Thursday, October 31, 2013

All-Encompassing Love

     It is out baby’s 23rd birthday today. She is living at home after a few years away at school. The morning will begin with chocolate chip pancakes and a gift and end with a family celebration. This has been a stressful week for Lauren. One of her special education students is in the hospital in an induced coma. It was difficult for her to see this precious child immobile, not knowing if he will be ok.  Next was a flu-bug. Last night she donated ten inches of her beautiful hair to “Locks of Love.” The salon was thirty minutes from home and there was a dense fog to get through driving home.

Navigating life’s ups and downs can be tricky. Lauren knows Jesus and for this my heart sings. In the Book of John, Jesus reminds us over and over again that He is God. He will supply the answers to all of our needs.

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

Jesus is the past, the present and the future. He always was, always is and always will be. He is the everlasting God. Throughout John’s Gospel He continues to repeat this message. “ I AM” the bread of life (6:35), the Light of the world (8:12, 9:5),  the Door (10:7), the Good Shepherd (10:11,14), the Resurrection and the Life (11:25), the Way and the Truth and the Life (14:6), the Vine (15:1)

If your soul needs nourishment, feed it with His Bread. If darkness is closing in around you, let Him be the Light to guide you out. Looking for a new beginning? He will be the Door. Feeling lost and alone? The Good Shepherd will be your comfort. Your life can be renewed by His death and resurrection. You will find real life in the great I AM. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. Is there a storm on the horizon? Become rooted deep in the Vine and you will remain standing.

I pray for our amazing, delightful, loving daughter, Lauren, this morning. May God continue to guide, bless, nourish and comfort her with His transforming love, into all of the gifts He has planned for her. She is one of our greatest gifts! Happy Birthday Lulu!

Dear Jesus,
Our greatest gift is knowing You. Thank you for being all things to us. Give our daughter, Lauren, a special blessing on this special day. Thank you for the families and friends you give us. Show us how to treasure them every single day. You will provide us with everything we need.
Amen


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Spiritual Love

     The Words of Jesus were confusing even to His followers. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Words were made clear. For all of us on the other side of the resurrection, we see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior. Rather than needing the signs and wonders of a miracle, we gain the Spiritual knowledge we need to follow Him. Jesus spoke these Words about the Holy Spirit that was to come.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him for He lives with you and will be in you.  John 14:16-17

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me.  John 15:25-26

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.  John 16:7

     The Holy Spirit, our advocate, our teacher, our comforter, our counselor, could not be sent to us until after Jesus arrived back in heaven. Through this Spirit we have the very breath and power of God, to guide us into truth, to decipher the Word of God, to help us discover and to use the Spiritual gifts God has given us.

     Jesus not only gives us the promise of eternal life and eternal love, He gives us His own Spirit to give us hope and joy throughout our lives. Be filled with the Spirit today, the Holy Spirit of the true and living God. Jesus is the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Dear Father in Heaven,
You are the triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We thank you for allowing us the gifts of the Spirit within and around us. Guide us in Your wisdom as we allow Him, the Advocate, the Counselor, the Teacher of our souls to show us the next step.
In Jesus Name,

Amen

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Eternal Love

     Will you give Jesus a chance? In the sixth chapter of the book of John, Jesus is speaking of things that will not make perfect sense until after His death and resurrection. His Words will never make sense to some. As He speaks He knows in His heart that there will be those who will not believe. He is speaking to a group about the things of the Spirit.

The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you-they are full of the Spirit and life.  John 6:63

     At this time, some of His followers turned away and left Him. There are many today that take a peek into Christianity and walk away. After some of the followers left Him, Jesus asks;

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.  John 6:67

  And the answer?

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life.” John 6:68

     Is it time to find eternal answers? Is it time to get rid of the fear of death? Only then can we live. Jesus has the Words to eternal life. Believing and putting our trust in the death and resurrection of the Savior comes with a guarantee. Our flesh counts for nothing. The everlasting, forever, eternal part of us can live in paradise with our Father in heaven through Jesus. To whom will you go?

