I LOVE YOU…AND….

         “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be wiser: teach a just (justified) man, and he will increase in knowledge.” (Proverbs 9:9)
         Not certain why I typed this Bible Verse. I pray that it must have meaning for someone…as each thing I write, I believe it will touch “someone” and bless them.
         Our Lord created me to be very transparent. Not everyone is like this and I pray that no one will be offended by my openness. My freedom to share this way is because I know we are all alike in many ways. Not all ways…but many. So, when the Lord shows me something. I have a desire to share, just in case it may help someone else. God always sends someone to share with me and I would like to do the same for others.
         In my transparency, I am revealing to you this morning my desire for understanding God’s personal love for me and each of us.  For the last two days, I realized that I did not REALLY understand the depth of God’s Love for me. 
         As I heard a message that God is Good, I began to question my own thoughts. Deep down inside of my soul, I had to acknowledge that I still felt that He was somewhat punitive and frightened me. Oh, how sad. I wanted to see that changed in me because I knew it could not be true.
         In these End-times where Satan knows his time is short, he seems to be coming against God’s children stronger than before. In order to withstand these attacks we are going to have to be able to Walk in the Love God has for us. It is our strongest weapon.
         So, as I prayed for God to TELL ME THAT HE LOVED ME, He gave me a wonderful gift this morning. He showed me HOW to read His Word in a different way. 
         When people have been born into families who do not know how to TELL each other that they love them, something is always missing. They yearn to hear those words, “I love YOU.”
         No matter how many things they do for them, they still need to HEAR these words of confession until they can believe them. Over and over; no matter how many times it takes. They need to HEAR, “I love YOU.”
         No matter how many times we tell the Lord that we love Him, it’s still not enough until we hear Him say, “I love you, too.”
         There have been times that I would get quiet and ask God to speak to my spirit and TELL me that He loved me. And He would do that. And also witness to my spirit that He was willing to say it as many times as I wanted him to, and not feel put out about it.
         Only God knows what other people’s level of love is that they receive from the Lord. He knows and they know, but I do not know. All I knew was that if I understood better, there would be more power in my life to stand against the things that stand against me.
         In answer to my request to HEAR Him say to me many times that He loved me more than He condemned me or meant to frighten me, He gave me an assignment this morning.
         As I was reading my usual Proverbs and Psalms (one chapter in Proverbs and 5 in Psalms) I was to write out the ending for every time He said, I LOVE YOU…AND….
         Considering l.) ALL the things He has done for me and promises to do yet, and 2,) remembering my salvation, and adoption into His family, I began to look at my Bible a different way. God was speaking to me.
         In my head, I knew that God loved me. But many of us have felt compelled to say God loves us because of guilt, NOT to receive that Love.
         “Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Col. 2:23).
         For different reasons, we have not truly felt loved by God. At least not the deep, sustaining love that we need. It’s TIME for us to receive a stronger revelation of His Love for us. Our Good Heavenly Father.

ASSIGNMENT

         This is just one way, but it is certainly helping me. You may like to try it. With pen and paper in your lap as you read His Word today…you might recognize some things that He showed me.
         Instead of the Lord saying: I LOVE YOU….BECAUSE…. The Holy Spirit (my Teacher) suggested that I write down: I LOVE YOU… AND….
         You don’t have to read all of my examples, but they may give you some idea of what is remaining on my heart to carry through this day for me.

Some are reminders but most of them come from Psalms, chapters 41-45.

I LOVE YOU…AND…have numbered your days, and bring you “fresh bread” every morning.
I LOVE YOU…AND…provide all your needs.
I LOVE YOU…AND… enter “your” courts with thanksgiving and praise.
I LOVE YOU…AND… you are Mine.
I LOVE YOU…AND… I created you.
I LOVE YOU…AND… delight in every step you take.
I LOVE YOU…AND… the world doesn’t love you, but I do.
I LOVE YOU…AND… every minute of every day.
I LOVE YOU…AND… I love that “you love Me.”
I LOVE YOU…AND… I gave you a name: Gwendolyn Alice Garig Watkins, Herald, Christian
I LOVE YOU…AND… bring you gifts.
I LOVE YOU…AND… appreciate you as you ‘stay and pray”, hear My voice and cherish it.
I LOVE YOU…AND… I give you My Word.
I LOVE YOU…AND… I give you My Peace.
I LOVE YOU…AND… love watching you read My Word.

BEGINNING OF THE PSALMS
41-45

I LOVE YOU…AND… set you before My face forever.
I LOVE YOU…AND… command My loving kindness in the daytime and send you songs in the night.
I LOVE YOU…AND… I am the Health of your countenance.
I LOVE YOU…AND… had your parents tell you of Me.
I LOVE YOU…AND… plead your cause against an ungodly nation.
I LOVE YOU…AND… I deliver you from deceitful and unjust men.
I LOVE YOU…AND… give you strength.
I LOVE YOU…AND… send you My Light and Truth. I bring you to My Holy Hill and to My tabernacles.
I LOVE YOU…AND… am your exceeding JOY, as you are Mine.
I LOVE YOU…AND… give you My altar. I give you harps to praise Me.
I LOVE YOU…AND… I give you physical and spiritual ears.
I LOVE YOU…AND… drive out the heathen from My land before you.
I LOVE YOU…AND… give you Favor. I favor you.
I LOVE YOU…AND… command deliverance for you.
I LOVE YOU…AND… give you My Name…Jesus and Christian.
I LOVE YOU…AND… save you from your enemies and put them to shame for you.
I LOVE YOU…AND… will not let your heart turn back, nor let your steps decline their way. (You can TRUST Me!)
I LOVE YOU…AND… know the secrets of your heart; they are For Me.
I LOVE YOU…AND… anoint you with the Oil of Gladness.
I LOVE YOU…AND… give you the tongue as the pen of a Ready Writer.

         Then I felt like the Lord was saying to me, “I know the many, many, times you have told Me that you loved Me. But, it was always a little pathetic, like you were begging me to love you, too. It was like you never really expected to hear Me say to you, that I LOVED YOU. 
         “From now on, every time you tell Me that you Love Me, I want you to hear Me say: I LOVE YOU, TOO…MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. I LOVE YOU MORE.”

LOVE,
FATHER – SON- HOLY SPIRIT