TRUSTING GOD ~ Alexis A. Goring ~ Faithful Friday

Trusting God

devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” –Psalm 20:7 [NIV]

The song “Trust in You” by Anthony Brown & Group Therapy opens with lyrics to encourage the listener, declaring that God did not create us to worry or fear; He created us to worship Him and trust Him.

The song lyrics remind the listener about the magnitude of God! He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Jehovah-jireh (our provider)! The music artists who perform this beautiful song emphasize God’s glory to remind the believer just how big the God we serve is and that no problem that we face here on Earth is too big for God to solve! He’s not just the Creator of the Universe; He is your Heavenly Father and He knows what is best for you.

The Bible says in Luke 12:7 that God numbered all of the hairs on our heads (and if you have a lot of hair on your head like I do then you know the significance of that saying). I think that this Bible verse means that God knows you more intimately than any human ever will and He is perfectly capable of meeting all of your needs!

God met my needs recently in a powerful way.

Early on in the week of Jan. 26, 2020, I asked all of the prayer warriors in my life to pray for me. I shared that ever since being let go from my job the previous year, I had been struggling to pay my bills and that this particular week, I was down to nothing. I did not know how I would be able to pay my bills for that week. I also asked my prayer warriors to pray that God would bless me with more work that pays well so that I could pay my bills on time.

Less than five minutes later, prayer support and notes of encouragement started flooding in. Several people even shared their own stories about their struggles and how God came through for them just in the right time.

Among those prayer warriors were ones who said that they felt God leading them to give me a monetary gift and when I received their gift, it was just what I needed at that time.

I was amazed at how God moved on my behalf in less than a few hours!

This experience taught me so many lessons:

Lesson #1: Always go to God first. He loves you with ALL of His Heart and He cares about everything that impacts you here on Earth.

Lesson #2: Always feed your faith, not your fear. I made a point that morning after private prayer time with God to publicly post that song “Trust in You” and note that it’s the new anthem to my REAL life story! I chose to praise God and trust Him to take care of me. I refused to give into to fear of the future based on my circumstances.

Lesson #3: Don’t be afraid to ask for prayer support from the people in your life who believe in God and follow Jesus Christ. I sent private messages to all of my prayer warriors and asked for prayer that God would provide for me by helping me get more work that pays well and helping me be able to meet my financial needs. I did not ask for financial help but God impressed some people to send monetary gifts to me anyway! What a blessing!

Lesson #4: When God blesses you, don’t stay silent! A few days after this amazing blessing and prayer support, God impressed me to write about my experience. I believe that He wants us to share our stories to encourage others who are going through similar situations. Our stories inspire hope!

On that note, I’d like for you to please know that no matter what you’re facing in this life here on Earth, you always have hope because you have God. He loves you with all of His Heart, even if you don’t know Him yet! That’s why He sent His Son (Jesus Christ) to save you! Read John 3:16.

Following Jesus Christ and praying “the prayer of faith” (James 5:13-16) is something God wants all of us to do! Why? Because the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 (NLT), “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

My “Word” for the New Year 2020 was “Trust.” What a way to start the first month of that year with this teachable moment from God! After my experience in January 2020, I am encouraged to trust Him more and never stop praying about my every need because He cares and even when He’s silent, He’s there.

I hope that my testimony has encouraged your heart and inspired you to trust God with every need, every desire, every dream, and every plan for your life. Remember this: God is Good. God loves you and He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)!

May God bless your life story for His glory!

 

Author Bio: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ. 

JARM DEL BOCCIO ~ THE HEART CHANGER ~ INTERVIEW

Interview with Jarm Del Boccio, author of . . .

 Hi, Jarm, it’s good to have you visiting Whispers in Purple again. We met you here in May of last year and learned about your historical Middle-Grade debut novel, The Heart Changer, about a young Israelite girl who is captured and forced to serve the wife of the commander of the Syrian army.  

Now we’re welcoming you back to answer a few interview questions. Thank you.

Of course we’d like to know how things are going with The Heart Changer in the intervening months. I did a quick check on Amazon and see that it has received a rating of 4.8 out of 5 in a total of 35 readers reviews That’s great!

