Put Your Umbrella Down

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“You were created to be blessed.”

By Erin Lamb

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-10)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

You and I were created by God to be blessed. In Christ we are blessed and highly favored. Do you believe that? Deep in your heart do you believe that you have access to everything that Jesus paid to give you?

What we believe we empower. If we do not believe we are blessed, loved, cherished, set apart, favored, accepted, forgiven, and the apple of God’s eye, then we are essentially standing under the downpour of God’s love with an umbrella. Yes! We stand under a waterfall of God’s goodness, love, mercy and grace with an umbrella of unbelief blocking us from receiving. We see others dancing in the waterfall of His goodness and we are often upset. Where is my blessing? Why do they have joy or (fill in the blank)? Often it’s because they threw their umbrella down.

I have noticed that joyful people don’t have less problems. They simply trust God to work out their problems. They do their part and know God will do His part.

I have noticed that people who believe they are blessed, are blessed. People who believe that the world is out to get them and God doesn’t care, seem to have circumstances that validate their beliefs. What we believe is powerful. How we view God and ourselves will determine our actions. Our belief doesn’t stop God from being God. His love is still raining down, day after day, hour after hour. We, however, miss the opportunity to bask in it if we refuse to believe it’s for us.

We are His children. We are His beloved children. He has amazing plans for our lives. He doesn’t want to give us junk. He wants us filled to overflow so we ooze out the blessings of God. What a great representation of His Glory. When people can look at God’s kids and say, “They are blessed (filled with joy, love, peace, abundance, and hope) in the midst of a crumbling society, God must be better than we think.” I am not talking about monetary blessing or a prosperity message. Certainly, God wants to bless us with finances, but that is not the only indication of being blessed. We are truly blessed when we know who we are in Him, accept His love and purpose for our lives, and when we overflow with the fruits of His spirit! Then not only are we blessed, but anyone who comes into contact with us is blessed. Where His Spirit is, there is life and life more abundantly.

So here’s my prayer for us.

“Father I pray that every day we wake up looking into Your eyes as our mirror. May our view of You be transformed into the true likeness of who You are. Abba remove any obstacles to believing that You are good, we are loved, and You have great plans for our lives. Fill us to overflow. More love, more faith, and more hope in You. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.”

 

Agape

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Beautiful friends, I Thought I Knew What Love Was contains numerous reflections on the love of God. Many times we explore the depths of God’s love only to find out that there is so much more. On this journey with Him, each day provides more insight into His love. God is love. His very nature is love.

God is agape love. Agape love is self-sacrificing in nature, unconditional, and unwavering. Agape love is not based on the merit or behavior of the recipient. There is nothing we can do to earn this love. It is the very essence of the One we worship.

God demonstrated agape when He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for us. He sacrificed for the lovely, the unlovely, the wicked, and for those who will never reciprocate His love. I might choose to lay down my life for someone I thought was innocent. I might even surrender my life for a guilty person, if I thought they would eventually be saved. However, I am certain that it would take an act of God for me to sacrifice my only child for the world knowing some would still reject my love.

God loves us more than we can imagine. Here is an excerpt from I Thought I Knew What Love Was.

Agape

by Erin Lamb © Copyright 2011

“God’s message of love.”

I see you in your place of laughter,

your place of happiness,

and your place of hurting.

I see also your places of sorrow.

I embrace you in your times of tears,

and I dance with you in your times of jubilee.

I watch over you in the nighttime

and every second of the day.

I adore you,

despite any of your shortcomings.

I am in your past,

your present,

and in your future.

I delight in all that I have made.

I know you.

I am closer to you than any other being.

I have placed My covering over you,

and that covering is “Love.”

My name is Love;

that love is agape love,

an unfailing love.

I am the love that forgives you,

intercedes for you,

and I am the love that willingly took your place.

I am the love that has compassion for you,

wants to give you My best,

and so many wonderful things.

This is My love for you.

A love that seeks to fill you with more and more,

so your heart’s cup overflows.

I am the love that can never be replaced.

I invest in you.

I wait to meet with you.

I have given My life,

so you may live free.

I took the blame.

I took your shame,

so you could be with Me for a time without end.

My love for you will never disappoint.

My love does not fall short;

it cannot fail, and it can never be destroyed.

Even when you cannot see My love or sense My love,

it encompasses everything that surrounds you.

I have chosen you;

I selected you just for Me.

I cherish you.

I take pleasure in you.

You are My heart’s prize.

