Hearts, Paper Clips, and God's Remarkable Love

So I have been writing a lot about how we should serve God with our entire lives because He is the reason we are alive, but one really cool thing is that this God who is the reason for the whole universe really loves us, the little people He created. He cares about every aspect of our lives and not only gave His own son to fix our biggest problem but takes the time to reveal Himself to us, to show us beauty, to make us more like the one and only perfect man, His son Jesus Christ, and to continuously lavish His unfailing love on us! Awesome, right?

We {M. and L.} each have a special way of remembering God's love that we've shared with each other  and E. Now Hearts and Paperclips remind all three of us of God's love and power. Here's why:

L: About a year and a half ago I started noticing heart shapes in like everything! Clouds, (I literally took that picture out of my airplane window one day and did nothing to make that more like a heart shape.) rocks, and even piles of dirty clothes. I thought it was cool but didn't want to let it lead to romantic thoughts about the guys around me or go that direction at all. Somehow I decide that the heart shapes I saw would be a reminder of God's love for me. I kept seeing them, sometimes at just the right moments. It was so amazing to think that God might have worn away at a bolder in just the right way so that when I flew past I would see a heart shape and be reminded of how powerful His love is, that he would let me see a  twisted sideways heart shape sometimes and be reminded that God loves me even when I am a mess, or that he would make a little heart shaped opening in the clouds to be there when I flew past with my camera out so I could show you.


M: About a year and a half ago, I was at my last year of camp. My small group leader was sharing a story with us about paper clips. She and a friend of hers went traveling in a foreign country and they just kept randomly seeing paper clips everywhere. Instead of looking at it as just a coincidence, they decided to think of God's love every time they saw a paper clip. The story was simple, but it had a profound impact on me. I started noticing paper clips in random places too - my shelf at work during a hard day, attached to a school assignment, or lying in the street - and it reminded me of my small group leader's story. I don't see it as just a weird coincidence either; each time I see a paperclip now, I consider it a divine appointment. It's a reminder to me that God is in control (just like paper clips are designed to keep your office or desk in order). It also reminds me that He loves me enough to take the time to do something so little and so simple just because it might make me smile, just because it might make my day brighter, and He loves that. I don't know where people get the idea that God is out to get us; if we really take the time to look at what He does for us on a daily basis, we'll be able to get a glimpse of just how remarkable God's love is.


Now that you have heard our stories we have a challenge for you: next time you see a paperclip or a random heart shape, think about God's love. Remember that he loves you right now and at the moment you see that reminder. Then if you get a chance come back and tell us about it! We love reading your comments! 
Is there anything else that reminds you of God's love or sovereignty?  We would love to read about it! It could be something seemingly unrelated like a paperclip or more straight forward like reading the Bible. :D

L. and M.