When God says we should love Him with all our hearts, minds, and strength, it is simply what He Himself is doing toward us. God spared Abraham's son, but He did not spare His own son. God loves us continually, individually, and thoughtfully.

One evening as I prayed about a concern I had repeatedly brought to the Lord, I wondered why I struggled to trust God. I prayed something like this: "Dear Lord, You promised that if I am in You and You are in me I could ask whatever I wanted and You would answer, so why am I struggling to believe?" 

One Wednesday night on my way to attend a mid-week church service, I sensed a strong drawing to be alone with Jesus. I was early so slipped into the prayer room. Alone on my knees, I simply quietly enjoyed His presence. Soon I heard the congregation singing, and I began thinking that I should join the others. While trying to decide if I should leave the prayer room, I heard the Spirit say, "I want you to Myself.

I visited with a friend who shared a heartache, a husband who could have been a continual sorrow. Did she want pity?

One evening my husband suggested, "How about inviting my parents to visit us this weekend? They need a few days away from home."

With my hands in soapsuds and my back to my husband, I groaned inwardly as I reviewed the weekend schedule. Their visit would not fit into my plans at all. But before I replied, a phrase from Isaiah came to mind: "Hide not thyself from thine own flesh" (58:7 KJV).

Nine-year-old Darrell had been burned so terribly that all of his body, except his lips and one blistered cheek, were wrapped in sterile gauze. When his seared flesh was touched, his screams could be heard far down the hospital corridor. 

Janet and Sid were our next door neighbors who came to our neighborhood Bible study. I noticed that gradually Sid had begun making great spiritual progress. They were co-teaching a Sunday School class, and he would now lead in prayer during our study.

I had a mutual friend ask a Chinese lady from Taiwan, "Would you like to learn English by studying the Bible?" She responded that she would, and so we made plans to meet on Thursdays.
The first Thursday we were to meet, I was still wondering what study book to use with this Chinese friend. That morning I attended our city-wide prayer meeting, and in our prayer time we divided into small groups of three.