to exalt the name of the Lord is simply because He is God. “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:” (Isaiah 45:5)

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

(from “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Reginald Heber)

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11

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Have you ever noticed that “God” is pronounced “G-awe-d”? Coincidence? I think not.

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalm 86:5

God is good, no doubt about it! All that He does is good, whether I understand it or not. One of those “good” things He does is offer forgiveness. Not once, not twice, but anytime I call upon His name! It doesn’t matter what I’ve done, or how many times I’ve done it. No sin is too grievous; no amount of sins is too many. No sin that I confess before Him is refused forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That is overwhelming to think about! God will always be “ready to forgive” me! All I have to do is call upon His name!

Not only does God forgive, but He dispenses unlimited mercy. Psalm 136:2 says, “O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Mercy refers to withholding a punishment that someone deserves. Since God is a just God, (Psalm 89:14), He must judge sin for what it is. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death…” but because of God’s mercy, the verse continues with “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” That’s mercy. We all deserve death in our sins, but God offers us life through His Son.

Why does He do this? Because He loves us beyond comprehension. Ephesians 2:4-5 records, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” How blessed it is to be loved by God!

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

(from “How Deep the Father’s Love” by Stuart Townend)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

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Forgiveness and mercy are just a prayer away!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

As parents-to-be, I remember scouring through a plethora of potential names for our baby using a book entitled, “3,500 Names for Baby.” There was a boy section and a girl section, and each name had its meaning listed. We contemplated several different ones until we finally settled on the perfect name for our child. What a joy it was to finally see him and name him!

It wasn’t until modern times that there was a book of baby names for prospective parents. Before that time, many parents chose family names, as some still do today, but there were a few very special couples who were told by God what to name their children, and the significance of those babies’ names stands out.

For example, Abraham was told the name of his son as recorded in Genesis 17:19. “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” Isaac means “he will laugh.” Remember how Abraham and Sarah both laughed at the idea of having a child in their old age? (Genesis 17:17, 18:12)

Another father-to-be, Zacharias, was told the name of his son by an angel. Luke 1:13 records, “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” The name John means “God’s gracious gift,” and it truly was for Zacharias and Elisabeth were well beyond childbearing age.

Lastly, there was Joseph, who was told by an angel in a dream that he was to be the earthly father of God’s own Son, and that he should name the child, Jesus. In this instance, the angel actually tells Joseph the meaning of the name. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The name Jesus means “the Lord saves.”

As the angel continued explaining to Joseph about the miraculous conception of Jesus, it also added a second name that Jesus would be known by. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

What perfect names to describe our Redeemer-to-be. “Jesus” because He would eventually pay the price to “redeem” us from our sins demonstrating that He is the “Lord who saves.” Hebrews 9:12 states, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” He was also known as “Emmanuel” because God came to live with His creation as a man in order to become our Saviour. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 14) God was truly with us!

There is no other person that can forgive our sins and save our souls. Who He is and what He did is remembered by His given names of “Jesus” and “Emmanuel.” Blessed be the name of the Lord! He is truly worthy of our praise and worship!

There have been names that I have loved to hear,
But never has there been a name so dear
To this heart of mine, as the name divine,
The precious, precious name of Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely name,
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

(from “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know” by Lela Long)

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

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During my visit to Israel, I was told that this olive tree pictured above was one of the oldest in Gethsemane. Perhaps Jesus spent some time in the shade of this very tree when He walked among us!

“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:12-13

When I wake up in the morning, I hurt. My hip aches, and my knees are stiff. After a bit of movement, the pains diminish, and I can move around with ease once again, but it takes some time to get these joints lubricated and able to move without discomfort. Once that happens though, I am able to go about my daily activities without giving too much thought to my aging body until I do something that forces my hip or knees to remind me that they are not as young as they used to be. When a jolt of pain shoots up from these areas, I remember that I can’t twist and turn like before, and I need to step carefully, remembering my limitations. Despite my mind’s faulty belief that I can do anything, my “feeble knees” insist otherwise, so I choose the better, safer way to move about. It’s a lot less painful!

My spiritual life is a lot like my physical life. At times, I find myself aching from discouragement. I hurt from disappointment. I am downtrodden with heavy burdens. My limp hands do not rise in prayer and worship, and my feeble knees struggle to walk the straight and narrow way that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:14, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” When these obstacles cause me to veer off the pathway (Christian life) that God has set before me, I encounter even more stumbling blocks (ways of the world), and it’s so easy to for me to trip and fall. In order for me to get up and return to the path upon which God would have me walk, I must be revived!

