Meme with the word, "Note" super imposed on a journal with words on it

@JeanneTakenaka

In May, I participated in a twelve-day Instagram writer’s challenge. It was both stretching and fun. We were given a different word each day and created posts about those words relating to our writer’s life. 

As I contemplated each word, I discovered correlations between writing life and real-life. I’ve expanded on the original posts, and I’d love to read your thoughts on these words as they relate to your life as well.

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I don’t know when I fell in love with notes. As a girl, I wrote notes to my father, often accompanied with my attempts at drawing pictures. Every time I walked into his tiny office, my notes adorned his plywood walls. My words meant something to him. And his valuing my words meant the world to me.

Words have always mattered. As I grew into womanhood, I found great pleasure in writing letters to people. Penpals during my school years. Friends in other parts of the country as I began a new life at a college far from home. To friends in other states as I began my life as a military wife.

A greeting card with a butterfly on it and the word, "Grateful."

Hubs and I met before the age of cell phones, and long before text messaging ever became “a thing.” Our letters to each other were pages long. Since we lived in different states, our love affair took flight with written words. I still have every letter, every note he’s left—on a bathroom mirror, on the kitchen counter, in an anniversary card, or sent with an order of roses, or in my suitcase—stored away in a special place. 

Maybe it’s because I’m a words-of-affirmation girl that written words speak to a deep place in my heart. Maybe it’s because I love written words so much that I find meaning when I read my hard copy of my Bible. I highlight, write out thoughts, and highlight some more. There’s something peaceful about opening a new Bible and making it my own through the marks I imprint on its pages.

Image of the Bible verse: Zephaniah 3:17—"The Lord your God is in your midst; A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

God’s word was probably first shared orally and then transcribed onto parchment. And even after many centuries, His written words have stood firm. When I sit down to spend time reading God’s love note to His creation, my heart thrills when He speaks directly to something in my life through His word.

Certain psalms have become prayers for unsaved loved ones, for my heart, for my husband’s daily challenges, for our boys. I’m learning more about the people God included in the Bible. And when He reveals aspects of His character to me? I, of course, scribble notes in a special journal. 

a bible with the pages forming a heart

As much as notes from people mean (and to this day they touch me), God’s word—living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword—speaks the most intimately to my heart.

When I pray before I begin reading, God has a way of personalizing His word to the message I need to hear at that very moment. For the exact situation I’m walking through. 

His love notes, in the form of 66 books, speak life and truth to His children. They remind us repeatedly of how much He loves us. They remind us how we should live in this ever-darkening world. They share His perspective and offer reassurance when everything in life seems to shift or fall apart. 

A Bible with a key on a chain laid across the open page

God’s words matter more than anyone else’s, because they’re penned by the One who knows us best. Our Father knows our strengths, our passions, our weaknesses, our brokenness. But, we must seek Him and be intentional in getting to know Him.

When we do, He uses His words to steady us when the winds of circumstances blow hard. 

A picture of an open Bible, a red mug of coffee an a lit candle.

He tempers our passions, our thoughts. And He shapes them so we glorify Him as we live out what He’s created us to love doing and being.

He strengthens and equips us in our areas of weakness so we can be strong . . . in Him.

And He mends our broken places. He doesn’t always give us complete healing the way we expect. But the Lord heals the lies we’ve believed, the wounds inflicted, and the memories that have crippled us.

when we seek him 1

When we seek God . . . 

When we understand how much His words matter . . .

When we come to the place of clinging to Him for our every breath . . .

His notes come alive, filling us and reminding us how much we are loved.

What about you? What verse or passage in God’s word speaks love to you? What is your love language? 

Click to Tweet: His love notes, in the form of 66 books, speak life and truth to His children

I’m linking up with #TellHisStory and #RaRaLinkup

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