He Will Be Called Jesus

She will give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

     God is with us. Focus on the baby Jesus and celebrate the joy that came into the world. The baby that would save you and me from our sins.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

See you back here on January 5^th to begin a new year together in the Word of God.

Here I Am. Send Me.

     The glory of God came to earth and slept in a stable. The Son of Man and the Son of God made His first appearance with no fanfare, no parade, no network news or twitter. Only the animals surrounding Him, along with His earthly mom and dad welcomed the extraordinary Messiah into His ordinary surroundings.

     Just as Jesus would share His love and compassion with the least of the least, He chose to share His birth with the lowest class of the day, the shepherds. And they witnessed the glory of God and the choir of angels heralding His arrival.

     Jesus still enters the places others fear to tread. He walks into the room of the derelict, the prostitute, the cheating corporate executive. He visits the death bed of an unbeliever and offers hope and life. He never gives up on us.

     Could it be the very ones you avoid are the ones Jesus has asked you to love? Not an easy task. Neither was dying on the cross. The heart of Christ is with those who need Him most. He does not want to lose even one.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

     With His help, we can share the love. When others want to throw stones, Jesus steps a little closer and takes the beating for the outcast, the poor and needy, the hungry and the sick, the prisoners and for you and me. He shares His glory with us. And when He asks:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

     We can respond like Isaiah:

And I said, “Here am I. Send me.”  Isaiah 8:8

Lord,

Here we are! Send us. Show us how to love as You do. Keep us from fear and lead us into the places others avoid.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Safe Travels

     As you travel this week to meet with family and friends, remember you always have a traveling companion right by your side. When you get off track, He will gently guide you back. If you take a major wrong turn, it may take some maneuvering, but He always knows the safest and shortest way back.

     He never gets car sick or falls asleep. When the road seems comfortable and smooth and even boring, He has plenty of wisdom and stories to keep you awake. He will fill the time with Words unlike any you have ever heard.

     When the weather and the roads are treacherous, He will say, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.  He is steady and protective and will watch the road for you. When you go off into the ditch and the world turns dark around you, His hand will lift you out into the light. He is right there, always to the end of the age.

     And as Carrie Underwood says, “Jesus, take the wheel.” Maybe it’s time to just let Him drive.

Safe travels.

Jesus,

Thank you for being there for us throughout every road trip and wrong turn. Guide us in the way we should go.

Amen

The Gift of Salvation

     Jesus offers grace to each and every one of us earth-dwellers. His arms outstretched in sacrifice and love with unimaginable pain and agony as His shed blood paid the price. I pray, if you haven’t already, you will give Christ a chance. Let this season of faith and hope give you eternal peace. Accept the free gift He offers.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

     Are you a “whosoever”? Believe. ‘Tis the season. May the peace of Jesus fill your heart and mind over the next week as we celebrate His birth. A child is born to us in the City of David. Christ the Lord.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

Jesus,

You came to earth for us. You chose to take our place and we accept you as our Savior. The miracle of God as man. The Son of God. Let everything point to You.

Amen

The Gift of Love

And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

     The greatest of these is love. Our faith believes in the unseen. Our hope yearns for more. Love overcomes everything. The love we share will follow us to heaven. When we meet Jesus face to face all of our hopes and dreams will be realized. Our faith will come to life in His presence. And everything we did in His name will be revealed. Why do we love?

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

     Because of His great love, we, too, can love. Without Him it is impossible, but with Him all things are possible. Receive this blessing from the heart of your God today.

    

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.

Jesus,

Pour out Your love on us and fill us to the brim until it overflows unto others. Bless us in Your name.

Amen

The Gift of Hope

     Hope. We struggle to hang on to it. We search for a glimmer of it rhrough a tough season. There are the moments we sit in darkness and hopelessness fills out souls. And then…there it is again. It's the right word at the right time. It's the warm embrace of a child. It's God’s ever-present love being recognized again.