Dear Father in Heaven,
We praise You for giving us the gift of eternal life through Jesus, Your Son. We do not deserve it, but Your all-powerful love found a way to bring us back to You. One day we will be with You forever with no more tears and no more pain. Please open hearts today to hear Your Words of eternal life, that they may believe and accept Jesus.
Amen


Monday, October 28, 2013

The One Jesus Loves

     Are you unsure about faith in Jesus? Are you wondering if He is real and if you can trust Him as Savior? We are going to take a peek into the Gospel of John this week. John’s Gospel is different from the other three, (Matthew, Mark and Luke). John’s Words are more relational, more profound, John’s Words are always a great place to begin in the Bible and a good place to return time and time again.

     John was an eyewitness to the life of Christ as one of His disciples. I love the fact that John calls himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loves.” (John 13:23) We could all say that about ourselves. You and I are the ones whom Jesus loves.

     It’s all about love, this Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. Let’s begin our peek into John’s Words with a familiar verse.

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

     It’s all about love and believing in the Son of God. The word, “believe” is written in John’s Gospel almost 100 times! Accepting the love of Christ and believing in His death and resurrection sums it all up. The message is good! It is real and it is for you, the one whom Jesus loves. What does He ask of us? To believe!

Dear Lord,
This Good News of Yours appears to be too good to be true. We make it so complicated and confusing. Let the message of Your love sink in once and for all as we believe in You and inherit eternal life.
In Jesus name,

Amen 

Friday, October 25, 2013

A Word for the Weekend

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.  Isaiah 45:3


Dig for God’s hidden treasures in your life. Watch for His riches in places you would never expect. Watch for a rainbow through the gloomy clouds, a prayer answered, a dream fulfilled, a friend’s joy, a warm hug, the chance to bless someone in your life, the opportunity to love. He is with you, inside and out. He calls your name. Enjoy the weekend.

Unseen Things

     After giving Jesus the good, the bad, and the ugly of our lives, the God of the universe begins His miraculous work. He is the One who spoke the earth into being. He is the One who placed each hair on our heads, who names each star in the sky. He is the One who can heal, comfort, and walk us through our suffering. He is the One with the nail prints on His hands. He is the One who willingly left the perfection of paradise to take on the passion of the cross. He is the One who shed His blood in order to remove the gap between God and man. He is the One to take it all, the baggage, the distress, and the hopelessness and turn it into something precious.

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

     The first part of the above verse is the most valuable. Take delight in the Lord. As you grow to know Him and understand His ways, His desires will become your own. His dreams for you will become more clear. The hidden dreams in God’s heart for you will, most likely, be far different from what you have been dreaming for yourself. Most of the time, the blessings He brings our way will be from the desire to bless someone else. It is His way and the desires of His heart for you will make your own heart sing.

     Acknowledge Him in all your ways today and He will direct your path. (see Proverbs 3) You may be surprised and delighted to discover the unseen dreams waiting for you. Read these two verses today as a prayer, believing God is doing His work in you.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Unseen Things

     I pray that God has begun to heal the hidden hurts in your heart. When we allow Jesus to work with us, the world around us begins to shift as our perspective changes. Gradually our hearts and minds become filled with the things of the Holy Spirit. Our values change and one day we realize it has become more important to please God than to please ourselves or others. And that unseen, hidden power of the Holy Spirit is unleashed.

For God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

     A friend of mine went on a mission trip to a poor area of Mexico. The group was looking forward to bringing food and water and other essentials to these people living with the bare necessities of life. This group saw themselves as the providers, the ones with the answers, the ones to help this poor community.

     God had a different plan. This very small, very poor community ended up teaching these seemingly wealthy Americans a profound lesson; how to rely on God for everything. This group of missionaries saw pure joy and contentment in the faces and in the lives of this impoverished group. In fact, the Mexican people had great sympathy for all of us who have enough or a little too much. They had learned how to rely totally on God.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

     Rely on God’s power. Trust Him with your hurts and weaknesses. Unleash that unseen power of the Holy Spirit today in love. Let the contentment of having Christ with you be enough.

