Tag: God

Praise Yahweh All Mankind and All Creation!!

Psalm 134, 146-150

Psalms 146:1-5 (NLT) Praise the LORD!
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
and all their plans die with them.
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.

Who should we put our confidence in?

Psalms 147:3-6(NLT) He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The LORD supports the humble,
but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

Is trust in God the essence of “faith”?

Psalms 147:11(NLT) No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

In this verse we see the word “hesed” God’s unfailing love that we looked at yesterday.

Psalms 148:1-2(NLT) Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
2 Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

Psalms 149:4(NLT) For the LORD delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalms 150 Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!
5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

From the “Worship Arts Conservatory”  https://worshiparts.net/

halal means to “shine (or flash brightly), boast, to praise, to act like a fool or madman”. Halal is used 165 times in the Old Testament and is usually translated as “praise.” The word halal is part of the larger word “Hallelujah” which is the combination of the word Halal (praise) and Yah (Yahweh).  Together they mean “praise Yahweh” or “praise the LORD”.

  • God is worthy of our praise.  The Bible calls us to praise over and over again – over 100 times with this word alone.
  • God is worthy of exuberant praise.  Halal means “to shine or flash.”  The word Halal does not paint a picture of a quiet and dignified reading of a psalm.  The word paints a picture of a bright flashing praise that draws everyone’s attention.  We should praise God in such a way as to draw attention, like a light flashing in the darkness.
  • God is worthy of our boasting.  Halal means “to boast.”  Our God is so great that we cannot help but boast in who He is.  Like a child boasting about how strong his father is, we should be so enthralled by the greatness of our father that we cannot help but boast about Him to those we meet.  (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
  • God is worthy of our foolishness.  Halal means “to act like fool.”  One of the greatest mistakes I make when praising God is to worry about what others may think.  Isn’t it interesting that the same word that is translated “praise” is also translated “fool” in other passages?

From the “Light of the World” website https://kaylened.wordpress.com/ we can see an explanation of how words are formed by letters which are pictures in the ancient languages.

The Hebrew letter הָ Hey/Hay originally looked like a person with Raised Arms

Representing to Behold, Look, Watch, Reveal, Show, as through a Window, What Comes From, Breath/Sigh of Awe

לַ Lamad looked like a Shepherd’s Staff . Representing Authority; to Shepard, Protect, Goad, Guide, Yoke, Bind, Learn, Teach

When a meaning is doubled in Hebrew it is called an Emphatic Duplication. The second ל Lamad in הָלַ–ל Hal-lal intensifies its Picture as the Ultimate Staff of staffs, Authority of authorities, or Tongue of tongues.

הָלַל Halal shows us what it means to Praise:

 Hey הָ = Arms Raised, to Behold, Reveal, Look, Window, Breath, The…

 Lamed לַ = Staff, Authority, Control, Rule, Prod, to Direct Toward, Tongue…

 Lamed לַ = Staff, Authority, Control, Rule, Prod, to Direct Toward, Tongue…

 Behold –

 the Authority – 

 of Authorities

Isn’t it very exciting how our Praise is to show God’s Light and Authority in what we do.

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. How can we change our worship or worship services to have more “praise” in them?
  2. What will you praise God for today? How might you do it with more “shine or flash”?
  3. Where, when, how, why might God want to see us “acting like a fool” as we boast about Him? What are you willing to try?
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A People for God

1 Kings 8 & 2 Chronicles 5

God’s covenant with His people is a continued theme throughout the Bible. It is confirmed with some of the greatest Old Testament leaders, such as Abraham, Moses, and David. Generations have been taught about God and all He has done for them. Though they have some faults, they have remained faithful to God as His people. The completion of the temple by Solomon further signifies a desire to worship God and be His people. After years of planning and construction the temple is finally used for its intended purpose and the glory of God fills the temple. In dedication, Solomon offers a prayer and addresses the people of Israel regarding the relationship between God and the people.

