Oh, How He Loves Us!
Our Encouragement for Today devotions are due into the editorial team two months in advance, so sometimes by the time one of my devotions is published, even I’m surprised by what’s written!
Today’s devotion is one of those days when I needed to hear this truth all over again. God, my heavenly Father, loves me…
Without reservation.
No holds barred.
Tenderly.
Extravagantly.
Lavishly.
And despite anything I’ve done or haven’t done.
If you needed that truth today too, I have a little gift for you. Claire, the wonder intern, took some verses and created a beautiful piece of art that you can download and/or print.
Click here to download this image.
For more spin-off thoughts from Breaking Up with Perfect, you can sign up for “Five Days to Himperfection” found here above in the sidebar.
You are loved! Walk around with that knowledge today on the feet of your Father.
I’m sorry meant to post this on finding The Happy Ending from Encouragement Today…. I copied and re-posted there again I am so sorry.
AS SILLY AS THIS SOUNDS IT IS ABOUT MY CAT GONE MISSING: I’m sure most of you have much more important stories to tell but this one taught me a powerful lesson. I’m going to copy this from a saved post that I wrote about my Miss Priss.
WHERE IS THAT PRISS? AND PRAYING AMISS:
Where is that Priss?where is that Priss? These are the words my 19 month old grandson said over and over when his/ his moms cat got out and could not be found. Priss is special and if you have a beloved pet you understand this. Priss took the place of another cat Ghost who had died from congestive heart failure. Priss wondered out the door without being seen on Sept.25th and I was heartbroken. I’m a mom, I worry, I guess that’s what moms do?I have been learning a lot about God and Who He really is. Learning to trust in every situation and circumstance…So I came to two conclusions. One: Romans 8:28 (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I knew that there must be a lesson and somehow this was going to work for my good. It’s there in The Word so it MUST BE TRUE.Two 2 Samuel 22:31 (KJV)
31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. His way is perfect, here it is right here in The Word so again it MUST BE TRUE.I struggled with Priss being gone ,had nightmares about it,one thing that bothered me in the first few days was that Priss was seen at my daughters door a few times but each time was scared off by something or someone coming or going.She wanted to come home,she tried to come home. I bounced back and forth like a yo-yo, I went from I know God is good, I know all things work for good… but I also just could not understand how this could be good?How this could be in God’s perfect will? I will admit I was down right angry at times! God do something for me? are you serious He wont even let me have my stupid cat back.Days went by weeks went by and turned into a month and then another month. In the beginning I had searched and searched, I still looked every time I was in the area where she had gone missing from but now without much hope. I still got up every morning and turned on my social media with a little glimmer of hope that maybe just maybe she had been found. Every day my heart sank and as time went on.. I had lost my Priss forever… I know people lose pets all the time, I know life goes on but it was more than this, nothing good ever happens nothing ever works out, why God why? You have a reason? what possible reason could You have for this? God You should,really, You must bring her back,there is no reason for this, You can’t possibly have any GOOD reason for not bringing her home!Yo yo-ed back and forth back and forth..I just couldn’t understand, I know You can bring her back I know You can so quite simply WHY DON’T YOU?? There were still those moments of, God I know You’re good, God I know somehow someway this must be for my good? So where is that Priss? and why God oh why will You not let me have something so little and so silly as a cat? Surly You must not care, but once again back to The Word Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)
3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Lovingkindness?? There is NOTHING loving or kind about this. Priss is just that, prissy, not big, not strong, petite and tiny. People think Priss is a kitten because she is so small and tiny. A cat like that outdoors on her own? there is no way she made it, too many things, wild dogs, other stray cats, possums, coyotes and it was getting cold, raining storming,and no food. You see she was wearing a bell so even if she tried to catch something chances are she wouldn’t. Back and forth I went, God how could You? to God I know You are good, like a yo-yo back and forth. I drove over to my daughters apt. one morning around 9:30 or so, again just looking, not even really hoping, out of habit I guess? Once again I turned to God in prayer.. something humbling hit my heart, I give up Lord Jesus I GIVE UP. I prayed once again, I know You ARE good I know You ARE perfect… so if it’s not You then it must be me.. I’m praying amiss, now too me praying amiss was outside Of God’s will but in those moment I understood something more, I understood that praying amiss was also praying with an attitude, a bad attitude,demanding God You must, God You really do have this wrong, but once again back to The Word (Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.) God there is no good from this,God what do You mean,You wont let me, You wont help me? It’s done, 54 days yes I counted, 54 days Priss is gone surly she is dead? but The Word says in(Matthew 19:26 (KJV)
