He loves me. He loves me not.

Remember taking a flower and “playing the game “He loves me; He loves me not”, while picking one petal off a flower (usually a daisy or a rose) for each phrase? The phrase we said at the last petal represented the truth between whether that cute boy loved us or not. I don’t know if you guys played that game like we girls did, but I just know we were motivated by our longing that they would like us and that little flower game gave us hope.

In my case, when that cute black haired, brown eyed boy paid me some attention, I started saying “He loves me; He loves me lots!” LOL!

Last week I heard Amy Groeschel speak about how to really know God’s love – a much bigger deal than that cute boy we were attracted to. The fact is God is crazy in love with us. Proof-positive is found in John 3:16 “For GOD SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (that’s YOU and ME) believes in Him, would never perish but have eternal life.” And to emphasize His love even more, in Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever!” Wow – how’s that for a FOREVER love?

Back to that flower game. How often do we play it with God’s love – when we doubt Him and we question His plans for us. It’s like this:
I get a flat tire – He loves me not.
I get a job promotion – He loves me.
I sprain my ankle – He loves me not.
I get a check in the mail I wasn’t expecting – He loves me.
I drop my cell phone and the screen cracks -- He loves me not.
I am given a new cell phone – He loves me.

Bottom line, no matter how our day goes – no matter the ups and downs – the sweet surprises or the disappointments -- no matter whether we feel sad or glad – God’s love is unconditional (unlike those cute boys who were here today and gone tomorrow). God is with us. God is for us. He has plans for us beyond our greatest imaginations. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Let’s throw away those flowers and emphatically believe and know how deep, how wide and long is the love of Christ” Ephesians 3:18. HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME!