I Love You Too!

I was listening to something by Joyce Meyer or Beth Moore (sad that I cannot remember for sure which one said it) yesterday talking about the reason that we love in the first place is because God first loved us.

We love him, because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19 (KJV) She said something then that really made me think.....why don't we just say.... "I love you too" He loved us first and showers us with his love....... It really made me think about when I see things like a beautiful sunset or some flowers as I am walking and I think to myself and sometimes say aloud Thank you God and actually I could also say.... I love you too. These things are ways that God shows me that He loves me. I don't know if this speaks to anyone else but for me it was one of those things that stuck with me that I won't forget. Sometimes just a couple of sentences can change your course of thought.

Sheila Walsh said this in a devotional that I just read this morning....do you think God is trying to give me a message?  LOL

Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me. — Psalm 31:21 NRSV

"If I had to give you my life’s message in one sentence, it would be this: as you are, right now, God loves you; and that will never change.

God loves you not because of who you are or what you have done but because of who he is. Your behavior does not impact the heart and character of God. You might think that on good days, God is proud of you; and in your not-so-attractive moments, he loves you less. But that is applying human logic to the heart of God, and it will always come up short. There is life-changing truth in the message of these three little words:

God loves you.
You!

Not just the woman whose kids learn their Bible verses while yours struggle to remember their names. Not just the woman who has been happily married for many years while you are still waiting for a husband. Not just the woman who is pregnant one more time while you weep with empty arms.

God is crazy about you"              — Sheila Walsh

Something concerning.......why is it that we can be very excited about something and we can tell others and have many agree with us and rejoice with us and then have this one person....out of the blue....say something contrary or something negative about what we are excited about it and it sucks the joy right out of the situation for you. Have you ever had that happen to you? Maybe you received a gift from someone and it is something so special to you and you show it to some others and they like it and they are happy for you and then ONE person says.....you know that looks dumb right? What happens to your whole countenance?
It is like they sucked the air right out of your balloon.

This happened to someone that I know recently and it really made me think ......why? Why can what one person says steal the happiness of that moment? Does it matter who it is that says it to you? Is it HOW it is said? No one can steal your joy unless you allow them to.....right? When we know and are Confident (key) in who we are in Christ and KNOW the truth (key) of His word about us I think it is much harder to steal that person's joy! You almost have to stop and think before you react when someone says something that could drag you down. You need to compare what that person is saying to what God says and then decide how you are going to react. You need to determine whose approval matters. Easier said than done I know. We need to remember that the enemy doesn't want us to be happy right?

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)

I found it interesting how they state it in the Message Bible as well.

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (MSG)

Okay......I will end for today. I have so much in me that I would love to talk about but I just don't quite know how to say it LOL. God is still working on me and praise God He is or I would be lost!