A Word for the Weekend

Psalm 121 (A Song of Ascents)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains-where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life;

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Enjoy the weekend knowing you are protected under the watchful eye of a loving God. Come back on Monday as we begin to fix our gaze on the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Changes Everything around us, in us and through us.

Week One       There is a Season

Day Five         Legacy

     Each season of life can be rich with lessons and alive with love, as we learn what to keep, what and how to let go and how to lean into the future plan of God. The Bible reminds us that our lives are like a wisp, a vapor, a breath. The number of our days is in the hands of our God. What legacy can we leave behind?

    One of my best friends died of cancer last fall and I miss her terribly each and every day. She left us with memories, stories, laughter, and so much love. She shared in our joys as if they were her own. She could tell when something was off and insisted on figuring out what it was. Kindness was the theme of the celebration of her life.

     What legacy do you want to leave with those you love and even with the stranger you encounter at the grocery store? Jesus left us a great example. He knew from the beginning what the future held for Him and the agonizing death He would face in the human body the Creator now occupied.

     While He lived on the earth, He knew His mission. He stopped along the way for anyone in need. Even in a crowd of people surrounding and following Him, He recognized the belief of one woman waiting to touch the hem of His garment for healing. (Matthew 9 and Mark 5) He always stopped for the individual in need. He did not avoid the difficult situations and He loved to hang out with the people others tended to avoid.

    

     As you continue to deepen your relationship with Him, you may find yourself being the one to stop, to listen, the one to pray with a hurting friend, the one searching for peace in a tense situation, the one avoiding gossip at the lunch table, the one sitting with the lonely person in the corner. Seeing the world through the lens of Christ brings situations into focus you may not have noticed before you knew Him. He changes everything.

And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (Read this whole chapter!)

     So what matters in the midst of these short wisps of life? When we arrive in heaven our faith will be realized, all of our hopes fulfilled, but love will remain. I hope you have felt the love of Christ in your life. Have you encountered it in someone else, like my friend Patsy? We will miss her every day of our short lives, but she accepted Christ over the last two years of her life even before she knew about her cancer. I KNOW it was God’s timing. He will be there with just the right people, with just the right Words, when you are ready. Are you?

Dear Jesus,

Seeing the world through Your eyes changes everything. I pray this morning for each person reading these words. I pray they will seek You and Your endless love. Thank you for the people around us who take the time to listen, to be kind, to be patient and to love unconditionally.

Help us to see.

Amen

Week One       There is a Season

Day Four        Love

     The Jewish people were and are taught from the Torah; the five books of Moses, based on the Ten Commandments and the history of God’s provision for them through times of disbelief and a turning away from their God. God is ever faithful. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies, many of which have been fulfilled in the birth and life, death and resurrection of Christ. Many more prophecies are yet to come.

     It is statistically and even astronomically impossible for one man to have fulfilled so many prophecies written by so many different authors and prophets over many different centuries. In fact many scientists and academics have specifically studied and dug in earnestly to disprove the Bible and its truth and, have instead, become believers.

     Jesus tells us He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17) The Law is good, but the Law is impossible for man to consistently obey.

     As fallen men and women, there was a separation from our Holy God. His only Son, the Word come to life, lived as the One and Only sinless man. He paid the penalty for it all! There is no greater love. It is a gift. It is grace. It is agape love, the deepest, most sacrificial love ever given. The agony of the Cross, the blood He shed, the sins of the world on His shoulders is impossible to imagine.What does He ask of us? To believe in Him, to ask forgiveness and to trust Him as Savior. That’s it!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

    Jesus is the Word of God come to life in the flesh. The Old Testament is filled with the foreshadowings of Christ, its prophecies laden with the promised Messiah. I encourage you to dive into the Scriptures with no fear. They become as a mirror to us; to see ourselves as we are and to watch as we become more and more a reflection of who He is. His Holy Spirit within us, after we come to know Him as Savior, changes us from glory to glory as we reflect His Light. (He sanctifies us) (2 Corinthians 3:18)

     The beautiful thing is, it gives us freedom, freedom to trust Him with our lives. We make it all so difficult don’t we? We question or think we know more than God or we are too comfortable or too busy or too smart for our own good. That’s why it often takes a crisis, a place where we understand. We can’t and don’t want to do it alone anymore.