Hi, Peg!

 Thanks for hosting me again. 

 So, what has your experience been since the book released?

Well, I’ve had many positive reviews, from kids and adults. In fact, I’m surprised adults enjoy the story as well, since The Heart Changer is a middle-grade historical fiction. Because I’m a former teacher and school librarian, I love to interact with my readers, but unfortunately, even though I worked hard last year to make connections, not many school visits or author events have opened up for me. It’s quite disappointing. I would love the opportunity to speak at any venue that is curious about an author’s life and the craft of writing. My frequent flyer miles are waiting in the wings!

Let’s talk about Jarm (the ‘J’ sounds like a ‘Y’) Del Boccio the person. What do you do just for you when you’re not writing?

I absolutely love to travel, and it’s my go-to for inspiration. Ideally, overseas travel is preferred. If it’s a new location — better yet! Recently, our financial situation has changed, so exploring the world is not possible at this point. But God was gracious to land me a travel blogging opportunity which forces me to visit various venues in my state of Illinois and share my finding with the readers. It’s not a paid position, but, I now have a reason to get out of the house!

Where would be your ideal writing space? Why?

My perfect writing space would be located in a small country village in Europe within walking distance of the town. I would write a bit, with the sound of birds and a flowing stream in the background, then take a walk in nature, write a bit more — well, you get the picture. The calm environment with no distractions would be ideal for my soul. I also have a fascination with tiny houses, so one located in a temperate climate in an out of the way place would suit me just fine. As long as I could get out into nature and walk, I’d be happy. But alas, it’s only a dream.

Ah, sounds lovely!  Describe your present ‘office.’ What--if anything--would you change?

 I must say, my present writing environment is inviting and peaceful as well. It’s on the second floor of our home, in an open area outside our bedroom. I refer to it as “my Victorian sitting room” suggested by the wallpaper and furniture. I sit in a winged-back chair with a cup of white peony tea and a salt crystal candle on the table beside me, surrounded by books, papers and various projects. Attached to a stand is my iPad, which is what I use exclusively to write — including a 50,000 word middle-grade novel! I can’t read my writing anyway, so it would be double the work to compose with a pen.

What sparks your creativity when you’re feeling drained?

 If I can’t travel, watching a mystery at the end of a productive day is a relaxing treat for me, and a way to connect with my hubby. My favorites are Poirot, Father Brown, and Endeavor. I love to ferret out the culprit along with the detectives!

Just for fun . . . if you were an animal, what would you be, and why?

Hmmmm. . . good question. For sure, I’d want to be a fast-moving creature, since I love to be on the go. Maybe a wild horse, peregrine falcon or maybe a songbird, since I love to sing.

What a fascinating answer! Good choice about the wild horse -- Love it!

Coffee or tea?

Definitely tea — white peony. Recently, I’ve discovered matcha lattes with homemade coconut milk and maple syrup.

I'm a coffee hound, myself. Never heard of white peony tea. Sounds interesting.

Finally, what’s next for Jarm Del Boccio?

My word for this year is CONTENTMENT. I want to be content as an author with what God brings or doesn’t bring my way. So, while I patiently wait for opportunities to connect with my readers, I will fine tune my craft, submit to agents and editors, connect with fellow writers on social media and at conferences, and look for ways to encourage my readers with blogposts and newsletters.

Thanks so much for sharing your time with us, Jarm. It’s been fun getting to know you a little more. God bless you as you write for Him.

You are welcome, Peg!

Jarm finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. You can learn about those experiences in her blog, Making the Write Connections, or connect with her on Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.

Michael Garrett ~ The Prose Professional: 2020 ~ Interview

Please welcome author Michael Garrett and his new book release for writers . . . and . . . an interesting interview with Michael.

Image courtesy Pixabay.com

Welcome to Whispers in Purple, Michael! It’s a pleasure to have you here. So, let’s get acquainted.

First, tell us a bit about yourself.

I live on the shore of a beautiful lake in Alabama with my wife Sharon and my miniature dachshund Heidi. I suppose I would consider myself retired, but I can’t imagine a time when I won’t be writing or editing to some degree.

