home meetglynnis books speakingtopics resources contact

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

My father passed away a few years ago, and in all my growing up years, I don't remember him ever saying he loved me.  He was physically present in the home, as he was a high school teacher, and home every evening and summers.  But he wasn't very involved in my life.  In fact, I sang from the time I was in third grade until after high school and he never attended any concert.

But, you know what?  I always knew he loved me. 

Perhaps it was a combination of little things, like the way he counted my freckles, or called me "Denny" when I walked in the room.  He took me to Walgreen's and bought me my first "rock and roll" album:  Tom Jones' "What's New Pussycat" soundtrack.  (Obviously, neither one of us knew what rock and roll was).  He even tried to buy me "go-go boots" once.  Unfortunately I ended up with white ones that only came halfway up my calf, when I really wanted black ones that came to my knees.  But he tried.

There's someone else who I know loves me.  Even though I've never heard His voice say the words, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, God loves me.  How?  It's the little things:

Today a quail sat on top of my fence and cooed.

My roses are blooming, and the fragrance is better than any perfume.

There is a cool breeze.

I'm enjoying the sweet taste of Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes .... (My husband bought me some syrup so I could make my own)

My dogs are lying at my feet.

I could go on and on. Sometimes, especially when I'm feeling overwhelmed, it's in the little enjoyments of life, the things that make me smile, that I experience God's love. Oh, there's lots of other ways I know God loves me, but today, I'm celebrating the little things. And I'm realizing the importance of surrounding myself with sweet touches that speak of God's love.  And then taking the time to enjoy them.

I'm also celebrating my friend Lynn Cowell, whose first book has just been released.  It's called "His Revolutionary Love" and it's a celebration of God's love for women, especially young women who might search for that love in the wrong places.

In celebration of Lynn's  book,  Proverbs 31 Ministries is partnering with Children's HopeChest to place this wonderful new book into the hands of girls who desperately need to know how truly loved they are. For every copy of this life-changing book purchased May 2-4 on Proverbs 31 Ministries or  Amazon, we will purchase a copy for a girl who likely would not be able to obtain one (up to $10,000)!

I hope you experience God's love today.  Instead of looking for it in the big ways, try looking in the little things.  And stop for a moment and just breathe it in.  It's there.  I promise.

How do you know God loves you today?  Take a moment and post a sweet little thing you enjoy, and I'll select someone at random to win a pretty packet of sticky notes.  Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you, or check back on Thursday when I announce the winner.

Grace & Peace,
Glynnis

16 comments:

Leigh F. said...

I know God loves me by listening to the sweet sounds of the birds singing. While I feel like they are praising God, they are saying good morning to me and remind me of God's goodness.
Leigh
fantprestonl@att.net

Ashley said...

One of my favorite reminders that God loves me is watching the day begin: the first light of dawn, the sun coming up over the horizion, and finally shining in all its glory over the whole earth. It reminds me that His promise is new every morning, that all my sins are forgiven, and that I have yet another chance to experience his grace & mercy.

bandgeek127@comcast.net

Jan at The Diamond E said...

Glynnis~
I purchased and just received His Revolutionary Love on DVD from P31 and can't wait to watch it with my 13 year old daughter...I may even have my 11 year old son watch it too!

Lynn Cowell said...

Glynnis,
My story about my dad is the exact same - only he did tell me right before he died.

For many girls, this leaves a hole in their hearts that they try so hard to fill - in all the wrong ways. Guys, be it a boyfriend, guy or husband can never fill our love gap...only Jesus!

Thanks for sharing about "His Revolutionary Love" today! I appreciate you!

Lynn

Andrea Fortenberry said...

I know that God loves me when I read a verse of Scripture that speaks right to my heart.

I love how God knows what truth I need to hear and that He reveals it to me through the power of His Word.

Cindy W. said...

I can see God's love for us daily. I see it at the end of winter & start of spring when my daffodils start sprouting up. They always make me smile. I see it in the change of seasons each winter is like a blank canvas that God paints His wondrous colors on in the spring, brightens them in the summer and they explode in the Autumn... I love the seasons!

But I know God loves me when I hear His still small voice telling me He's there with me whenever I feel overwhelmed or scared.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I know God Loves me because He made me who I am, no one else the same as me, not one with my story - my life here on this beautiful Earth. And with that I am in awe of His amazing ways.
-Colleen G.

Sarah Thomas said...

When he speaks to me via a personalized license plate. When he tells me what to do by way of a radio program. When I think something is up to me and discover that he'd taken care of it all along.

I'm in ministry with abused, abandoned and neglected teenagers (www.blackmountainhome.org) how do I apply to get one of your friend's books for my teenage girls?

sthomas@blackmountainhome.org

Cheri Bunch said...

I went to visit a little two year old friend this morning. He was standing at the screen door and spotted me walking to the door. He immediately raised both hands in the air and began to say my name. He was so excited to see me! He began to talk so fast I could not understand one word. He gave me a big hug right after I entered the house, then he took my face in his hands, look in my eyes with his baby blues and said "kiss?" then planted a big kiss on my cheek. I LOVED that! I felt God in that! That little darling made my day! I am still thanking Him! In fact, I wonder if I could stop by their house tomorrow?

cheribunch@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I know God loves me because he brought a sweet memory to mind of when my now teenage son was a toddler... wearing glasses, twirling his hair and sucking his thumb as a saw a little guy doing all that while waiting patiently in the rotissere chicken line. Warm feelings rushed back of my defenseless toddler who wanted to be comforted my his mom. Thank you God for that glimpse into yesteryear. I sorely needed that reminder. mheard11@frontier.com

Anonymous said...

Yesterday, I went for a long walk in the warm afternoon sunshine with an older friend. It was so nice to have a heart to heart talk, and to glean from her wisdom. I felt that that was God's touch for me that day. I left there with a nice feeling of peace.

Connie ~ Winnipeg

Unknown said...

Thanks for reminding us that every good and perfect gift is from our Father above.
I usually sit on the front porch of our home while enjoying my morning coffee. One morning this week a mocking bird sat on the white vinyl railing and sang so beautifully. Another morning, a hummingbird came right by my chair checking out the fake flowers I have put there for Easter. Almost every morning, a blue bird will stop and sit awhile on the front yard light and I just love it.
But you know what, although I enjoyed these immensly, I guess I just thought it was part of nature.
I needed to be reminded that all are blessings from our awesome Heavenly Father.

Lorene lorebradshaw@gmail.com

Jennifer Renee said...

What a beautiful post. It brought tears to my eyes. Growing up I don't remember my father, or my mother for that matter, ever saying, "I love you" but my parents did come to all my high school plays even though I only had small roles. I'm learning and realizing that men (fathers) have a different way of expressing their love.
I know my father in Heaven loves me because he allows me to hear a bird singing His praises every morning during warm weather months and even on occasion in the winter. I know he loves me because he kept me alive and safe when I've done things that should have ended my life or would have done serious damage.

JenniferReneeRodd@gmail.com

Heather said...

That is a beautiful reminder. I will admit that I've been down and not seeing the love around me. After school, I am taking my 5 year old on a date and I am going to make it a point for both of us to see God's love in our lives!

B. said...

He has redeemed the years the locus have eaten. Even the locus i invited to pull up a chair and sit at my table.

Anonymous said...

How I know He loves me, let me count the ways. Oops, not enough time or space to name them all. Enjoying the peace & quiet in my back yard, listening to birds, seeing my flowers grown, all of nature. Hugs from family, kind note from friend. His forgiveness to begin another day, knowing his grace and meercy.
grammy.25@comcast.net