God-propelled vs. Self-propelled

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson

Every day…every moment of every day…we get to choose to be SELF-propelled or GOD-propelled. We can live solely on our own energy, patience and wisdom…or tap into God’s LIMITLESS energy, patience and wisdom.

As Christ-followers, we get access to the unlimited power of God!

Self- propelled

Self-propelled looks like:

Limited focus, energy, and strength.
Short-tempered and impatient.
Harsh words.
Frantic or angry.

God-propelled

God-propelled looks like what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. It means going about our day with LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self –control.

We can’t control what happens throughout the day:

Our kids will keep us up at night,
The baby will have a blow out at a totally inconvenient time and place,
Our kids will fight or they will break something…

We can’t control what happens, but we can control our response to what happens!

Tapping into the power source allows us to keep our joy in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Each day, each hour, each minute is an opportunity to chose either “Self-propelled” or “God-propelled.”

How do you stay God-propelled?

For ME, it means that I’m talking to my Father God throughout the day.

I usually start the day with a prayer before I get out of bed.

The prayer can be as simple as “HELP!”

I love this verse:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5

I ask for wisdom THROUGHOUT the day. Why not? Scripture encourages us to do that!!!

Also, this is my favorite book regarding prayer:

Each chapter contains a different topic and a prayer. It also includes Scripture verses regarding that topic.

Staying tapped in to God, or living “God-propelled” means that:

If I’m tired, I ask God for strength.
If I’m feeling angry, I ask for help and/or patience.
If I need to have a tough conversation, I ask God for wisdom.
It means I’m praying for people as they come up in my mind.
It means stopping to pray with my kids when they have a concern or when they get hurt.
It means pointing out where I see God throughout the day. Do you notice a beautiful flower, bird, sunset? An answered prayer? Talk about it!
It means asking my kids, husband, or someone else to forgive me when I mess up.
It means keeping a heart of thankfulness. “Thank you for food to feed my children.” “Thank you for a washing machine.” “Thank you for eyes to see my child play and ears to hear their laughter.”
It means open communication with God throughout the day.
It means taking time to read my Bible, to then think about it, and memorize specific verses.

Do I do ALL of this everyday? No!

Am I self-propelled at times! YES!

I, too, have to choose every day, each hour, and minute-by-minute, to be God-propelled and not self-propelled!

I encourage you to try ONE thing from the “God-propelled” list above and do it today.

Each day brings a new opportunity to give Him thanks and invite Him to empower us.

There’s a popular verse in the Bible that says:

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

I love this verse and say it often when I’m feeling weary…but I also want to point out that it doesn’t say that we are to do ALL THE THINGS ….sometimes we try to do too much and we are left feeling exhausted.

Seek God before you add another thing to your ‘to do’ list.

Being a parent is challenging. Marriage can be challenging. However, we DON’t have to do it in our own strength. Rely on God to make you the wife and parent He wants you to be…Give HIM your weaknesses and burdens and let Him carry those for you and then go about your day in peace and joy!

When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you. So I am very happy to brag about my weakness. Then Christ’s power can live in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

If you have prayer requests … leave me a comment. I want to pray for you.

Let me leave you with this:

May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and PEACE as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the POWER of the Holy Spirit!
Romans 15:13

Important Note: I am NOT a parenting/marriage expert. I am a guinea pig and mess up every single day (you can ask my husband). I’m on this journey right along with you. When I write about something, it’s NOT because I’ve mastered the topic but because this is what I’m learning. Thanks for joining me in the journey. Leave a comment and let me learn from you too!

March 22, 2019 By Kathryn

1 In Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

Peace Begins with a Smile

Mom, why are you mad? Luke asked from across the room.

“I’m not mad,” I responded.

“But you have a mad face.”

I paused and realized whatever I was thinking about must be causing me to have a “mad” face, so I turned to Luke and gave him a BIG Smile.

“Now that’s my Boy,” he responds, “Wait…no…”

“Now that’s my GIRL! … Wait….um…

“Now there’s my mom!” he finally says.

