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JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU I LOVE YOU

Paul Powell tells the story of a well-known preacher from years ago. His name was Carter Jones. Carter had a small room in the attic of his home that he used as a place of prayer. When he was especially burdened, he would make his way up the winding staircase to that room to spend some quiet moments with God. The members of his family knew that when he went to the attic room for prayer. They were not to bother him under any circumstances.

One day, under some heavy burdens, he climbed the stairs, went into the room, and knelt beside the chair to pray. But he had hardly started when the door swung open and there stood his little girl. The moment his eyes met hers, she knew she had done wrong.

She knew she shouldn't be there. But she said, "Daddy, you've been so busy lately I haven't seen you much. And I just wanted to tell you that I love you." And with that she threw her arms around her father's neck, gave him a big hug, wheeled around, and was gone as quickly as she had come.

Still on his knees, Carter wiped a tear from his eye and said, "Father, I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much time for you. I just want to tell you again that I love you."

Paul Powell adds: "That's what Christ wants from all of us. Unless we say it as well as feel it, and show it as well as confess it, we do not love Him as He wants to be loved. He wants us to show our devotion by our commitment, our calluses, and by our...

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