Psalm 23:6 NIV, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Aren’t you glad that the goodness and mercy of the Lord are following you? If He wasn’t good, and if He wasn’t merciful, no telling where we’d be. It never ceases to amaze me, that God has a new portion of goodness and mercy available to us everyday.
When I think of the flaws I have and the many sins I’ve committed, I’m in awe that He would show me goodness and mercy anyway. His compassion outweighs any failures we have had. He chooses to be good to us and do what is best for us in every circumstance. God’s mercy causes Him to look beyond the surface, and into the depths of our hearts so He can meet our true needs. His goodness and mercy are like a beautiful green tree that will never die.
Photo by: Skitterphoto
May we choose to dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever, surrounded by His goodness and mercy, and fulfilled by His joy and love.
1 John 4:19 NIV, ”We love because he first loved us.”
Truthfully there are many reasons why I love Jesus, but this is one of the main reasons…because He first loved me. His love is not based on anything we’ve said or done. It doesn’t rely on our abilities in any way. He freely gives it, all we need to do is open our hearts to receive it. He proved His love by sacrificing His one and only Son to die for my sins, for your sins, and for the sins of the entire world. Jesus is a gift of love, the greatest gift we could ever receive.
Photo by: Ylanite Koppens
As we grow in Christ, we learn to better understand His love. His love is unique, and it opens our eyes to His perspective. It’s changes how we view life and how we see people. It brings us hope and helps us to stay rooted in truth. The truth of Christ is a precious gem in a world that is saturated with lies.
One of life’s greatest joys is knowing the love of Jesus, and sharing that love with those around us. Every act of love, covered in God’s grace, touches a person’s heart. It doesn’t matter how tiny it may seem. Walking in the love of Christ takes strength and godly character, but by faith, we should keep on loving God and loving people, because He first loved us.
Thanks sister Gail@ Gaillovesgodand big brother Matt@ Jesusluvsallfor thinking of me and tagging me. May God bless you both! ❤️
1. What are your nicknames? What do you prefer to be called?
My family calls me by my middle name, Keesha. But Everyone else calls me Dawn. I’m fine with things as they are.
2. How often do you doodle? What do your doodles look like?
Pretty regularly when I’m at work. It depends on what I’m thinking about at the moment.
3. What do you do if you can’t sleep at night? Do you count sheep? Toss and Turn?
Listen to the Bible app or soft music.
4. Do people consider you as talkative or quiet?
Quiet
5. What makes you cry?
I will sometimes cry if I see others crying and also during emotional movies.
6. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who try to tear others down to build themselves up.
7. How many times a day do you look at yourself in the mirror?
Every time I go in the bathroom.
8. What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?
That a man named Santa Claus could actually deliver gifts to every child in the world overnight.
9. What is one guilty pleasure you enjoy too much to give up?
Candy especially gummy candy.
10. Who performs the most random acts of kindness out of everyone you know?
The Holy Spirit
11. How often do you read the newspaper? Which sections?
I don’t read the newspaper. I look at the news online, mainly the CNN app.
12. Which animal scares you the most?
Snakes are scary, I never want to see one.
13. Are you more likely to avoid conflict or engage it head-on?
Avoid it unless it’s necessary then I’ll engage.
14. What was the most recent compliment you’ve received?
Last week a coworker told me I should do grief counseling because I am a calm person. It was nice to hear because I have actually volunteered at a grief support group for kids and teenagers as a group facilitator in the past and I enjoyed doing so.
15. What question are you tired of hearing?
I can’t think of one.
16. What is the strangest thing you have eaten?
Chitterlings
17. Do you have a whole lot of acquaintances or just a few very close friends?
I have some of both.
18. Do you have a catchphrase?
No I don’t.
19. What’s your all-time favorite town or city? Why?
Where I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. I always have a warm feeling when I’m there.
20. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?
I’m not sure.
21. When was the last time you lied?
I really don’t remember so I think that’s a good thing because it must mean it was a really long time ago.
22. What’s something that amazes you?
The universe.
23. Would you rather be the first person to explore a planet or be the inventor of a drug that cures a deadly disease?
The first to explore a new planet. Hopefully while I’m there I may find a cure for a deadly disease like cancer since they apparently have not found one here on Earth yet.
24. What is your favorite amateur activity?
Blogging
25. What was your first thought when you woke up this morning?
Thank you Father for another day (I always say this in the morning when I wake up).
26. What is your favorite song (at least at the moment)?
John 20:29 NIV, “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve felt God impressing upon my heart to “just believe.” Sometimes fear can keep us from believing. We fear that things will not work out the way we want them to. We may even have fears that God will not answer our prayers. I once had a friend tell me that she decided she wasn’t going to believe good things would happen, that way she wouldn’t have to be disappointed if things didn’t work out. Needless to say, she spent many days feeling frustrated and hopeless.
Photo by: Max Andrey
We were created to look beyond ourselves to Someone greater. Being able to believe in Jesus and His promises, keeps us full of hope and joy. Jesus said that we are blessed when we believe. As Christians, we have put our faith in Jesus, so we are professing that we believe He is who He says He is. Therefore we must also believe that He will do what He said He will do.
I feel a sense of peace when I decide to “just believe” and trust God to work out all the details. However when I try to put all the pieces together and figure out the unknowns, I feel fear and anxiety. Resting in the Masters goodness and believing He will supply our every need brings contentment. No matter how out of control things may seem, choose to “just believe”. When you do, the Lord promises that you will be blessed.
1 Timothy 4:10 ESV, “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”
There are people all around us, yet Jesus desires to be closer to us than anyone else ever could. He’s eager to be intimately involved with every aspect of our lives. Prayer is one of the main ways He desires to do that. Praying without ceasing is another way of showing our faith and trust in Jesus.
Photo by: Samuel Silitonga
I’m thankful we can pray anywhere and anytime. The Father is always available to us. We can set aside extended special times of prayer during the day. However, since the presence of God is always with us, we can also whisper short prayers throughout our day. We can tell Him thank you for the things that are going right. But when things go wrong, we can thank Him for being sovereign, and ask for help. When situations and people try to come against us, we can call on Him. He’s always near.
As the hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” says…
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Don’t hesitate to carry everything to God in prayer. He’s listening and He answers.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It doesn’t come naturally to boast about our weaknesses, because weakness isn’t usually associated with strength. But in Christ, it is. The hardships we face, and the temptations we must resist, are opportunities for the power of Christ to illuminate our lives. His power working in us, allows us to accomplish things that we cannot accomplish on our own.
Photo by: Flo Maderebner
Through Him, we are able to remain faithful and work to fulfill the purposes He has for us. His power brings life to situations that seem dead. When we are weary, He makes us strong. In Christ, it’s okay to come to the end of ourselves, because where our strength ends, His strength begins. His grace is sufficient for our every need.
I am grateful for all of your prayers, support and encouragement. Thanks for taking the time to read, like, comment on, and share my posts. It’s a privilege to be a part of this extraordinary blogging community.
I pray for you, my followers, that God would strengthen you and keep you as you follow His plans for your life. Thank you for being with me on this journey of Drawing Closer to Christ. 🧡🎉🧡🎉🧡
Drawing Closer to Christ 