Dear Jesus,
The culture around us tells us we never have enough. We strive for the unimportant and lose sight of true riches. Give us Your power and love as we move out in the world today. Give us godliness with contentment.
Amen




Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Unseen Things

     Are there feelings, memories, hurts hidden deep within you? Have you put on a happy face and answered, “I’m fine,” when asked how you are doing? Is there anger and bitterness that has never been allowed to be spoken? Have those feelings been pushed down deep inside where they have been slowly simmering for years and you fear the time when that pot will boil over as the lid finally pops off?

    God can heal the hidden things in our lives. He knows it all. The unseen things within us are seen with His all-knowing eyes. Think about speaking it all out to him, the loss, the shame, the unforgiveness, the hate, the fear, the anxiety, and the loss. Give it all to Him to sort out and allow Him to help you heal.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Hebrews 4:13

     Is it time to release it? Lay it bare before your Father. He loves you, every bit of you, even the parts you do not want to share. God turns darkness into light. He will transform those hidden things into joy and peace. He will use the hurt within you for good with His miraculous ways.

He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.  Daniel 2:22

     God is pure light and light dispels darkness. It’s time to heal, to put the broken pieces back together and make something new. You are God’s child. You are His workmanship. He is waiting in the light of day to heal the hidden things in all of us.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  Psalm 147:3

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus,
We ask you humbly today to heal the hidden things. Hear our words and heal our broken hearts. We lay it all bare before You. Replace hurt with peace. You are the light of life. Remove any darkness and fill it with your glorious light.
Amen



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Unseen Things

     “Unseen Things” could be the title for my life. I miss a lot going on around me. A LOT! With no peripheral vision, there is a whole world operating around me, just beyond my sight. I miss handshakes at church, full cups sitting on the counter, and the curb right in front of me as I walk. Even large print is becoming difficult to read. Adjusting from sunlight to the inside of a store takes much longer than for most.

     I am blessed to have patient family members and friends willing to assist me along the way. My 83-year-old neighbor brings me to the Bible study I facilitate every Tuesday. It makes me smile.

     What are you missing in your life? Are your senses beginning to dim with age? Are you missing someone you love or waiting for a new love in your life? Are you missing out on the inner life of the Spirit? I guarantee Jesus can fill in the missing pieces in your life. Maybe He will ask YOU to fill in the missing pieces in someone else’s life. You may have heard this verse before, since it is my favorite and you may read it again. Jesus will give you Words to fill your heart, too.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16

     You may have heard this before, too. Jesus changes everything. Allow Him to make the rough places smooth before you and to turn your darkness into light.

Dear Jesus,
You make the impossible seem possible and use us to do Your work in all kinds of ways. Would you fill each reader’s missing pieces in their lives today? You are with us. You are the One with the missing pieces in our lives. It is You.
Amen



Monday, October 21, 2013

Unseen Things

     Our girl’s weekend in Wisconsin flew by with long walks, shopping, buying squash from a corner truck and making soup, sitting in the hot tub and great conversation. We are blessed. Even the cold and gloomy weather did not dampen our spirits.

     Along with the laughter and fun, there were tears as we spoke often of our Patsy. Our wonderful friend died almost one year ago and we miss her. As we drove along a country road, one of the group noticed a rainbow directly to our left. I said, “I think it’s Patsy saying hello from heaven.” We said a prayer of thanks for our friendship and for Patsy. When we looked again, the rainbow was gone.

     Discovering the eternal within our finite lives isn’t always as visible as a rainbow, but God is with us riding along on a country road or sitting in our backyards, or at our desks. His all-seeing eyes will help us to see those things from above. The things that will last forever.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

     The colors of the rainbow are just a glimpse of what will be ours forever, when we will see Patsy and our other loved ones amidst the beauty of heaven.