I’ve always enjoyed teaching others, so I consider myself as much of a teacher as an editor. I want my clients to succeed--it’s a positive reflection on me!

What five words best describe you?

Faithful

Honest

Compassionate

Creative

Unselfish

When is your best writing time?

For the most part it’s whenever an opportunity arises. I don’t work under a set schedule.

Describe your writing space.

I work in a recliner in my living room. It doesn’t matter what may be going on around me; I’ve learned how to tune-out distractions, even when my grandchildren are here!

Are you a novelist as well as non-fiction? Who is your favorite author?

Yes, I’ve published two traditional novels, Keeper, which sold out its initial printing and was optioned for a movie, and Innocence Denied, a Christian novel which was a finalist for a 2019 American Fiction Award.

My favorite author by far is Harlan Coben. His talent amazes me.

Now, down to the nitty-gritty, as they say. I understand you’re promoting a new non-fiction book for writers. That’s fantastic, and quite ambitions. Let’s talk about it. Please give us:

TITLE:                        The Prose Professional 2020

PUBLISHER:             Kindle

RELEASE DATE:      December 15, 2019

PURCHASE LINK:            https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08186RW3P?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

BOOK BLURB:

You have a choice to make as an unpublished author. You can keep doing what you’re doing and expect the same results or you can try a new approach that may require a different mindset. The Prose Professional 2020 offers a common sense method to getting published in the 21^st century.

What qualifies you to write this book?  

During my 40+ years in the publishing industry I’ve edited the works of best-selling authors as well as 2,600+ unpublished writers. For over twenty years I presented a series of highly acclaimed writing workshops coast to coast. I also served as an Editorial Associate of the Writer’s Digest School. I’ve been traditionally published as well, so I’m quite familiar with the obstacles of breaking into print. I overcame the odds and published two successful novels of my own.

What makes it different—or stand out—from all the others out there? How is it unique?

There's an inherent problem with most non-fiction “how to get published” books for writers--they're written by best-selling authors. Why is that a problem? They live in a different world than you. They don't face rejection! They don’t have the same restrictions as you, and you can be rejected for writing as they do.

For instance, Stephen King is opposed to outlines, but he doesn’t face length restrictions or pacing requirements. He has the option of just letting his work flow, but you don’t.

Publishers only want manuscripts of specific lengths from unpublished authors, who should absolutely use outlines as a result. It’s the only way to gauge your progress in terms of length and pacing. Without an outline, how can you just happen to end up with, say, 75,000 words? When best-selling authors tell you to write your book your way, as they do, how smart is that? They can do it, but you can’t—you need to write it the publisher’s way.

The Prose Professional 2020 offers valuable guidance from a perspective more closely matching your own rather than that of a best-selling author. Doesn’t it make sense that, in order to sell, you must first and foremost write what publishers want to buy? The publisher’s way is more important than your way. Your way can come later. Pleasing readers, not yourself, is the key to success in the publishing industry. What readers want is more important than what you want.

                                               

What inspired you to write it in the first place? (You can combine this with the question above if you like.)

I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge over the past forty years, and I have no interest in being the smartest guy in the cemetery. I want to share what I’ve learned with as many struggling new writers as possible while I still can.

I wrote this book with absolutely no profit motive in mind and make it available for only $1.99. I feel blessed to have had such a wonderful career, and it’s only fitting that I pass this experience on to new writers and hopefully make their path to publication easier.

What’s in the future for you writing-wise?

I’m currently working on a Christian suspense novel.

Any parting thoughts to share?

Write what you know.

Write what publishers want to buy.

Don’t try to write like a best-selling author because you’re not one.

You don’t have to write like Shakespeare to be successfully published. Some best-selling authors are only average writers.

Search for reliable sources of advice to educate yourself on how to be published. The Prose Professional 2020 is a great start.

If you don’t read anything else, read the Outlines and Structure chapters. They’ll give you a whole new perspective on writing your novel to please publishers and readers alike.

