God loves

We have a little snow on the ground. I enjoy looking out and seeing white. The blanket covering the mud and brown grass. Bushes outside my window still have leaves that cling and hold on. I am grateful today for the warmth of my house and the quiet of the morning. Dog and cats are fed and taking their first of many naps.

God loves.

At our church last night, Joshua and I helped with a program called, Night in Bethlehem. (I think that is right…) I can honestly say, what with COVID and other bumps, I have not served in a church for a long time. Naturally, I overdid it, but just to have time with people and listen to the laughter (and laugh) was lovely. All the kids so excited to go through and hear the story of the birth of Jesus. Lovely.

A reminder that God loves.

Reading Scripture this morning.

“Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever]. “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

God loves

Just as the snow covers the ground like a blanket, or the rhythm of animals sleeping nearby, there is a reminder here. God loves you right where you are. Right now. you are loved. This past week has had a lot of bumps and bruises publicly and privately for me. I circle back to this passage to remind me.

God loves

I am saved. I am redeemed. I can look at the state of our world and remember, I need only to believe. Believing when it looks more like white knuckling. Believing when the path is muddy and sloppy. I am loved. There is only one who saves, Jesus.

God loves

Redemption and renewal does not start here with me. It has been the entire story of the Bible to proclaim that God is for us. He is with us. And he is the one who begins the transformation in me. I am not who I was at the beginning of all the medical issues I have had. God is changing me.

God loves.