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.) In that moment I said God forgive me for what I have done I have sinned against You in my heart, I have sinned against You with my words, I have sinned against You even in my thoughts. I came to two more conclusions in that moment I had done it wrong and I knew I would never see Priss again…You see I have since looked it up and here is the definition of praying amiss-out of order, in the wrong way,imperfect ,in a faulty way,incorrectly…I drove home humbled and sorrowful, sorrowful for what I had done and yes I missed my cat. So Where Is That Priss? well she is right here of course snuggled up right behind me home, safe fed and loved. You see that very day Nov.18th at 4:44 sitting right here at my computer a message went into my inbox, I read the words “I’m hoping this is the right person because I am trying to get your cat back to you!” God IS good and He IS perfect in all His ways, it wasn’t Him that had it wrong ( of course) it WAS me after all. I learned a lot, through this season more than I ever dreamed. One: all things do work for good,God used this to change me in a way that I didn’t even know that I needed to change. Also if He cares about the little things then how much more the big? if He does do the little things (and He will) I have no doubt that He will do the BIG things. Also she knew how to hide,silly not really.Psalm 143:9King James Version (KJV)
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. When you know where to hide. See sometimes we must hide in Him to be safe.Just like Priss and the wild animals,the cold the rain and for us the enemies of our souls..hide away in JESUS He will protect you He will keep you He will feed you and He will bring you home! So you see I learned so many lesson in my season of Where Is That Priss?
Shortly after becoming a Christ follower in college I decided to join a sorority – as a way to share God’s love with girls who struggled with the same things I had: boys, body image and booze. I was often known as the “religious” one; the girls were often surprised to hear my story and by my life (like that I listened to the radio & not only hymns ?). One day after sharing some of the struggles of my recent past to some girls one replies back “Wow, you’re WAY worst than me!” I chuckled & responded “yay and He still forgave me and wants to use me! Isn’t that amazing?!?” I loved it and still chuckle every time I recall this 🙂
Your friend’s comment made me laugh too! And I love the way you made Jesus the hero.
Hi Amy,
This must be the message God is sinking deep into our hearts all around the world this week, wow. Since hearing a song about how much God loves us, as a Good Good Father, I’ve been singing it myself for the last two days. That song written by Pat Barrett has been playing again and again in my head today. “I’m loved by him.. it’s who I am, who I am…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djrY_eFDOwE Thanks for your reminder too.
Blessings to you,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Beautiful, reassuring gift! Thank you and also Claire the wonder intern!
This was the first time I’ve received my subscription to your devotion. Tears stream down my cheeks as I write this. Tonight I have been struggling, no, battling feelings of anger and hatred inside that threatened to overwhelm me. I don’t know if they were suppressed or if they were new. I was so shocked and felt so overcome with grief and shame. They began to turn inward or perhaps have been turned inward already. Then this came through to my email. God bless you so very much. I downloaded the Scripture art, then went back to my email. It was gone. I went to the menu and searched my inbox, the trash, and spam. Nowhere.. I prayed. Then I looked under All mail. There this was but there was a shaded box with the word ‘unwanted’ in it. I had never seen anything like that before. I clicked and an option box in which I was able to unclick an unwanted box and put it in my inbox again. There is nowhere in any menu to place an email in a hidden unwanted folder. God is amazing in so many ways. Bless you again and all praise to our God and Savior.