Friday, February 28, 2014

Personal Prayer

     Here we are at the end of two weeks on the “p’s” of prayer. What matters most is our personal relationship with Jesus. As with any relationship, the time spent with Jesus creates intimacy and gives us opportunities to know Him, to listen to His voice, to wait for answers, or simply to sit in His presence. Our private time brings us closer, our perpetual prayers remind us of His constant presence.

     Jesus protects our prayers and intercedes for us through His shed blood on the cross and the Holy Spirit perfects our words and brings to the throne room the needs of our hearts. That same Holy Spirit gives us the power to pray and believe in the will and strength and holiness of our God.

     There are prayers that seem to go unanswered and we struggle to be patient in our requests, but we are to be persistent. God tells us in the story of the persistent widow to “never give up.”  As our relationship with Jesus deepens, we gain wisdom into His heart and we fall before Him and surrender our needs, knowing we give them to the One who cares about us the most.

     And we can praise Him for who He is, not for what He can give us. Our story is but one of billions over the millennia and yet ours is vital to His story. Our lives play a part. Maybe your prayer today will change a life. Believe He is working in your life and in the lives of those you love. Is it time to go meet with Him for awhile in personal prayer? I think I’ll do the same.

And I will continue to pray for you.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers. Philemon 1:4

Dear Lord,
Continue to teach us how to pray. Hear our needs, deepen our love, give us Your blessings and allow us to intercede for others as we wait for Your response. We trust You and leave everything in Your strong and able hands.
In Jesus name,
Amen 


   

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Praise Prayers

     What would happen to us if each and every morning we began our day with praising God? Typically, our first thoughts turn to the details of the day. We begin with our to-do lists, our work schedule, our kids schedules, our worries, grumbling about the weather (don’t get me started on our winter!) our aches and pains and a myriad of other distracting thoughts. Those thoughts satisfy the wishes of the enemy of our souls.

     How would our days change with thoughts of God? How would our attitudes shift if we begin with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for our blessings, for our ability to work, for the birds and squirrels outside of our windows, for the sun’s rising each day, for the people in our lives, or just for the fact that Jesus loves us always and forever? Our praises take the focus off of our struggles and our busyness and allow God’s presence to be felt and His strength to be leaned on and His power to be unleashed as we get on with our day.

     Here are a few verses to get us started. Look up some of your own. There are over 300 verses with the word, “praise” in them. The Psalms are full of praise. David, even in his darkest days of grief and of shame always turned back to praising our God. Praise and pray to God over these verses adding thoughts of your own:

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me. Psalm 13:6

Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise Him. Psalm 28:6-7

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  Psalm 68:19

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

Dear Father,
We praise You today for Your compassion, for Your comfort, for the love of Jesus, for Your mercy, for bearing our burdens. Be our strength and give us hope as You love us and bless us through our days.
In Jesus name

Amen  

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Prostrate Prayer

     Jesus hung around with the outcasts of Jewish society; the tax collector, an adulterous woman, the demon-possessed, the ordinary, the humble, looking for those willing to turn to Him and change their ways. The Pharisees were the keepers of the law, the academics, the readers of Scripture, the outwardly religious. Jesus sees the heart. Listen to His perspective on the prayers and attitudes He honors.

Two men went to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.  Luke 18-10-14

     God’s perspective is not on our outward trappings, the way we look and the things we do. He does not care about the grammar, the fine theological discourse or keeping check marks on each other. He appreciates and looks for the humble heart, the one with his/her face on the floor before Him, asking for forgiveness, asking for help, recognizing the need for a Savior. And the humble will be exalted.

     No need for comparisons. No need for posturing, No nned to compete for attention. God loves the gracious heart, the one with the cheerful giving attitude, with no expectations of receiving accolades, or in keeping things even, but an acceptance of needing One above ourselves and showing others who He is. After all, it’s not about us. It’s all about Him.

Dear Jesus,
Give us humble hearts to serve You. We kneel before you today, understanding Your holy and all-seeing presence and understanding we are nothing without you.

Amen 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Persistent Prayer

     I can read your minds this morning. How many types of prayer can she find that begin with the letter “P”? I have not run out yet and this particular one surprised me. I hadn’t read this parable about the persistent widow in awhile.

Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 

     A widow in a certain town returns to visit a judge, time after time, begging him to give her justice. The judge, after repeated visits from the woman, gives in and says a few strange things. “Even thought I don’t fear God or care what people think.” (v.4) and “I will see she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me.” (v.5)

     In one breath he says he does not fear God or care what others think, and in the next verse we find he may not fear God, but he fears this widow. Maybe she had friends in high places? The point of the parable, I believe Jesus wants to share with us, is to keep our faith and be persistent in our asking. He continues:

And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off/” Luke 18:7

     You may be praying for the same things over and over again, for a certain situation to be over, for a loved one to be healed, for a job to be found, for a relationship to be renewed, for a child to become a believer. The list goes on. Today Jesus reminds us to keep praying. Be persistent. Keep going to Him with your requests. He is listening. Faith pleases God. Believe He wants to give You what is good and pleasing in His sight.

Dear Father,
Thank you for the story of the persistent widow. We will keep coming to You with our requests, knowing You hear our pleas. Hear our voices today as we come back to you again. Here I am again, Lord.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Monday, February 24, 2014

Patient Prayer

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

     This is a great verse to memorize. It is packed with wisdom and short enough to easily carry in our hearts and pull out when we need it. With Christ there is always hope. Even at the very end of our time on earth, it is just the beginning of forever. There is no end. Hope can be found. That can give us the lasting joy of Jesus.

     Patience…not an easy concept in a fast-paced world. Even waiting for our morning coffee or sitting at a traffic light can be frustrating. Two young women I know are, finally, at the end of what have been two long battles against two different types of cancer. Both lost their hair. Both have suffered greatly with sickness and nausea. One had a difficult surgery and delays in treatment. Patience in affliction? During those long days and nights when there seems to be no end in sight, hope and patience and even the ability to pray are nowhere to be found.

     Both of these young women have received great news. The treatments are done and hope is renewed! But during those times of suffering, hopes can be shattered, patience goes out the window as we lash out at those closest to us and prayer? Who has the energy? During those dark days we need to count on others to pray for us, to give hope when there seems to be none, to be faithful to us even when we don’t have an ounce of faith left. And when all is said and done, Jesus is right there, with joy and hope, with patience to deal with us once again, always faithful. He never gives up.

Dear Lord,
Be our hope when there appears to be none. Be patient with us when we don’t have it in us to wait. Lead us in prayer when we don’t feel Your presence and when others are suffering, lead us to be the Jesus in their lives, bringing strength, hope and love. Give us the ability to share joy, patience and faithfulness when affliction comes. And bless these two young women now Lord with complete healing. Give them a double portion of joy.

Amen

Friday, February 21, 2014

Powerful Prayer

     On yet another snow-filled, windy Minnesota morning, I sit in the warm and powerful presence of Jesus. As we take time to know Him In our times of private prayer and practice His presence with perpetual prayer, as we trust that Jesus is prayng for our protection and that the Holy Spirit interprets and perfects our prayers we recognize the power we have available to us.

     Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. The following prayer was written by Paul to the church at Ephesus. It is a prayer for you and me, as we see and feel the power and love available to us. Soak it in and believe it on this day.

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 to the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Perfected Prayer

     The verses I want to share with you today are some of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. Many times we don’t know how or what to pray. We feel helpless in our struggles, hopeless in our suffering. God is there with us, in the midst of it, with His understanding and compassionate heart.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26

      What a beautiful picture of a loving God. He intercedes with wordless groans. Years ago we used this verse in a confirmation class. One girl said the Holy Spirit took her words to God and explained to Him exactly what she meant. I can’t think of a better way to interpret that verse. It gets better. Here are the next two verses:

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 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 8:27-28

     Trust the Holy Spirit with your prayers, even when or especially when, you don’t know how to ask or what to say. He will bring your requests to the Father through the powerful name of Jesus and do His will. His perfect and pleasing will.  Jesus is not Santa Claus, giving us what we want.