Thanks for featuring me on your blog. I wish all of your readers “Happy Writing!”

BIO

MICHAEL GARRETT is a devout Christian and life-long resident of Alabama. His world revolves around God, his wife Sharon, two adult children, and five grandchildren. He has published two successful traditional novels of his own and is currently writing a third. He has also worked in an editorial capacity with best-selling authors, has served over 2600 international clients as an independent editor, and holds the distinction of having been Stephen King’s first editor and publisher. He has also taught highly acclaimed writing workshops at colleges and universities across the nation and was an Editorial Associate of the Writer’s Digest School. His editorial services are available at https://manuscriptcritique.com

The Prose Professional 2020

If you hope to become a professional author, you’re attempting a career change. Were you to pursue any other profession instead, you would face years of study and on the job training. Education is equally important for novel writers, but academia offers no career development for commercial fiction writers. In fact, collegiate professors frown on commercial publication and focus on the literary aspects of manuscripts alone, with no guidance at all on how to get them published. Commercial publishers are more interested in sales potential than literary merit. Look no further than the Shades of Grey series as an example. Great writing? Hardly. Sales potential? Through the roof!

Start your education for this exciting career change with The Prose Professional 2020! 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

https://twitter.com/MGarrett49

https://www.facebook.com/manuscriptcritique/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-garrett-6ba065154/

https://business.google.com/dashboard/l/12925401348661108019?hl=en

GOD'S HAND ~ Alexis A. Goring ~ Devotional

God’s Hand

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

– Isaiah 41:10 [NLT]

There’s a term that I learned with a technique that I applied when I was a photography student that still stands out to me years after my college class.

Image courtesy pixabay.com

The term is called “dodging and burning.” I’ll explain it later but first, for those of you who may not know, let me explain the old standards and practices of photography. Much of today’s photography is digital but before it became the standard, photographers developed all ttheir pictures in what’s called a darkroom.

There in the (literal) dark, they meticulously removed the roll of negatives (the film inside their manual cameras on which the pictures were taken) and carefully started the process of developing the negatives into what we see as “prints” or “pictures” today.

The process of developing photos manually in the old-fashioned way takes a lot of patience and skill. If you expose your negatives to the light before they’re fully developed your pictures are ruined. Even if you still try to develop the prints, you won’t see anything on the film because the bright light (be it fluorescent or natural from the sun) destroyed the photos, which is why photographs needed to be developed carefully in a darkroom. It is literally a dark room with special lights that are only bright enough for you to see what you’re doing but not bright enough to ruin your film.

Now here’s the part about the term “dodging and burning” and the technique used. First, let’s look at the definition of this term. According to Adobe.com, “The Dodge tool and the Burn tool lighten or darken areas of the image. These tools are based on a traditional darkroom technique for regulating exposure on specific areas of a print. Photographers hold back light to lighten an area on the print (dodging) or increase the exposure to darken areas on a print (burning).”

Let’s talk about the technique. When Adobe.com says that there is a “Dodge tool” and a “Burn tool” used in this technique, it’s referring to digital photography where you edit photos on your computer and use those digital tools to accomplish your vision for the photographs.

But before digital photography became so popular and widely used, photographers in the darkroom used a special light and their own hands to perform the action of dodging and burning a photo.

Years ago, I realized that there is spiritual symbolism and metaphor in this professional practice because, just like the photographer skillfully guides his or her hand over a photo to produce the desired outcome, the Creator of the Universe (God) also uses His Hand to direct our life!

Only God is better than any human photographer and His end results are always the best for us! Maybe not perfect because of the state of the world we live in but perfectly tailored to fit our lives and lead us to Him, which then ultimately results in us being saved in His Kingdom when we make the choice to accept God’s Son (Jesus Christ) and follow Him.

Just like a photographer in the darkroom gently and skillfully moves his or her hands under the special light that hovers over the film in order to either lighten or darken certain areas of the photo they’re developing, our Maker (God) has His hand over our life. We only need to be still and trust Him as He uses His hand to shed light on the areas of our life that He wants to work on with us. Sometimes, He may allow the darkness in parts of our life to help us draw close to Him and trust Him to see us through.

