Every time I read this verse, I get so excited. A pastor I had in Texas said this in one of his sermons, "An old Methodist preacher once said, "I heard the Gospel, I heard the Gospel, I heard the Gospel, then praise God, one day, I heard the Gospel".

If you are in tune with the heart of Jesus, every time you read this verse you should be excited and stand in awe of God giving us His Son! It is impossible for man to put into words the Love that God has extended to us through His Son.

Are you in love with Jesus? Is He the first priority in your life? He should come before our family, loved ones, and friends. I have said this many times, but I say it again, there is no one like Jesus. There is no Friend like Jesus. Only Jesus can see into our hearts and wipe away the tears from our hearts. Our loved ones can wipe away the tears from our face, but only Jesus can kiss away the tears in our heart.

I wandered for years in the barren wilderness of my heart. I was completely empty inside, and nothing anyone said or did would help. It took the Precious Hand of Jesus stretched downward to me to lift me out of the hopelessness of my life. What a Friend we have in Jesus! Reach upward and take the Hand of Jesus and you, too, will know this Joy and Peace in your heart.

October 16, 2005