His prayer is a powerful plea for the LORD to remember His people and be their God. He begins by praising God and thanking Him for keeping His promises. Solomon prays that God will remain with them and hear their prayers. More importantly, he urges God to forgive them when they mess up. Solomon was wise enough to know that even if they tried their best they would sin and require God’s forgiveness. This applies to a variety of situations Solomon covers in his prayer, such as drought, famine, plague, war, and captivity. He argues that they have been God’s people for years and that He should continue to remember them for God’s glory. 

Then Solomon turns to the Israelites with him and requests that they keep their side of the covenant. Speaking to the people, Solomon says, “may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands” (1 Kings 8:61). God has fulfilled his agreement of the covenant in the past, so it is up to the Israelites to follow the covenant they agreed to. They must remain faithful to God to enjoy the benefits of being God’s people and having a hope for the future. There are many false gods that can be worshiped, but Solomon’s desire is that the LORD who brought their ancestors out of Egypt remains their God. 

That is easy to agree to in good times, but history has proven that is not always the case. There are numerous examples of the Israelites turning away from God for a period of time. Although Solomon’s reign was successful for the Israelites, they would not enjoy the same prosperity and unity for long. Solomon prayed that God be with them in all situations and advised the people to remain faithful to God. No matter what happens, wisdom suggests making a conscious decision to develop a relationship with God and be a people for Him.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you find in Solomon’s Dedication Prayer that would be wise to add into our prayers today?
  2. When did you last make a conscious decision to develop a relationship with God and be a person for Him? How is it going?
  3. Solomon was wise to know we would and will all need forgiveness. When have you veered off the fully committed and living by his decrees path? Have you experienced His forgiveness? What did that look like?
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Sayings of the Wise

Proverbs 22-24

There have been countless attempts to condense all the complexities of life into a few simple and concise rules to follow. If the steps are practiced effectively then success will be rewarded. Variations of these lists are reiterated over time through experience of generations adapting to changing societies. Each one tries to improve upon the previous list, but there are often more similarities than differences. While there are some noticeable differences between many of these lists and Proverbs 22-24, as a whole these chapters are simply a list of sayings meant to be followed for success. It certainly wasn’t the first list nor last, but it accomplishes the same goal, with the added benefit of being God’s trusted word. 

These thirty sayings are introduced in chapter 22, and it is encouraged for all to hear and pay attention to. “Counsel and knowledge” are provided with a reward of increasing trust in God along with honesty and speaking the truth (NIV, Proverbs 22:17-21). They don’t necessarily promise to bring worldly success, though many do, but instead offer the opportunity to further develop a relationship with God. These sayings align with seeking wisdom. Following them will result in the growth of truthful actions, trust, and an increased ability to love God and others. 

Each of the sayings provide guidance on some aspect of life, though there is overlap. Some of the sayings teach how to interact with others and develop meaningful relationships. For example, avoid exploitation, consider the perspective of others, and don’t be associated with people who will only cause trouble and be a bad influence. Other sayings claim that righteous character and behavior will be rewarded socially, and even if there is no benefit in today’s society God will reward those in the future. Similarly, the opposite is warned against. Another common theme is to not get caught up in chasing money or other common indicators of success, as they aren’t as meaningful as they may initially seem. Lastly, these sayings teach the value in learning and the willingness to be taught.

Study the sayings of the wise and learn from them. These thirty sayings are included in the book most known for wisdom, so if wisdom is loved these sayings should be considered in daily life. The increase in wisdom associated with applying these chapters will encourage genuine care and love for others through truthful words and actions. Further, trust in God is strengthened by wisdom in knowing how God defines success. Although it is still just a condensed list, follow these sayings and success will naturally be rewarded.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. How is the wisdom found in Proverbs 22-24 similar to wisdom literature from other times and cultures? How is it different from what “the world” today says is wise and profitable for success?
  2. In your relationships with others which of these sayings of the wise would you benefit from focusing on this week?
  3. How can you work towards the ultimate success of having a better, growing relationship with God?
  4. Which verses would be great on your refrigerator, desk, bathroom mirror or bedside table for the next month? Post them.
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Love is the Greatest Motivator

Proverbs 19-21

Every chosen action is a result of a complex combination of a variety of motivations, but each one can be traced back to a source of love. Some form of love is at the base of every decision, as people prioritize what they love most. The recipient of love could be God, oneself, another person, a physical object, or even intangible concepts such as happiness or power. Loving God is a common commandment and suggested motivator throughout the Bible, but not every other object or concept is as desirable to love from a biblical perspective. Wisdom is needed to differentiate between what should be loved, and what shouldn’t be, which will ultimately have a great impact on what decisions are made and what actions are taken. 