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third, agate, the fourth, an emerald. The fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth, a topaz, the tenth, a turquoise, the eleventh, a jacinth, the twelfth, an amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold as pure as transparent glass. Revelation 21: 20-22

Dear Father in heaven,
Open our eyes to witness a little bit of heaven today, as we fix our eyes on the eternal rather than the temporary. We fix our eyes on You and Your Son.
In Jesus name,
Amen




     

Friday, October 18, 2013

A Word for the Weekend

     I’m off for a girl’s weekend. Fall colors, good food, shopping, all shared with life-long friends. This year will be one of the first without Patsy.  The memories and stories will be there with us and we know she will remain a vital part of our group as long as we live. Take time this weekend to appreciate God’s creation no matter where you are.

     If there isn’t anyone special to share this weekend with you, look to God to be your refuge and to love you with His unconditional love. His creation is all around.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God. People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  Psalm 36:5-7


Thursday, October 17, 2013

Creative Design

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”  Genesis 2:18

      Today I am celebrating the unique one-of-a-kind design of my husband, It is his 60th birthday today and I thank my God for him. Not only does God design us, but He weaves a pattern and places the right people in our lives at just the right time.  He brings people in and out of our lives for a purpose

     My husband and I are polar opposites in many respects. He clips coupons. I am a spender. He sees the world in black and white and focuses on one thing at a time. I see the world in different hues and am continually distracted. My love languages are physical touch and words and he does not like to cuddle or talkJ  Somehow, someway, over the years, we have begun to appreciate those opposite attributes and have come to a beautiful place.
    
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”  Matthew 19:4-5

     How do two opposite beings become one flesh? It is God’s miraculous way. Who can you celebrate today? Who has God woven into your life to make a treasured design? Tell them they are loved and appreciated. The love of my life is 60 today. God made him just for me.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the loved ones in our lives. Show us how to love and appreciate them, how to celebrate them. Each day is precious, each person is unique. Show us how to weave our differences into a beautiful pattern used to glorify You.
In Jesus Name,
Amen


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Creative Design

And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  Matthew 10:30

     God’s greatest design is you! Even the hairs on your head are numbered. No one knows you more intimately than your Creator. There is no need to compare yourself with anyone else. You are special. He created you specifically for a season such as this. With your personality type, your talents and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you can live your life with purpose and a unique calling.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful. I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

     If you have not read through all of Psalm 139, I encourage you to do so, and recognize how close Jesus is to you. He will guide one-of-a-kind you with each step you take. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that full well. Your Creator knows that, too. How He loves you!

Dear Jesus,
Help us to focus on the beautiful way you have made each one of us. You look at our hearts most of all. Let them beat for You and Your purposes as we live out our unique callings.
Amen



Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Creative Design

God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:25

     There are miracles around us every day. I take so much for granted. God gave us the earth and all that is in it. Think of each type of bird in your neighborhood, the sparrows, the chickadees, the hummingbirds, and the blue jays. Each one is a different size, a different color and has a unique song.  We even have an eagle’s nest two blocks from our home in a suburb of Minneapolis. Amazing!

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Matthew 6;26

     Take just a minute to think about the shapes and colors of each of these beautiful creations of God; the zebra, the elephant, the ostrich, the monkey, the polar bear, the kangaroo, the koala bear, and the giraffe.  Does the thought of God’s creation make you sit in wonder and awe? How can we deny the hand of the Creator? I wonder how anyone can believe all of the wonders around us came from a random big bang or evolved out of mud? And as one comedian said, “If we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” J

      As you enjoy this fall season and this particular season of your life, be grateful for the wonders we all take for granted and praise the great designer, our Heavenly Father.

Dear Father,
Your works are good. Thank you for Your creation. We are in awe of You. Thank You for making us smile this morning as we think about all of the varieties of your creation around us. We thank You.

