Rae's Reads

I’ve never felt a love that was sweeter than the love God has shown me. Every time I think about how much He loves me, I can’t help but smile. He’s shown me what it’s like to truly have a devoted friend, father, and partner. I know He is with me wherever I go. He’s helping me in more ways than I can possibly know. He does more for me than anyone else has done for me, and that might sound selfish. I know I’m not following my Father’s ways just for what He can do for me, but there are also times when that can happen. I want to do what God wants me to do, but sometimes selfish and fleshly desires creep in. I need Him, not for what He can give me, but because He saves me.  I want to do it. I want to do what God wants me to do. I need to focus on Him. He’s my light, my guide, my Father. He has always saved me, whether I knew it or not. He saved me from physical problems, financial problems, and mental problems. He has saved me from storms, car accidents, toxic people, and stress. He’s a...

The Lord is my Shepherd.  He saves me. He loves me.  He sacrifices for me. He gives me everything I need. He shows me kindness, even when I think I don’t deserve it. He saved me from the pit of my despair. He saved me from the trenches of my depression. He saved me from the weight of my guilt. He saved me from the burden of my shame. He saved me from my spiritual suffering. He healed me from my physical ailment.  I felt His kindness, love, and mercy. When I think of His face, there’s always a smile. Oftentimes I think, “If God loves me the same or any more than I love my own siblings and family, then I have no doubt that He would do anything for me.” I would do almost anything for my siblings if I knew they needed it.

No matter what, we all need forgiveness. We all fall short of the glory of God. Luckily, we have a Holy Father who loves so dearly that He sent His one and only Son to die for us. We were doomed to a horrible fate. He wasn’t okay with that. He decided it was and is worth it to send His Child to die so that we would have a chance to be with Him.  It’s worth it. Everything you do. Everything you put into this. Everything you sacrifice. Everything. It’s all worth it. The first time you see someone come to know Him, you feel this feeling. It’s incomparable to anything else. When I sit in silence and think of His love for me, I can’t help but smile. When I go out and show people kindness, which is easy for me because my Father in Heaven showed me true kindness first, it’s so rewarding to be able to make someone’s day better. When they compliment me for my patience, kindness, or understanding, they don’t know it, but I know they’re not complimenting me. The Lord did all of that. My human...

Do you ever feel like God is just speaking directly to you? That’s how I felt this past Sunday. I’d been struggling with patience, reassurance, and gossiping (I knew I was gossiping, not just giving others information on things). I’ve been trying to get better in all those areas, but I felt I kept losing my cool with others way too much. I wondered if I was truly saved.  The Lord told me when I was reading His Word, “If you want to be content, you have to develop patience and practice it.” Well, that’s helpful for someone who’s been praying for happiness for the past 6 years. The Lord spoke to me through my youth pastor when I was at youth group. The man simply said, “If you’re questioning whether you’re saved, you probably are. If you think ‘Oh, I’ve accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, but I don’t know…’ you’re probably good to go.” Well, that felt like a hug directly from God. The Lord spoke to me later that night through my youth group small group leader. She simply was relat...