The kids and I were reading 2 Corinthians 3 this morning. It was so wonderful. For some reason, just thinking about God’s love made the sunshine seem brighter, the skies bluer, and the day more beautiful. I was trying to explain to the kids about “where the Spirit is Lord, there is liberty,” and one thing I thought of is that lovely song Sarah McLachlin sings in Toy Story 2. I know it seems like a strange analogy, but part of the song goes:

When somebody loved me
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart

Here’s a video I found of the song. It’s just so lovely.

The great thing is that God’s love is forever, not temporal, like the love of so many people.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:32-39

People complain that because God “allows” suffering in the world, then He is an ogre, or that this is somehow proof that there is no God. (Yet if God got rid of free will and decided to control people like puppets, these same people would complain that because God was such a control freak, this proved He was an ogre or didn’t exist). But I think that because there IS love in the world, this proves there is a God and that He is real. Sufferings are done by the hand of people, and honestly, is to be expected. The amazing thing to me is that love exists among us yet. I’m not speaking from a charmed life, either. I’ve been through a lot, so I know what suffering is. Corrie ten Boom once said (she was quoting her sister who died in a Nazi concentration camp): No pit is so deep that God is not deeper still.

The very fact that love exists is proof that God exists. But of course, there is much more proof than that besides.

And when I remember that He loves me– even me– everything is beautiful.

As many of you know, I sometimes write articles for this blog and my other blogs, for pay. It has enabled me to earn a living, whereas I would not be able to in any other capacity. Because of a back injury, I am laid up sometimes for long periods of time, but my fingers are still in very good, typing condition. So I work hard to promote my blogs and work very hard to write good articles. Unfortunately, this summer has been a bit of a let-down, as I haven’t been making as much as I’d hoped. I’m still having a blast blogging, don’t misunderstand me! I love writing! I just wish I earned more money from it. :D

Even though I’m not raking in the cash, I’m doing other things to promote my blogs– making new templates load quickly, building social networks, etc. And some very dear friends have been using StumbleUpon for articles I’ve written that they like, which increases traffic for me. It’s been a TERRIFIC blessing.

So it makes me very, very happy when my blogs are read, and when they are read by many people. I am so happy to see my blogs rising in the ranks at IZEA Ranks. Today I checked my stats, and look what I found!!!

My travel blog is number one in Travel!

My home and garden blog is number one in Real Estate!

This little mommy blog is number three in Family!

And I am maintaining a number 43 in the Top 100 blogs at IZEA! Woweeee!

Now, if I can JUST figure out a way to translate those stats into cashola.. lol.

I really appreciate you reading my blog– reading and commenting on my articles, dropping your Entrecard, emailing me information and encouraging words. I love you very much. I am so very blessed to know you and I am greatly enriched as a person to have you as friends. God bless you all!!!!!