Revival comes from God. Psalm 138:7 states, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” As I open the Bible, I find words of encouragement to return to the path that leads to everlasting life, and I can agree with John Bunyan, who wrote in Pilgrim’s Progress, “Though the hill is high, I still desire to walk up it. I don’t care how difficult it is, because I understand that it leads to the way of life.” But getting up is not enough. I must learn how to keep from being “turned out of the way.”

So how do I stay on the narrow way? I must keep my eyes focused on the path. Proverbs 4:25-26 says, “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” To do this, I must read the Bible daily and meditate upon its precepts. I must keep an open line of communication with God through on-going prayer. I must follow the footsteps of Jesus!

This will keep me from the crooked paths of the world and remove its obstacles out of my way, so that I need not stumble and entirely fall. I will still face afflictions that will be disheartening at times, but with God’s help against these, I must make every effort to overcome so that when my life is over, I will know that “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling,
Come, follow Me!
And we see where Thy footprints falling
Lead us to Thee.

Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.

(from “Footsteps of Jesus” by Mary B. Slade)

“He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.” Proverbs 21:21

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“A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian.” – Dwight L. Moody

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Have you ever been “down in the dumps?” According to The Phrase Finder, “down in the dumps” doesn’t refer to being taken to the local landfill, but rather it is a medieval expression meaning to be sad, depressed or melancholy. Its origin is either from the Dutch word “domp,” or the German word “dumpf,” both which refer to gloom, depression, dullness, or mental haze.

I confess that sometimes I am “down in the dumps,” and it can be difficult for me to get out of that mood, but this past Sunday, I was given the answer! Pastor Doyle Jackson, the associate pastor at my church, preached a message about Barnabas, and how he was an encourager to Paul the apostle and John Mark, the author of the book of Mark in the Bible. At the end of his message, he challenged each of us to be a “Barnabas” to someone this week.

I decided to accept the challenge, so I sent an email to a missionary and a birthday text to a friend. It was then that I realized that being an encourager (even a simple one) goes two ways! While my notes hopefully encouraged the recipients, they made me feel good inside as well! It was kind of like sending someone a “warm fuzzy” and having it bounce right back to you!

Today’s verse seemed to go right along with being a Barnabas. First, encouraging someone is definitely a good deed in God’s eyes. The Bible says God is always watching us. In Job 34:21, it is recorded, “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.” Then 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tell us “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” Therefore, God sees us when we encourage others, and it blesses Him because we are doing exactly what He tells us to do in His Word.

So while I do this good deed of encouraging others, it in turn encourages me, allowing my light to shine for God because I am blessed by obeying the Lord. Additionally, when I do God’s work, it is glorifying to Him! Wow! A three-way blessing by one simple little act!

So you see, sending encouragement to someone is a great cure for being “down in the dumps”! It’s easy to do, doesn’t take a lot of time, and the results are amazing, both to the receiver and the giver! Why not try it today?

Out in the high-ways and by-ways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing —
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

(from “Make Me a Blessing” by Ira B. Wilson)

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

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Feeling a bit down? Encourage someone, and you’ll be blessed beyond measure!

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119:114

We live in a crazy world; one that is unsettling, dangerous, unreliable. Because of this, people are always reaching out for something to give them hope. Hope for peace and safety. Hope for financial security. Hope for good health. Hope for a better tomorrow.

Some things in which people place their hope are the stock market, upcoming elections, a new medication, advanced education, or a lottery ticket. Some hopes are “pie-in-the-sky” hopes, while other hopes are acts of desperation, manifested by risky behaviors. None of these “hopes” are guaranteed. They are “crossed-fingers” hopes. They are man-centered hopes.

We need a God-centered hope. We need the hope founded upon God’s word. A hope that is real and unfailing. Biblical hope is the only hope on which we can depend, and here are some reasons why.

