"I love Jesus because He first loved me----just think He loved me even before I was born."
He promised to never leave me, "He's always there when I call on Him. I know I've disappointed Him many times and He always forgives me and forgets."
He has blessed me with so many things, health, a home, a loving family, a church that I love and people who love me just as I am. Most of all He has blessed me with hope, faith, and love.
My family loves Jesus as well. When David was a teenager he gave me this plaque that says, "Mom, I thank you for showing me the love of Jesus."
I love Jesus because he answers my prayers, and He prays for me just as I pray for myself and all of you.
He has healed me of cancer and many more diseases and illnesses.
I love Jesus because he gives us such beautiful sunsets, and pretty flowers, grass and trees and gives us rain to help them grow.
I love Jesus because He's my friend and I can tell Him anything and everything and He understands.
I love Jesus because through my many surgeries, sicknesses and trials He is always there with His loving arms around me and lets me know everything will be alright.
Though I'm weak and imperfect He still loves me. He understands my pain and feels for me when I suffer.
He's the comforter who lives in us to strengthen us and give us victory over sin.
He has taken the punishment we deserved. Matthew 3:16-17 says, "we see the Son coming up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove and we hear the Father declaring, "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Who wouldn't love someone with all these attributes?
Jesus came to save the lost, the last, and the least. That includes you and me.
Habakkuk 2:3 in the Living Bible says, "But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue."
So please keep on praying and dreaming and keep on loving my Jesus as I do."
Yes, I am thankful for my mom. I plan on "praying and dreaming and keeping on loving Jesus" as she does.
Happy Mother's Day,
Pastor Dave
*My mom is 85 and is a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Plant City, Florida.