You've heard it from the pulpit a million times. You've heard it another million sitting on that pew beside your mom. You've seen it under Tim Tebow's eyes and by this point you probably have it written in sharpie on the back of your hand. John 3:16. But why do we neglect the power and impact of a message or phrase based on its increasing occurrence? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If I'm being honest, I have always thought of and interpreted this verse as it pertains to me because it's what's familiar. “God so loved America” or “God so loved the town I grew up in” or “God so loved my high school.” It's all I've ever known. However, the amazing thing is that he actually loves you enough to love the whole world because it gives you a context for your identity. The fact that He loves you amongst the entirety of the globe must mean two things. One, that you are incredibly special and worth loving. And two, you aren't isolated. It's one thing to love a single particular color on its own like blue or green, but when you see that color incorporated onto a beautiful masterpiece of a canvas, all of a sudden it has an identity that, in turn, enhances its character. Based on the song God So Loved by Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Andrew Bergthold, Martin Cash, Kyle Briskin. Original post by We The Kingdom is available on YouVersion based on the album Holy Water.

“Does not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Does not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Does not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Has not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?”-Charles Spurgeon. To ”bless God" is a phrase that some might find strange or counter-intuitive, as we are perhaps more familiar with the idea of blessing being something that comes from God to us, perhaps not as much so the other way around. But to bless God – to exalt, praise, magnify Him – becomes a habit – a first response - in the lives of those who have let themselves receive the love of the Lord. To bless God is really the only appropriate response to the realization that the only reason that the possibility exists of making the choice to bless Him is because He has first so richly blessed us. When we "bless God," we are not adding anything to God or giving Him something He lacks, because our Triune God is utterly complete. Rather, when we worship Him, when we declare that He is worthy to be praised, we are aligning ourselves with the truth of His worthiness of all praise and honor, we are rightly seeing the true order of things – you might even say we're aligning ourselves with reality. And when we align ourselves with reality by declaring His reign and His worth, bringing Him worship and sacrifices of praise, we're also entering into communion with the Father and participating in the relationship we were born for. Blessing and glorifying God is a pathway to the gift of His presence, the preciousness of His nearness, and the unspeakable treasures of the joy therein. C.S. Lewis expressed it this way:“The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.” We bless God because we're made to. We bless God because we need to – I need to. We bless God because scripture invites us to, encourages us to, and commands us to! Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Original post by Brooke Ligertwood available on YouVersion. A five-day reading plan exploring some of the Biblical perspectives that anchor Brooke's album, EIGHT. Enjoy devotionals that journey through themes like the fear of the Lord, postures in prayer, enduring in wilderness seasons, enjoying God, and choosing Him in response to His choice of us!, as well as featuring lyrics and music from songs throughout the Album EIGHT by Brooke Ligertwood.

The Bible is not discreet about our relationship with God. It is clear. God is our Father; we are His children. In fact, God is identified as our Father 265 times in scripture. Most of those are found in the New Testament because through Christ we have a new identity as an adopted child of God. Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'” Galatians 4:7 says, “Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” You're a good, good FatherIt's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You areAnd I'm loved by YouIt's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am The word “father” invokes up all sorts of images for people. For some, “father” is associated with warm memories, laughter, family trips, or long conversations on a front porch. For others, the word is associated with absence, rejection, hurt, or pain. At times, we have greatly distorted what the role of a father was intended to be. This is why it's so important to understand that God is not only our Father, but He is a good Father. You may believe you are a child of God, but do you believe, really believe to your very core, that you are loved by God? This can be a difficult truth to grasp, even for the most fervent believer. Guilt, shame, and sin can prevent us from believing in and experiencing the love of God. Bitterness and past experiences remain in our hearts and minds, and over the years we grab hold of a lie that He wants good for others but not for ourselves. Oh, I've heard a thousand storiesOf what they think You're likeBut I've heard the tender whisperOf love in the dead of nightAnd You tell me that You're pleasedAnd that I'm never alone This sort of thinking is counter to what scripture says about God as our Father. Think about how the Father figure of God is described and what this says about His character: He embraces the prodigal son, and the older brother—He is loving, accepting, and patient. (Luke 15) He takes care of the sparrows but says He cares much more for his children than the sparrows—He provides and is attuned to our needs. (Matthew 10) He goes after every single lost sheep until it is found—He pursues a relationship with us and doesn't ever get tired of looking after the lost. (Luke 15) The two truths that have the most transformative power in your life are that you are God's child and God is a good Father. Tell yourself that today, over and over. It's who you are, and it's who He is. Based on the song Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin, Anthony Brown, and Pat Barrett. Original post available on YouVersion based on the album Never Lose Sight.