God Loves You ~ Part One

Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on December 2009 Brigham Young University (BYU) Devotional, and it is called "God Loves You" by Brother Rollin H. Hotchkiss. This post is part one, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Brother Hotchkiss has mentioned the following; "I testify that God, our Heavenly Father, loves each of you. He knows your name. He knows your circumstances. He hears your prayers and wants to bless you in every righteous desire through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

... I know these things because of my own journey. And if Heavenly Father loves me and knows of me since He is no respecter of persons - He loves you as well. My purpose today is to share with you five facets of my testimony that show God loves us. ... I hope that as I speak, you will contemplate the many ways that God loves you. As I conclude today, I will ask you a question: “So what are you going to do?”

First: I testify that God loves us because He grants unto us the revelator known as the Holy Ghost.

... If God loved me enough to answer my prayer, I know that He loves each of you.

Second: I testify that God loves you because He restored the priesthood, and the Aaronic Priesthood in particular, to the earth. I testify that His love is manifest through the gift of the ministering of angels that can protect us and comfort us as we learn more about Him.

... Although Simon spoke of the Melchizedek Priesthood, I was desiring this Aaronic Priesthood. I know that the priesthood - Melchizedek and Aaronic is God’s love made manifest to us to protect and serve. When you return home soon and see those gangly young Aaronic Priesthood holders in your ward, you might remember to thank them for carrying the power of God within them.

"Love is not only something you feel, it is something 
you do." - David Wilkerson.

Third: I testify that Heavenly Father loves us because He blesses us so much as we try to serve Him. 

He meets us much more than halfway when we act on the smallest seed of faith. He blesses us all along our journey back to His presence when we incline our ear and heart toward Him.

... How did faith work once you were baptized? Would Heavenly Father turn His attention elsewhere now that I was within the Church? ... I’ve never forgotten that lesson of being blessed beyond what I merited at the time. 

I was strengthened, confirmed in my faith, and encouraged. ... Heavenly Father blesses us so that our seeds of faith can grow all of our lives to produce a harvest of happiness as we put the kingdom of God first and allow everything else to follow (see Matthew 6:33). 

... I agree with Nephi, who said, “My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep” (2 Nephi 4:20).

Each effort I make, no matter how small, is blessed greatly. God is truly generous with His love. My faith was tried more seriously as I considered what to do about a full-time mission as a convert to the Church. I testify that as I exerted my faith, Heavenly Father strengthened my heart and melted the hearts of my parents, who had been adamantly opposed to my serving. 

But Heavenly Father went before my face and softened their hearts. I was able to serve with their blessing, and in giving back some of the love I had been given, as I served, I received, as usual, more blessings than I deserved. I know that God will support you as you look to Him in every good thing. 

He’s got your back! Selfless service at any time increases our gratitude for God."

Stay Tuned until next time.