Why Does God Love You?

Are you kidding? You’re amazing! There are countless things about you that are absolutely astonishing. There is no one like you, never has been, never will be. You are exactly who God made you to be just, well, wonderful. Oh sure there are some things about you that are a work in progress but you make  a much bigger deal out of these few things than you should. When you do that it makes it way harder to change and also tends to make you more critical of others shortcomings. It’s easy for me to see how remarkable you are. I want you to know it too.

Keep in Mind

There are times in life that God’s voice is louder, when we hear and understand what He’s calling us to more clearly than other times. There is nothing more heartening even though He’s often asking us to join Him in something others won’t understand and that has an uncertain outcome. Scripture is filled with such recounts from Noah to John and it’s wonderful that God desires this same intimacy with each of us. Noah, Abraham and Moses all had to wait decades before they saw God’s promises fulfilled and we shouldn’t expect our impatience to change the circumstances any more than in their cases.

So, it’s extremely important for us to remember and to be reminded of the times we unquestionably heard from God. Our trust is strengthened when we regularly consider God’s calling and our resolve is bolstered when we’re surrounded by folks that love us and help us keep His promise in mind.

Today is the anniversary of such a time for my family and I. Two years ago through various people, scriptures and circumstances we changed our lives to follow what we are certain is God’s best for us. Sarah Young in her book Jesus Calling sums it up well: “I have called you to follow me on a solitary path, making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest joy. It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised. However, you have chosen the better thing, which will never be taken away from you. Moreover as you walk close to Me, I can bless others through you.”

Thank you for your reminders, encouragement and love. God is so proud of you, we are deeply touched.

Heartened

“How could God think of me as His beloved? But then I remember Jesus said to one of the guys with Him that he was a rock even though He knew this same guy would deny ever knowing Him. I don’t think Jesus was blowing sunshine at Peter when He did that. Instead I think he was calling something out from inside Peter.” – “We get to do that for each other still today.” – Bob Goff, Love Does

365

Today is the one year anniversary of The Better Thing Blog. What an amazing year it’s been. My wife and I were talking the other night and both feel that it has been the sweetest year of our lives. God has been so near and shown us His astonishing love in so many ways.

We want to thank each of you for being a part of what God’s been up to throughout the year. Thank you for reading these posts. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement. Thank you for your support. And thank you for your critique. He has used you to draw us a little closer to Him each day.

The scriptural inspiration for the birth of this blog is the story in Luke ten where Martha is complaining to Jesus that Mary is not doing enough and while Mary is sitting at His feet, Jesus answers Martha, Don’t worry so much, Mary has chosen the better thing. The thing Mary chose was intimacy with The Living God and I hope in some small way you have been heartened to do the same by what’s been shared here.

The Appropriate Gift

God, whatever you have in store for me, will you please equip me with all that I need? Help me to keep from hoarding what you’ve so freely given and to share it generously. Where compassion is needed, fill me. Where wisdom is needed, send some my way. If encouragement needs to be passed along, please give me the words. Just enough for today.

Thanks Giving

Happy Thanksgiving Day, I am so thankful that you’ve given the time to read my postings over the past few months. Your encouragement and kind words have meant more than you can know. I’m eager to see what God has in the days and weeks ahead for you. If I can help in any way please allow me. Much love, Jim

Encouragement

Encouraging each other is vital to our well-being but if seeking God is not at the front of our advice for each other then we are doing a disservice. Guidance and counsel are wonderful but apart from God being invited into the heart of the matter they’ll come up empty.

Gifts of the Spirit

I want them all, not in a greedy way, not all the time but when one of them can benefit someone around me I want that one. If a word of encouragement is needed I want the wisdom to recognize the need and to know what to say and the same goes for the other gifts. I don’t need to possess them, just receive them when needed so they can be shared.