Our kids are always watching us. They read our faces. They feel what we feel.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and angry? They can sense that. Are you mad, disappointed…They can see it and feel it.

I’m reading a woman’s devotional and each week there’s a section called “Mom Tips.” This week’s tip was to SMILE MORE! In fact, it recommended writing a reminder note to SMILE!

So that is exactly what I did.

I put a reminder note by the kitchen sink and another as a “bookmark” in the book I’m reading.

Smiling at our kids fills them with confidence and peace and is a simple way to show our love for them.
Smiling also calms us. Try smiling when you are upset…you can’t stay mad when you’re smiling!
Free beauty tip: Smiling makes us prettier!!
Free health tip: Smiling keeps you healthier! Research shows that joy lowers stress and increases immunity and even lengthens your life! Smiling leads to JOY! Thus, smiling leads to health!

Stop right now and smile at whoever is close by.

When I posted this suggestion on Facbeook, my mom added this:

A smile is a very powerful thing. It can help brighten someone’s day, show someone how much you care for them, or even change your entire mood. Smiling is also good for the soul, and it helps put your mind completely at ease.
Smiles make everyone else smile. Even the grandkids like it when I have a smile on my face! I know my hubby does! 😀😊😍
Rebecca Bornman

“A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.” Proverbs 15:13 MSG

Here are 15 BENEFITS of a Simple SMILE!

March 18, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Family/ Memories/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Peek into our winter week(s)

Mom’s Morning Out

I had just started writing for the Colorado Springs Mom Blog when I found out we were moving to Minnesota. I subscribed to the Twin Cities moms blog right away because I knew it would be a helpful resource and a good way to connect with other moms. It’s been all of that! Last weekend I gathered with other moms from around the Twin Cities to create something original at a place called Projects in Person. If you are a mom who is looking for a helpful resource and connection with other moms, click here to find out if there’s a City Moms Blog Network in your area.

Daddy Day at Preschool!

Luke woke up saying “TODAY IS DADDY DAY,” with a big smile on his face. Ted comes downstairs a few minutes later and says, “Today is Daddy Day!” Luke smiles and says, “I JUST said that!” And they both laughed.

Luke really pays attention, because when describing his dad, he was pretty accurate…

He knows his dad works on the computer (that’s what he SEES him do…though that’s only a small part of Ted’s job), he likes to eat Salad (YEP!), and he knows Ted loves him SO much!

But he must also think Ted has a really big nose….:)

Clark breaks his thumb

During our super cold spell in February, we were cooped up inside for four straight days. We were all going a little stir crazy. On the fourth day, Clark was doing a fancy jump trick off the couch and landed on his thumb. At first I just thought he’d just bruised or jammed it, but the next day it it was getting worse, so I took him to the doctor. He had a broken thumb and had to wear a cast for 3 weeks.

Draw your favorite book

It was Read Across America last week at school, and the boys had to do a drawing of their favorite book. Clark and Paul chose our book, and I think they did a great job re-creating the cover of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore! Paul also mentioned to his teacher that his dad’s book is also one of his favorites. Paul hasn’t read it, and could not remember the title, but he did a good job remembering what it looked like!

Clark’s Drawing of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore

Paul’s drawing of my book and Ted’s book

My Goodwill find

I’d been watching for a good deal on hiking shoes the entire time we lived in Colorado. I finally found a GREAT deal. Goodwill had a pair of Merrel hiking shoes that were practically brand new and only cost $2.50! The same ones are currently selling for $99!

What I’m loving right now:

Playing games with my boys…

This super fun snow ball maker...

A great book….

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines – This book was absolutely delightful! Chip and Jo share stories about their lives growing up, how they met, and the hilarious story about how their show Fixer Upper almost didn’t happen. If you need an easy, entertaining, funny, and fun-to-read book, this is the one!