God is in the restoration business! What He doesn’t restore in our life during our time living on planet Earth, He will restore when our eternal life starts in Heaven! The Bible says when we make it to Heaven, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, ESV).

But for now, as we experience trials and tribulations on Earth, it is important to seek God while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6-7) and trust Him to use His Hand over our lives to produce the end result that again, may not be picture perfect in our eyes, but is perfect for the work He’s doing within us. Pastor Rick Warren says, “God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.”

Now this isn’t to say God wants your life to be miserable! No! Quite the opposite. God wants to fill your mind with His perfect peace (Philippians 4:7), bless your heart with His Love (1 John 4:16) and enrich Your life with His Presence (Psalm 16:11)!

So won’t you trust His Hand to move over your life (in fact, it already is), to work out all the details to not only sustain you but to bless you?

There’s a song by Marvin Sapp called “He Has His Hands On You.” The song lyrics basically say that even when uncomfortable things happen to you and don’t feel good, you can take solace in the fact that as long as you’re in God’s hands, everything is going to be okay.

The Bible says that God works out everything for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). So when life hits hard and the storms of life roll in, making it difficult to see a safe end, just lean into God and trust Him to see you through. Remember, God’s Hand is on you!

Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.

DREAMS DEFERRED BOOK SPOTLIGHT ~ June Foster ~ #giveaway

DREAMS DEFERRED

Book Spotlight

June Foster (and #Giveaway)

Father Matt Hall wants to serve the Lord. School teacher Mary Louise Graham needs freedom from her unforgivable past. They never expect to fall in love.

Frances Matthew Hall is obedient to family tradition: all firstborn sons will serve as a priest. Now Matt officiates at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. But when on Easter Sunday, he notices a beautiful young woman who takes his breath away, he must fight against his attraction to her or leave the priesthood and alienate his entire family.

Mary Louise Graham is a middle school teacher and devout catholic. Yet no amount of service to the community can ease the heavy load of guilt she carries. God can never forgive her unspeakable mistake. But when Father Matt tells her about a forgiving God through His son Jesus Christ, she's free. Only thing, the Godly priest now means more to her than he should.

Can two people find their way to each other amidst insurmountable obstacles? Dreams Deferred is inspired by the author's great grandfather and great grandmother's story.

Excerpt DREAMS DEFERRED:

Mary Louise's eyes were bright with tears and the hope of new life. Matt savored the pressure of her hand upon his. "Praise God," he whispered, restraining the volume of his voice. If he could, he'd shout the words, sending an echo from the ceiling to the floor. "He's faithful to forgive you."

Before he could react, bare arms reached around his shoulders. Mary Louise's silky hair that smelled of fresh peaches, brushed his cheek. "Thank you."

He dared to hug her in return, his hands wrapping all the way around her. She was so small, unearthing in him feelings he'd never had before—the desire to protect her and provide for her needs. The warmth of her body against his stirred more in him than it should've, and he moved away.

Fingers as soft as the downy pillow on his bed brushed his arm. "I'm sorry. I over reacted. Please forgive me. But I will never regret asking Jesus into my life today."

The stained-glass window with the image of a dove reminded him of God's grace. He rose and offered her his hand. "There's nothing to forgive. I thank God you've found the way to our Savior."

Mary Louise lifted her gaze to Jesus on the cross. "For the first time in ten years, I feel clean—forgiven. I can never thank you enough."

Movement at the entrance of the church called Matt's attention. Someone slipped out the door. A man with the same thin shoulders as Father Nicolas. 

purchase link: https://amzn.to/2N4quQC (affiliate link)

Author June Foster

Author June Foster

An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and MA in Counseling. She is the mother of two and grandmother of ten. June began writing Christian romance in 2010. She penned her first novel on her Toshiba laptop as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provided a rich source of information for her novels. June enjoys writing stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find the path to live godly lives.

June is generously offering a giveaway - an eBook copy of DREAMS DEFERRED. To enter, simply leave your name and email address (e.g: me(at)yourdomain(dot)com) in the comment section below. Giveaway runs for one week from today, ending at Midnight O'Clock Central time, on Thursday, January 30.