     It is the rope thrown to a drowning man. It's a new treatment for cancer, an attempt to fix a broken relationship, a light at the end of the tunnel. Hope. It’s right there around the corner. It returns. It revives. It restores.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

     Hope does not disappoint. The love of God has been poured in our hearts and God will never leave us nor forsake us. Not ever! Let the gift of hope lift your heart. And one day soon, we have the hope of heaven. Our hope does not disappoint. Our hope is Jesus.

Lord,

No matter where, no matter what, no matter who, no matter why, hope is there. You are the hope of glory and our hope remains in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Gift of Faith

     A Bible verse hangs from my kitchen window and serves as a reminder of faith as I clean up the dinner dishes; a reminder of faith and hope and Jesus. Our daughter, Angela, gave it to me years ago for my birthday. The verse written on the glass pieces in front of me is one worth memorizing.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

     Do you believe this Biblical definition of faith? Do you have confidence in what you hope for? Are you assured of Jesus even when you do not see Him? Our faith gives us hope and confidence. It gives us the blessed assurance of His presence and the eternity we long to see. Savor your faith today in the Savior. It is a gift from God.

Jesus,

Our faith is a gift; a gift of hope. a gift of assurance in the unseen. Let us believe in the miracles to come. You have a good plan for us.

Amen

The Gift of Grace

     This time of the year is not always filled with joy and peace. For many, it is a reminder of their loneliness, their sadness at missing a loved one, a time of stress and too much to do. And there are those Grinches that just can’t seem to smile at the world in general. Their hearts are just two sizes too small.

     Jesus offers us the greatest gift ever given. All we need to do is receive it. This season take a deep breath and picture the very Son of God being born in a manger. Picture this same baby growing up into the sinless, perfect man. He is the One offering us the free gift of salvation. The sinless One took on our sin, all of it and wiped it clean. The gift of grace is ours for the taking. He offers us what we do not deserve. All we need to do is receive and open this miraculous gift of eternal life.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8

     God’s gift of grace becomes ours when we believe in Jesus. It is the gift that keeps on giving throughout this season and every day of our lives. It can grow the heart of the grumpiest Grinch until it is two sizes too big.

Dear Lord,

We thank You for Your gift of grace this Christmas. We pray many hearts will be open to Your message until we feel Your peace and joy in every circumstance.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Light of Life

     As you view and appreciate the Christmas lights this season, remember Jesus calls YOU the “light of the world.” (Matthew 5) His Word brings radiance to our eyes. Plug yourself into the Holy Spirit’s light and begin to shine wherever you go. You know the Author and Finisher of life, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace.

     You know the One born to a virgin, the One from heaven who walked the earth, the One who suffered your pain, and rose again. You know Jesus. God with us. Our Father, our friend, our advocate, our comforter, our teacher, our purpose. You have the light of Christ. Amazing grace.

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 have the light of life because of You. You give us new life. Thank You for saving us and giving us the opportunity to share You with others. Shine favor on and through us throughout this next year. We love You.

Amen

The Lamp of the Body

     The Bible confirms that our eyes are the lamp of the body. Through someone’s eyes, we can see into their soul. We witness the glistening tears of joy and sadness, the twinkle of laughter, the wink of shared connections, and the lifeless look of depression. You can tell so much by the gaze of another, in love or anger, in surprise or confusion.

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22

     Yesterday we spoke of the joy and faith of older Christians. What gives them that gleam in their eye, the infused joy in their spirits? I know for a fact, for many of them, it is their love for and knowledge of God’s Word.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  Psalm 19:8

     Let the good news of Jesus fill your hearts with joy today and shine the light of Him from the tips of your toes to the light shining through your eyes and share the joy with others. Be His messenger of hope.

Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones.  Proverbs 15:30

Jesus,

Your Word brings health and joy to our very being. Let our eyes shine with the brightness of Your love. Fill us with Your Word which gives us the radiance of Your love. Let us be Your messengers today and everyday.

