God thinks you're wonderful!!!

Some weeks I feel like I go to church out of habit and I expect to hear the same Relief Society or Sunday School lesson that I've heard a million times before. It usually turns out to be those same weeks that I leave church so overwhelmed with my Heavenly Father's love for me. It's those weeks that it seems He knew exactly what I needed to hear that day. Well, this past Sunday was one of those days. The girl who normally teaches got sick the day before and they had to call someone else to sub for her last minute. I feel like that was a tender mercy for me that day. I'm going to post a small chunk of the book the teacher read to us. It was entitled "God thinks you're wonderful" by Max Lucado. It's a little long.. but if you can find the time to read this, I can promise it will change your day!

God is Fond of you. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. If he had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart. Face it, friend. He is crazy about you. By the way, it may be difficult for you to believe that God knows your name…but he does. Written on his hand, spoken by his mouth, whispered by his lips. Your name. “I have written your name on my hand.” Isaiah 49:16. Our hearts are not large enough to contain the blessings that God wants to give. So try this. The next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves your speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.” If we give gifts to show our love, how much more would he? He could have left the world flat and gray…but he didn’t. He splashed orange in the sunrise and cast the sky in blue. And if you love to see geese as they gather, chances are you’ll see that too. Why give a flower fragrance? Why give food its taste? Could it be he loves to see that look upon your face? So promise me you’ll never forget that you aren’t an accident or an incident…you are a gift to the world, a divine work of art, signed by God. You were knit together – Psalm 139:13. You weren’t mass-produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth by the Master Crafts-man. Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps. God is for you. Had he a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If there’s a tree in heaven, he’s carved your name in the bark. Maybe you don’t want to trouble God with your hurts. But “he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). He is waiting for you, to embrace you whether you succeed or fail. Your heavenly Father is very fond of you and only wants to share his love with you. Untethered by time, God sees us all. Vagabonds and ragamuffins all, he saw us before we were born and he loves what he sees. Flooded by emotion, overcome by pride, the starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, “You are my child. I love you dearly. I’m aware that someday you’ll turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I’ve already provided a way back.” You have captured the heart of God. He cannot bear to live without you. God’s dream is to make you right with him. God does more than forgive our mistakes; he removes them! We simply have to take them to him. You can talk to God because God listens. Let a tear appear on your cheek, and he is there to wipe it. He has sent his angels to care for you, his Holy spirit to dwell in you, his church to encourage you, and his word to guide you. As much as you want to see him, he wants to see you more. If you want to touch God’s heart, use the name he loves to hear. Call him “Father.” He thinks you’re wonderful!