penny may seem insignificant and small to the world, but when it comes from the hand of God, it changes everything. Hopefully, this book will reveal how intimately you are loved, moment by moment, day after day, whether you find a penny on the ground, or end your day watching an amazing sunset.

You were first thought of in the deepest part of God’s heart, created gently and carefully with His hands, your name and your face forever etched on His mind. His whole heart was involved at that moment, and His whole heart still continues to love and surround you, whether in big moments or small. Your Heavenly Father adores you. His heartbeat quickens when He looks at you, waiting for you to recognize His presence. The first thing He wants you to understand is the way He loves you; everything about Him speaks of love without limits.

Like most of us, my life has had its ups and downs. But in every instance, I have been comforted in some way by the loving arms of my Heavenly Father. I pray that in this book, you will not only read about His extravagant love, but also get a glimpse of how that love looks throughout your days and nights.

My part in this project has only been to hear the heart of the Father and try to show you His love. I have experienced this love over and over again, along with His unlimited mercy and grace. My prayer is that you, too, will begin to see Him in more intimate ways, become acutely aware of His presence, and feel the warmth of His embrace.

So, take a few moments to be still, take a deep breath, and let His words speak to your soul. Open all the doors of your heart, so the light of His presence can come in. It’s the secret place where you and He can be alone and spend time together. Be encouraged! He has promised that you are never out of His sight and are always on His mind. And if you ever ask the question, “Where are You?”…His answer will ALWAYS be, “I’m right here with you.”

Be forever embraced by His affections.

i. How are you?”

“I’ve been thinking about you lately”

“Hello, it’s good to see you again!”

“We’ve been wanting to get together with you sometime”

These greetings are some of the nicest things people can say to you. We respond to thoughtful statements by thanking them because of the warm and fuzzy feelings we have inside. It’s so wonderful to know people are thinking about you from time to time, and even better when you can actually spend time with them. But time goes by, lives get busier, and good intentions have to wait. Time together is not always available and often we find ourselves wondering if we are even thought of at all.

However, there is Someone Whose thoughts are always on you, night and day, 24/7. It is written in the Bible, in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 16:

“Look…I have written your name upon the palm of My hand, and your walls are ever before Me.”

To think that your name can be engraved on the hand of God, is humbling beyond words. Why would the Creator of this Universe make such a promise? How could He be this personal? The answer is simple- because He is totally, deeply, and passionately in love with you! He longs to walk and talk with you, to give you an abundant life, to be with you in all things. There is no other explanation. It’s just that simple.

When your Heavenly Father chose to write your name on the palm of His hand, there was a reason. He did not put your name on His back, somewhere on His leg, shoulder, or anywhere else; it is right where He can see it at any moment in time. Not only does He see you, He sees everything that surrounds your life as well. The mention of “your walls are ever before Me” indicates that He sees your dwelling place, the town you live in, and all things concerning your life.

When you are eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner, He is thinking about you. He thinks about you while you are at work, driving, enjoying a cup of coffee, playing and every other activity you could dream up. He isn’t just present in the happy moments. He is also there when you are hurting, alone, or afraid; even then, He is still thinking about you. He is constantly watching those He loves, and through the most difficult times, He still remembers you.

Every second, minute, and hour of your life, is under His watchful eyes, all the while continuing to move you toward the plans He has designed just for you. He engraves our names on His hand as a permanent visual reminder, a marking, of His love for us.

As I was thinking about the different ways our culture uses markings, I began considering the popular trend of getting tattooed. Why would someone want to get a tattoo? It might be the way they remember a special event, or to honor someone they want to keep close. Perhaps it could be a statement about a certain point of view on some issue, or sharing their deepest thoughts. It seems that a generation of people are marking their bodies to remind them of things that are important to them.

Thinking a little deeper, markings like these are also found in the world of business and invention. When a person has a new idea, a new system or structure to make something work, there is often a patent or trademark associated with it. A person often pays a large sum of money to get a patent because it declares ownership and protects their intellectual property. In creating a new product, a unique design for a piece of clothing, writing a song or a book, a person now has a permanent mark on that product.

For many people scattered throughout our country, a trademark often comes in the form of a brand. This brand refers to the practice of farmers and ranchers, who take the time to create a unique and individual branding design for their livestock and even their ranch. After the design is carefully chosen, and the branding iron is created, each animal is individually taken aside, and given a mark that is specific to their owner. That mark tells anyone who sees it, who that particular animal belongs to. The owner of the ranch, now has the right to say, “This one is mine!”

These practical references all point to The One Who carefully made all the intricate details of our bodies, has written our names on the palm of His hand, so He can rightfully declare to the heavens, that you belong to Him. He loves you unconditionally. The amazing thing about God is that He will not force you to love Him in return. He offers each of us a “free will” clause, meaning we can choose to accept His love and protection, or walk away from it. He offers it to you as a free gift. The choice is yours to make, at any time.

So, whether you are walking toward Him, with Him, or away from Him know this: your name is still written on His hand. He will be patiently waiting and hoping you say “yes,” so He can declare to the heavens, “This one is Mine!”

Isaiah 49:16 - “See, I have inscribed you on the palm of My hand; your walls are continually before Me.”

Isaiah 41:10 - “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Job:12:10 - In Whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Proverbs 5:21 - For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Yourself in so many different ways through Your Word, and for lovingly showing us Who You are in exquisite word pictures and stories. To imagine my name engraved on Your hand, draws my heart and soul right into Your arms. I lay my life in Your hands, Father, with great anticipation. Thank You for Your constant love and watchful gaze over me, even when I wasn’t aware of Your presence; and I give You permission to change me, nurture me, and guide me, from this day on.

Thank You for being constantly mindful of me.