A reflection on love

Growing up as a child, I remember singing "Jesus loves me, this I know..." But I didn't fully know. It wasn't until I was 16 years old that I came to experience the truth of that simple song on a personal level. It was life-changing.

That was 33 years ago. As I near my 49th birthday in a couple of days, I find myself quietly reflecting. When it comes to my love for my Lord, have I grown sharper or duller over the years? Is my love for Him as passionate as it once was?

In Psalm 73:24-26 the psalmist recounts: "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

As I get older, my flesh and my heart do fail me. I get busy. Distracted. Lazy. Sloppy. Half-hearted. But in all this I am comforted by a God who knows me and loves me in spite of my failings. His love for me isn't performance based. For that, I am grateful!

"Jesus loves me, this I know...."

Jesus knows me, this I love.

Have you allowed Him to know you?

Comments

mommyo5 said…
My 10 year old son saw this picture and thought is was very cool. I have to agree. It is humbling to have God love you, when He knows you too. Zeph. 3:17 is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me of God's intrest in me personally.
12:53 AM, January 19, 2009
simplegifts3 said…
I like the turn of phrase, Jackie, as it makes the truth seem fresh again. Welcome to the blog world! Lynn
12:56 AM, January 19, 2009
Dayna said…
Jackie,
Your blog is going to be a great source of encouragement for many!
Jesus knows me this I love! No matter what my failings are, His love is constant.
I too hope to get a blog up and running soon that will encourage special needs families and caregivers. I started a different one last year but only wrote 1 entry. www.daynasgracenotes.blogspot.com
God bless!
Dayna
8:03 AM, January 19, 2009
Pat Weso said…
Many who follow blogs are afraid to take a look at a new blog because they often get trapped into spending way too much time in bloggy world. I like that you get right to the point, and make the point well. I would go so far as to say it could even be slightly longer! The pix are wonderful. I've subscribed and will look forward to future posts! Thanks for the encouragement.
11:01 AM, January 19, 2009
Unknown said…
You invited us:
" Do drop by and leave a comment! "
or
Dewdrop buoy and levee a current idea.

I'm knot under water yet so I wish to express that I too can float on the daily tide and drift without setting a course. Your blog covered my sediments without billowing or gushing.

Build a house on rock or sand? Sand comes from rocks that are worn by the torrents, floods, rapids, rivers, streams and trickles that wear way all rocks over time - even very hard granite.

New Hampshire's nickname is "The Granite State" in reference to its geology and tradition of self-sufficiency.

There is - was - a prominent granite formation in New Hampshire called the Old Man of the Mountain (OMOTM) 45 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Statesman Daniel Webster (from New Hampshire) once wrote:
"Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men."

OMOTM is - was - the state emblem since 1945 - put on license plates, state highway-route signs and the back of the 2000 New Hampshire Statehood Quarter.

Why "was"? In 2003, the OMOTM fell off.

Building your house an a rock can be dangerous. Choose your rock wisely.

In 2004, coin-operated viewfinders were installed to show how the OMOTM used to appear. Some folks will not let go of things made out of dead rock.
5:02 PM, January 19, 2009
Jackie Perseghetti said…
LOL! You have a wonderful sense of humor, Doug. (One of the many things I love about you and have enjoyed in our 25 years --and counting -- of marriage God has given us!) =)
12:30 PM, January 28, 2009
Unknown said…
Jackie,

Wow, thanks! I read what you wrote and I felt like was back reading Dangerous Devotions again! So cool! Like a cool glass of water that is! And the Lord spoke through what you wrote!

And it was a "cool" twist on the song Jesus Loves Me this I Know, to say that Jesus knows me this I love - how true! Knowing He knows me and my circumstances and actually knows me better than I know myself is comforting!
4:41 PM, February 02, 2009
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Attack of the Killer Treadmill

Image
This post is dedicated to those who (like me) have tried their hand at treadmill exercising... and been found (sorely) wanting. For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things…  I Timothy 4:8 Donned in our fashionable exercise outfits (old sweats and worn out T shirts), my husband, myself, and our two (then) teens headed for the local YMCA to work out. Although it was 6:40 am, we were bright eyed and bushy tailed. This would be a family thing; we would do this as a team !  Piling out of the car, we headed toward the fitness room. I chose the treadmill for a 20-minute warm-up--at least that was the intent. A quick hop on the machine and a simple push of the red button began the torture. I noticed the body clip dangling from the bar -- intended to halt the beast in case of a fall. “Who would fall walking?” I thought to myself incredulously. Halfway through my warm-up, I got the distinct notion I was alone. A quick glance about for my fami
Read more

INTRUDERS

Image
Discernment. Timing. Patience. Wisdom. Ever have one of those days (weeks, years, or perhaps life?) when you helplessly watch an intruder gobble up your sustenance--not kibbles, but your sustenance of time, emotional energy, physical stamina, spiritual refreshment, or mental health? Intruders can come slowly over a course of time, or they can arrive abruptly, loaded with consequences for those who dare to deny them their demands. One intruder that arrived abruptly in my life was the diagnosis of Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes. At the age of 43, I went from enjoying a carefree, independent, healthy lifestyle to becoming an insulin-dependent-finger-pricking-carb-counting-mind-numbing human food calculator. Another uninvited intruder came more gradually in my life and has recently taken up residence--its name is midlife; pre-menopause (or more aptly put, "mental-pause"). While I can't rid myself of those unwanted guests, I can learn to live victoriously with them, understanding
Read more

LIVING DANGEROUSLY

Image
Zippity doo dah, zippity day, my oh my, what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way, zippity doo dah, zippity day.” Depending on your age, you may or may not remember this song. For me, it pulsed vividly through my mind—with an emphasis on zippity, and minus the sunshine. Let me explain. My husband and I had the privilege of accompanying a group of teens on a missions trip to Costa Rica (originally Honduras, but that’s a whole other post!). One of our days was a planned “half-day off” from our hard work. We were going to go zip-lining in the rain forest. Note the word rain in front of the word forest. Strapped up, helmeted, gloved, and jingling as we hiked up the mountain trail, I wondered what I was getting myself into. My fear of heights gave me no room for comfort. Crawling up the steps to the first platform (yes, they were steps normal people would walk up, and yes, I crawled), I finally reached the top, hugged the tree (no, I’m not normally a tree hugger), and
Read more