Amen

Monday, October 14, 2013

Creative Design

Let the sea resound and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy. Let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.  Psalm 98:7-9

     I rejoiced in God’s creation this weekend, with the myriad colors ot the trees against the crystal blue sky on a crisp Sunday afternoon. The air smelled fresh and we had the convertible top down. My face is even a little sunburned today. The seasons are moving along quickly as the decades collect behind us. My husband is turning 60 this week and it causes us to pause, once again, as we consider the memories and look to the future.

     God’s design is all around us, in the way our bodies move, in the color of our eyes, in the steady beat of our hearts, in the Mississippi River that flowed alongside of us on our drive yesterday. He created it all. He gave us the earth to enjoy. We celebrate each season of the earth’s cycle and each season of our lives. Recognize the design of the Creator. Look around you this morning as you drive to work or take a walk or peek out your window. Savor each moment. Change is in the air.

Dear Lord,
We thank you for the beauty around us. Each season has its share of blessings. You designed it all for us and we are grateful. Let the earth rejoice in You!
In Jesus Name,

Amen

Friday, October 11, 2013

A Word for the Weekend

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28


God is working for the good. He is always working for a good purpose when we can’t see it, or don’t understand, or wonder how or why or when. He is working it all out for good. Believe that as you witness the beauty of God’s creation this fall. Enjoy the weekend!

Do Have Fun

     One standard view of the Christian is the dutiful, stodgy volunteer, with the self-sacrificing air about her or him, or the old “church lady” character from Saturday Night Live. Really, we should be the ones having fun with joy radiating from our hearts even in the toughest of times. We are going to heaven and we have the power of the risen Savior living within us! He provides a way to take away out fretful moments and our deepest fears, and He even fights our battles for us. Our lives should make others want to know Jesus, too! What do you think? Rather than walking around with a pitiful and woe-is-me attitude, let’s use our God-given gifts to do our God-given work.
   
     The apostle, Paul, taught and mentored his friend, Timothy, and grew to think of him as a son. After teaching him and praying over him and getting him ready for ministry of his own, he said these words,

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”  2 Timothy 1:6

     Part of the fun of being a Christian is remaining enthusiastic about all God has in store for us as we use our unique spiritual gifts and talents wherever He has placed us. He may ask us to do things way beyond what we could imagine doing in our own strength. God put a dream in Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild the Jewish temple. It was a daunting and seemingly impossible task, but he went ahead with God’s help.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

     That joy of knowing Jesus is always there. Let’s allow Him to be our strength with whatever daunting tasks lay ahead of us. Do not fret, do not fear, do not forget to remember His promises and His plan for the future and let Him fight the battles. He is our strength and our joy.  Jesus said,

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  John 10:10

The amplified Bible expands the Words in this verse. It concludes,

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows. John 10:10b

  Dear Jesus,
We want to enjoy this life to the full, the abundant life of joy in You. We remember the price You paid to give us that abundant life. You give us joy and strength to make it through the day. Fan the flame in each reader’s heart to discover their spiritual gifts and to use them with Your wisdom. Let our lives bring others to know You, too.
Amen


     

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Do Not Fight

If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friend, but leave room for God’s wrath; for it is written, “It is mine to avenge, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Romans 12:18-19

     Have you been deeply hurt by someone? I guess we all have at some point in our lives. How about revenge? Have you thought about getting back at someone for what they have done? Is there a hidden anger and bitterness, along with unforgiveness, left inside? God asks us to bless our enemies. If they are hungry, we are to feed them. (Romans 12 and Proverbs 25)

     Our God is full of justice, fairness and mercy. We may not understand why violence, greed and pride appear to be thriving and why the loving and the meek of the world are struggling. God knows. The battle is ultimately His. One day all will be set right. His wrath is still to come and one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. In the meantime, He will fight and finish our battles. We can pray and put on our protective spiritual gear. And remember, the battles we see around us are spiritual in nature. It is not the people, but the ones who hold them captive.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm the, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition, to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:12-18

     God places His defensive armor all around us, including the helmet on our head, the breastplate and shield in front of us, His truth buckled safely around our waist, and shoes that walk in His peace. The offensive weapons he gives us are His Word and our prayers. Pray for all kinds of things and speak the Word of God. It drives the devil away!!