Amen

Elder Wisdom and Light

     Bible teacher, Beth Moore, was speaking to a large group of women. She was pleasantly surprised to see the zeal and passion of the over-65 crowd. From her study, “Children of the Day” she writes, “The lines on their faces drawing rays around their eyes like a child’s illustration of the sun, causing them to gleam.”

     Don’t you just love that? To think that our wrinkles surround the gleaming light of our eyes. How precious to see life and light and zeal in the passionate hearts of older women of faith! They have gained so much wisdom through so much hardship and sacrifice. We should be sitting at their feet and asking questions.

“How did you get through the toughest time in your life?”

“How do you keep your purpose and passion for life alive?”

“Teach me about your faith.”

     Our culture does not always value our older generation. Watch the ones that shine with the love of Christ. I am almost 60 and when I grow up, I want to be just like them. I gave this verse to a dear friend of mine. She is 84 and has been such an important part of my life for over fifteen years.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3

     Thank God for the Christian elders in your life and allow them to mentor you. You will gain much from their experience, their hard-fought battles and from their deep and abiding love for the Savior.

Dear Lord,

You have gifted the elderly believers among us with Your wisdom and grace. Help us to value them and seek out their guidance. Their eyes shine with the gleaming light of Your Son in ways we don’t understand. We are grateful for their presence among us.

In Jesus Name

Amen

The Light of the World

     Don’t you love the lights of Christmas? The soft glow of the tree in an otherwise dark room? Looking out the window at the shiny deer lighting up the yard or the Nativity set with the baby Jesus?  In our otherwise dark world, Jesus shines brightly.

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

     You have the light of life surrounding you each day. We can become discouraged when we see the darkness increasing around us with violence, disease, wars and earthquakes. The world needs Jesus. And we are the ones to spread the light. After Jesus calls Himself the light of the world He tells us:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on the stand, and it gives light to everyone in the room. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16

     Don’t hide your love for Christ. Let it shine so everyone in the room can see it. Our goal is to glorify God. Let it be about Him today, and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Jesus,

You are the light of the world and because we have You, you allow us to shine that light before others. Show us how to do that today and just like the Christmas lights around us, we can glow with warmth in a dark world.

Amen

No Darkness At All

     How did we live life without Jesus? We have fought disease, been hurt by friends, struggled through class, birthed babies, grieved over lost loved ones and cried buckets of tears. Jesus comes into our darkness and shines with His light. Sometimes it is the tiniest glimmer of hope, or the first tinge of a smile or a bursting ray of sinshine that suddenly warms our heart.

     He is the light of the world and He is the lamp of heaven. His light overcomes darkness. Ask Him to shine light into the deepest part of you. Anything you have hidden from yourself or others, anything that still tingles with hurt and sadness and anger. You know those old scabs that break open to wound you time and time again? Jesus will place a soothing balm over them all until, one by one, they never bother you again.

This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that god is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

     Invite the light of Christ to shine on you. He will remove the darkness of Satan’s work. Don’t allow Satan and his angels to take another day of joy from you. The light of Jesus has come to give you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Choose the gifts of His light. In Him there is no darkness at all.

Jesus,

Let Your light shine on and through us. You were born in Bethlehem, humbling Yourself from full glory to live as a man. Your glory is complete and it is available to us each day. We want to live in that light without any darkness at all.

Amen

God's Will

     We looked at a very short Scripture verse yesterday:          

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

     The verses directly following go on to say:

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

     We have so many choices each day. Choices in our attitudes. Choices in how we treat the people around us. Choices in following our own self-centered needs or following God’s will for us. The verses above spell out a few choices we can make to follow the will of God.

    Jesus is with us each minute of each day. Rejoice in that continually. The Holy Spirit is there to teach, to guide, to comfort, to convict. Pray continually. He lives within us! And choose to be thankful in all circumstances. When life is tough, thank God for working. He turns our mourning into joy. He brings good out of suffering. He uses our tough times to help others. Give thanks. Rejoice. Pray. This is God’s will for you.

