smile

did you notice how beautiful it is outside today? a friend sent me this picture, and i couldn't help but smile at the beauty of creation. when i was a little guy i used to say "smile, God loves you" ALL THE TIME. honestly, it was really annoying, and i'm not even really sure why i said that so much. i remember one time i was catching a baseball game and my best friend was pitching. i had been saying "smile . . . " and finally he screamed at me from the mound for the whole world to hear "SHUT UP!" haha. i was pretty embarrassed but it made the opposing batter laugh really loud and roll his eyes at me. anyway, it's pretty easy to understand why people get tired of 'okalie-dokalie Christianity,' and hopefully i am better with my expressions of God's love these days. 

still i also realize it may be that you're coming to the end of a hard week, and you need to be softly reminded . . . God is smiling on you.  as always He is inviting you into the reality of His presence and He does love you as a Father loves His children. with nehemiah i pray this joy of the LORD may be your strength.