Intro
Some pictures of my birthday and the week.... And I liked this Avatar photo John sent me on my phone. :) Click the photos to enlarge if necessary.
P.S. Google had a cake picture up. When I moused over it, it said, "Happy Birthday, Jessica!" (!) Needless to say, I was surprised.
Dad took these pictures of me opening presents - John took the first one
John's birthday card was *completely* adorable - best one I ever got
Funny things I saw at the bookstore
Random pictures from the week
Food for Thought
1 John 4:7-20
Knowing God Through Love
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Seeing God Through Love
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
The Consummation of Love
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him[b] because He first loved us.
Obedience by Faith
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can[c] he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."
Draw the Circle Day #2 - (I needed to hear this again today)
Now, let me ask you a question: When was the last time you lost sleep because you were concerned about the Creator keeping the planets in orbit? When was the last time you got down on your knees at night and prayed, 'Lord, thanks for keeping the planet rotating. I wasn't sure if we'd make the full rotation today, but You did it again!' I'm guessing the answer is never.
We don't doubt God's ability to keep the planets in orbit, but we have a difficult time believing He can keep our lives in orbit. You tell me which is more difficult - keeping the planets in orbit or determining our steps? [...]
God is great not just because nothing is too big for Him; God is also great because nothing is too small. The Sovereign One cares about every minute detail of our lives."