Jesus,

Your presence surrounds us inside and out. Make us aware of Your presence today as we pray, rejoice and give thanks to You, our Savior and our Lord.

Amen

Rejoice!

     Jesus came to earth. And Jesus is coming back. Your sins are forgiven, washed away, finished on the cross. Jesus rose again and we are His. And we will be with Him forever more. This gives us everything. We can rejoice daily in those promises. Here are three verses to remind us to do just that:

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

     Allow the deep and penetrating joy of Jesus fill you with strength. Wherever you go, whatever you do, whoever you meet, He is with You. His strength will carry you through. His Words will give you comfort. His purpose will give you courage. Heaven is ours! Rejoice always!

Jesus,

Fill us with the joy of the Lord. It is our strength. All is well with our souls. Let the deep filling of Your joy work from the inside out as we move through the challenges of our day.

Amen

Look Up!

     Jesus is coming back. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus talks about the signs of the end of the age. He compares the increase and the intensity of events as when a woman is in labor. The birth pains become more frequent as the birth draws near. As so it will be before His coming.

     There is no need for fear or worry. Before the final tribulation the church will meet their Savior. And Jesus tells us as we see an increase in earthquakes and pestilence and wars and rumors of wars:

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  Luke 21:28

     The second coming of Jesus will come as a thief in the night. We are to be hope-filled, watchful and ready. As you look forward to and prepare for Christmas this year, remember our Savior did not just come in human form to die for our sins. He will also come one day as the glorious heavenly King ready to rule and reign a new heaven and a new earth. Look up! And Paul tells us:

Therefore encourage one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:18

Jesus,

Soon we will celebrate Your birth at Your first coming and soon we will celebrate Your second coming. And we will be with You forever. We look up and wait and watch for You with no fear of the events we see around us. We love You.

Amen

Advent's Anticipation

     December is here, ready or not! The church’s calendar is turned to the beginning of a new year. And the four weeks leading up to Christmas are called the season of Advent. It is a time of anticipation, expectation and preparation. Sort of fits in with our cultural relationship with Christmas too.

    But our Advent declares the coming of a Savior. Do you hear what I hear? A shepherd boy hears a choir of angels and three wise men follow a star to a manger scene. And a virgin girl gives birth to the Messiah, the Son of God and the Son of Man. Let’s prepare ourselves and ponder the miracle about to take place. Let’s set our seasonal calendars to new beginnings.

     The beginning of a grace-filled world, where all we need is to believe.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Luke 2:20

Lord,

Let us be like the shepherds, praising and glorifying You for all the things we have heard and seen. We praise You for this season of hope-filled beginnings and anticipation.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

When We Don't Understand

     I have been questioning God again this week. A friend of mine is grieving over someone close to her. A young woman died in childbirth and left a grieving husband, a toddler and a brand new beautiful little girl. Another friend of a friend brought a baby home from the hospital only to lose her a few days later due to many deformities and organ failure. And we ask, why God?

     God does perform miracles. I know and believe He does. God does answer prayer. I know and believe He does. The couple with baby Abigail brought her home from the hospital and prayed and sang and loved her until she breathed her last. Their testimony brings glory to God. How?

     Through their tears and grief they know their sweet girl is whole and happy with Jesus. As this dear one’s earthly father sat in the valley of the shadow of death with her, he believes God gave him a picture of giving his daughter away to the bridegroom of heaven, Jesus. Instead of walking his grown-up girl down the aisle, he had to be willing to give her away too soon.

     Through it all, they trust the One who knows. I don’t know how they received the strength to give this testimony, but I know God can do that; give us spiritual answers to unanswerable questions. Knowing all is well with our souls gives us hope for a future filled with glory. When a mom will be re-united with her family and a baby girl will be united with her earthly mom, dad and sister. We don’t understand the mystery, but we know and trust the One who does. And we pray and we believe and we give testimony because all is well with our souls.

