I Wanna Go Back…..Maybe NOT!

I’m revving my engine, mentally and physically, as I type this blog today. A lot has been on my plate for the last few days and even more the next days, weeks and even months. I was on the road again after a beautiful three days in Tulsa. Made it to Austin last night -- safe and sound -- on the road again! Lots to do, places to go and people to love,

I heard the David Dunn song, “I Wanna Go Back” again and this time it really resonated with me. The song describes how as we grow older and lose our childlike faith and belief that we can do or be anything. Instead of being grateful for all the abilities we have to drive a huge vehicle on crazy busy highways and byways, and even maintain our lives on our own, take on responsibility and conquer it, and be grateful we even made it through our childhood ups and downs, we digress to wanting to go back. David Dunn sings “I wanna go back to “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. I wanna go back to “This little light, gonna let it shine.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUvxhGRUR3s

This time when I heard the words of that song, I realized how much Jesus does loves me and I truly know it. I’m not just singing words. I’m singing from my very being. He loves ME! He sees me as a beloved daughter and though often I feel like a messed-up kid, He still loves me -- this I know!

Here’s the funny thing. As a kid, I thought God was out to get me when I slipped – maybe a little peek at a friend’s paper to get the answer to a question, or the little fib I told my mom. I feared Him and His big stick. Today, I recognize my mistakes quickly, and do my best to make amends. I feel His arms around me, pulling me into Him and His gentle words: “I forgive you. Do better next time!”

And, about that wanting to go back to “This little light, gonna let it shine” – I’m doing that too. I’m not that little kid any more who thinks God is punishing me for something I did wrong. Once upon a time, I really did think that. I didn’t really understand grace until I grew up and rationalized that the free-flowing grace of my Father is what proves Jesus loves me this know! Not just because the Bible tells me so. I know. God has proven His love and grace for me in abundance – far more than I deserve. So I purpose, first thing EVERY SINGLE DAY – to let my little light shine through my blogs and my “can’t keep it to myself” attitude. I know a good thing – er, a good Father – and I must share Him.

Now, I sing “Jesus loves me this I know” with absolute certainty of that love. I notice that He keeps a watchful eye on me and delivers me safe from harm. I recognize the car that almost ran into me, the misstep that I took and didn’t fall down, the sweet embrace of a friend and I know it’s Him loving me through them. We’re big kids and by now we should be fully aware of God’s love. If we really understood His love, we’d understand He’s smiling at us with a gleam in His eyes -- the same way I watch my kids and grandkids.

If I see my own with the joy of a mother’s heart, I know He sees me with a joy that surpasses my understanding. I know because the same God who created them, created me. He created you. I want to smile back at God with the confidence of a daughter. A daughter who knows “Jesus loves me. This I know, with absolute certainty!” How about you?

Jesus Loves Me – This I Know!

Life happens. You hit and fractured your toes when you ran into the end of the door and have to go to the ER. You were attacked by woman-sucking mosquitoes and now you must carry an anti-itch “After Bite” oil for relief. You have to call an Exterminator to get rid of the pests. A pre-cancerous area on your leg has to be removed by the dermatologist. Your garage door didn’t close because it came off the chain. You thought it closed behind you, but didn't. Your neighbor tried to close it for you and your home alarm goes off and you don’t get the call from the alarm service so the police are summoned. You lose your key fob and have to replace it. You forget the tickets you printed out to a very important event. A crazy looking bump shows up on your foot and a big red blotch shows up on your leg. Your washing machine is making squealing noises. All of that happened within a week.to ME!

But…..Jesus loves me – this I KNOW! God is always there to tap me on the shoulder and give me His gentle reminder, deep within my soul, in spite of my "issues". "Jesus Loves Me” -- that simple little song that I learned many years ago in Sunday School is so very simple, yet so powerfully profound. That one statement grounds me in the truth of who God says I am and the best news is it’s not based on how well I perform or what I look like or what concerns me. The Awesome Creator of heaven and earth AND me, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Great “I Am” loves ME!

No question -- we really won’t feel accepted all the time. “Likes and Loves” on our Facebook or Instagram page will never truly make us feel secure. Life is full of surprises -- good and not so good. Life happens and "issues" occur. Having lots of friends and family around us doesn’t mean that we won’t sometimes feel lonely. And chocolate ice cream, as much as I love it, doesn’t satisfy the longings of my soul. There is no person, no diploma or award, or pats on the back that can fix us from the outside when we need to be rewired with fully knowing and embracing….Jesus loves me this I know. Only God can do that.

When my world gets topsy turvy and it seems I’m in the spin cycle of my dryer (which is over 25 years old and I pray it keeps spinning a while longer), I turn to the ONE sure constant that is never questionable. He is my Everlasting, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel — God with us. I draw close to Him so He can separate His solid truth from the shifting emotions and concerns that face me daily.

When life happens, I can choose to let it overwhelm me and perplex me, or I can recall that sweet song once again – “Jesus loves me, this I know”. We are so dearly loved by God. His love causes us to release our woes and cares to Him, and in turn display compassion, kindness and patience even when we don’t feel like it, to someone else. Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”. When we do that, then the Jesus in us will cause others to start to sing “Jesus loves me this I know.”

Jesus really does love us. The Bible tells us so. Little (and big) ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.

“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3

Jesus Loves Me This I Know....or Don't Know?

I never knew abuse by an angry father. But I do know the pain to have a very sick daddy. He became like a sibling to me because of brain tumor surgery that caused severe damage, as well as caused dibilitating seizures and convulsions that this little girl witnessed many times. At 8 years old, I was afraid to go home from school -- just in case he would be having another one. I have no memories of being held in my daddy's arms, being cuddled and hearing him tell me he loved me. My daddy went to heaven when I was 15.

Early on in my marriage, we hit some rough patches -- relationally, financially, etc. I remember hurting so much one day that I longed to have a daddy like I had seen my friends have -- to just run to -- so he could tell me "everything's gonna' be alright!" It was only a few moments later, that I saw, in technicolor, the clearest vision of me running into the open arms of Father God and Him lifitng me into His lap. He pressed my head into His chest, and I heard Him say, "Everything's gonna' be alright!". The peace of God, His comfort and assurance for my tomorrows swept over me like a blanket, and I sincerely knew "everything was going to be alright". And, it was.

Many of us have sung the little children's song, "Jesus loves me this I know", but many sing "Jesus loves me, and I DON"T KNOW". And, more than anything, today, I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW. I want you to experience this peace, joy and comfort because I know Him, and through life's ups and downs, He has sustained me through them all.

I know that I don't pass Facebook's recommendations for short, quick messages -- I really do know that mine are mini-blogs. They are on-purpose -- I know God gave FB to me as my mission and platform 4 years ago when my sweet husband went to heaven. I purpose to keep my posts sweet, motivational and encouraging. But, today, I don't want to mince any words. I clearly want you to hear -- straight from my heart and heaven -- that JESUS DOES LOVE YOU, and I want you to know -- without a shadow of a doubt of how wide, deep, everlasting and profound His love is. There is nothing that you have ever done that keeps Him from loving you.

I sincerely ask you, and urge you, to go to Him in prayer and ask Him to be your Daddy, your Lord and Savior. Surely you, too, will know the Dad that, perhaps, you never had, and the One who you can run to with His arms open wide.....not just today, but everyday! And, your song, too, will be "Jesus loves me THIS I KNOW!"