The glorious truth of Christianity is that you are loved. You are loved not "because of" but "in spite of".

You are loved just because you are loved. You are loved completely, wholly, fully and passionately. There is nothing you have done to deserve this extraordinary love and there is nothing you could ever do to lose this enthusiastic love.

The love of the Father is a love that cannot be understood with the human mind and will only be realized ultimately in eternity.

You are loved by the One who made you, by the One who has matchless plans for your life and by the One who died to demonstrate His great love toward you.

Love is a gift, isn't it?  We all go through life simply wishing that someone would love us. And when love happens, it is rare and exquisite and breathtaking.

Love is the greatest quest in human existence. It is the cause that every generation fights for and it is the melody in human relationship.

You have been fought for, my friend, and you are the reason the Savior sings!

The greatest heartbreak in human history is the failure of a person to discover the love that has been offered so freely. Parents may disappoint, spouses may disappear, children may run away, but the love of the Father reaches past human failure and embraces the coldest heart.

If you were able to earn this divine love, it would cheapen its value. The love offered is not a love upon which there is a price tag; it comes freely but it has been purchased at an exorbitant fee. It doesn't make much sense, does it?

When you are disappointed with your life or feel all your attempts at significance have been futile, remember you are loved by the greatest power in all of history past or history yet to come.

Decades ago, there was a popular song whose lyrics often pass fleetingly through my mind. These words present a riddle to my understanding: "What the world needs now is love, sweet love! It's the only thing that there's just too little of!"

Although those lines were accompanied by a powerful melody, I could never understand what they meant. The world already has the greatest love that has ever been shown—but it has rejected it.

The love is readily available but the acceptance of that love is the missing ingredient. There is not a dearth of love but there is the absence of the recognition of the love that has been bestowed upon humanity.

Next time you feel alone or rejected by people—remember the love.

When your plate is too full and your stress level is high—think about His love for you.

Next time you feel empty or unknown— remember the love.

If you ever feel like giving up or unimportant—remember you are worth dying for.

You are loved completely, fully, passionately and enthusiastically. You are loved.

Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written five books, including No More Ordinary, Holy Estrogen!, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart and Defiant Joy! Her most recent book, Refined: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Fire, was released last August. Her teaching DVD, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart, won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming. You can also listen to Carol's "A Jolt of Joy" program daily on the Charisma Podcast Network. Connect with Carol or inquire about her speaking to your group at justjoyministries.com.

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