…that all may go will with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2b

Dear Father,

Sometimes it feels as if our hearts will break with sorrow. You understand to the very depths as You meet us right where we are and give us comfort. There is so much we won’t understand until we meet You in heaven. Help us to give You our sorrows and burdens and give us peace as we wait.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Given To Give

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

     Take in the blessings of God this week. Allow Him to fill the holes in your heart and bless you in all things at all times. Jesus loves you to the moon and back and beyond the stars. After all, He has washed your sins as white as snow. Take that love and the blessings of God and give some away. Count your blessings on Thanksgiving Day and everyday. And don’t forget to pray for others and allow others to pray for you.

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.  2 Corinthians 9:14-15

     God’s gift of grace is meant to be shared. And prayer changes things. Prayer opens hearts and heals wounds and gives peace. I thank God for each one of you and pray that God’s gifts be given to you abundantly so that you may overflow with them to others.

Happy Thanksgiving! See you Monday.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Your indescribable gifts. We take each one as a blessing from You and we ask to be given opportunities to give to others.

Amen

Pure and Lovely

     Well, let’s admit it. Along with the delightful smells, tastes, sounds and anticipation of the season there is more. More stress, more busyness, more annoying relatives. There are ethe gifts that don’t work and have to be returned. We overeat, overshop and overdo it. Take a break before the hoopla begins and think on these things.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

     What do you think? Can we rise above the craziness and focus on the lovely and excellent and pure? Focus on the love around you and the One who came for us. It’s all about Him after all. He can change everything.

Jesus,

Calm our spirits as we get ready to celebrate the loveliest and purest gift ever given, the life You sacrifieed for us, taking on all of the things that are not lovely and pure. Keep our focus on You and sharing all of the excellent and noble gifts You give to us.

Amen

The Aroma of Christ

     The sights, smells and sounds are upon us. Snow has fallen. Christmas lights and displays greet us. The smell of pine infiltrates our homes. Many of us will savor the smell and taste of our Thanksgiving turkeys. I love this time of the year and look forward to decorating, baking, and spending time with loved ones. Picking out gifts and delighting the young ones around us add to the holiday anticipation.

     What about the reason for the season? What about the anticipation of celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus? The sights and sounds of the choir of angels greeting the shepherds as they tended their flocks? The realization that the Savior of the world was wrapped in swaddling clothes? What were the sights and sounds and smells of the manger where he slept?  The surroundings were common, but the magnitude of the event, astounding!

     Did you know we can be the aroma of Christ? Imagine that this season as our minds and hearts are distracted from the true meaning of Christmas.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere.  2 Corinthians 2:14

Jesus,

Help us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of You throughout this season. We celebrate You. Born of a woman and the Son of God! Sent to save us all. We look forward to celebrating Your birth. Help our focus to remain on You throughout this busy season filled with sights, sounds and smells of Christmas.

Amen

     Let’s end the week with hearts full of gratitude for our blessings. Number One is Jesus. He died for us and now sits at the right hand of God. Our names our written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, if we believe, and we will inherit eternal life with no more sorrow, no more sickness, no more death. Hallelujah!

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4

     Take some time this week to praise God and count your blessings. His creation surrounds us in its beauty. The snow and cold gives us a time to reflect and to rest awaiting the sprouting buds of spring. Plant seeds of thanksgiving in your heart and cultivate them over the winter, expecting and anticipating God’s favor and blessing on your life. He is able and He will do it!

Father,

We thank and praise You today for Jesus. Let His love and blessing plant seeds in our hearts of gratitude and peace. Give us time each day to rest in Your presence in order to take on the world around us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Nothing New Under The Sun

Here are a handful of other common phrases found in the Bible.

