Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

I happened received this verse in my Bible promises box the other day.  I have read this verse before, but the Lord brought a few things to my attention this time.  First it says "many are the afflictions of the righteous".  Okay, so if I am righteous, I can expect to have trials and tribulations.  Second, thing that stood out to me was "but the Lord delivers him out of them all."  The ALL never stood out to me before.  It doesn't say "some" nor "a few"...it say ALL.  So there is therefore no tribulation or trial that the Lord will not help me to overcome.  Isn't that such a relief?

Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is with you,
       He is mighty to save.
       He will take great delight in you,
       He will quiet you with His love,
       He will rejoice over you with singing.

Isn't this precious to your heart?  That our Lord takes great delight in us?  I especially like the part that says He will quiet me with His love.

To be known is to be loved...

I am sure that all of us have felt the painful sting of rejection.  We all deeply long for someone to accept us despite all our unsightly behaviors or ways of thinking.  Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to be accepted in the midst of our mess.  He sent His son, Jesus, to wash away all the yuck.  God provided this way of escape not because of anything to do with us, but based on Himself (being love).  Jesus truly knows us and despite all that He loves us and laid down His life to prove that love. 

This past weekend I went to my first ladies retreat.  It was awesome!  It was a chance to experience the Lord in a deeper way.  A chance to see and experience love in action.  To be blessed beyond imagination.  When we put the Lord first and love Him we then become filled, and His love overflows out of us and abundantly to others.