As I’m sure you’ve all seen I haven’t been online much lately. I could blame it on the busyness of life. But the truth of the matter is life has slowed down. So that really isn’t an excuse.
The real truth is I haven’t felt like it.
There’s been an unsettled feeling in my heart lately.
I’ve struggled with not being a good enough blogger. I’ve struggled with watching others and what they’re doing and their popularity. Then I’ve wondered if maybe I should be doing it differently. So I haven’t written. I haven’t blogged. I haven’t done anything in my little social media world.
Instead I’ve stayed away unsure of what to do or what to write.
Then yesterday, I awoke with this song running through my head….
Third Day
Right now I am reading in 1 John. It is filled with great words of wisdom, particularly about love. Over the last week I keep reading the famous scripture, 1 John 3:1, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
Isn’t that beautiful my friends?
I feel the need to repeat it…
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!
It doesn’t say we are children if we feel like it.
It doesn’t say we are children if we feel God’s love.
It doesn’t say we are children if we have it all together.
It simply says we are children of God and that just by calling us His children, the Father has lavished His love on us. And do you remember what love is?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
God is love. God loved first. God always loves. God loves so much that He gave His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. God keeps no record of wrongs. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. God is love and He always loves us even when we don’t feel it, even when we feel unsettled.
So this morning as I read, still dealing with my unsettled emotions, I read the following verses…
This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:19-20
Our hearts will condemn us. The enemy will lie to us. We will think we are not good enough.
BUT…
We belong to the Truth.
AND…
When we belong to the Truth, we can rest in the presence of God.
We don’t have to do. We don’t have to be. We can simply rest.
We can rest in His love. We can rest in His knowledge of us. He know our heart. He knows us for who we are and yet…He loves us. He is kind. He is patient. His love makes us His children.
His love defines us.
We are not defined by numbers. We are not defined by popularity. We are not defined by what we do. We are defined by the love that is lavished onto us by the Creator of the Universe.
Do you see His love today my friend?
Or is your heart condemning you?
I pray you will know the lavish love of the Father. I pray it will give you the peace to rest in His presence and the strength to trust Him with the desires He has planted in your heart. He has placed them there for a reason and He will bring them to completion.
Take care my sweet friends!
And yes, I will now come out of hiding 
I can so relate my friend that I sometimes look to others and why they are doing well. I just need to look to my Saviour and do what He would have me to do and show His love to others.
Twitter: DkqQsgeDzCgOuCSwoM
says:
Beautiful post! I think Christian writers are often hit with these seasons of doubt–how much would the enemy like to silence all of us forever? I know that I am encouraged by your words, and you have many who follow your blog and need to hear from God through you. You're his scribe, a tool he uses to speak, and as you said so eloquently, his child whom he loves dearly. Sometimes we all need those seasons "in hiding", but I'm glad you're coming back out to play!
(Now if we could just manage to schedule that playdate in real life! LOL) Love you!
Twitter: DkqQsgeDzCgOuCSwoM
says:
I've had a similar but opposite reaction myself. I struggle more with being critical of what people are doing to shove themselves into the limelight. It just feels so insincere to me. It has really turned me off to some and I have to daily remind myself that I have my own life to focus on.
I'm glad to see you back and quite honestly, I'm so glad you aren't trying to be the most popular blogger on the blog. Your heart comes across as incredibly genuine. I love that. <3
Thank you for this post. I have been really desiring the praise and affirmation of others lately, needing that good 'ole pat on the back for the job well done. I am striving to make my one focus and the source of my affirmation be in Christ. And dear one, I love your blog. You don't have to try and be like others. And I know you know that. Let's keep our eyes fixed on Him! Blessings!
LOVE third day!…and thank you for keepin' it real…real is best. god is real. he is love. we all have doubts and times of feeling we aren't good enough. and it IS a lie. we need to keep our focus on jesus…
thank you again for your post today, it encouraged me…and THAT is why god wants YOU to blog…it's all about how we can put god out there and help others, which in turn builds us up in the truth…
Twitter: DkqQsgeDzCgOuCSwoM
says:
YOU'RE BACK!!
YAY!