     Notice in the verses above the words, “in accordance with the will of God” and “called according to His purpose.” He works all things together for good for us as we trust Him to know what we need most. Sometimes in the midst of our greatest suffering, in our times of despair and unanswered questions, we meet Him in intimate ways. We learn to lean on and learn from our Father in heaven.

     Allow the Holy Spirit to perfect your prayers and bring them to God as He groans along with us, as He understands the deepest parts of our hearts.

Dear Father,
The Holy Spirit sits with us through our darkest hours and in our highest highs and everything in between, sifting our prayers and bringing them to You through Jesus. We can’t see it with our earthly eyes, we can’t hear it with our earthly ears, and we don’t know what to say with our earthly lips. But as we give our prayers to You, they rise as incense to the throne room and heaven sees, hears and shouts for joy at each one.
In Jesus name
Amen


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Protected Prayer

     Jesus has set His gaze firmly ahead to what He must do. We see His prayer in the 17th chapter of John as He prepares for the cross. He prays for Himself to be glorified, and He prays for His disciples including this verse:

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You, Holy Father. Protect them by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as we are one. John 17:11

And he prays for all of us who would believe:

Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:25-26

    Jesus has been here. He has suffered, been tempted, experienced sorrow, hunger and so much more. He intercedes for us and protects us with His name. He understands. He sits ready and able to keep us One with Him.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

     Feel confident as you pray before the throne of grace. Jesus protects us and intercedes for us and covers all of our sins with His righteousness.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for becoming one of us. You pray for our protection in the world and grant us mercy and grace in our weaknesses. You understand. You have walked in our shoes and yet had no sin. Impossible love, unimaginable grace.

Amen

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Perpetual Prayer

     A special, set-aside time each day to spend with God in private prayer will strengthen your relationship with Him. Relationships take time and intimacy. The Bible goes a step further.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

     Tucked into these verses are the words, “pray continually” and “in every situation by prayer and petition.” Wow, pray continually and pray in EVERY situation? Is it possible to recognize and honor the fact that Jesus is with us and that His Spirit lives within us every moment of everyday? Can we lift up every circumstance as we move through our days? Praying for protection as we pull out of our driveways? Praying for someone we notice along the way that looks harried or sad? Can we stop to pray for a friend that comes into our mind? Or praise God for the beauty of His creation? Can we ask for help with our anxious thoughts when they begin to take over our minds and our hearts?

     I would say a resounding, “Yes!” and “Amen!” God is our constant companion through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Holy Spirit of the living God lives within us and will calm us and listen to us and keep us in peace as we honor His presence. I don’t know about you, but perpetual prayer sounds like a great way to live, continually surrounded with God’s presence. Can we trust God to be present in every single moment of every single day?

     Private prayer and perpetual prayer in relationship with the real and living God is worth a try. Are you ready? Welcome Him into your presence right now!

Dear Jesus,
You are right here, right now, past, present and future. You are willing to guide us through this life, every step of it, until we walk into eternity. Show us how to pray continually in every situation, practicing Your presence along the way.

Amen

Monday, February 17, 2014

Private Prayer

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  Matthew 6:6

     The Bible has much to say about prayer. This week we will take a peek into some of the ways the Word tells us to pray. Do you take time each day to pray with God? Just you and Him? We can ask for His guidance, and give Him our worries. We can cry out for help, or ask for protection for our families. We can  lift up our friends in need. The list is endless of our hopes and fears and questions in life.

     Maybe you are praying for the snow to be done for the year? If you haven’t seen the Youtube video, “Jesus make it warm!” check it out today. It will make you smile. As I was reading through the Gospel of Luke last week I noticed how often Jesus took time to pray.

 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place…Luke 4:42
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place…Luke 11:1

     Intimacy with God will change our lives. He delights in our company. He will bless and reward us for putting Him first. Let’s go to our rooms and shut the door each day. Take time to spend with the One you love most. He is there waiting to listen, to comfort, to strengthen, to guide, to teach, and to love you with everything He has. After all, He gave up His only Son to die for you. What kind of love is that?