Like mother, like daughter:

Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you, “like mother like daughter.” Ezekiel 16:44

A sign of the times:

And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and towering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Matthew 16:3

Heart’s desire:

Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips.  Psalm21:2

A law unto themselves:

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves.  Romans 2:14

Nothing new under the sun:

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tender mercies:

Remember O Lord, thy tender mercies, and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.  Psalm 25:6

Writing on the wall:

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Daniel 5:5

This handwriting on the wall came directly before the collapse of Babylon. The term “handwriting is on the wall” indicates something bad is about to happen.

Lord,

Thank you for reminding us of just a few of the sayings that come from Your Word. There are hundreds more. We long to know the whole counsel of Your Word. Keep teaching us from it daily.

Amen

Nothing New Under The Sun

     Did you know the Bible played a large role in the development of our language and many of the common phrases we use today come from Scripture? Here are just a few you might hear and use frequently. The verses are from the original King James version of the Bible.

The blind leading the blind:

“Let them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:13-14

Can a leopard change his spots?

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil.”  Jeremiah 13:23

A fly in the ointment:

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour, so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Ecclesiastes 10:1

For everything there is a season:

Read Ecclesiastes 3. You will find the words that made up the song, “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds.

Nothing but skin and bones:

“All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. I am nothing but skin and bones.” Job 19:19-20

Rise and shine:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1

    This is fun. Maybe we’ll continue tomorrow.

Dear Lord,

We speak Your glorious Word without even knowing it. Keep the truth of the Bible written on the tablets of our hearts for Jesus’ sake.

Amen

Perfect Love

     We go where our children go. We fight for them. We worry over them. We feel their pain and long to take it away. We dive into the pit to save them and we rejoice for them as they reach for the stars. We love them. My husband and I would do anything for our girls, even though they have moved into adulthood. But our love is not perfect.

     We make mistakes. We say the wrong things, use the wrong words, give the wrong advice.. And we worry too much. There is a perfect parent. He has the perfect love. His Son loves us with a perfect love. And He goes into the pit with us. He rejoices with us and His advice always works. Jesus can cast out all fear.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.  1 John 4:18a

     The way to remove our fear and worry, whether for ourselves or our loved ones is to place all of it and all of them safely into the arms of Jesus. Do you trust Him with your fear? Do you trust Him with your family? With your life? Only then can we have true peace. Peace in all circumstances. Peace to let go. Peace to take the step we dread to take. Peace in the words we need to speak. Peace in letting our little girls go and live out their precious lives. The peace in trusting our loving, perfect Father. Let it be so.

Father,

We long to cast all of our cares on You. Help us to place our families and our concerns with You each day. Show us how to take on the world around us with confidence. Our confidence comes from Christ within us. Thank you for loving us. It is perfect love. And it comes from the sacrifice of Jesus. In His name we pray.

Amen

Do You? Will You?

Do you?      

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life?

Believe and you will live eternally!

Will you?

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Follow Him and lead others to Him!

Does He?

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

He loves you!

Will He?

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, beither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

No, He will never leave you!

Jesus,

We do believe you suffered, died and rose again for our sins. We believe we will inherit eternal life. You will never leave us. You love us that much.

Amen

Just Do It!

     Before you get too comfortable being still before God and resting in Christ, there is a purpose for the time spent with Him. Just as Jesus needed time away to pray and sit with His Father, so do we. When we find time to pray, to listen and fill ourselves with the Word of God, we understand there is work to do.

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.  James 1:25

     What will Jesus and His Word give you?

·       A prompting to call someone?

·       A next step to take during a difficult time?

·       Visions of a new dream or job?

·       Forgive?

·       Offer hope?

·       Bring food to a grieving friend?

·       Send a card?

·       Pray for a loved one?

·       Go to church?

·       Change a habit?

