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Be Kind to Yourself

Psalm 139:7 (VOICE) Can I go anywhere apart from Your Spirit? Is there anywhere I can go to escape Your watchful presence?

Beloved, I AM omnipresent. When Adam and Eve hid from Me in the garden and I asked them where they were (Genesis 3:8-9), do you think I truly did not know? Or was I in fact giving them opportunity to remember that I love them completely, and – no matter what they’d done – I still wanted connection with them?

Beloved, I wanted connection with them, and I want it with you. So resist the urge to hide from Me if you’re struggling with feelings of guilt or shame. Relationship with Me isn’t about perfection, but rather it’s about relationship itself – communication, interacting, a sharing of thoughts and ideas, dreaming together – all that and more.

Of course it’s good to do the best you can and make wise choices. But in the moments you fall short, refuse to take on the burden of guilt or shame and instead share that disappointment with Me. Rather than allowing it to separate us, allow it to draw us closer as I comfort you and encourage you. Be kind to yourself, and let Me be kind to you as well. Continue reading “Be Kind to Yourself”

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Through Your Eyes {Moments with God}

Psalm 139:6 (VOICE) It is the most amazing feeling to know how deeply You know me, inside and out; the realization of it is so great that I cannot comprehend it.

{Speaking to God in my heart} Father, You amaze me. The level of detail You’re mindful of in my heart and life is truly mind boggling. You understand my heart motivations even in the moments I can’t (or won’t) see them. And like the loving Father You are, You find a way to bring the things to light that I need to know. And You do it without shaming me. You do it without making me feel like I’m inherently flawed. In fact, just the opposite! As I see myself in the reflection of Your eyes – the way You treat me and the way You love me – I see someone worth being kind to. I see someone worth being patient with. I see someone who is not disposable, but who is worth tending to and healing. You don’t just get rid of me when I’m feeling broken or struggling to understand something – even when it’s the bajillionth time I’m making the same mistake, you correct me just as lovingly as if it were the first. When I see myself through Your eyes, I see someone cherished and prized. And when You treat me as You do, I feel encouraged to do the same. Thank you for the gift of seeing myself as You see me. May I never lose sight of that vision, but if I do – thank you in advance for patiently helping me find it again. Continue reading “Through Your Eyes {Moments with God}”

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Worth Cosseting

Psalm 139:5 (VOICE) You have surrounded me on every side, behind me and before me, and You have placed Your hand gently on my shoulder.

Beloved, I have cloaked you in My love, for you are worth taking care of. And just as I take care of you, I encourage you to take care of yourself – you are well worth the effort. I see you, and I see beauty. I see you, and I see someone precious to Me.

Just as you would no sooner leave an expensive convertible outside with the top down in the rain and snow left to rust and decay, neither should you neglect yourself. You are worth cosseting. You are worth protecting, worth covering, worth taking care of. See yourself as worthy, beloved, and never doubt that you are. Continue reading “Worth Cosseting”

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I Love All of You

Psalm 139:4 (VOICE) You know what I’m going to say long before I say it. It is true, Eternal One, that You know everything and everyone.

Beloved, I know your heart well. I may seem like a mystery to you and there will often be times you can’t understand My ways, but I assure you – you are not a mystery to Me. I’ve made a study of you, and I find everything about you fascinating. I love the way you seek and learn. I love seeing how your mind works.

Never feel like you have to hide your emotions from Me. I can handle them all – good and bad. Your anger and frustration don’t shock Me, nor will they chase Me away or turn My heart against you. I love you, and I accept all of you – the good and the bad. I have chosen you and love you. Receive that love and allow it to penetrate deep. Continue reading “I Love All of You”

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Love Yourself Well

Psalm 139:3 (VOICE) You observe my wanderings and my sleeping, my waking and my dreaming, and You know everything I do in more detail than even I know.

Beloved, nothing about you is unseen. Not one thing about you is beneath My notice. So resist the urge to marginalize yourself, or refuse to give yourself and your own needs adequate attention. You are worth being mindful of. You are worthy of being seen.

Make no mistake, I’m not encouraging selfish indulgence, but too often those who are most supportive of others begrudge themselves the slightest comfort. Loving others as you love yourself (Mark 12:31) requires first loving yourself, which includes seeing to your own needs. So choose to love yourself well, that the love you express to others may be all the richer because it comes from your personal overflow. Continue reading “Love Yourself Well”

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True Intimacy

Psalm 139:2 (VOICE) You even know the small details like when I take a seat and when I stand up again. Even when I am far away, You know what I’m thinking.

Beloved, I don’t miss a thing. I’m aware of everything about you – each thought, each decision, each concern you have is one I understand and am with you in the midst of. You are seen by Me, and you are worth seeing.

I’m not too busy for you, or too lofty to desire to be in the details of your life. I long for you to include Me. I want to share your life with you – to be the One you look to not only in times of need, but simply all the time. Share your heart and life with Me, and allow Me to include you in Mine. For that is true intimacy. Continue reading “True Intimacy”

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You are Worth Loving

Psalm 139:1 (VOICE) O Eternal One, You have explored my heart and know exactly who I am;

Beloved, I AM intimately acquainted with every facet of you, and I love and accept you exactly as you are. You don’t have to change for Me to love you, nor will I love you more if you behave “better.” I see you – I see the you I created, and I love you unconditionally.

I invite you to see with My eyes – to reflect love to yourself because you are inherently worth loving. I don’t love you because I’m deceived of your true nature, I love you because I understand who you are intimately – for I formed you. So resist the urge to reject yourself or act as if you are unlovable, and instead reflect My heart towards you. Trust that you are worth loving. Continue reading “You are Worth Loving”

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Immanuel (God with Us)

Isaiah 7:14 (VOICE) …The Lord will give you a proof-sign anyway: See, a young maiden will conceive. She will give birth to a son and name Him Immanuel, that is, “God with us.”

Beloved, I AM with you always, for I AM YHVH Shammah – the Lord is present. And as a reminder of My presence, I sent My very own Son to dwell among you: Immanuel – a reminder that I (God) am with you.

Conceived of a virgin – an undeniable miracle that you might clearly see My hand at work, He is a reflection of My love made physically manifest that you might know Me more. My desire is for connection with you. Everything I do is to increase that depth of intimacy, for I love you. Never doubt, that you are Mine, beloved, but also remember I AM yours.

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Write the Vision

Revelation 21:5 (NLT) And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Beloved, listen to My voice and heed My direction. Make note of what I’m saying. For there will come a time when you look back and think, “Surely the Lord didn’t speak so clearly,” or “Surely He didn’t really tell me where we were going before we began.”

And yet beloved, I do just that. I want you to see My hand in your life. I want you to be confident you hear My voice. So write the vision and make it plain. Take note and see, precious one, that I AM speaking and you are listening. Continue reading “Write the Vision”