Dear Father in heaven,
Teach us to pray in private. Discipline our hearts to yearn to spend time with You each day. Just You and me. Show us Your purpose for us today. Bless our homes and our families. Comfort the sick and the weak.
In Jesus powerful name,

Amen

Friday, February 14, 2014

Seed x Love = Harvest

Just a reminder on this day of love. Jesus loves you. Are you ready to cultivate the soil of your heart in preparation for the seeds of His Word? Finally, on this Friday, the parable of the farmer gives us hope for a harvest. Not all of the seed is scattered, or planted in shallow ground, or is choked out by the thorns of the world. There is hope for us after all!

“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Mark 4:8

“Others like seed sown on good soil, hear the Word, accept it, and produce a crop-some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” Mark 4:20

When the Word of God enters, grows and is lived out, there will be an abundance of good fruit. Our hearts will have their own seeds to share and those seeds can multiply over and over again. Jesus tells us that others will recognize us by our fruit. (see Matthew 7) Maybe you know Jesus through the fruit of others around you. Do you recognize this fruit in your own life? I want that seed to grow and multiply in me one hundred times over before I meet Jesus face to face.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Notice the fruit listed first? It is love. All of the other fruit comes from receiving the love of Jesus and acting on it. Good soil, good seed, good God. Maybe we can spread some of that good seed around on this Valentine’s Day. The harvest is good.

Dear Jesus,
Let the love we show others come directly from You. We can’t do it on our own strength. Let the fruit of our lives be recognized by others, so they may know we belong to You. You make us unique and unusual in a dark world.
Amen


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Worldly Weeds

The Bible tends to hit us right in the heart and forces us to look at our lives and our motives. The parable of the farmer continues today. For some, we have seen, the seed of the Word is taken away as soon as it is heard, just as seed is scattered in the wind. For others, the soil of our hearts is too shallow and when trouble comes, there is no root to sustain us. Today, the seeds have germinated. The seed has sprouted, but the environment around the plant keeps it from bearing fruit. Here is Jesus:

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.  Mark 4:7

Again, Jesus explains:

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19

I want my desires to be His. His ways are always higher and more beneficial than mine. He fills us with what is excellent and lovely and pure. What are the thorns that stick to you like glue? Are you filled with worries, unable to trust God? Is your mind occupied with striving for more, rather than being content right now? Maybe it is the pleasures and lusts of life that take God away from being first. Let’s pull them out one by one, painful as it may seem at the time to allow the Word to grow in abundance. Those weeds of the world will no longer zap and choke all of our time and energy and God will lead us in the way we should go, in true freedom.


What desires and worries are keeping you from hearing the Word? It is a question to ponder.

Dear Jesus,
Take away our worries, our constant striving, our priorities that take us away from You and Your Word. The Bible gives life, the abundant and fruitful life. Bury the seeds deep, cultivate the soil of our hearts and help us to remove the thorns. We want to bear fruit for You.
Amen



Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Shallow Soil

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Mark 4:5-6

For some of us, there was a time when the Bible gave us hope. We were filled with joy at the thought of Jesus. We believe it’s enough. Unless we are saturated with the living water of the Bible, the trials and sorrows of life take over and we allow the little faith we had to fall away. It withers and dies, leaving us parched and alone in a difficult world.

Our faith was shallow. The roots never took hold, never grew deep enough to sustain us. There is nothing to hold onto through the dark nights. We ask, “Why?” and we don’t hear an answer. Is that the cry of your heart today?

The Word is able to root us deep as we abide in Jesus. Developing strength and trust and hope and perseverance through knowledge of the Bible will prepare us ahead of time. There will be promises from the Word of God to lift us up and sustain us through the difficult days. Let this Scripture be a prayer for you.

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees. I will not neglect your Word. Psalm 119:15

We can meditate and consider and delight in God’s Word. Do not neglect it. It will nourish, fill and support us during the desert times.

Jesus, once again, explains the verse we began with today in this parable of the farmer:

Others, like seed sown in rocky places, hear the Word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away. Mark 4:16-17

Let’s become rooted deep, so we do not wither or fall away. Is the soil of your soul prepared? The living water of the Word is ready. Let’s plant it in our hearts and souls. It will be our miraculous reservoir when trouble comes.