     It’s all about love. And what does Jesus say when asked about the greatest commandment in the Law?

     Jesus replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40

Dear and gracious God,

How can we ever thank you for this gift of eternal life? Please open hearts and minds to Your truth. It is life. It is freedom. It is love. It is truly the best life.

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ,

Amen

Week One       There is a Season

Day Three       Looking Ahead

     After smiling at past memories, crying over past suffering, witnessing lessons learned and acknowledging our past wounds to begin healing, are you ready to look ahead? Has there been something missing in your life?

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

     God has a bright future and a plan just for you. Don’t be hard on yourself if you have no clue what that means. But do understand you are one-of-a-kind and uniquely created by God. There has never been, nor will there ever be, someone like you. God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. And He knows you better and more intimately than anyone else. (Read Psalm 139)

     I want to pause here to say a couple of things. Something came to my mind yesterday about those old hurts. Some of you may have been hurt by the church. Churches are filled with human beings, all of us flawed. There is no perfect denomination. There is only the perfect Jesus. Here is my recommendation. Rather than focusing on tradition or rules or thinking “religion”, take the time to develop a real “relationship” with Jesus. It’s all about Him.

     He knows everything about you and He wants you to get to know Him intimately. Going to church is highly recommended, of course. We need to be in fellowship with other believers. Don’t let it replace your alone time with God. Sitting in prayer or reading Scripture will absolutely transform your life. Count on it!  Ok, let’s move into your special one-of-a-kind life.

     I love picturing each one of you as you read these words. Talking about, thinking about, praying about, writing about Jesus is my passion. It is an honor and a privilege to share His love with others. This relationship, this transforming power, this ability to tap into God’s truth all stems from His great and abiding love for each one of us. It’s all about love. We will talk more about that tomorrow.

And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. Philippians 1:10

     As you consider God’s plan and your future, I will leave you with some words from one of my favorite theologians. His name is Denny and he was our custodian at a church we used to attend. He always had time to listen, to encourage and to praise God. I learned a lot from him.

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."

     We could all use those words. Be like Denny today and use some of your God given gifts to share a smile or a hug or some time. And step out with that faith of yours; whether it is just beginning or has been a lifetime experience. Getting our minds off of ourselves and unto Jesus and others might just be that next step in God’s amazing plan for special one-of-a-kind you!

Dear Lord,

How great is your love for us! Help us to think of others more as we fill up with your great love.  It is what matters most. You are what matters most.

We love you Jesus.

Amen

Week One       There is a Season

Day Two         Letting Go

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

     Yesterday we were reminiscing and dancing to the oldies, and learning from our seasons of life. Today we read the verses above that tell us to “forget the former things” and “do not dwell on the past.” How do we remember the lessons and forget the past?

      The beautiful truth of God (or one of His many beautiful attributes) is His patience and His new mercies every day. I believe the letting go, the forgetting, is to allow God to heal our deep wounds, to forgive and to be forgiven. What do you think? Is there anything holding you back? Forgiving someone else can be difficult, but often forgiving ourselves feels impossible. God’s forgiveness wipes the slate clean. God’s forgiveness is complete. He removes our sins as far as the East is from the West! ((Psalm 103:12)

      Luckily for all of us God is ready to start fresh every single day. When we stumble or fall completely, or get lost in the wilderness of life, He will pick us back up, wipe the tears from our eyes and show us a new path. He will find you a stream in the wasteland. That new path just might be surprising and refreshing. Letting go and taking those first hesitant steps to a new freedom takes time, but be patient. We know God’s patience with us never wears thin.

      The wounds from the past, whether self-inflicted or suffered through the hands of someone else, hurt. Is it time for healing? Do you not perceive it? He is making a way for you, a new day, a fresh start. We won’t forget the lessons learned, but we can replace the hurt with peace. It won’t be easy. It might take some time, but Jesus is there for the long haul. Put your trust in Him.

     

      Ask Him to lead you into prayer for healing; for forgiveness; for a letting go. Those simmering coals of hurt deep within always come back up and out, even destroying our physical and emotional well-being. Break those chains of bondage into freedom in Christ. He is the Redeemer of lost hope.

      Paul tells us, in Philippians 3:13-14

      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

Dear Father,

Help each one of us to witness Your healing power. Show us how to forgive ourselves and others and how to let go of the hurt. Let these short lives mean something as we fill up with Your love, leave the hurt behind, and strain forward to the goal of heaven and eternity with You.