Proverbs is known for describing wisdom and contains numerous examples of valid sources of love and others that should be avoided. Wisdom itself is a great concept to love according to the Bible, as Proverbs 4:7 commands to “Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (NIV). Wisdom is so valuable that it is worth sacrificing all else. In other words, the love for wisdom should be greater than the love of money, material resources, fame, power, or anything else. All those concepts and objects are discouraged as primary sources of love throughout Proverbs. 

While there are many things not worthy of love, Proverbs and the rest of the Bible offer several suggestions to give one’s love to. Most notably, aside from God, are other people. The command to love others is present throughout the Bible, but it is even more meaningful and impactful than simply being nice to one another. Not only is some form of love at the root of all motivation, but the recipient of that love is commonly love itself. People love to be loved. God designed people to need to be loved, and Proverbs 19:22 claims that “what a person desires is unfailing love”. Many people are willing to sacrifice a lot to be loved. It is the greatest motivator and is often the force causing many actions and behaviors. While it is still beneficial to simply be kind to a neighbor or provide for the physical needs of others, genuinely loving others requires providing what is needed most—love. Building a strong and unselfish relationship on unfailing love increases the impact one can have in the lives of others. It makes it easier to spread God’s word and His Kingdom. 

As with all things, it might require some sacrifices to love others effectively. However, that isn’t a problem if love for others is greater than the love of whatever is put aside. Sacrifices will always be made for what is loved the most. Therefore, carefully prioritize what is loved. Love God and love others to use the natural motivation to encourage godly choices, behaviors, and actions to have the greatest impact in the world.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. “Some form of love is at the base of every decision, as people prioritize what they love most.” – What do your decisions show that you love most?
  2. What do you WANT to love most? What is getting more of your love now than it deserves?
  3. What sacrifices have you already made for what you love most? What additional sacrifices might be ahead? What sacrifices have others made for you?
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Whatever You Do

Proverbs 16-18

In the book of Proverbs, we find a treasure trove of wisdom that has the power to transform our lives. Chapter 16 is no exception, offering profound insights that speak directly to our hearts and the way we navigate this world. Today, let us take a closer look at verse 3, which encourages us to commit our work to the Lord, knowing that He is the one who establishes our plans.

In a society driven by achievement and self-reliance, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that success is solely dependent on our own abilities and strategies. We may spend countless hours meticulously crafting our plans and pursuing our goals, forgetting that we are called to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and seek His guidance in all that we do. However, Proverbs reminds us that true success comes from surrendering our efforts to the Lord.

Committing our work to the Lord involves recognizing that He is the ultimate authority and the source of all wisdom and understanding. It requires us to approach our tasks, aspirations, and dreams with an attitude of humility, acknowledging that apart from Him, we can do nothing of lasting significance. We are called to submit our plans to His will, seeking His guidance and trusting that He will align our desires with His purposes.

By entrusting our work to God, we are liberated from the burden of self-reliance and the anxiety that often accompanies it. We can rest in the assurance that the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and love, will establish our plans. This does not mean that we will be exempt from challenges or difficulties along the way, but it does mean that God will faithfully guide us, direct our steps, and use our efforts for His glory.

When we commit our work to the Lord, we invite Him to be an active participant in every aspect of our lives. We open ourselves up to His guidance and leading, allowing Him to shape our plans according to His perfect will. Our work becomes an opportunity to partner with God, to be instruments through which His purposes are fulfilled in this world.

As we reflect on Proverbs chapter 16, may we be encouraged to surrender our ambitions, our dreams, and our work to the Lord. Let us seek His wisdom, trust in His guidance, and find peace in knowing that He is the one who establishes our plans. By entrusting ourselves to Him, we embark on a journey of purpose and fulfillment, where our lives become a testament to His grace and faithfulness.