Dear Jesus,
You are the Word. Show us the Words meant just for us today as we seek to dig deeper, to be rooted in good soil, to abide in Your vine and to bear much fruit.
Amen





Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Surface Seeds

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Mark 4:3-4

The impatiens in our story yesterday are comfortable. They fit in. Each flower is one of the crowd, like the seasoned parishioner sitting in the same pew, year after year. A little bit of church, a Sunday smile, a Scripture heard and forgotten on the way out the door. The scattered seeds of faith are never germinated.
       
A tug of emotion may hit our hearts a time or two, but the Bible? Satan loves it when we disregard the Word of God. “it is out-dated.” “The Old Testament is too violent.” “I know Jesus loves me and that’s all I need.” We’ve heard all of the excuses.The lies of Satan go way back to the garden, when he placed the first doubt in Eve’s mind; "Did God really say...?" 

The Word is God’s love story written just for you. As you read the Word, the Word reads you. It is life-changing, true, and it will mold you and me into the image of Christ. Jesus explains the Scripture verses above.


The farmer sows the Word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Mark 4:14-15

Take a chance on leaving the safe corner of the garden where nothing changes and nothing is expected. Let the Great Gardener grow you with the seeds of His Word. Let His green thumb sow those seeds until you stand out, different from the usual crowd. There is not much excitement or adventure in the corner, in the shade. Allow God’s light to penetrate a little deeper today. You may have to squint in the bright light for awhile. Adjusting to the Son is glorious work, not to mention the warm glow from within. Step out into the light.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Dear Jesus,
Take away our fear of the Word. It is God-breathed. Open our eyes and ears to see and hear. Open our hearts and minds to savor and understand all. Let the seeds be planted deep in good and fertile soil

Amen

Monday, February 10, 2014

Tender Fields of Grace

     The impatiens looked at each other with satisfaction. Bunched together in full array, they created quite a spectacle. The pretty in pink, the deep-royal purple, the bright-neon orange, together with the pure glorious white, made a luscious picture in this shady corner of the yard. They swayed together, chattering as one in their comfort zone in the shade. Life was good.

In the center garden, however, the parched flowers hung listlessly in the still of the noonday sun.  The large heads of the hydrangea, the stems of the daisies and the sweet aster drooped with thirst. They did not have the energy to look up or to encourage one another. They had lost their sense of beauty. They had lost all strength. Even their roots felt the drought.

Near the back fence, the fertile plot stood ready for anything.  The compost heap had eventually turned into this rich soil, eager to accept new seed, to be filled with something new.

Weeds were flourishing everywhere. They were hidden between the full set of impatiens in the shade. They stood in full view among the fading blooms in the center garden, tall and strong even through this succession of long, dry days. And there they were, low to the ground, perched and waiting. They found the first spots in the fertile ground, ready to spoil the success of any new seed.

The tenant came through the garage door and noticed a stray branch hanging from the large ash tree in the corner. He returned to the garage for a tool and a ladder and cut the wandering branch away.

A brilliant light suddenly shone on the comfort zone of the impatiens in the corner. The impatiens had never experienced a light such as this. In the comfort of their shady spot, they could never have imagined they were missing anything at all, certainly nothing like this. To think there had been something so magnificent just waiting to shine on them and through them.

As the keeper of the garden moved back to the yard after putting away his tools, he noticed the sad looking garden in the center. Back he went again, to fetch a bucket. He went slowly back and forth, pouring bucket after bucket of cool water over and over the parched flowers, until their heads, once again, turned to the sky. Their thirsty roots were filled with the living water that gives strength and hope and health to their weary bodies.

He strolled toward the back of the yard. The readiness of the soil caught his attention. He moved one more time to the garage and pulled out several seed packets.

He scattered them around the garden, imagining the wildflowers rising up in their various colors and forms, scattering more seed as they grew. Eventually these few seeds would scatter and move farther and farther along this back fence to create an even more bountiful harvest of color. Spreading seeds here and there can bring an amazing harvest to the patient gardener.

He pulled a few weeds as he walked back around the yard. He soon realized there would be no way to yank them all out. He would continue working a little bit at a time over the next few weeks. He guessed there would always be weeds poking around here and there.