March 11, 2019 By Kathryn

9 In Family/ Inspiration/ Minnesota/ Raising boys

My Interview with a Bully

One of my sons was getting bullied by another boy on his bus. It was happening regularly until our son told me and my husband. We didn’t know anything about the kid, but I did get his name from my son and emailed the principal to let her know what was happening. We also asked our son to talk to the bus driver.

Soon after, I was volunteering at my son’s school.

My role that day was to interview students for an upcoming field trip to BizTown. BizTown is a place run by Junior Achievement where the kids spend a day working a job, earning money, buying their own lunch – basically acting like a grown up! The kids are excited about it, but they have to first go through an INTERVIEW process to determine if they are “qualified” for the job they are applying for at BizTown.

I looked at the list of the children I was assigned to interview, and I recognized the first name – it’s the kid who bullied my son. I could not wait to see this kid.

As he struts in to the conference room, the first thing I notice is that he’s probably the biggest, toughest looking kid in school.

I reach out my hand and introduce myself. He hears my name and realizes that I’m the mom of the kid he’s been teasing. He gives me a soft hand shake and responds with a quiet, “Nice to meet you.”

Mama Bear thoughts roll through my head like, “I’m going to make this interview SO HARD for him.” And “I want to ask him why he thinks it’s okay to bully smaller kids.”

But in my heart, I know that hurt people, hurt people. I want to find out what’s happening in his world that’s causing his pain.

I see on his “application” that he wants to work for a specific company and I ask him why. He lets me know its because his mom works for that company.

“What does your mom do there?” I ask.

“Well, I’m not really sure because she has a new job. Her boss was mean to her at her old job.”

“That’s hard,” I respond empathetically. “Have you ever had someone be mean to you?”

“Yeah….” he says slowly and stops for a moment.

Tears fill his eyes as he says: “Kids say things that hit me where it hurts.”

And then tears start rolling down his cheeks.

Here is the biggest, toughest kid in school crying.

My heart immediately breaks for him. I find some tissues and tell him that I’m sorry that is happening to him. I ask if he has anyone to talk to about this. (I’m supposed to keep this interview to 5 minutes and I’ve only asked the first question. I have many more questions to ask and a line of other students sitting in the hallway outside the door, waiting.)

“Yeah,” he replies, “I have people to talk to because my dad died a year ago and so I have a counselor and we talk about stuff.”

‘Wait, WHAT!? Your DAD died?!’ I think to myself… Oh my goodness! This young kid has been through so much.

Again, I tell him that I’m so sorry. I wish we didn’t have to go on with the interview but I use it as time to really get to know him. I find out that:

He doesn’t have any brothers or sisters.
He’s a ‘latch-key’ kid. He gets off the bus and goes home and hangs out by himself until his mom gets home from work.
He just got a cell phone and loves talking to people on the phone.

“Well,” I replied, “if you wanted to share your number with my son, we could keep in touch with you. You are welcome to walk over to our home whenever you’d like to hang out with our family.” (I know the street he lives on is close to ours because my son pointed out where he gets on the bus.)

His face lights up with a smile, “I’d like that!”

We end the interview on a good note and he leaves smiling.

When my son got home that afternoon he says, “The weirdest thing happened on the bus today. You remember that kid who was always mean to me? Today he asked if we could sit together and he gave me his number.”

“Wow, that’s awesome!” I respond…. “Let’s call and invite him over.”

What started with bullying and then a 5-minute interview, has led to a friendship.

I realized that I would not have gotten to really know this kid if he hadn’t been a bully to my son.

Our pain revealed another person’s pain.

Our hurts make us more sensitive to other people’s hurt!

If you have a child who’s being bullied, don’t hesitate to let someone know. First, commend your child for telling you, then get a teacher, bus driver or principal involved. And WHENEVER possible, try to get to know the BULLY, there’s probably something missing in his life and perhaps YOU can help!

Update: This happened several years ago, and the relationship has changed 180 degrees. Since that ‘interview,’ our family has gotten to know this child and his mom. My husband and sons have played lots of football and basketball games with him at the park. He gets the biggest smile whenever he sees me or anyone in our family. One conversation changed the trajectory of the relationship and I’m so grateful.