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

     Resting in Christ and feeding ourselves with the Word of God transforms us and renews our mind to be more like Him. That freedom allows us to do what the Bible says. It’s a beautiful thing. Remember the song? How do we know Jesus loves me? The Bible tells me so. Forget what the world is saying and telling you to do. Take some quiet time to listen to the Sovereign One. And get up from your quiet time and do it!

Jesus,

Show us what to do for You in the short time we are here. Only faith, hope and love will remain and the greatest of these is love. Reduce us to loving one another.

Amen

     

Rest

     This week we talked about being still and knowing God (Psalm 46:10) and that the final battle has been won and through Christ we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37) Because of Jesus we can find rest in Him.  Rest…do you need some? With the busiest of seasons just around the corner, maybe we all do.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God, my hope comes from Him.  Psalm 62:5

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty.  Psalm 91:1

   

     Jesusand His disciples had been busy, crowds all around. Imagine Him saying these same words to you:

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Mark 6:31

     He beckons us to come with Him to a quiet place and rest and He says to you and me:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:28-29

     A yoke was placed around the necks of two oxen as they pulled a heavy load. They shared the burden. Jesus offers to carry the load with us. And when you go with Jesus to a quiet spot, remember. He is the reason for the season.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for giving us rest in You. Give us quiet time with You during these busy days and refresh and renew us for the purposes we are meant to do.

Amen

Conquerors

     I think we would all agree. Life can be a battle. Nation vs. nation. Man vs. man. Nature vs. earth. Spirit vs. flesh. We get caught up in the turmoil of it all. Anxiety and grief become a part of our days. A spark can erupt into a firestorm of fear.

     And there is Christ. Remember, He has won the battle. He has won the war. Satan is on a leash and one day the Father will yank him into the firey pit, along with every form of evil. Death has been won. Life has won over death and we can rest in the finished work of the Messiah.

     Somehow, over time, He takes our pain and suffering and grief, the battles we have fought so hard to win and He makes them into something precious. He collects our tears and works His miracles until the wisdom and comfort we have searched to win becomes a comfort or a Word for someone else. And our tragedies become triumphs and our mess becomes a message.

     Whatever battle you are fighting do not be shaken. Your foundation is secure. You are more than a conqueror.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Psalm 16:8

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Dear Father,

Jesus won the battle. We will not be shaken. Though we are struck down, we are not destroyed. Jesus conquered evil and death. Let us rest in Him.

Amen

Selah

                                                                            

     The word, “Selah” appears in a variety of places in the Bible, most often in the Psalms. It is a word on its own, tucked between verses.  The meaning used most often for this word is “to pause.”

     Many of the Psalms were sung as songs of praise to God. Journeying each year to their temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people would sing together praises to their God. The word may have been used as a pause to catch a breath or as a break for the musical instruments. Two other meanings of the word are “to weigh or balance” and “to praise.”

     This winter, as we sit out a storm or two, as we sit in traffic, when we come in early because of diminishing daylight, as we make stew or soup or walk outside in the quiet of a snow-filled day, let’s pause and weigh the Words of God and praise Him. Let this winter be a time to be still and know Him.  Selah

He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a

Father,

Give us time to be still before You, to feel Your presence around us. Protect us. Give us strength. Bring us comfort and peace. We pause to praise You this morning. Selah

Amen 

Snow

     It’s the talk of the nation. The headline in the Midwest. Minnesota is getting ready. Our neighbors were out in droves frantically raking and bagging the leaves. One of our trees still has leaves on it. But it’s coming today; the first snowstorm of the year. And it’s a doozy.

     When you are out cleaning your driveway and stretching your aching backs, notice the beauty of the snow. And be reminded of God and His Word. Snow will replenish the earth and get it ready for spring. And it will cover the dirt and the dust with a beautiful white. It’s what Jesus did for us!

   “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though  they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

 

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:10-11

 Dear Lord,

We do thank You for Your Word and for Your Son. He cleanses our sins white as snow. Please keep everyone safe as they drive in the freshly fallen snow today and keep our minds on You as You replenish our souls.

Amen