I am in the Praise Band (maybe you knew this) and we are singing this on Sunday–I love your reflections on the song–
I think of Jesus, when He even went to the other side of the lake to get away from people.
I am sure He had doubts about if it's all worth it, too.
We all need to step back and re-adjust our focus.
I am having to do this, too.
Thank you for reminding us to be real.
Let's not worry about what others think about us, only what our Father thinks of us!
But even still, I think you are beautiful, and I truly miss you when you are gone–you were my inspiration to start blogging.
I love you very much.
Please no go away!
Twitter: DkqQsgeDzCgOuCSwoM
says:
Girl, you're the bloggin' bomb to me! I want to be like you… seriously! Rachel and I at A Steady Rain pray for each other in this regard (keeping our focus on God and off the numbers/popularity)… I'll start praying for you when I pray for her! ♥ Michelle
Btw, I REALLY missed you!
Twitter: DkqQsgeDzCgOuCSwoM
says:
Defined by the love of God. What a beautiful, great, awesome reality!
http://tradinawaller.com
Thank you for sharing this. I really needed to read it. So glad that I am defined by HIS Love. It is hard not to compare…
So glad that He just is and that He just loves me for me.
Hugs,
Mimi
LOVE this … and I can totally relate. I have all those same feelings with great frequency and remind myself that I am not in competition … in the race I am running my goal is HIM and HIM alone.
What a wonderful word. If you sneak a peek I've been um…a bit absent from both my blogs too. For the same reason. Yet my feeling 'not good enough' turned to bitterness and I've had to pray through it. So I thank you for sharing….and the Word is so wonderful
What a beautiful post. That is the kind of writing/blogging that makes me think I should give it up! Instead I'm going to let myself be inspired by your words and keep chugging along with my blogging. So glad you came back and shared that!
Twitter: faithfamilyfibr
says:
Hi sweet friend. I have been in hiding too. Just feeling blah. You, as always, speak for me in this post. Thank you. I would have never imagined you felt like this because to me you are an awesome blogger who speaks from you heart. I love you girl. Praying for you.
I have had similar feelings Alicia, we also have rewards at work and I always do my best and be the best I can be and besides a good evaluation I have yet to get public recognition but God revealed to me that He Sees!!! and I work unto Him always.
Welcome back
I love what you wrote:
It doesn’t say we are children if we feel like it. It doesn’t say we are children if we feel God’s love.It doesn’t say we are children if we have it all together.
I can very much relate to your words. I never feel like I'm good enough and keeping up a blog is hard work. But I do think it is worth it.
Many blessings to you,
Lyn
As always, I love how you keep it real, my friend. What raw truth!
{{{hugs}}}
Sometimes I find myself getting caught up in the statistics, the number of comments, etc…..and it is then that I have to ask myself this question. Am I blogging and proclaiming the Good News for me, my own reward, my own glory…..or am I doing it for all to glorify God Himself?
third day is so great!! they're great in concert too. :0)
the post is great as well. it's funny how we can get caught up in 'popularity' or whatnot isn't it? i remember i didn't start blogging to become a super star, i did it because i like to ramble. it took months before i even got ONE comment. lol.
Twitter: DkqQsgeDzCgOuCSwoM
says:
Third Day is one of my favorite groups!! I had the opportunity to see them last year and they ROCKED!!! As for showing love, the hardest time is when my oldest son, who is 22, decides to make choices that could not cost him but my hubby and I huge repercussions! My youngest son asked me today why I still love my oldest son? He said, 'Mom, if I had a son like that, I would throw him out and never talk to him again.' I did not respond because his comment slapped me right in the face, making me realize love is not when things are going right but also when things don' go our way or the way we feel they should go. I have some resentment towards my brother as he rarely calls or visits my parents. My son's comments also made me realize that being a mom means loving unconditionally, no matter what. So did I love today? I am doing my best in Christ, for Christ and surrounded by Christ. Hope you have a great weekend!
Twitter: Stop4chocolate
says:
Lovely post my friend!! Sorry I haven't been around to comment lately. I've been struggling with blogging myself and may take most of the Summer off. Just wanted you to know that I always enjoy your posts and you are inspiring! Hugs to you my friend!!