The Valentine

I have not blogged since the days of Xanga. So, honestly, I am not completely sure how this works or even why I want to do it. Today I was sitting at my desk spending some time with the Lord, and all of a sudden I had an urge to start a blog. I love journaling. It is one of my favorite ways of communicating with God. I pray, write about things that are on my mind, worship, and draw in my journals. Lately I have been writing down things called "Gifts of Love" in my journal. These are things in my life that I am thankful for and that I am able to see God's love through. This past semester I started reading a book called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. (I highly recommend this book to everyone) It is a book written by a menonite woman that struggled with having joy in her life and especially having it in her walk with God. So one of her friends challenged her one day to write down 1,000 things in her life that she is thankful for. Since I started reading that book, I have been realizing the power of being thankful. No matter what life circumstances someone is going through, God is sovereign and in control! He is worthy of praise. And by being thankful, we are able to praise him even in trial. So I thought it would be awesome to start a blog that is focused on those special gifts of love that I receive from my God every day.

Today I was overwhelmed with His love. It is Valentines' Day and honestly I was dreading it. Such an awkward day.... So I decided to begin my day praying and asking God to overwhelm me with His love. I was reading "One Thousand Gifts" and was struck by these sentences "We are head to head, I am bare; He is bare. All Eye sees me." It probably doesn't make much sense to you that have not actually read this book, but it overwhelmed me. To have the eyes of God staring at me- perfect, holy, pure, right, and unconditional love. This is the only love that will never ever fail. Praise God!

So the Gift of Love today was God's peace, joy, and overwhelming love.

Thank you Lord!

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you'." Isaiah 41:13

Hannah