*The Word of God is eternal. “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:25

*The Word of God is powerful. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

*The Word of God is truth. “Thy word is truth.” John17:17

*The Word of God is life. “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4

*The Word of God is purposeful. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

*The Word of God is wisdom. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15

*The Word of God is Jesus. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

When you need hope, you can find it in the pages of Scripture. The words you read are those that have come from the mouth of God. His words are hope because they are built upon a foundation that is unshakeable. Hope that has a foundation of sand is not hope; it is wishful thinking. Hope must be built on solid rock. Unshakeable, unmovable, unwavering. That hope is only found in God. “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.” 2 Samuel 22:47

That’s the hope we need. That’s the hope we find in Jesus and His Word. (1 Corinthians 10:4)

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

(from “The Solid Rock” by Edward Mote)

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24

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The Bible is still the best-selling book of all time, with billions of copies sold and distributed worldwide. (WorldAtlas.com)

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:4

Today, John and I went for a hike in Cloudland Canyon State Park. It was only about one mile long, but it was labeled as “strenuous” because part of the trail that descended into the canyon to Cherokee Falls had 174 stairs. I know; I counted each one. I never used to think twice about following my “mountain man” on the trails he wanted to hike, but now my hip and knees often protest such adventures.

This morning, prior to our hike, I had read Isaiah 46:4, and at that moment I believed God was chuckling a bit as I jokingly applied that verse to my upcoming trek. It’s good to know that even in my “eligible for senior discount” years, God is with me. I am retired from my earthly job, but my work here is not finished because I am still on duty for God. How do I know this? I haven’t been called home yet. If my work for God was completed, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be in heaven because that’s the place where I will spend my spiritual retirement.

So, I am here in my seventh decade of life, and God is still with me. He’s been with me always. He carries me in His arms when I seemingly can’t go on (spiritually speaking of course – not when I’m barely making my way along an arduous trail!), and He will deliver me from the ways of the world… always.

By the way, I made it to Cherokee Falls and back. Was it worth it? You bet it was!

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

(from “Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas Dorsey)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

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Once you’re in the family of God, you’ll never walk alone… ever!

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

Ever feel like you’re spinning out of control? No matter which way you look, you are confronted with things in life that are so overwhelming, tears seem to constantly well up in your eyes?

Believe it or not, you are not alone, but sometimes it sure feels like it. It’s during these times that Satan tries to fill your head with his lies. Remember when Jesus was tempted (more like tortured!) by Satan in the wilderness? Jesus fought off these attacks with Scripture. Here are a few untruths that creep into my head on occasion, and the verses that can be used to dispel those treacherous lies.

1. “I just can’t take it anymore.” This is a lie because the Bible tells me that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
2. “What’s the use? It’s hopeless.” This is a lie because Scripture states, “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” Psalm 71:5
3. “You’re a failure.” This is a lie because Paul records, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
4. “God doesn’t care about me.” This is a lie because Scripture says I am to be “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
5. “There’s no way out.” That’s a lie because the Bible says “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
6. “I am all alone.” This is a lie because Jesus said, “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)
7. “I am unlovable; this is all my fault.” This a lie because God Himself proclaimed, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

Regardless of my circumstances, there is one thing I must always remember when I read the Word of God. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19) That means when God says He’ll do something, it’s a done deal. There is nothing I can do in my own humanity to change it. I am not that powerful, nor am I that wise to take the lead. I must allow God to hold the reins of my life because He knows what is best for me. He knows how to lead me in the way that will encourage me to act according to His will, and when I do, it calms my spirit while bringing Him glory! Maybe some of my troubles come from me trying to do it all on my own. Not a good thing. Not a good thing at all. Why would I opt for second best (me) when I can have the very best (God) leading the way?

Sometimes life seems like words and music
That can’t quite become a song.
So we cry inside, and we try it again
And wonder what could be wrong.
But, when we turn to the Lord at the end of ourselves
Like we’ve done a time or two before
We find His truth is the same
As it has always been
We’ll never need more
It’s not in trying But in trusting
It’s not in running But in resting
Not in wondering But in praying
That we find the strength of the Lord

(from “The Strength of the Lord” by Phil McHugh)

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” I John 5:4-5

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Time for me to let go, and let God.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Think positive!”

“Look on the bright side!”

“Keep looking up!”

“Just believe!”

These are just a few sayings that are meant to encourage people in a positive way. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the only thoughts we had were good ones? No sad thoughts; no angry thoughts; no worrisome thoughts… just happy thoughts!

Well, when God thinks about His children, His thoughts are always positive! Not only are they positive, but there are so many of them about each one of His children that they cannot be numbered! “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17)

Additionally, God’s plans for His children include a peaceful future, and He has already set that plan into motion! Even more amazing is that He had our futures planned before we were even conceived in our mother’s womb! Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.”

It is so exciting to me to know that God has had me on His mind my entire life! Not only that, His thoughts toward me are all good and positive and wonderful!!!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed thy hand hath provided–
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

(from “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm)

“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18

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Isn’t it amazing to know that God is thinking of us at this very moment? Wow!