Click here to read some ways to react and respond to a bully.

March 2, 2019 By Kathryn

6 In Minnesota/ Review/ Things to do in Minnesota

Minnesota Must-Haves

My last post included some suggestions to keep you smilin’ all winter. Here are the things to buy to keep you warm all winter!

1. Hand and foot warmers

If you are going to be outside for more than 30 minutes, hand and foot warmers are amazing! You stick them in your gloves or boots and they keep you warm for hours.

2. Waterproof Boots made specifically for polar temps

I’ve had Croc snow boots for 5 years and they’ve been great…until I moved to Minnesota. The bitter cold soaked right in. I knew I needed to upgrade. I asked around and people recommend Sorel, Land’s End, or Columbia boots. I tried on 6 different types of Sorels, and they are WARM, but not comfortable on my feet. I purchased the Columbia boots pictured above because they are super warm AND comfortable.

3. Cozy cabin and/or Smart Wool socks

Good socks are vitally imporant! My two favorites are Cozy Cabin and Smart wool – both are soft and warm.

4. Moisture wicking Base Layer/Long underwear

Layers help keep me warm in frigid temps.

5. A fur-lined trapper hat

This hat was a game changer for me. Keeping my head warm makes winter bearable. The Yukon Tracks Alaskan Taslan Fur Hat is what my boys wear. Size Large fits me (pictured above) and my older boys. Size medium fits my 4 and 7 year old sons. They are less than $30 and worth every penny.

I can’t tell you how important it is to keep your head warm. It makes all the difference.

6. A high quality coat

I’ve had this North Face coat for more than 5 years and I absolutely love it. I probably wear it nine months out of every year – and even a few nights in the summer. It’s super light-weight, soft and warm.

One of the best things about the coat is how I received it…

I got this coat on my HUSBAND’S BIRTHDAY…as a gift FROM him to ME! Ted knows about much I don’t like to be cold and wanted me to have a really good, really warm coat. He decided that instead of receiving any gifts for himself one year, he would get me this coat. Isn’t that amazing?

7. Scarf/face mask

Beards are a must have for men in the winter, but since that’s not an option for me, I like this neck/face wrap!

8. Vitamin D multi-vitamin

The days are short and the nights are long…so you may benefit from a Vitamin D boost during the winter!

9. Indoor games

I LOVE that my boys are old enough to play real games. I can still do simple games with Luke (like memory). But Paul, Clark and George can play so many more. We like Guess Who, Uno, Skipbo, Pie Face (Luke plays this one too), Rummikub, Monopoly, and Chess.

10. Outdoor gear

Ice skates, sled, snowshoes – You’ve got to have some items to ENJOY the winter. It might be as simple as purchasing a $5 sled the next time your at the grocery store, or perhaps you invest in ice skates, skis or snowshoes. I found used skates for my boys on the Facebook marketplace and Play It Again Sports. I’d love to own some snow shoes — especially now that the snow is 2-3 feet high.

11. Warm Gloves

You basically need every square inch of your skin covered if you are going to thrive in a Minnesota winter. It’s not easy, or cheap, but it’s worth it! Be sure to have WATER Proof gloves, bonus if they’re rated for 20 below!

Because winter is starting to wind down, now is the time to look for winter gear for next year! Everything you need should be on sale right now!

What do YOU consider a Minnesota Must have? Leave a comment!

If you are interested in reading about how I learned to NOT HATE WINTER, CLICK HERE!

Some of my suggestions are affiliate links.

February 24, 2019 By Kathryn

11 In Minnesota/ Motherhood/ My Journey/ Things to do in Minnesota

How to Not HATE Winter!

I’ve hated winter my entire life.

In fact, I’ve never fully enjoyed FALL because I knew that winter was lingering just around the corner.

The day after I graduated high school – my first day of ‘freedom’ – I moved from my home state of Indiana to Florida to avoid winter. I spent five glorious years there – THAWING OUT. I also earned my bachelor’s degree…but mostly just enjoyed the warmth and sunshine.

