A Love Note
        Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”

Hello Dear One,
        This week I want you to focus on just a few words of  our scripture: whatever is true.”  I earnestly desire that you change your thinking about yourself.  What you think drives what you do.  You can change your thinking.  Get really serious about understanding how deeply loved you are.  You are not a disappointment to God.  That is true. You are not a failure.  That is true.  Perhaps, you have made some unfortunate decision in the past.  Paul tells us “to forget the past and press forward.” Friend, learn the lesson and move forward.  Don’t look back.  Scripture tells us that God forgives our sins and remembers them no more.  That is true.   It is a new day, embrace it.
        I am including a second page with some love reminders for you.  Cut them out and place them where you can see them and remind yourself, you are deeply loved.                                                                                                         Linda
      I am a child of the             
  most high God, deeply                
   loved and cherished.
 
I am in charge of how I feel               
              and  today                             
 I am choosing HAPPINESS!
 
I am stronger because of my    
     hard times and wiser
because of my mistakes.
 
           I am enough,                                 
           just as I am,                          
          I am enough.

                                     A Love Note

Hello Dear One,
        Yesterday I watched the Royal Wedding along with a million or so other people.  I was ready for a love story.  The day before, a horrific shooting at Santa Fe, Texas, with 10 sweet souls losing their lives at the hands of a disturbed child with a gun. While we can’t neglect to mourn such loss, we can be an agent of change.  Phillipians 4:8 says,     “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”  Many of the viewer’s comments about the wedding were, “I wish I had someone look in my eyes the way Harry looks into Meghan’s.
Here is the excellent news!  You do.  Your Heavenly Father created you in love, carefully knitting you together stitch by stitch into his precious child.  He loves you with an everlasting love, unconditionally.  No surprises to God. Never stop trying to love others as He unconditionally loves you.  And the world will be a better place, because you are in it, and you are deeply loved.
                                   And, dear one, I love you also,
                                                       Linda

He said, “I am thirsty.”                                                                                                                                                                              John 19: 28 (NLT)
Hello Friend,
           Jesus was upon the cross suffering.  I can’t begin to imagine the pain of nails being pounded into my hands and feet.  I would complain about the crown of thorns shoved down upon my brow.  Jesus has been beaten, spat upon, bruised, and cut.  And now his lips are parched and his mouth feels like cotton.  And he utters, “I am thirsty.”  Why doesn’t he do something about it?  Did he not turn jugs of water into wine?  
            In his three short years of ministry, Jesus felt human emotions. He was tempted by the devil while suffering hunger in the wilderness (Matt 4:2).  John 4:6 reports that Jesus grew weary in Samaria.  Remember the time he was angry in the Temple and overthrew the money tables (John 2:15).  The shortest verse in the Bible reports that “Jesus wept” at the tomb of Lazarus, his friend.  And when he went to pray in an olive grove in Gethsemane, He told his disciples, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Matt 26:38).   At his arrest he told the crowd, “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly” (Matt 26:53).  And now just before his final breathe, he whispers, “I am thirsty.”
            Why?  Why did he grow thirsty on the cross?  He didn’t have to suffer thirst. Why did he endure all these hurtful feelings?  I think it was because he knew you would feel those very same emotions. You would feel hunger, anger, grief, and soul-crushing despair.  And by knowing that our dear Jesus suffered the same real-life, human experience of pain, we know that when we turn to him in prayer, he understands.   When we have no one to talk to, Jesus is listening and he cares.  What a wonderful Savior is he!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY      Dear Jesus, we are committed to making the journey to the cross again this year.  We want to stay with you till the end—identifying with you and your pain on our behalf.  Strengthen us that we may celebrate your salvation appropriately. Quench our thirsty souls with your Living Water.
                                                  Traveling the dusty road of Jerusalem,                                                                                                                                             Linda

 
 Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you. 
                                                                              Jeremiah 1:5 (Amplified)
Hello Friend,
                I hope you woke this morning feeling really great about yourself.  Not feeling it? Let me be the first this morning to tell you that you are wonderful.  And I’m not the only one who thinks you are super special.   No matter how you may be feeling right now, no matter whose approval you didn’t get on this earth, Almighty God loves you and approves of you today.  This is nothing you can do now to change that. 
            You may be thinking, “I’ve made so many mistakes, how can God approve of me?”  Understand that when God sees you, He separates you from your behavior.  Whew!  Aren’t you glad that God sees you as forgiven, perfect, and white as snow?  He knew you were going to make mistakes; otherwise, there would have been no need for Him to send His son as your Savior.  Of course, God wants you to continue to grow.  Allow God to empower and strengthen you to live in victory all the days of your life.
            So I’m wondering if you could do something special for yourself this week. Celebrate the wonderful creation that you are.  Have an “I like me” mindset.  Buy yourself a new spring scarf.  Get a pedicure.  Take a day off from work and enjoy the beach and the Florida sunshine.  Whatever will make you feel good, do it this week.  Don’t delay.  You deserve love and acceptance and adoration.  Receive it today.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY     Heavenly Father, thank You for approving and empowering me by Your love. I open my heart and mind to Your truth and invite You to have Your way in my life. Remove anything that would hold me back from all You have in store.                

     In Jesus' Name. Amen.
                                                      
  Basking in God’s approval,                                                                                                                                                                                           Linda