He stood, surveying the yard with a practiced eye.  The master would be pleased. The pruned tree looked much better and the amount of sunlight on the impatiens would only help them shine brighter for the master. He had almost lost some flowers in the center garden. What if they had died and the master would never have seen them? He caught them just in time and now just look at them!

The master had shared with him the dream for the large area in the back. He visualized it in full harvest, not as it was now, but as it would be one day. And now the time just might be right to sow those seeds.  The master would help with the weeds. He always had a vision and an answer.
How is your garden growing?


Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times. Mark 4:8

Friday, February 7, 2014

Overflowing Life

     God’s extravagant love, the living water He makes available to us in His presence and in His word fills our souls to the brim. Weaving through the intricacies of our lives has more of a balance and a rhythm as we walk with the Holy Spirit of God. As our knowledge grows and our lives change, the love that has filled us miraculously begins to overflow.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  1 Thessalonians 3:12


     Satan’s tricks have not changed over the millennia. He would love us to stay stuck where we are, continuing on with the things that will harm us and keep us too busy or distracted to get to know his enemy, the living God. Jesus offers us freedom in life, filled with His love, overflowing in abundance, a life of joy.  Listen to what Jesus says to us:

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

     Here is the same verse in the Amblified Bible:

The thielf comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)

     Pray for that enjoyable life, the abundant life filled to the brim, until it overflows.

Dear Father in heaven,
Thank you for Jesus. He gives us the living water that rises up to eternity, that extravagant love that fills our longing souls. Overflow our lives with that love, so we can give it away, just as You gave it to us.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Filled

     On a table sits a pitcher filled with sand, an empty jar and three rocks. Imagine yourself taking the pitcher of sand. As you pour it into the empty jar, think about the ways you spend your days. Pour in the work, time with the kids, cooking, watching TV, reading, laundry, phone calls, computer and anything else that comes to mind.

     The jar is full. You love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and strength. The three rocks represent the Bible, prayer and service. You try to squeeze them into the top of the jar but they just won’t fit. Now pour the sand back into the pitcher. Place the three rocks into the bottom of the jar, imagining time in every single day for the Bible, for prayer, for serving God. Now pour the sand back into the jar. And it all fits!!

     We think, somehow, we do God a favor by sitting in a church pew for an hour each week. One hour out of the 168 available to us. If the service goes over an hour, we look at our watches, think about the game about to begin or what we will have for lunch. A distracted faith. It’s there, but we place little value on it when all is said and done.

     Jesus wants a real relationship with us, not a ritual, not a religion. The Bible is His gift to us. It is a way to get to know the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit intimately. I guarantee when you soak yourself in the Word you will develop a hunger and a thirst for more.  Remember the living water yesterday? It is always available.\

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Matthew 5:6

     So much is necessary to get rhrough our days, but developing a hunger and a thirst for God will fill us and His love will get us through all of the details of our everyday lives. Put the rocks in first and everything else will fall into place.

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Dear Lord,
We long to sit with you on a daily basis, filling up on Your Word and praying and talking with You. Let that be the desire of our hearts from this day forward. Develop in us a hunger and a thirst for Your righteousness.

Amen  

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Living Water

     Our heat has been running non-stop during this endless snow and bitterly cold winter. My skin is itchy and my throat parched with thirst. Is your soul a tad dry and itchy too? That abundant love and contentment Christ offers can fade into the background of our daily existence, when the urgent takes precedence over our needs, our physical, mental, and spiritual needs. 

     The Samaritan woman at the well during the hottest part of the day, met the One who would fill the dryness in her life.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

     The lost woman believed. She would become one of Jesus’ first evangelists as she offered the Messiah’s truth to her family and the surrounding area. Soul-thirsty answers, life-quenching truth, free-flowing living water available whenever and wherever we need it. Is it time to stop and drink?

    How do we receive this flowing spring water that will last until eternity?

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”  John 7:38

   Believing in Jesus begins with His abundant love. We realize our need for a Savior and His offer is iron-clad. We are His until He will wipe the earthly water from our eyes and we will walk with Him beside the streams of living water forever.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Revelation 7:17

    Heaven will provide perfection. What about our dry, cracked souls today? He offers us thirst-quenching answers for every tear-stained question, for every deep longing, for every pit of shame. The water is satisfying. Thirsty? Dip into the life-quenching well of Jesus.