     Loving our enemies may appear to be impossible, but in Proverbs 25 and in Romans 12, God tells us it will be like putting heaping coals on their heads. That sounds good to me sometimes. Forgive me, Lord. Those heaping coals may bring a heat from the Lord to turn our enemies to Him. And at the end of it all, that is what we would want for everyone. Take your enemies to God in prayer. Let God take it from there. Vengeance and justice are in His hands. Good outweighs evil and love covers a multitude of sins.

Dear Lord,
You ask us to do what seems impossible. But with you, all things are possible. Change our hearts today to trust You with our battles. We stand firm with the armor around us.
In Jesus name,
Amen


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Do Not Forget

    Don’t forget to remember God’s mercy, love and hope for you. The Bible is filled with verses reminding us of the history of God’s faithfulness. We can trust Him to fulfill His promises. Everything we have, everything we are belongs to our Creator. Remembering that God’s mercy is new everyday means we can let the past go and move into a future of hope. “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past” (Isaiah 43:18) and “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what Is ahead,” (Philippians 3:13) remind us of God’s promises for a future with Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

    Remember God fulfills the promises of His Word.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord, yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.  Psalm 77:11

I remember, Lord, Your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.  Psalm 119:52

     Jesus fulfilled God’s promises. He purposefully and steadfastly walked to the cross to take all of our sins upon Himself. Every wicked scheme, every small lie, every disease, every bit of evil was paid for by the shedding of His blood. All He asks is for us to believe He is the Savior. He is the One. He forgives our past and moves us into a glorious future.

And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you, do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper, He took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthains 11:24-25

     When we take the bread and drink the wine of communion, we remember Jesus. The past, the present and the future are in His hands. Do not forget.

Dear Father,
We thank You for Your Son’s sacrifice. Forgive us our past and move us into a future filled with hope. We remember Your psomises. We remember Your love and sacrifice. We remember Jesus. Help each one of us to take His hand today into the future He has in store for us.
 Amen


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Do Not Fear

The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

     Those little threads of worry and fret we talked about yesterday can turn into real fear. Our imaginations run wild with worst-case scenarios, or we wake up in the middle of the night trembling from a bad dream. The terrors of the night become real terrors of the day when we pick up the newspaper or watch the news of the day. I shared with you our oldest daughter’s favorite verse a couple of weeks ago. Here is our younger daughter, Lauren’s favorite verse:

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

     Our God is a mighty God. He is able to take away our worry, our doubt, our dismay and our fear. He hears our cry and saves us. He will pull us up out of the darkness around us. He is our light. Did you know there is something or should I say Someone we are to fear?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.  Psalm 111:10

Priase the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands.  Psalm 112:1

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.  Psalm 145:19

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

     This fear of the Lord is a trembling awe and reverence for who He is. Let His love and care cast away every other fear as we kneel before His Almighty power. The wisdom of His commands drives out the fears we face each day. His love is perfect. Let this next verse ease your cares right now.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  1 John 4:18

Dear Jesus,
We cast our fears on You today, knowing You are more powerful than all of them. Your perfect love drives the fear away. Let the fear of the Lord bring us to our knees in awe and reverence as we look for Your wisdom.
Amen


Monday, October 7, 2013

Do Not Fret

     For the first time since I began this blog in June of this year, I sit without knowing what to write. Our church is in great division and our hearts are heavy. Our church is filled with human beings, and often, pride gets in the way of hearing from God. Some very difficult decisions are being made this week by a group of pastors assigned to investigate what has been happening.