After college…life kept moving me north…and further north.

When my husband and I talked about moving to Minnesota, I’m not sure if I cried or laughed when I discovered that moving to Minneapolis is NORTH OF Toronto, CANADA! Okay, I cried. I literally cried.

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I didn’t know anything about Minnesota except that it was cold – really, really cold. Have a mentioned that I hate the cold?

However, I finally decided that I will NO longer live in survival mode. I simply got tired of hating winter – when that’s a big chunk of my life now. I’ve actually learned to not hate winter.

To help with this mindset shift, I did lots of reading, some research, and asked so many people how to not only survive winter, but thrive through winter.

It is possible to not hate winter!!

Winter can actually be…dare I say it…DELIGHTFUL!?!?!

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So …

HOW do you ENJOY winter? Even a really COLD, really LONG winter?

Here is what I’ve learned:

1. DRESS FOR IT!

I realized that I hated being COLD more than I hated winter. If I wear the right things…I can begin to ENJOY winter!

My sister gave me a fur-lined trapper hat and it is heavenly. Thank you Krista!

I went shopping on Amazon and bought a hat for every person in my home. We LOVE them!

It was in Kindergarten that I was taught to wear a hat on cold days, and all these years later…I finally learned that my kindergarten teacher was right.

Even the ornaments know how to dress to be warm in winter.

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2. ENJOY DOING THINGS THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE IN WINTER!

Go sledding, skiing, ice skating! Make snowmen, snow angels, and snow slushies!

Learn how to do things that you can only enjoy in winter.

When your kids ask to go sledding, say YES and then JOIN THEM. You won’t believe how much fun you’ll have. I know, it takes lots of effort to get everyone bundled up, but it’s worth it! You will feel like a kid again – laughing and enjoying every second. Sledding down and then climbing back up those hills is great exercise and invigorating.

Ice skating and snow skiing are fun winter sports.

Even taking a walk on a cold winter day can be amazing. Just after it snows, put a child on a sled and go for a walk – it’s good for you and great fun for them!

Bonus tip – There are things you DON’T have to do in the winter – yard work! No weeding, no trimming, no mowing!

3. TAKE IN THE BEAUTY!

When the snow falls…everything is pristine and beautiful. The leaves are off the trees and you can explore areas you’ve never seen before.

Winter is not something you need to dread. It can be enjoyable, fun, and something you can actually look forward to!

So who’s with me? Who is going to stop hating winter and instead, find the joy in the season?

Click here to read this post: Minnesota (a.k.a. COLD WEATHER) Must Haves!

What you’ll need to wear to stay warm so that you can truly ENJOY winter!

And if you haven’t already, please consider subscribing!

Click here to find Winter/ Minnesota MUST HAVES!

February 21, 2019 By Kathryn

3 In Faith/ Family/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

Do this ONE THING to change the future!

We are ALWAYS looking for ” things” to improve our children’s lives:

💥A new toy ….

💥Education …

💥Sports …

💥Hobbies …

What about nurturing the INSIDE of your child? Our lives are formed with WORDS!😍

Words Kill, Words Give Life. They are either poison or fruit. You choose.
King Solomon

Before your kids leave for school, or before they go to bed, are prime opportunities to speak LIFE over them! To declare TRUTH for their future.

Positive Affirmations build your character and attitude. Affirmations retrain your inner dialogue (self talk) to help build your faith and joy. Your words are seeds that grow and shape your world.

Below is the declaration we’ve created for our family .. feel free to copy or adapt and use for your family – or yourself!

Share this with a parent, grandparent, and any person who could benefit from speaking these words over themselves and their children each day!

February 19, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Peek into our Fall, Christmas, & New Year!

(This post was written just after the New Year and it never got posted…so here it is now!)

The weather outside is frightful, but my snowsuit is so delightful!