Every hair on your head,

I know them,

and I can tell you the length of every one.

Even if the entire world walks out on you,

please know that you are loved.

You cannot fathom

the way love was truly meant to be,

but if you ask for revelation,

I will tell you what I mean.

I love you

more than your achievements,

or lack thereof.

I love you more than your social standing.

I love you in your place of being outcast and feeling forgotten.

I love you past your points of weakness

and insecurity.

I love you past your imperfections,

though I can see each one.

I love you past your sinful nature.

My love is the reason I sent My only Son.

I watched Him hang there.

I watched Him suffer there;

the burdens of the world were weighing on His soul.

I placed Myself in harm’s way,

so you could find new life in Me.

You won’t find this love for you in any other place.

People have searched and searched,

only to still have emptiness in that place.

It is the place that was meant for only Me.

A God-shaped void cannot be filled

by frivolous earthly things.

I want to love you.

I long to love you.

Even if you turn and walk away,

I love you now, and I will love you always.

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Book available: http://www.westbowpress.com

Photo taken from Microsoft Clip Art.

Love Parable

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Love Parable

By Erin Lamb ©, all rights reserved.

I love that Jesus told stories. Stories seem to stay with us. Instead of dumping facts on us, they makes us think and dig deeper.

The Rich Mansion Owner:

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

There was an extremely wealthy man who had a multi-billion dollar home. Oh, did I mention it overlooked the beach, miles and miles of beaches. There were tennis courts, basketball courts, feasts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There were heated pools and every luxury imaginable. He provided everything. He made sure the home was clean, spotless even. He asks you to accept his invitation to be with him and be a part of his family. Yes, there were some house rules but he offered to be the one to help you keep them. He asked that he was called if there were any problems. There were to be no worries about things getting broken or messed up; he would clean it up.

It was the most beautiful mansion in the neighborhood. The house was filled with laughter, joy, peace, and sometimes dancing. It was almost effortless to live with him because he was good, kind, loving, affectionate, considerate, and compassionate. Every day the man would prepare a favorite meal and spend time preparing something special for every person in the house. He asked that you live there with him as family and not behave as a guest. It was your house too. Everything in the house belonged to you. You had full access to the fridge, the activities, and whatever the man did, you could do. He even gave you access to his bank account. All his money was yours too. He let you carry his credit cards and everyone in the town was to know you were his beloved. He smiled at you daily and encouraged you to be the best you, you could be. He loved spending time with you, sharing his thoughts and wanting to hear yours. If you made a mistake, he quickly forgave you and kept loving you.

One day a stranger shows up at the door. He’s a nice looking guy. He tells you, “You should leave this house. This man (home owner) is trying to keep good things from you.” The stranger says, “He doesn’t love you. He just wants to control you. I mean why do you need to stay on this property when you can strike it out on your own. Wouldn’t it be nice to do your own thing? Wouldn’t it be nice to not be under the watchful eye of this man.”

You think about what the stranger says. You begin to wonder what else is out there.  Can you really trust the man who opened the door to his mansion. Does he really love you? You start to think, “I can do life on my own. There has to be something better out there.”  You leave with the stranger. As the stranger drives away you recognize that the beauty of home is fading behind you.

The stranger takes you to a shack on the edge of town. It is run down and polluted. It stinks. It’s dark. There are other people chained inside. He throws you in a room, locks you in, and laughs at you. He spends day and night telling you how awful you are and how stupid you are for leaving paradise. Day and night you are tormented because this isn’t home. You find yourself alone and hopeless.

Meanwhile the owner of the mansion is looking for you. He can’t live happily without you. He loves you. He drives and drives until he pulls up to the shack. He calls your name. “Come to me,” he yells. “I want you back. I love you,” he exclaims. The stranger doesn’t want to let you go, but he has no power stronger than love. As you realize what you had and how much you’re loved, the shackles release you. The door opens, and you run into the arms of the one who loves you. He loved you before and he loves you now. He rejoices because his beloved is coming home. You see, he wasn’t withholding something from you, he was protecting you.

God loves you. Anytime God says no to something it’s because of love. He always has something better in mind. Anytime God convicts of sin or tells us to repent it’s because He loves us. He loves us. Let that sink in. What God has for us is far greater than anything we can give ourselves or what anyone else can do for us.

If you don’t have a personal relationship with God, it comes through faith and acceptance of His Son Jesus. Jesus died for all our sins, so we could be reconciled with the Father. We believe, we confess our sins and need for a Savior, and we invite God into our lives. If you don’t know Him, your missing out on the most amazing relationship you’ll ever have. He is amazing.

