Jesus loves me, this I know.

Several weeks ago, I was driving and reflecting over the last year of my life.  I was partially talking to the Lord, partially lost in my own thoughts.  I was feeling pretty yucky. As clear as anything, I asked in my head, "Am I even lovable?"  I kid you not, the very next second, I turned up the radio and this song "Who Am I" by Needtobreathe began playing.  These are the lyrics I heard...

While I'm on this road, you take my hand

Somehow You really love who I really am

I push You away, still you won't let go

You grow your roses on my barren soul.

Who am I, who am I, who am I

To be loved by You.

God was for sure saying, "I do!!!  I think you are lovable!"  Of course, the tears came as I began to worship the Lord.  I knew that He was hearing me and loving me.  

Just this morning, I pulled into my house and stopped at the top of my driveway and just looked out at my gorgeous view of the lake and mountains.

I LOVE that view.  The Lord gently spoke to me this morning that He gave me that view! I had never really thought about that before.  I knew that He had supplied this rental home at just the right time when I desperately needed direction.  (That story is a miracle in and of itself!) I knew that I loved this view from my back deck, but I had never really thought about it as a direct gift to me.  But this morning He seemed to be saying, that was for you!  He KNOWS how much beauty in nature inspires me. He knows me and He LOVES me, so He gave me that!  Wow!  What's even kind of funny is that He knows how much I hate the cold and dislike winter, yet it's during the winter when no leaves are on the trees that I have this breathtaking view.  It has warmed my heart on many cold days.  

After taking in this view this morning, I pulled up Facebook and saw that Ann Voskamp posted this: (These are pieces of what she wrote; you can find the whole thing on Facebook)

"Look, this is going to get real personal:

You are seen and known...

Your name, your NAME is engraved into the palm of His hands...

This all gets real personal- because God is real and personal.

Knowing God is love-

is not the same thing as knowing:

God Loves YOU."

GOD LOVES YOU!

If God loves me, I can assure you that He loves you too!  You may wonder how God can love each of us....there are so many people in this world...I'm just one little dot on the map!  That's a fair question.  But the thing is...He is God!  He is THAT big.  He is well able to know me and love me at the same time that He is knowing and loving you!  That's amazing to me.  But He is God after all and much bigger and better than I could ever comprehend.  

I'm writing this to encourage someone today!  Are you feeling unlovable?  Are you doubting that anyone cares about what you're going through?  Are you feeling unseen or unheard?  Good news: God knows you (just as you are) and loves you...always! Better than I love my children; better than you could love your children.  It's a personal love.  And I can look right outside of my window and SEE it today. :)