Oh how I love the (vintage) snow suit from my mother-in-law! It’s the ugliest, warmest, softest thing I’ve ever worn and I’m in love. This thing makes playing in the snow with my kids not only bearable…but fun! Ya’ll need to find yourselves one of these!

Pass the Popcorn

I’ve probably been to the movie theater 5 times in the last decade. However, I now have four boys that will all sit through an entire full-length movie!! We’ve celebrated by spending three cold days this fall/winter viewing THREE different movies – Small Foot, The Grinch, and Ralph Wrecks the Internet. All were cute movies but my favorite was Ralph Wrecks the Internet. Our local theater has $5 tickets on Tuesdays – and free popcorn! What should we see next?

17 years and counting

Ted and I celebrated our Golden Anniversary – 17 years on November 17th! Our tradition each year is to try a new restaurant we’ve never visited before. A friend watched our boys and made cookies with them while Ted and I went to dinner (Thank you Corey!)

Our friends Nadia and Kevin
Lake Tahoe

California Dreamin’

Ted and I spent a long weekend in California. We got to rest, relax, read, eat good food, explore new places, connect with old friends and meet new friends. Thanks to my in-laws for watching our boys so we could get away! Early Christmas with Nana and Papa

George reading to Luke

How did Christmas come and go so quickly?

When I was a child, it seemed Christmas would NEVER come. Now that I’m an adult, it comes and goes WAY too quickly. Every Christmas with our boys is magical. I LOVE experiencing the season through their eyes. I was so sad that Christmas day came and went so quickly. However, the sadness ended quickly when my mom, step-dad, sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews all came for a visit!

My family visits Minnesota for the first time!

We loved having our Indiana family stay with us for a few days after Christams. We made the most of our time together – ice skating, sledding, cooking, eating, laughing, and playing/shopping at Mall of America. We also got to go on a double date (thanks Mom and Chris) and rang in the new year together!

Happy 2019 everyone! May this be your BEST YEAR YET!

February 15, 2019 By Kathryn

1 In Book Review/ Product Recommendations

9 books to read in 2019

Here are 9 of my favorite books from 2018, if you haven’t read them…add them to your MUST READ list of 2019!

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp – An incredibly well-written book that reminds the readers of how gratitude can positively change your life.

2. UnSuperMommy by Maggie Combs – This is a must read for moms with young children.

3. What’s God Really Like? by SJ Hill – Each page made me smile as I was reminded of how GOOD our God really is!

4. Conversations with a Billionaire by Ted W Egly – A truly inspirational book filled with tons of great stories. An easy-to-read book that will leave you feeling encouraged and challenged…get a glimpse into the book by clicking here.

5. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver – An awesome book if you like food and are interested in finding out more about what you eat. This book is also inspiring for gardeners (or wannabe gardeners, like me).

6. Love Does by Bob Goff or his next books which was equally Awesome:

7. Everybody Always – I was nervous to read this book because I didn’t know if it would be as good as his first…but it was amazing!

8. Speak Life by Brady Boyd – Our words shape our life. This book contains great examples on how we can improve our communication and challenges us to speak life-giving words.

9. Strong mothers, strong sons: Lessons mothers need to raise extraordinary men by Dr. Meg Meeker – A book that every boy mom would benefit from!

(Books above are affiliate links which means if you choose to purchase one, I may make a small commission without any additional cost to you.)

To read reviews of the other great books I read this year, click here.

Here are my TOP TEN favorite books of 2019!

Please subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

February 5, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Faith/ Memories/ Motherhood

From Assignment to Revelation: Discovering God’s Love

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As a college freshman, my first assignment was to write a paper on any ‘classic’ book. Innocently, I asked my English professor, “Can I write my paper on the Bible?” To me, there was no more classic book than the Bible.

“Yes,” my professor replied, “but the Bible is a long book with many different topics. Choose one topic.”

I chose the topic of LOVE, unaware of the depth and breadth of what the Bible has to say on the subject and how much I would need to study it.

