Are you paying attention?

A few weeks ago I was having a shower when God spoke to me and told me that I would not die, but live and proclaim what the Lord had done (Psalm 118:17).

Woah!

Today, as I was going about my day God gave me this message:

God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things he has done (1 Peter 2:9).

Wow! Okay... so here I am!

Friends, I have passed through the valley of the shadow of death. I have doubted God, but even when I didn't sense it, God was loving me. He may not have been expressing his love in words, but he was in actions. He sent me people to love and protect and help me. Now the shadows have lifted and my faith has been restored. I am now going forth proclaiming what the Lord has done.

Friends, God never stops loving us. Sometimes we just aren't paying attention and are expecting him to show his love to us in our way.

Where Does Love Come From?

Throughout history, people have often asked: Why is there so much pain and suffering?  If God is love, if God is all powerful, why does he allow so much pain and suffering?

I have been one of those people, and I have also asked: Why do some people experience a lot of pain and suffering and other people only little?

I couldn't make sense of it all and so, for the most part, I ignored the issue.

When I was coming out of the days of my deepest doubt.  When I no longer denied the existence of God but still questioned the nature of his character, a profound question emerged and burned into my consciousness:

Where does love come from?

Has that question ever occurred to you?  I have never heard anyone ask it before.

The Bible says that "God is love" (1 John 4:8).  Love, therefore, must come from God.  That's one explanation.  That is one supporting point for the existence of a God of love, for love has to come from somewhere.  How else can we explain the source of love?