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Do They Know They Are Loved?

03.24.2020 by Judy Maldonado //

I (Tracy) can’t wait for you to read our guest contributor’s piece this month!  I’ve been anticipating the day I would be able to share my dear friend’s piece. If you know Judy Maldonado, you love her. She is kind, compassionate, funny, diplomatic, & smart. She loves the Lord, and it shows in her every day actions.  So snuggle up and see what the Lord put on her heart well in advance of this season of slow down and stay in.  Perhaps the Lord knew we’d all need to immerse ourselves in His love to get through our current Covid-19 plight.

03 2020 Do they know they are loved? Guest Judy Maldonado

Sitting in a counselor’s office I was asked to answer a ridiculously easy question, “What are a few things you love about your daughter?”

When I finished listing my top 40 and looked over at my daughter’s face, her eyes were wide.

The counselor asked, “Did you know your mom thought these things about you?”

I immediately thought, “Of course she does. How could she not?”

But my jaw dropped as my daughter slowly shook her head, “No, I had no idea.”

Those few words shook me. How could this amazing girl, my firstborn child, my pride and joy, not know how incredible I thought she was? How could she not grasp I was head over heels in love with her?

As I spent time thinking over this later, it hit me. I do the same thing with my Father. When I make mistakes or when I feel I’m not doing the things I should- having time with Him in the morning, ending my days with reflection and prayer, spending time in the Word- my natural reaction is to think, He must be so disappointed in me. On some level He probably loves me a little less right now. Perhaps I’m not on His priority list, because He’s busy with people who are better at being Christian than I am.

But if I think about His love for me, that the Word tells me is even bigger than my love for my daughter, then I know this is how He really feels:

He loves me with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

He pursues me with goodness and unfailing love. (Psalm 23:6)

He delights in every detail of my life. (Psalm 37:23)

He is merciful and compassionate to me, and He is slow to get angry with me. (Psalm 145:8)

As I read about God’s love for me in His word, I am blown away.  Over 120 times in the NLT translation, the word “unfailing” precedes a reference to God’s love for His people. His love is unfailing. We didn’t earn it. We do not deserve it. We can’t outrun it. We cannot lose it. We cannot hide from it. We can’t run out of it, and we cannot do anything to ever lessen it. We. Are. Loved.

I wish I could get my daughter to see that- to see how I love her with an unfailing love.  I love her even when her actions disappoint me, when she does things I know are not living up to her true potential, when she makes bad choices, and even when she chooses to push me away. I love her. Period.

But I’ve never thought about how my Father loves me in that same way, but better. Romans 8:38 tells me there is absolutely nothing, on earth or in heaven, in life or in death, not my fears for today or worries about tomorrow, that can separate me from His love. That is a big love.

And on hard days, on good days, on every day, I want to take comfort in the fact I am loved so deeply and unconditionally. It is the only way I can demonstrate true love to anyone else around me.

1 John 4:19 says “We love because He first loved us.”

My pastor once said, “When your relationship with God is better, every relationship in your life is better.”

Those words have rung so true in my life. When I am consistently walking and talking with Jesus, I am a different person. I’m happier. I extend grace easily. I’m not even as upset with my youngest daughter when I have to ask her ten times to put her shoes on.

But there is a tangible difference in who I am when I’m not walking closely with Jesus. When I’m at those times in my life, when I’m just dialing in prayers for things that I need or not taking any time to spend in the Bible. That Judy gets angry quickly, yells more, and just feels overwhelmed and burdened. My family can tell the difference and so can I.

I remember a season years ago that felt very heavy and sad. I was working long hours, felt I barely saw my family, and had no time with Jesus. I came home late one night, and my husband said he had a surprise for me. He led me to our basement, to the closet under the stairs. He opened the door to the closet normally stuffed with chairs and random things the kids “put away” when they were cleaning. It now looked like a completely different space. It was freshly painted, had a lamp and a soft chair with my Bible, note pads, pens, and a small stereo for my worship music.

My husband had made me my own war room. He recognized I was not myself and knew the only way I could find myself was to have intentional alone time with my Jesus. I sat in that sacred space for a long time that night, crying and asking God where He had gone, asking why I felt like I couldn’t find Him.

He led me to this verse, “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15.

That verse and truth brought me to my knees. I had been trying to do life on my own- living out of my own strength, and I had just run out. I needed to come back to my source of strength and be saved. I needed to remember I was deeply loved, not because of who I am or what I do, but simply because I am His.

Matthew 12:34 says that “…out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

When I haven’t filled my heart daily with the Word of God and spent time in His presence, I have no overflow of His love in me to pour into others. But when I am spending time with Him and living in His peace, I am able to love people in a way that shows them they are truly loved.

So, how do we address the question we began with, Do they know they are loved?

We can’t make anyone know they are loved, but we can choose to consistently and relentlessly love them the way we are loved. Regardless of whether they accept it or how they react to it, regardless of whether they even deserve it, we are called to love. Love them so well they can’t help but draw closer to the Source of our love.

How do you feel God calling you to respond in this moment? Draw near to Him. Experience His love. Freely give love away. Create your own war room. Spend time in His presence.

We pray the Holy Spirit beckons you to respond in the most appropriate way for you, personally, intimately. You are loved!

Join the conversation over on our FACETS of Faith Facebook page.