I had felt God’s love throughout my life, but stopping to study it was a magnificent experience. As Ann Voskamp beautifully writes in One Thousand Gifts, “The only thing that can change us, the world, is this – all His love.”

“The only thing that can change us, the world, is this – all His love.” – Ann Voscamp, 1000 gifts

I’ve hesitated to write this post for two reasons:

I can’t find my original college paper. It’s probably saved on a floppy disk at the bottom of a box in my basement.
Tying to capture the essence of God’s love in one post is like trying to explain the ocean by showing a single drop of water.

I remember the college assignment forcing me to dig into God’s Word and discover what it says about His love. The more I studied, the more my heart filled with His goodness and awe! While other freshmen sought significance in temporary fixes, I found lasting significance within the pages of my Bible. I grew in my awareness of being unconditionally loved by the Creator of the Universe. I was His beloved daughter.

‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!’ 1 John 3:1

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The Creator of the universe loves you exactly as you are, with all your faults and inadequacies—He thinks you are worthy of love!

Becoming a mom deepened my understanding of God’s love. Having children opens up a new kind of love: a sacrificial love. I had no idea I could love someone who requires so much of me. This made me see, at a deeper level, how much God loves me. He gave everything for me, even His life.

I can see how He still loves me when I mess up because I love my children that way. I’m disappointed when they make wrong choices because I know it hurts them. When they hurt, I hurt. But my love for them doesn’t change.

Although I understood God’s love more after becoming a mother, my love for my children doesn’t compare to God’s love for us. God’s love transcends human love. It is unconditional—not based on feelings or actions. He doesn’t love us because we’re lovable or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love.

Take a minute and learn from your children. Matthew 11:25 says:

“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’”

Children never turn down a gift. When you give a child something, they receive it immediately, with no questions asked! They don’t wonder if they’ve earned it or if they deserve it. They just take it. We must learn from our children and receive God’s love like that. It’s a gift!

If you’ve never received the GIFT of God’s love, stop now and tell God that you want to know Him and receive His love!

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God’s not in love with a future version of you; He is in love with you just as you are.

If you have difficulty accepting or understanding God’s love, pray Ephesians 3:17-19 over yourself right now, and again each morning:

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Begin to search the Scriptures for what it says about love. Read each verse and let the truth of God’s Word fill your heart with comfort, confidence, peace, joy and love.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

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God desperately wants you to rest in His love. He wants you to live your life knowing you are loved.

Close your eyes and imagine this…

Imagine yourself curled up in your Father’s lap.

Listen to Him tell you that He loves you.

Bask in the safety of His love.

Now, go about your day knowing you are loved and showing that love to each person you encounter.

Questions for further study:

How does the Bible describe God’s love, and what are some key scriptures that illustrate its depth and nature?
In what ways can we practically experience and share God’s love in our daily lives?
How does understanding God’s unconditional love change our perspective on self-worth and identity?

Here are some “next steps” you can take after reading this post to further explore and experience the love of God:

Daily Scripture Reading: Commit to reading a portion of the Bible each day, focusing on passages that speak about God’s love. Consider starting with the Gospel of John, 1 John, and Psalms.
Prayer and Meditation: Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you understand and feel His love more deeply. Meditate on key verses about God’s love, such as Ephesians 3:17-19 and 1 John 4:9-10.
Join a Study Group: Find or start a Bible study group focused on exploring the love of God. Discussing with others can provide new insights and deepen your understanding.
Read Further: Read books on the love of God, such as “The Ragamuffin Gospel” by Brennan Manning, “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer, or “What’s God Really Like” by SJ Hill.
Serve Others: Put God’s love into action by serving others in your community. Volunteer at a local charity, help a neighbor in need, or participate in a church outreach program.
Reflect and Journal: Keep a journal to reflect on your journey of understanding God’s love. Write down your thoughts, prayers, and any revelations you receive during your study and meditation.
Practice Gratitude: Make a daily habit of thanking God for His love and the ways you experience it in your life. Gratitude can help reinforce your awareness of His love and presence.