“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, TLV
A Father’s Love. No April’s Fool here. This year Passover and our Savior’s Resurrection are in the same month. I love that. So as we begin this auspicious month, I’ll start with the basics. John 3:16.
This verse is commonly known as the Gospel in a nutshell. The verse most Sunday School children memorize. The verse that says so much about so many themes it would take a lifetime to unpack it. Yet, how often do we — especially in the middle of preparations for celebrating our Savior’s sacrificial death and resurrection? A reminder of His last supper—the Passover seder.
Do we ponder this verse — in between finding new ways to use matzah or searching for the perfect hats for services? Meditate on it? What are some of those themes?
Here are just seven to get us going:
- The measure of God’s love.
- If there is a Son, then there is a Father, why was it important for Jesus to mention this?
- Why didn’t Jesus say, “I love you so much, I came down to earth?”
- The significance of Yeshua saying, “God loved the whole world,” not just Israel and the Jewish people.
- What does it mean to perish? Does God want anyone to perish? Who will perish?
- Is believing really all it takes?
- If we are redeemed children of God, why is Jesus God’s one and only Son?
But within all these themes is one word: Love.
Think More About It
Rather than my usual extrapolations and thoughts, how about yours? What does John 3:16 mean to you?
May we take time to meditate on our Father’s love.
Praying for Israel—Prayer Prompt
We have heard with our ears, O God
—our fathers have told us—
of a work You did in their days, in days of old. Psalm 44:2[1], TLV
As we meditate on the Father, let us pray that Israel and her people worldwide would remember. Remember what He did for them for thousands of years. Let this remembrance draw them closer to Him. And us. Amen? God bless you!
Testing 123
Testing 123
Test 321
Great interview. I have never read any of Angela’s books. This has inspired me to read her now.
You’ll love them! Thanks for stopping by for a read. God bless!
It sounds like it was a divine meeting with the two of you sitting at the table together. The spark of a lifelong friendship. This would be a new genre for me, but it definitely sounds worth looking into. Thank you for the introduction to a new to me author!
Thanks for stopping by, Jessica. It was indeed a divine meeting. I know you’ll love Angie’s books.
Thanks, Terri, and everyone else who stopped by! I hope you will try some of my books–I love doing the research!
Thanks, Angie. Your love of research and God’s word shows!
Sounds like all three books would be good reads! Thank you for highlighting this author to us.
Hi Diana! I love Angie’s books. One of hers is in my all-top 10. I hope you’ll discover the same! Thanks for stopping by for the read, you have been entered into the give away.
Hi Angie and Terri,
Thanks for the great interview. It’s nice to get to know Angie better, and I relate to the first draft. (: I often feel as though I’m walking in gelatin to get finished. Congratulations on all of your writing success!
Yes, I relate to that to–I love the analogy of walking in gelatin.
Thanks for stopping by for the read, you have been entered into the give away.
I enjoyed the interview, but I have to comment on something that you said in your introductory remarks, Terri. I laughed when I read that Angie learned how to flirt after reading Gone With the Wind. I’m picturing this 11-year-old in her best Southern drawl saying, “Well, fiddle-dee-dee!” So cute! By the way, Gone with the Wind was my favorite, both the book and the movie, when I was that age, too. (But I don’t think I was getting flirting lessons from it!)
I laughed at your image of Angie. I suspect it is pretty close to what it looked like
Thanks for stopping by for the read and thanks for entering the give away! God bless.
What a wonderful interview! I’ve read several of Angela Hunt’s books and loved them, but never knew much about her as a person or what inspired her writing. I love it when authors write their passion and I especially love it when Biblical truths are clearly portrayed through fiction. I’ll read Angela’s books in a whole new way now. Thank you both for this interview!
Hi Cathy! Thanks so much for stopping by for the read. Angie is such an inspiration to us writers. A beautiful example of why writing the passions that God has given us makes us authentic to our calling. You’ve taught me this as well.
Such an interesting interview! Thank you both. Such a refreshing kindred spirit.
Hi Kim, Angie is such an interesting person. Thanks so much for stopping by. You have been entered for a chance to win an autographed copy of The Shepherd’s Wife.
So happy you got the comment section fixed. I really enjoyed the interview. I love books based on Bible characters. Looking forward to reading “The Shepherds Wife.”
Hi Debbie, thanks for stopping by for a read. Yes, I love the new comments function. It has so many cool features. Thanks for commenting. Tomorrow is the last day to enter, then Wednesday we’ll choose a winner! And you’ll love The Shepherd’s Wife.