Photos from Microsoft Clip art

I Stand Before You (God’s Message of Love)

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I Stand Before You (God’s Message of Love)

Written by Erin Lamb © Copyright 2011

I stand before you;

My arms are open wide,

wanting to embrace you,

wanting to bring to health to you,

and wanting to re-establish you.

Reach out your arms to Me,

for My love for you

won’t end

and won’t fail.

Though the thunderstorms rage, the seas of turmoil turn,

and the waves crash over your fragile heart;

I am still standing here,

standing strong for you.

I have a heartbeat

that beats just for you;

it beats to the rhythm of your name.

Can you hear My heart cry out,

for more time with you

and more intimacy with you?

Tenderly,

I unveil more of Myself to you.

I am the One who longs for you.

Let go.

Let go of all the preconceived notions

that I cannot meet your every longing.

I love you

with an everlasting love.

I have loved you from the beginning.

I stand before you

willing to set your heart free.

Trust in Me.

Your eyes can not see,

nor your heart comprehend,

all that I am

and all that you will be.

I stand with a love so intense and so pure;

a love that was tailored just for you.

I stand before you

prepared to fight your battles for you.

My power is limitless.

I am the God who knows no bounds.

Where you have been

is not where you will always be.

I stand before you,

interceding for you,

and desiring to give you the best of Me.

You are a child of the King,

and My Kingdom will never cease.

Can you hear the applause of heaven?

You were chosen for Me.

I looked across the earth

and delighted that into you,

life I could breathe.

I come again,

standing before you,

ready to breathe life into every area of your heart, mind, spirit, and soul.

I stand before you

with all My power and might.

Let down the drawbridges of doubt and uncertainty.

Allow Me to mend all the fractured things.

I long for you to find the meaning of life in Me.

You are My beloved,

and I will never cease to pursue you,

love you,

care for you,

and adore you.

Excerpt from, “I Thought I Knew What Love Was.”

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Book available: http://www.westbowpress.com

You Were Made for Love

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Below are encouraging words God deposited into my heart. They settled in my soul, watered my heart, & delighted my spirit. I hope they do the same for you. You are deeply loved.

“You were made for love!

You are My great idea, a grand idea. I smiled from ear to ear when I thought of you. I gathered the angels for them to see, what beauty the world would behold. My heart danced. There was a sparkle in My eye. I thought to Myself, ‘What a genius I am; I will create mankind.’

I made you for Me, and I made you for love. A love that is richer, deeper, purer, and more fulfilling than any love you will ever experience in this world. I made you with a deep longing for intimacy that could only be fulfilled in Me. You won’t find a greater love anywhere. You may try to fill the void in your heart with other things, or even with people, but you will not be complete until you rest in My love. The most precious of all loves.

Your identity is rooted in Me. You won’t know fully who you are until you look into Me. Look into the depths of My heart and there you will find the key. There you will find the answer to your life’s destiny. No one can tell you who you are except for Me. I made you. I made you for Me. I made you to fit into a mold that was custom made for you. You cannot fit into anyone else’s place, nor can they take your place. You are unique, set apart, different, made from heavenly stock. You were not meant to be like anyone else. You were meant to be who I set you apart to be. Someone bold. Someone courageous. Someone who bears the image of their Father. You are an extension of Me. You are My workmanship created for My glory. When they see you, they will inquire of Me. I have placed My seal on you. I have placed My name on you. You are the child of the King. I made you to be loved, honored, cherished, and treated as the object of My love. I made you for love, to be deeply loved. So let My love come and settle in the cracks, sealing your foundation so it is unbreakable. Let My love restore all the devastation and stains left from years of disappointments. Let My love heal any place where fear has come to steal promise and destiny.

I am the One who loves you. I am the One who is for you. I am the One who heals you. I am the One who adores you. I am the One championing your dreams. I am your biggest cheerleader. I am your most loyal friend. No one can take your place in My heart. As the sun rises, so My heart rises to rejoice over you with love. I eagerly await any second I get for you to look My way, for you were made for Me. You were made for love. So, dance under the waterfall of My love. Frolic in the river of My grace. Bask in the radiance of My glory, and let Me put a smile on your face. I love you today, and I will love you always. My love is not based on what you do, what you have done, or what you will do. My love is based on who I am, and I can’t help but love you. Look not to your lack or inadequacies, they are covered by My sufficiency. I define you by who I made you to be. My opinion is not swayed by your behavior, by your weakness, nor by other’s opinions. I thought of you and said, ‘What I made is good.’