Dear Jesus,
Walk with us beside the still, cool waters of Your saving grace in our uncertain lives. Take our hands as we search for answers and lead us to the Words of life. Refresh our souls. You are the answer to our longings. Fill us to the brim.
Amen




Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Extravagant Love

     Extravagant love. What comes to mind? Is it a bracelet dripping with diamonds, a trip around the world, a love poem written just for you? All of those sound wonderful, but that’s not it. Our world tells us, “You deserve the best.” “You are worth it.” “It’s all about you.” Jesus turns all of that upside down with His sacrifice on the cross. While we were yet sinners, He took it all upon Himself, suffered and died, because He loves us.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  1 John 3:1a

     Extravagant love may not come in the way you would envision it. It comes in the heart of the mom with the severely disabled child. There is not much time to think about herself or her needs. She would not have wished or dreamed about this life for her family, but would she have it any other way? No, the love is deeper than anything she has or will ever experience.

     I visited with an older woman for years back in the 90’s. She could not see. Her lungs held little air and she suffered from congestive heart failure. She had several good friends. They shared  the same church for decades, studied the Bible together, raised their children at the same time, shared deep joy and deep sorrow.

     This band of sisters rallied around Marcia. They catered to her needs in reading to her, picking up groceries and praying with her. I rode along with them to see Marcia for the last time. She was near death and in hospice care. This beautiful group gathered around her and sang hymns of praise to their God and thanked Him for the life of this dear friend. Still brings me to tears when I think about it. I sat off to the side. (I can’t really sing anyway) I felt as if I were witnessing something rich and lavish; that extravagant love of Christ that is sacrificial and beyond words.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  Colossians 3:16

     I witnessed the message of Christ dwelling richly among them that day as they sang psalms and songs of gratitude. Talk about a Scripture coming to life! The places the world wants to avoid, the difficulties and sufferings we are called to endure, often become the very places we witness the holiness of Christ and His sacrificial love. Don’t be afraid of His lavish love. It is there for the taking. He gives it richly, abundantly, extravagantly. Can we do the same?

Jesus,
You, the pure light of the world, washed the filthy feet of Your disciples. Show us how to love in the ways of Your heart. Take away our fear as we step a little closer to serving others sacrificially in Your name. After all, that’s what you taught us to do.

Amen

Monday, February 3, 2014

More Than Enough

     It was a summer Saturday evening about twenty years ago. The picture is etched in my mind. Our daughters were somewhere around the ages of six and four. The house was thoroughly clean. The gardens were planted. The yard freshly mowed and trimmed thanks to my husband. Our girls sat quietly with hair French braided, clean from their baths in their freshly laundered nightgowns.

       “Aaaahhhh.” Pure satisfaction. You may have noticed the time frame. This is not a daily occurrence. We have those moments when all seems right with the world; when the jobs are done, the tough project complete, after a satisfying meal. And then...the hunger returns. Another project rears its ugly head. The house is in chaos, the kids squabbling, too much to do.

     Jesus offers us this deep and satisfying, soul-quenching contentment. When we place our lives totally in His hands, we recognize the kids are from Him, the grass and all of creation was breathed into life from Him. And our lives can be trusted completely to Him. What Jesus offers us is more than a momentary feeling of satisfaction. He offers us the abundant life, grace-given, love-overflowing assurance of the more-than-enough life.

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

     Contentment with Jesus is available in the midst of the chaos, in the fear of the moment, in times of hunger and peril. Every moment can be trusted to Him. Not only does He offer us contentment and satisfaction. He offers us life overflowing. Let’s dig into the abundant life this week. In the meantime, breathe a heavy, “Aaaahhhh” with me. He has you in the palm of His hand. Be content right there and then go tackle that mess.

Dear Father,
You gave us Your Son. He gave everything up for us and loves us too much to ever let us go. We offer everything right back to Him today. Give us that Godly contentment every day no matter what we see around us.
In Jesus name
Amen