     Whatever the outcome, many people have been and will be hurt. Whatever the decisions, things will never be the same. Have you come to a crossroads in your life, a decision that will put you on a new path, turn into a new season, or provide a new challenge? The best way to deal with turmoil is to turn to the One in charge. Sometimes He allows circumstances to get a little out of control, forcing us to turn back to Him.

     Psalm 37 is filled with the phrase, “do not fret.” That is a great phrase to take in for all of us who worry and analyze and try to figure things out ahead of time. He knows the outcome. He will bring His glory back. He will bring out church to a place of worship and honor and give us the chance to place Him back in the center of everything, where Jesus should have been all along.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong, for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath, do not fret-it leads only to evil.  Psalm 37:1-8

     I need these verses this morning. Do you? Here are the action words for us from these Words of God.
·        Do not fret
·        Trust in the Lord
·        Do good
·        Enjoy safe pasture
·        Take delight in the Lord
·        Commit your way to the Lord
·        Be still before the Lord
·        Wait patiently for Him
·        Refrain from anger and turn from wrath
·        Do not fret

     As I pray for our church this morning and as hundreds of us wait for the outcome this week, these Words remind us of the One with the answers. We wait in hope, we trust the Good Shepherd to keep us safe, we delight in His answers and commit our sanctuary to Him.

Dear Father in Heaven,
We wait for You. We will be still and feel Your presence. Show us how to do good during this time of indecision. Take away our worry. We will not fret. Thank you for reminding us this morning. We leave it with Jesus, the Name above all Names, the Beginning and the End.

Amen

Friday, October 4, 2013

A Word for the Weekend

     Thanks to each one of you for “persevering” with me this week. I leave you with this beautiful prayer from the book of Ephesians. I pray this over each one of you this weekend. Recognize God’s overwhelming love for you and all that is available to us because of Jesus.

For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen  Ephesians 3:14-21



Persevering Heavenward

     Has Jesus taken hold of your life? Has there been a time when you have been able to hold on to Him when nothing made sense? Have you understood the deep peace and even joy of His love during a time of suffering? If not, maybe the Scripture verses from this week will give you strength and hope for those very times in the future or for whatever is going on in your life at this moment.

     Paul wrote most of the New Testament. Jesus changed his life one day as he was traveling on the road to Damascus. Prior to that life-changing moment he was a Jewish leader sent to persecute the Christians. He suffered greatly for his faith in the years to follow. Here are some words from Paul to end this week of study on persevering in our faith, words of encouragement written from a prison cell.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

     We can do this. Take hold of all that Jesus is offering. He offers hope and joy and peace and His supernatural power as we live out our earthly lives, straining at times and persevering through pain, but keeping our eyes focused on the prize of heaven. We are always moving heavenward in Christ Jesus. Let’s live each day fully committed to the calling of our faith.

Dear Jesus,
We thank You for the Words of Scripture that prepare us tor each day. Your Word changes our hearts and our minds. Guide each one of us today in hope, joy, peace and power with the help of the Holy Spirit living within us.
Amen



Thursday, October 3, 2013

Persevering With Power

     I know what you’re thinking. What is up with this week’s blog, Judy? Glory in suffering, pure joy in trials, be anxious for nothing. Are you serious? And I would have to say, “Yes!” All of this is impossible on our own. We will continue to be God’s work in progress, but, hopefully, we ARE making progress.  How do we make progress in maturing in our faith? The only way is to persevere in our quest to know Jesus more intimately and to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

     Did you know that if you are a believer in Jesus as Savior you have supernatural power? God’s power is supernatural. He will turn your world upside down and inside out. Our hearts expand and our pride begins to crumble, as we recognize the truth. We are nothing without Him.