-Austin Kizer

(originally posted for Seek GrowLove on May 16, 2023)

Reflection Questions

  1. In what areas of your life would it be wise to surrender your plans to the Lord? What does that look like? What thoughts and feelings does it create? Pray for help in doing so.
  2. What does true success look like? Is it possible apart from God and His plans?
  3. What will God reveal to you about Himself in your Bible reading today?
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The Real Right Thing

Proverbs 13-15

Have you ever found it easier to see the right thing for someone else to do than for yourself?  There is a reason for that.  We often times can tell someone what to do but can’t seem to do it for ourselves.

For example:

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous

In this proverb we see that lying only brings destruction.  We ourselves hate being lied to.  We hate seeing people live a lie. We know how much damage it can do.  We know this but I bet if I asked if you have ever lied or lived a lie you would probably say yes.  I bet if I asked you if you knew how to correct that in someone else’s life you would have an answer almost immediately.  It is so easy to see the foolishness in someone else.  It’s easy to know what to do to correct their wrong behavior.  But I bet it is harder to correct in yourself.  Why can we see the answer to foolishness in others easily but have such a difficult time correcting it in our own lives? 

   The answer is we have no emotional ties to their sin.  We won’t have to deal with the consequences of trying to correct our behavior.  I can tell you how to correct your behavior all day long because I don’t have to do it.  I don’t have to deal with the mess.  But if I have to correct a sin I know what that will take, and often times I don’t want to deal with the pain and hurt that comes with going back and fixing issues like lying bring about.

Read Proverbs 14 and see if you can see any foolishness in your life that you need to correct.  Are their verses in this chapter that really resonate with you?  Can you see the foolishness in those verses?  Can you recognize the wisdom it takes to realize that some of these verses apply to you.  Are you willing to recognize the wise thing to do and apply it to your life?  Your foolish ways become harder and harder to stop the longer you wait. 

The very first verse illustrates this perfectly:

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

Are you tearing your life apart by not recognizing wisdom?

I’m praying for you.

Andy Cisneros

(originally posted here on August 15, 2017)

Reflection Questions

See Andy’s suggestions and questions in the last full paragraph.

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    Love Covers

    Proverbs 10-12

    I was looking through the Proverbs in today’s reading, trying to decide what to focus on. There are just so many good ones! Proverbs is one of my favorite books, and as I meditate on different verses that hold meaning to me, I like to add artwork to them. When I look through my Bible, I’ve noticed that the ones I have marked up the most seem to have a common theme: they all have to do with how we treat others. 

    I wish that was more of a focus in the world. The internet is full of comment sections heaped with insults and negativity. I’m forever grateful that my kids are homeschooled with a smaller group of Christians because my heart breaks at the stories of bullying. Videos abound of people being cruel to others in stores, on sidewalks, in restaurants, even at home with their families. Even in our churches, people can be unkind. 

    The book of wisdom has a lot to say on how we treat those around us. Being kind, honest, and dependable is not only godly, but wise and leads to many benefits. 

    Verse 11:10 tells us how others feel about those who are righteous and those who are wicked. Proverbs 11:13 warns against gossip, 17 teaches us that kindness to others benefits us, 22 talks about how we should be modest around others, and verses 24-26 give us the benefits of being generous. Chapter 12 speaks on how our own poor words to others can destroy us in verse 6. Verse 10 is actually about how we treat animals. Verse 16 talks about overlooking insults and not becoming immediately annoyed with others, and 25 tells us one of the benefits of using kind words. 

    But I think my favorite verse about how we should interact with others is 10:12. “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” There are many types of people in this world, and we are bound to clash. I only have three children in my house, and they definitely don’t always get along. They don’t hate one another at all, but they sure do have some conflict. However, they also love each other. So, unless they are having a particularly bad, rotten kind of day, they aren’t purposely going out of their way to create issues. 