So, My child, live loved. Live cherished. I am always here with arms wide open. Nothing can separate you from My love.”

My dear sweet friends, you are deeply loved. May God saturate your hearts to overflowing with His unfailing love. A love that is rich and vast beyond measure. May He wreck the walls that separate you from receiving even more.

There is no end to His love. It’s wider, deeper, purer than any love in this world. God bless you and keep you. May His righteous face shine brightly on you. May He bless you with love, joy, peace, hope, and deeper intimacy with Him. He is the greatest lover of your soul. Have a wonderful week.

Joy! God is filled with joy

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Joy in His Presence
By Erin Lamb

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand, Psalm 16:11.

You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence, Psalm 21:6.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law, Galatians 5:22.

Joy definition: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

Have you ever had a friend that you couldn’t wait to spend time with? You just knew you were going to have a good time. You knew there would be laughter, fun, and you hated leaving because being with them was so pleasant. Well, being with God is a million times better than that.

God fills us with joy. You may say, “I spend time with God and I don’t feel joyful.” Yep, been there. Been in that place where quiet time was more like nap time. You knock on heaven’s door, eyes heavy with sleep, and leave just as tired as when you came. Ever been there? Well, follow me on this navigation to finding joy in God.

∙How are we meeting with Him?

In our time with God are we seeking to get to know Him or meeting with Him out of obligation? Anything done out of obligation is not fun. It’s like, “Let me get this over with so I can do something else.”

∙Are we trying to control what happens?

Okay God we are going to meet up and I will do this and then you will do that…Mostly God wants the ability to radically change our agenda. If we are seeking to control what happens, where we go, when we go, and all the details, it will be boring. When we show up and say, “God let’s enjoy today?” that’s when it gets really fun.

∙Are we too serious?

I have found that God laughs and enjoys our laughter. We become so regimented in our worship and time with God. We treat Him like a stranger or boss or dictator. He is not stern or cold. God is a lot of fun! Did you hear me! FUN! God likes to do fun things. He longs to do fun things with us. Whatever we like to do, He longs to do those things with us (unless it’s illegal or immoral). So if you like nature, He wants to go on nature walks with you. If you like spending time with kids, He wants to do that with you. If you like painting, dancing, playing an instrument, even cleaning the house, He longs to be with you. He is not restricted to our Bible reading time and worship gatherings. We are the temple where His Spirit dwells. Therefore, we don’t just commune with Him on the weekend and at small group. He wants 24/7 access to our lives; to be invited into every day activities! That’s where the joy comes in. Knowing that no matter what we are doing, He is there. The Creator of the Universe is with us and His Spirit is filled with love, joy, peace….We have a built in best friend and built in Advocate/Helper.

I can honestly say I never want to go back to life without Him, not just for the sake of missing out on heaven, but for losing the best thing that’s ever happened to me. He’s more fun than anything I have ever done without Him.

∙Are we cultivating relationship?

God wants to be know by us and at first the journey is awkward. I used to feel like I was talking to myself or dead air. But that’s when you keep talking to Him and open your ears to listen. He never intended for us to have a one sided relationship with Him. God wants to be wanted by us. He wants us to seek Him out and keep seeking. He wants a friendship. He wants to be first in our lives. The more time we meet with Him, inquire of Him, ask Him what He is like, open our hearts and lives to Him, the more we get to know Him. And knowing Him is the greatest joy!

∙Have we decided we need God + something else to be happy?

If we are going to God with the idea that we must have something other than Him to be happy we will not find lasting joy. It’s sort of like being invited to a banquet that is filled with delicious treats and delicacies and we decide that we will not be content unless they have a certain dish. We cannot fully enjoy the feast if we are determined to not enjoy what is there. So if in our hearts it’s, “God I will only be happy when I get a better job, or better car, more money, or my spouse changes, or I get a spouse, or have a kid….,” then we will never be satisfied. We must come to Him seeking to enjoy Him and whatever He has to offer, trusting that He keeps nothing good from His kids. He longs to bless us and give us great things. So we ask and enjoy Him as well.