In the name of Jesus we pray,

Amen

Week One       There is a Season

Day One         Learning

        

     My daughter, Angela, and I were listening to the radio the other day and we spoke of how a song can bring you back to a specific day, a specific summer, a specific emotion or time, immediately, at the sound of those first few notes.

      What are some of your trigger songs that bring to mind a season of life? Let me share a few of mine. As a baby boomer maybe some of you will remember….

      Sitting across the street from Jon’s house with my sixth grade friends, watching for the boy we had a crush on, wearing our surfer shirts and listening to the Beach Boys on a transistor radio; listening to Carole King’s Tapestry over and over with my high school friends; Somewhere Out There, a song of comfort after my mom’s death; Just You and I, the first song my husband and I danced to at our wedding; more recently, with the recognition of our daughters moving into adulthood, Rascal Flatts, My Wish, and one of my favorite worship songs, When All Is Said and Done.

     Sweetness and sorrow, beginnings and goodbyes, dancing and tears, all of the seasons of our lives bring about a little bit of everything don’t they?

     Take a peek at these verses from Ecclesiastes. You may remember the song, Turn, Turn, Turn, by the Byrds. You may or may not have known that the words to this song come from this book in the Bible.

                                                 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

     Whatever season, whatever age, whether you are dancing or in mourning, whether it is a day to laugh or cry, give it all to our God. He is right there in every season; in praise, in suffering, in joy, in peace, in anger, and always in hope. Maybe like me, you realize the older you get, just in one easy turn, another decade has disappeared. And it is often in the times of suffering, whether disease, divorce, disability, or despair over a loss, the deepest lessons are forged. You realize there is a purpose, a plan, someone Bigger than it all. And He was there all along, just waiting for you to look up. Jesus is there for every season, from the day of our birth to our last day on earth and everyday in between, He loves you.

Dear Jesus,

There is a purpose in every season, so much bigger and deeper and wider than these minuscule eyes can comprehend. Help us to see Your goodness and Your glory even through our seasons of suffering and help us to hang on to all of the bright memories from our past, as we dance and sing to those old songs.

A Word for the Weekend

     Please join me Monday through Friday as I write a morning devotion on Jesus Changes Everything.

     This morning I leave you with Scripture to read over the next two days. Your time alone with Jesus and His Word is a profound time. Watch how He changes everything within and without over time. The following Words were written hundreds of years before Christ came to earth and they resound in our hearts today.

      Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God; the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 28-31

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Your Word. May it comfort those in need today; the weary, the weak, and the faint. Your strength is enough for today.

Amen

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   A New Season, A New Beginning

     The first day of summer; the beginning of a new season and here I am in Minnesota, where the seasons change day by day, minute by minute. We went from 30 degrees to almost 90 degrees in a two-day span in May. We have had rain almost daily for a month and today it is hot and humid with more storms on the way.

     How do you respond to drastic changes in your life? Can you find a calm in your spirit in the midst of a storm? Can you remain peaceful in the tumultuous highs and lows of your life? When disaster hits, where do you go? Is there a shelter available, a secure place to sit it out?

     In my life, over the last twenty five years, there has been tragedy; the loss of my mom the day after my wedding, a house fire that destroyed most of our belongings, an eye disease that has left me legally blind and my very healthy husband suffering a stroke.

     The beginning of the big storms in my life led me to my knees and that is where the journey begins. It is a great place to begin again. The place of humble beginnings brought about the saving of my soul and the safe harbor I have grown to trust through every storm, through every calm season and through the highs and lows of everyday life.

     If you love Jesus, you understand. If you just aren't sure I hope you will stay with me as we get to know Him better. If you have no desire or don’t know Him at all, I hope there is something within that thinks it might be worth a listen or a read. Let’s see where He takes this blog. He loves you. This I know. How? The Bible tells me so. Let’s look at a Scripture now, as we will in every blog. These Words bring life and truth. This one verse will be familiar to most of you. It’s a great place to start our journey together, on this first day of summer, on the very first day of a new blog.

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  NIV

Dear Father in heaven,

I pray a blessing over each reader this morning. I pray for Your love to shine on them as we begin to look to You for answers, for truth, for guidance.

In Jesus mighty name,

Amen