When it seems the morning forgot to bring your dose of new mercies and instead shows up rude with no more coffee in the bag, love becomes a more difficult choice. It still counts when it’s easy, but it means more when it’s hard. Some mornings are like that. Difficult to see. Weary for the day. Longing for time to slow down or hurry up, depending on the list in front of you. Heat up the water and make some tea. Wrap your small hands around that steamy cup. Close your eyes when they’re not looking, and receive the abundant gift of your own belovedness.
You are the object of His affections. Declare His love in the morning.
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
Christin says
April 21, 2011 at 7:07 AMMy husband and I are in awe of this verse.
…”he will exult over you with loud singing”
God Almighty rejoices over us with singing?! Over US? Isn’t that what we are compelled to do for HIM? Yet another way He loves us — and deeply. He’s so amazing.
I love that photo. I {heart} coffee. 🙂
Lisa Currie-Gurney says
April 21, 2011 at 7:25 AMAMEN
HUGS FROM MY HEART
Southern Gal says
April 21, 2011 at 7:33 AMGood morning to you.
Jen @ Martymom's Musings says
April 21, 2011 at 7:51 AMI love this, short and sweet but so full of Truth!
I just love your heart and how you share this Great Love with all of us…whether they know of this love without a doubt, or maybe they know but cannot feel it this morning or maybe they stumbled to your words today not looking for a message such as this…how powerful and life changing they could be to that person, to all of us.
Thanks, Emily.
Jen
Rambling Heather says
April 21, 2011 at 7:52 AMThis is beautiful Emily, very encouraging!
Leslie says
April 21, 2011 at 8:33 AMThis series has been SO very encouraging, Emily. Thank you for being faithful in writing it.
Gabe says
April 21, 2011 at 9:33 AMI’m de-lurking to tell you how much I have enjoyed this series this week. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Holy Week! Thanks for sharing this with us.
kendal says
April 21, 2011 at 9:34 AMi love that verse very much! and this series was such a great idea. loving it. we are on spring break now instead of next week, so i have time to read and reflect and rejoice. and it is awesome.
Flower Patch Farmgirl says
April 21, 2011 at 10:18 AMKeep pouring out truth. I found myself thanking God for his faithfulness last night, on the very edge of a dream. So thank you for that. And this.
Leslie Knight says
April 21, 2011 at 10:20 AMThis morning was a more difficult one. I was tired and sick last night. My husband was even more tired. And after he left for work at 4:30am, I went back to bed. And then struggled to wake up a second time to get myself to work. Days like this make it hard to remember His love and even harder to receive it. I focus too much on what I want and not enough on what He is calling me to. I need to remember to enjoy His presence even more on days like this.
Johannis Kraut says
April 21, 2011 at 10:55 AMEvery morning I get up I try to be better, kinder and true to myself…and try to find the strength to do that in the small things..
Your post remembered me to find strenght in Him.
misty says
April 21, 2011 at 12:22 PMAnd why am i so sensitive??? Why do I wake up and become whatever sort of morning greets me. Worse, Why do I sometimes see a lovely morning and sour it with me?
Katie Weaver says
April 21, 2011 at 12:49 PMThis series is so lovely, Emily.
I am drinking it in.
Each small post is pregnant with the goodness of God and I cannot get enough.
Thank you! Thank you!
I have long found your site a peaceful place to linger. And now all the more.
Praise the Lord for the gift of words He has given you.
Gratefully,
Katie Weaver
Traci says
April 21, 2011 at 1:29 PMso stinkin beautiful. sigh! <3 you. Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations
Kasie@~The Art of Life says
April 21, 2011 at 2:05 PMThank you so much for sharing Emily!
Last night I was sitting alone at the dining table, feeling so tired after a long day.
It was one of those days where my failures and shortcomings had been constantly before me.
But in that quiet God brought Isaiah 49:16 to my mind:
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.”
And I was just struck by the fact that my name is on His hands! The same way we write notes on our hands so we won’t forget, He has written my name.
I am so humbled by His love. It is so undeserved!
~Kasie
Scooper says
April 21, 2011 at 2:59 PMBelovedness…yes, that is some kind of gift! And we can be thankful for it every single day. I love these daily reminders of deep truth.
Tracey says
April 21, 2011 at 3:10 PMGirlfriend can WRITE! That was like a hug around the neck.
No.17 Cherry Tree Lane says
April 21, 2011 at 4:30 PMPraise the Lord that He is the same, everyday.
His steadfast love for me is unwavering.
Amy says
April 21, 2011 at 4:59 PMThis has been my favorite verse for a long time. I love how it shows His amazing joy in ME. His willingness to comfort and quiet me, to build me up and also to display His awesomeness in His ability to save. Wow, what a verse! Thanks for sharing your morning with me!
susan says
April 21, 2011 at 5:42 PMI have to de-lurk yet again this week. Emily, we know u r on break with your family&your girls at church, and I dont think a one of us would have begrudged you taking this week for *you* & your loves. And yet you prepared this series on His love for us&our loving Him back in those moments it would be easier to dwell on our losses&shortcomings&gotta-do’s&missed opportunities. Your love for Him&us, making us see, giving us these precious moments in time that we so often miss…this gift of your love means so much to me. I am sure i’m not the only one who realizes what precious moments you have exchanged for our precious moments. And I do breathe easier, my heartbeat literally slows, I hear His voice in your writing&photography&the verses you have chosen to prove what we are offered every day. It is our choice to hear&accept. But you make us hear&remember&breathe. I cannot thank you enough. Wishing you all joy&blessings in these holydays…-s-
Barbie says
April 21, 2011 at 9:04 PMI think you need to put this all into a book! I would definately buy it.
kathy says
April 21, 2011 at 10:50 PMThis is great. Mornings have not been my favorite lately, since I haven’t slept through the night in the past 17 months and 1 day (who’s counting?). I love “Close your eyes when they’re not looking and receive the abundant gift of your own belovedness.” Thank you.
grace.to.be says
April 21, 2011 at 11:41 PMone of my favorite verses ever~ He sings over me!! how awesome is that. listen for the song. though at times just a whisper.. it’s always there.
have a wonderful easter weekend, emily!
patty says
April 22, 2011 at 8:22 AMperfect
and beautiful.
i imagine you have the most beautiful photo album.
xo
Mohsin says
May 25, 2014 at 1:34 AMcertainly one of the best verses ever~ They sings over everyone!! just how brilliant can be of which. tune in to the song. although from time to time a whisper.. it’s always at this time there.
Thanks 🙂