    I don’t think many of us reading this are likely to have a lot of hatred in our hearts. I’d like to think that most people don’t. So I feel like the most important part of this verse is actually the second half. I also think it’s the most difficult. Love covers over all wrongs. Have you ever tried to love someone who has really wronged you? It’s not easy. But how much better would the world be if we covered up the wrongs done to us with love and forgiveness? 

    Society would say that this type of reaction would make you a doormat or a pushover. This is a lie. Nothing takes more strength than loving those who harm you. That kind of strength comes from God. He allowed his only son to die for a lot of people who held no love for him or others. His love is that deep. Christ was willing to die for those who hated him. His love was that deep. 

    As you read through the Proverbs, seeking out wisdom, I hope you see the wisdom in this: actively loving those who wrong you will make your life, and the world itself, better. My prayer for you is that you will practice treating others with patience and kindness, and that those you interact with will do the same. I pray that you see the wisdom in covering wrong with love. 

    -Jenn Haynes

    Reflection Questions: 

    What verses speak to you today in these passages? Where is God trying to place wisdom into your life so that your path is easier? 

    Think about some of your interactions with others lately. What were the best ones? How can you go and bless others the way that you were blessed? What were the worst ones? Was your reaction one of love? How can you forgive the offences and react with love? 

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    Heart Protection

    Proverbs 4-6

    My husband and I went to an amusement park last week with our three kids. Though I suffer from motion sickness in a major way and I’m terrified of heights, I still love roller coasters. Going on them with my kids has been a fun, new blessing, and I love that they are all big enough to ride them with us now. But I’ve also noticed that they are slightly less enjoyable in another way. I now do something on coasters that I’ve never done before.

    I pray. Like constantly. Through the whole thing. The second we start going upside down all I can think is, “God, my entire family is on this contraption, please hold us safely in your hands!” I spend the entire ride begging for God’s protection. It eventually just turns into a long stream of silent pleas of, “Oh God, oh God, oh God pleeeeeeeease keep us safe!” All I can focus on is my family’s safety.

    I know that the older I’ve gotten, the greater my anxiety has grown. This especially holds true with my kids. They are all running around in this world like nothing can harm them and all I can think is that literally EVERYTHING can harm them. And I want so badly to protect them. We’ve invested a great deal into several devices all designed to help us care for our kids’ medical needs. We have an alarm on our house to alert us to danger at night. Smoke alarms in appropriate rooms, and carbon monoxide detectors as well. Our family is precious to us and we want to guard it with all we have. 

    But we also want to guard our hearts in the same way. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” EVERYTHING we do flows from our hearts. Just as we all do certain things to keep our bodies safe, we should be protecting our hearts as well. Over and over in Proverbs, the importance of wisdom is repeated. If our hearts are filled with wisdom, love, truth, and righteousness, then these are what will come forth in our actions. Hearts full of wisdom will not only keep us on good, straight paths, but will also be a light for others to see as well. 

    -Jenn Haynes

    Reflection Questions: 

    What is attacking your heart right now? What is badly influencing you? How is this showing in your actions and your words? How can you better guard your heart from those things? 

    If you are a parent, how can you help your children protect their own hearts? 

    Is everything you are doing showing others a path toward God? 

    My prayer for you today is that you continue to find wisdom and instruction in these proverbs and use them in ways that will protect your precious heart. Fill it with all that is good and holy!

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    The Root of Learning

    Proverbs 1-3

    I’m a homeschooling mom. I never meant to be one, it just kind of happened. It happened in such a weird way, actually, that I know it was God speaking into our lives. That being said, we follow what is known as a classical model of learning. I won’t go into details about it, but when you dive into homeschooling, or if you’re an educator, you have probably become familiar with pedagogy – the study of learning. Or, as most people think of it, the study of how to instruct. We’ve developed many different ways of learning over the years, trying to help people in various situations learn in different ways that speak to them more clearly. We require different methods because we are different people with a beautiful variety of brains. 

    But the root of learning is not teaching. It’s not the brain, nor the instructor. It is knowledge and wisdom itself. And behind all knowledge and wisdom is God. 