Signature: Judy Maldonado

Categories // Do They Know They Are Loved?, Guest Perspectives Tags // 1 John 4:19, Isaiah 30:15, Jeremiah 31:3, Love, Matthew 12:34, Psalm 145:8, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 37:23, Romans 8:38, Unfailing Love, War Room

God Responds to His Children—Perfectly

10.18.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Hello, friend. I’m thankful you’ve dropped in for a visit. You’re always welcome here, and our team always hopes this space becomes one of your favorite places to think deeply and share generously to the community that has built here over the years. If you’re new, Tracy shared thoughts on the question this month here. Be sure to check in next week for thoughts from our guest, Ever Moore. We know you’ll love meeting her! This week, I’m thinking about how God responds perfectly.

God Responds to Me (JJ Howe)

How does God respond to me?

That’s the kind of question I (Jennifer) can turn over in my mind for quite awhile. I often turn toward Him during a quiet, reflective pause in my day; the times I need patience or help; and the desperate, ugly-cry moments. I know how he responds then—He responds in love.

What about when my heart and mind are distracted by innumerable things? How does God respond when I haven’t paused, reflected, or connected? What then? If I were Him—but I am not Him. Running the character of God through my own human, flawed filter has serious problems and repercussions. The mighty, eternal God of truth reveals His nature and character without a doubt. The Bible is clear:

The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8 CSB

How does the merciful, gracious, patient, loving God respond to me, you, any of us? How can we be sure He will? When I need to know the heart and mind of my heavenly Father, I search the pages of scripture. You, too?

He knows.

The Lord’s response to me is perfect. That’s all there is. (Okay, we can pack it in since there’s nothing left to say, right? I’m kidding.) His response is perfect because He knows every detail of His creation. His response to me is out of deep love, and it’s in keeping with His character and everything He knows about me.

O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 NLT

I’m thankful God is not fickle or passive-aggressive. He is present in a deeply personal way! My thoughts, words, actions—He knows it all before I begin. Why is that important? Because the best response to a person takes everything about them into account.

A special friend knows me well. She is able to pick out a gift that is perfect for me, and I’m both thankful and amazed. My husband has over 20 years of life with me, so he has the opportunity to know so much more about me. How much more intimate knowledge does my Creator hold? When He gives a gift out of His boundless love, there are no words.

He cherishes.

My God knows and cares for me. Because He does, I know He’s thinking about me.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand! Psalm 139:17-18a

When I began dating my future husband all those years ago, it was obvious I was thinking about him all the time. Sometimes a little gift would be left on a car at work. Phone calls were made every night at the same time. He was on my mind even in the busy times (mostly because I couldn’t wait to shag free from the busy to spend time with him).

When you intimately know, care for, and think fondly and highly of someone, you cherish them. Friend, our God cherishes us.

He loves.

Jesus is the embodiment of love. He offers His love completely, without hesitation, and sacrificially. Hundreds of years before the Christ walked on the earth, King David prophesied our need for salvation would be met in Jesus; the Lord provides for those who revere Him.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:9-10

In Christ, the child of God receives genuine righteousness, His! Unchanging and faithful love has been gifted to us in Jesus. Peace with God and peace within our soul. We have restored relationship with our heavenly Father in Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit in us. God’s love grants us right standing, “rightness,” with God, and that yields the wholeness we were made for!

He stays.

The next verse is precious to me. When I think I’ve “lost” my connection (usually due to choosing busyness and allowing too much noise in my life), I’m reminded that He is never misplaced. He is always present. He is with me all the time.

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence! Psalm 139:7

I’m married, and I know the permanence of the relationship these 22 years. On any given day or night, I know where my husband is, but occasionally he travels or I do. When we are separated by distance, we will still honor the vows that marked the beginning of our married life. Why? Because we are committed to being with each other.

God’s commitment to me looks the same and different. The permanence is the same but more intimate and heightened; nothing changes my relationship to Him. Paul wrote,

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

Nothing? Life, death, spiritual beings, fears, worries, the powers of hell—even my foolish busyness? Nothing. He is committed to me to the end and for all eternity. That’s genuine permanence right there!

He hears.

His ear attunes to me, my heart, all of my life. Every breath, every word, every heartbeat—my heavenly Father’s ear is so keen, He catches it all. The Spirit intimately connects—hearing, inspiring, and often amplifing the cries of my heart.

He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 145:19

It’s not like having a programmed smart device in our home listening for the next question or command. It’s closer to a very important skill that may be diminishing in our culture: actively listening. When you love and care for someone, you listen very carefully and respond with their best interest in mind. If my husband were to use his words to ask for help, I’d hear his voice and heart in that ask; and then I would want to give my best yes because I love him.

With God, I make many requests. What I know is, “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14).

God responds perfectly!

It never enters my God’s all-knowing, deeply-loving mind to turn a cold shoulder to the child He loves. Sometimes I miss out on pausing, reflecting, and connecting, and that breaks His tender heart. And it has consequences for me in my life, consequences He would never want any of His children to experience.

It’s all true up there. He loves me (us!) and wants the very best for His child. Out of that love, He will wait for me to come to Him and spend time with Him.

Because I love God—I won’t want to make Him wait.

Is there any particular way you experience God responding to you? I’m curious! Share below or at the Facebook Page.

Signature, Jennifer Howe

Categories // How does God respond to me?, Jennifer Howe's Perspective Tags // 1 John 5:14, Facets of Faith, God responds, Jennifer J Howe, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 139, Psalm 145:19, Psalm 85:9-10, Romans 8:38

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