Final Notes:

Life will present challenges that come to rob us of joy. The good thing about God is that He knows He is the storehouse of joy. He is not asking us to pretend to be happy or manufacture joy. He says, “Come to Me those who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He says, “Come to Me those who have numerous troubles and sorrows and I will give you joy.” We don’t have to make joy happen. We simply have to go to Jesus. How awesome is that. Sometimes you have to stay in His presence for a long time until the sorrow turns to joy. He does some healing, mending, restoring, and internal work. I promise that anything we give to God He will make it better than before. He always keeps His promises. So let’s trade our burdens for His peace. Trade our sorrows for His joy. Let’s upgrade to life abundantly and enjoy a blessed life.

“Abba I ask that You would increase the fruit of joy in our lives. Help us to laugh, to play, and to enjoy life. We want and need more joy. There are so many mysterious You hide for us, not from us. Fuel our desire to seek them out. Help us to have heaven on earth and not simply exist for heaven to come. Help us to be instruments of joy wherever we go, so people can see how joyful You are. Remove any obstacles to knowing You, being with You, and enjoying You. You are awesome. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. We love You. In Jesus name. Amen”

A Mother’s Heart

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A Mother’s Heart

  (Love note from Abba to you)

Written By Erin Lamb©

May 2012

Before the heavens were formed and the earth below,

I had an idea of a gift I would bestow.

A gift from My heart to your heart.

I have given you My gift to the world.

I have given you the gift of having a child.

What joy I had to place My heart inside your heart.

I have given you a gift and a treasure,

so you may experience even more love than you’ve ever felt.

I was delighted, oh, so delighted,

for you to see what I see and feel what I feel.

The love that wells in your heart for your child does not begin to compare

to the love in My heart for you.

If you bottled it up and poured it out,

it would be more than the world could hold.

More than the span of the galaxies,

My love pours into your heart

stretching and expanding its capacity so that you can love even more.

As My love pours in,

you pour love out.

You give sacrificially,

laying down all that you are for the child you call your own.

No act of love you’ve shown has gone unnoticed, or undocumented.

Each act of love is engraved permanently in My heart.

How I love you!

How I adore you,

and today I celebrate you!

“Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there (spiritual and natural moms)”

I Am (Listening to God’s Heart)

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I Am (Listening to God’s Heart)
By Erin Lamb
May 9th, 2012

My dear friends, you are so precious to God. Giving thanks for you today. In being still before Him these words were deposited into my heart. I hope they bless you. You are deeply loved.

From Abba’s heart:

“I am the One who delights in your laughter and bottles all your tears. I am the One who knows all there is to know about you, and I love you still. I am the One who stands watch, neither slumbering nor sleeping. I never take My eyes off you. I am the Friend who longs to be known intimately by you. I want to be your best friend. I want to be the One you run to, the One you can’t wait to be with, and the One who you love the most. I am the One who can’t go one second without thinking about you. If you could only see the smile on My face, when you gaze My way. I can not help but love you, for you were My idea. I celebrated in My heart when I spoke you into existence. My heart danced. My eyes welled with pride, for you were and are My grand design. How I love you! How I cherish you! How I long for you to seek Me as the source of all your needs. What you feel, I feel. I am so in tune with you that I know you better than you know yourself. There is nothing that touches your heart that does not touch Mine.

I am the One who understands you. I am the One who hangs on every word you say or pray. I don’t forget a word, for they are stored in My heart. I listen. I hear. I see. I am the One eager to bless you and give you treasures beyond your wildest dreams. Simply put your trust in Me. Believe that from you, I will withhold no good thing.

I am the One who loves you. I am the One who has always loved you. I am the One who will always love you. Even if you turn and walk away, you will find My love remains faithful, steadfast, and unshakable. I am so committed to love you! I love you with an everlasting love. I am not watching life happen to you from a distance. I am right here holding your hand and giving you strength to carry on. On days you feel your heart might break, I am holding the fragments together. I won’t allow you to be destroyed. And I promise I am the One who will give you beauty for ashes, joy for sorrow, and double for your trouble. I am faithful! I keep My promises. I can swear by My name, for I am perfect in keeping My word. So my dear child, rest in Me. Quiet your soul before Me, and know that even if the entire world is shaken, My love for you will remain. You can rest in My embrace, and I am the One who will empower you to carry on.”

The Journey Into God’s Heart

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Good morning beautiful people!

It’s one of those days where I am looking back and reflecting on the path that led to the publishing of this book, I Thought I Knew What Love Was. As stated in the book’s introduction, I did not set out to write a book. I simply sat down one day and began writing about my experiences with God. I wrote. I listened. I wrote some more. I listened some more! God is always speaking and the more time I made available to Him, the more He spoke. I felt like David, pouring out my heart to God during the good times and the times of great sorrow. I opened up my heart and God opened up His heart. The journey to intimacy with God began. I captured some of it via pen and paper.