    God did an interesting thing when he created us and the world we live in. He placed a tree of the knowledge of good and evil and then told us not to eat from it. What a crazy thing, right? Why place the tree there at all? But to be completely free, he had to give us freedom of choice. And that means we have to have options to choose from. Humanity chose poorly. We continue to choose poorly. 

    How do we choose wisely? Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The fear of the LORD means showing God the respect and awe that he’s due so that we long to obey him in all things. When we obey the instructions of the loving Father who wants only the best for us, then we are led to knowledge and wisdom. 

    As you start through the book of Proverbs, take note of how this wonderful book is not only trying to grant you wisdom and knowledge, but also moral guidance. Let these Proverbs speak to you in a way that helps you see how much God loves you and wants to guide you and protect you. I hope you start to see the benefits of wisdom, as they are beautifully outlined in chapter 2, show up in big ways in your life. 

    -Jenn Haynes

    Reflection Questions:

    What are some of the ways that God’s guidance has kept you from trouble? In what moments of your life do you feel you would have avoided trouble if you HAD followed God’s instruction more closely?

    Proverbs 2:10 says, “For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” What wisdom have you gleaned from scripture that has given you that sense of pleasantness in your soul? 

    My prayer for you today is that you will experience the truth in Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

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    Set Me as a Seal

    Song of Solomon 5-8

    While I was in college at Ohio Northern, I was a member of their touring choir. We sang many beautiful pieces, most of them filled with Christian content and stories. Our director chose them for their beauty or technical difficulty, as he was not a man of faith. But I loved the content. One piece from my years there stands out to me to this day because our director told us the story of its composition, and it has never left me.

    René Clausen, an accomplished American composer and director, wrote Set Me As a Seal after the tragic death of his unborn child. After three miscarriages, he and his wife were six and a half months into pregnancy. Because his wife was 39, and their three previous children died before birth because of birth defects, the doctor wanted an amniocentesis done. Due to misplacement of the needle, the baby was killed instantly during the process. The Clausens still had to deliver their baby, who had no birth defects and was perfectly sound, in a delivery room to the sound of crying babies being born around them. 

    I cannot imagine the agony. The senselessness of the loss is overwhelming to me. It was to Dr. Clausen and his wife as well. After the stillbirth of their fourth child, Clausen went home and composed Set Me As a Seal in 20 minutes. 

    I remember singing this song with our choir, time and again as we went on tour. It was beautiful in its simplicity of words, and complexity of notes and harmonies. It sounded like a plea from a grieving heart. The lyrics were short but profound, and straight from Song of Solomon chapter 8, verses 6 and 7. 

    “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is strong as death.

    Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.”

    While grieving the loss of another child, Clausen turned to scripture and faith and found his inspiration in a book of love songs written for a husband and wife. But these love songs aren’t just for husband and wife. They are to mirror the love that God has for each of us, and the love we should have for him. These lines represent complete ownership and belonging. They represent a love that is to last forever, that cannot be removed or washed away. 

    God wants us to belong to him in such a way. He wants us to seek him first and always. And his love for us is also without end. How beautiful it is to know that a love this deep exists. When we are in our darkest hour, or in our greatest moment of joy, his love is the same. He is unwavering. 

    As you read through the last half of these songs today, I hope you see the beauty of God’s love for you and the relationship he longs to have with you, and also the relationship Christ has with the church. You are beautiful to him, and worthy of love. You are so worthy, in fact, that Christ died for you. 

    – Jenn Haynes

    PS: If you would like to hear a lovely recording of Set Me As a Seal, this choir performs it beautifully: 

    UNT A Cappella Choir: René Clausen – Set Me As a Seal Upon Your Heart (1989) 

    I hope it helps you to reflect on his profound love for you

    -Jenn Haynes

    Reflection Questions: 

    Do you see yourself as beautiful and worthy of the love God has for you? 

    How do you think God sees you? 

    Take a quiet moment to reflect on the fact that God’s love for you is so deep and passionate that he desires your love above all else. The God of the universe wants a relationship with you that is deeper than any other relationship you’ve ever had. He sees you as valuable and lovely. Hold that close to you. 

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