     His power transforms, enlightens and moves us in ways unrecognizable to our prior selves.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 1:18-20

     These are powerful verses. Take them in. Open the eyes of your heart to the hope of Christ. He has given us the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead!  It is not about us. It’s about Him. The Holy Spirit lives in us to do God’s work. I hope that brings about a heart change for you, along with power to withstand whatever comes against you. The Spirit gives us power to change situations through prayer, to bring peace to turmoil, to bring forgiveness when it seems impossible, to show mercy when it is not deserved, to show kindness in place of anger. The power within you is the strongest power on earth. And it is stronger than the evil in the world. Only Jesus brings the change, with His resurrection power, the light in the darkness, the light of the world.

Dear Father in Heaven,
You raised Your Son from the dead. After His ascension, the Holy Spirit came to live in these temporary bodies until we are reunited with Him in heaven. Show us Your power. Humble us under Your guidance until we can feel the endless peace and joy in the heavenly realms.
Amen


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Persevering With Prayer and Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

     “Do not be afraid,” Jesus says to us. My daughter and I have suffered from panic attacks in the past. They come out of nowhere and there seems to be no escape from the claustrophobic feeling of fear and dread that encapsulates the entire body. Am I dying? Am I going to faint? Why can’t I breathe? All of those fears come flooding to the surface.

      Our world is filled with dread and fear, with anxiety and depression. I believe Jesus has the power to heal us if we persevere in our faith and trust in Him. He will heal our souls in the deepest way, to give us the peace of Christ. The definition for “perseverance” is to continue, to be steadfast.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.  Isaiah 26:3

     Trusting in Him, keeping our minds set on Him, keeping our souls in perfect peace. That all sounds wonderful. How do we do that with the world rushing around us? Here are some special verses that have helped me and my precious daughter, Angela. These are good verses to memorize and tuck away in your hearts for those anxious moments in life.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

     Notice these verses say to be anxious for NOTHING, and to pray in EVERY situation. He is available and ready to take each anxious thought captive and to give us that perfect peace. Let’s remain steadfast and continue in our faith, growing to trust Him with every moment. He will guard our hearts and our minds.

Dear Lord,
We give you our requests and petitions today. Take away our fears and replace them with your perfect peace. You understand our anxious thoughts. Remove them and replace them with Your love and grace. We give everything to you in prayer, with thanksgiving.
In Jesus Name
Amen


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Persevering With Joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1: 2-4

     The Word of God continually challenges us to think a little deeper, to open our spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear the world around us with God’s perspective. Yesterday, perseverance in suffering brought about character and hope. Today we are to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials.

     I am struggling with these verses right along with you this morning. Maturing in our faith is no easy task. Walking through life does bring joy. It does bring heartache and it does bring days, many days of ordinary moments. Can we get to the point of counting each moment with joy, as we surrender everything to God? And not only surrender it all to Him, but then really trusting Him with it?

     When everything is sailing smoothly along, it is easier to keep our faith in Jesus strong and sure. When suffering and trials hit, we look for answers on our own. We need to remind ourselves of His presence. He is right there alongside and within us. That’s where these Words from James speak to us. Those are the times where our faith is tested.

     I do believe there is always purpose in suffering. Can we count it pure joy if we truly do believe God is using it for His eternal purposes? I know we can try. I also know we will fall apart, have sleepless nights, ask why and wonder how to go through another day. And we go to Him again and again and we sit with our friends and family through the tough times. Each time we turn back to Jesus, our faith is tested and with that testing comes perseverance and strength, knowing we can get through anything with Him. When we give Him everything, He changes everything, including our perspective.

     The verses above conclude with these words:

...not lacking anything.  James 1:4b

      When we have Jesus and we mature through our days and our nights, our faith is tested time and time again, until, finally, we get to the point of inner peace and joy, with our souls lacking nothing. I don’t know about you, but I am going to keep turning back to Him through it all. The next verse will help us with the next step.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  James 1:5

I could use some Godly wisdom today. You, too?

Dear Father,
These verses challenge us to trust You in every circumstance, even in our times of trial and suffering. Give us Your wisdom. We sure can’t do it on our own. Give us others to walk with us through the valley times and always, always, remind us to look up and focus on You. We count You as pure joy.
In Jesus name
Amen