   

KNOWING JESUS ~ Alexis A. Goring ~ Devotional

Knowing Jesus

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” – John 17:3 [NLT]

A famous entertainer once took a comedic jab at Christians. She mentioned that they think she’s going to hell because she “doesn’t praise Jesus.”

She meant it as a punch line and it drew laughter. But I took her words seriously and it made me sad.

I was sad because I realize that it is a trick of the enemy to get people to think that we can save ourselves, to think that we don’t need Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of the world, to save our lives.

The enemy wants us to think that we can get to Heaven by ourselves in any way we want. He wants us to think that we are our own god and our destiny is determined by us. He wants us to think that we don’t need God when we have money, health and happiness. He doesn’t want us to think about Heaven and what it takes to get there, according to what God says through His Word (The Holy Bible). Most of all, the devil doesn’t want us to think that he exists! He likes it when people say that he’s a fictional character made up by Christians. Ultimately, what the devil doesn’t want us to know is that kind of lifestyle will lead us to hell and eternal death.

Why follow the evil one (Satan a.k.a. “the devil”) who only comes to “steal, kill and destroy,” when Jesus Christ has come so that we may have life and live it “to the full” (John 10:10)?

Why listen to Satan’s lies when the Savior of humankind is gently knocking at the door of your heart? Here’s the catch: Only you can open the door because Jesus is a gentleman who won’t force you into having a relationship with Him. He won’t force you to choose Him. He won’t force you to live for Him and accept His free gift of salvation. But He does want you to experience eternal life! Which is why He keeps knocking at the door of your heart. Will you let Him in?

When I think of the entertainer who doesn’t think she needs Jesus, I simply think that’s because she doesn’t know Him yet. Because to know Him is to love Him! I can speak from experience. My life “B.C. (Before Christ)” was filled with fear, hurt, anger and a depressed outlook on life. But when Jesus Christ came into my life and I got to know Him personally as my Lord, Savior, Redeemer and Truest Friend, He changed me from the inside out!

God renovated the walls of my heart and restored the broken places. He gave me a new outlook on life, one that’s Christ-centered. I began to see the world through lenses of love (Christ’s love) and I began to see people as precious souls who are loved by The Creator of the Universe (God). And I had within me, this burning desire to tell the world about Jesus! To show everyone why we all need Him! I wanted to – and still do want to – share God’s Love with the world! To this day, I am driven to teach people about Jesus and show them why it’s worth following Him.

According to God’s Word (The Holy Bible), the enemy is REAL! We are all involved in spiritual warfare, whether we like it or not. We must remember that we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12) and that our weapons of warfare need to be spiritual (Ephesians 6:10-18). It is the only way we can win!

I believe that if that popular entertainer came to know Jesus, she would change her tune and maybe even her career! Imagine the impact she could have for Jesus! I imagine that her millions of fans would become followers of Jesus too because they would see His Love radiating through her and they would want to know the source of her glow!

Knowing Jesus is my greatest blessing in this life! Have you heard the song, “All I Once Held Dear” by Robin Mark?

In the song, the artist talks about how everything he worked so hard to achieve and gain in this life is worthless compared to the blessing and joy of knowing Jesus! He shares that God is his all in all. It is his heart’s desire to know God more and to be known as one of God’s children here on Earth. He realizes that he cannot work his way or pay his way into Heaven. He knows that the gift of salvation is free and that we are “saved by grace, through faith … not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). He recognizes that there is power in the Name of Jesus and he wants to live for God, all the days of his life. The artist (Robin Mark) says that he looks forward to an eternity spent in the presence of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

He often says these words in his song: “I love you, Lord.”

Why? Because as I said earlier and various people from songwriters to preachers have declared: To know Him is to love Him!

In closing, please remember that Jesus loves you and He wants you to know Him. I pray that this devotional today has encouraged your heart and pointed you to the One who loves you with all of His heart. I also hope that you will let Jesus into your life (if you haven’t already) so that you too may see personally why to know Him is to love Him!

Author Bio: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.