Some days I wrote with tears of joy streaming down my face. I thought, “How great is our God.” Other days my heart was broken and fractured, but I still heard His voice saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

Friends, family, and God encouraged the publishing of this book. I was told by several people that no one reads poetry or verses anymore. Some literary agents won’t even talk to you. However, when God tells you to do something, it does not matter how many doors slam on you. You listen to God and take risks! Faith is spelled risk.

So, after years of encouragement and prodding from God this book was birthed. It contains over 7 years worth of reflections, prayers, and verses. They are responses to His love like the Psalms. Like David, worshiping God consumes my heart. I hope you grab this book and it takes you deeper into His heart! How He loves us. His love has changed my view of love. I hope it does the same for you.

You can pick up a copy at http://www.westbowpress.com

Book title: I Thought I Knew What Love Was

You’re in my thoughts and prayers friends! May you have a deeper revelation of God’s love this year.

Love in Him,

Erin Lamb

How I Love You (God’s Perfect Love)

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How I Love You (God’s Perfect Love)

Describe your best loving relationship? How did you know the person loved you? What did they do to show you their love?
Do you think God responds to you in a similar way?

What if God knows the way you receive love and responds to you in a way that is tailored to you? What if His love is bigger, greater, more passionate, and deeper than any earthly love you have felt? It is! His love is perfect.

I pray as Paul prayed.

I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that we may be filled to the measure of all measure of fullness of God.~ Eph 3:17-19.

God loves us perfectly but often we miss His love for the following reasons:

1. We don’t believe God loves us deeply and personally. So, we fail to recognize His love when it’s always there. If we don’t believe, we fail to receive. Have you ever gone out of your way to show someone you loved them, yet they failed to believe you? It’s the same with God. It starts with faith (believing God).

2. We don’t spend time with Him. It’s challenging to receive love from someone we don’t know. It’s strange and uncomfortable. However, the more familiar we are with someone, the easier it is to feel the heart to heart connection. Knowing leads to greater intimacy.

3. We think God is like the people we encounter. He can’t be compared to a person. He’s kinder, more generous, and more loving.

4. We blame Him for the bad things that happen and fail to thank Him for the good.

5. When He uses people to bless us, we end up thanking them and forget Him. He uses people to encourage us, care for us, show us kindness, etc…Too often we thank them instead of seeing God was the one who gave them the idea. It’s good to thank people, but ultimately God is the one longing to bless us.

I can say that God has gone out of His way to shower me with love. Sometimes I thanked people and saw only them. Other times I simply did not fully believe He was a personal God who wanted to have deep relationship with me. What I found was the more time I spent with Him, the more time I spent praying for a deeper revelation of His love, the more I saw His love. Here are some examples, just a few:

During times of discouragement or grief God would bring scriptures to mind. He sometimes sent people who were caring and kind, who wiped tears, and were a support. Often when the season was over the people were gone, but He never left.

During times of little resources God would send people to take me to dinner or make meals. He has always provided.

He spoke and speaks encouraging words into my heart. He calls out the good! He’s my greatest cheerleader.

He placed so many beautiful things in nature I can’t photograph them all. Nice!

I love art, and He has allowed there to be numerous talented artists in the world. I am able to see their work and marvel at their creativity.

Sometimes He allows my favorite songs to be played on the radio right as I’m thinking of them.

He inspired people to write worship songs that connect my heart to His.

He sent people to teach and show me His love (my parents).

He forgives over and over and over again. That’s love!

He convicts and corrects me when I’m wrong.

When I have been faithless, He’s still been faithful.

He speaks through His Word which has been a source of tremendous encouragement and blue print for life.

Last but not least, He sent His Son to take away all my sins! I put this one last because He did this for everyone. However, we fail to see that if we were the only lost person on earth, He still would have sent Jesus. His love is personal, not a blanket love. I told God once when I was young, “You love me because you have to.” His response, “I love you because I want to.” See verse below.

“Long before He laid down the Earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love….(What pleasure He took in planning this!) Eph 1-4-5 the Message.

So my beautiful friends I hope and pray that His perfect love is revealed more and more to us. The way I sense His love may be radically different than how you sense His love. All that matters is that you know that there’s nothing He’d love more than to have a close, personal relationship with you. You were worth dying for! And you are worth pursuing. You are deeply loved. You’re in my heart and in my prayers.