Great is the Peace of the Children

     Today is our daughter’s birthday; her golden birthday and tonight we celebrate her! If you have children, you understand the deep bond. God built us to be in relationship. Love cannot be explained or easily put into words, but we feel it and believe it to our very core.

     As we let go through the stages of the lives of our children and see them grow into adulthood, we look back and see God’s hand of protection and love. God knew Angela before she was born. He saw her in my womb and has watched over her. I count on that.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

     I come boldly and confidently to Jesus recognizing He loves her even more than me!! Seems impossible, but He has loved her with an everlasting love. And the good news is, she loves Him right back; a mother’s prayer fulfilled.

I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all go well for them and for their children after them. Jeremiah 32;39

All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13

     We love you Angela. What a gift! What a blessing! What a joy! We celebrate you!

Father,

We thank you for the gift of Your Son. As parents we can’t imagine the pain of His suffering and His loneliness at being separated from You. Thank you for the gift of marriage and children. Today we thank you for our daughter, Angela. She is fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. Bless her and keep her always.

In Jesus name,

Amen

We are on vacation!  See you September 8^th. Meditate on God’s Word everyday!

Boldly Confident in Christ

     It doesn’t take much to experience defeat. Just one wrong word from a co-worker, a failed test, a wrong turn, a faulty alarm, or a missed appointment can ruin our day. We are shaken and we lose our self-confidence. What would life be like, how would it change, if we placed our confidence in Jesus? What if it was no longer about us, but about Him?

     When our confidence and our faith depend on Him, we lose our self focus, our guilt-ridden thoughts and our shaky foundation. Let Him take the reins this morning. Leave Him with the unrest in your mind and heart and soul. Be bold in Jesus, not in yourself. He can handle all of the indecision and all of the questions.

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God. Who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31b

Jesus,

You gave everything for us. Keep us focused on You today. You are for us and our confidence is in You. Help us to be bold and courageous as we move about in the world today.

Amen

Boldly Speak

The early apostles spoke boldly of Jesus. All but one of the disciples died for their witness. Paul suffered beatings and imprisonment as he boldly proclaimed the Word of God. When you surrender to Jesus, everything changes. The old you becomes new, born again, washed in the blood of Christ. No longer does God see our sin. He sees Christ. And like the early disciples we, too, can say:

As for us, we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

                                                                                                  

     Be ready with an answer to those around you. When someone asks about the hope that is in you, speak of all you have seen and heard. Has Jesus changed your life? Is He working through you and in you? Miraculous changes occur when Jesus steps into a life.  I love this verse:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

     For people to ask, they must see a hope in us. Are you ready to give the answer? Preaching and forcefully telling someone what they must believe never works. Let them see a difference in you. It is because of Christ we have the eternal hope. And answer with gentleness and respect. Let the Jesus in you do the talking and share the hope! 

Father,

Let Your Holy Spirit shine through us so that others may see Your Son. His hope is available to everyone. Please let us be a bold example of Your faith in action. We can’t help but speak of all we have seen and heard with gentleness and respect.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Boldly to the Throne

     My prayer list is lengthy. I love to pray for each person and their families every single day. When I don’t have the time I ask God to bless and keep each person on that list. He knows each one and He knows their needs. He knows the right people to surround them. He knows when they are going to look up for the first time and say, “God I need You.”

     Life transitions hit us, whether it is adjusting to life without a loved one or dealing with a chronic condition that changes everything. Even joyous celebrations including marriage and children take some adjustments, along with the newness of retirement or the empty nest. Each season brings about times of joy and mourning. Maybe you have been on a roller coaster of emotions lately. Maybe you have a huge decision to make. Maybe you are watching a loved one suffer or maybe you are lonely.

     Bow your head and ask for help from Jesus. He will be your constant companion. His Word to you will bring you comfort and hope. He is there and He loves nothing better than to sit with you for awhile and listen to your needs. And as you get to know Him better and to count on Him more, He will use you to share His love. He will make you an ambassador of love to a hurting world.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20

     And He will ask you to pray for others. What a privilege. What an honor. If someone asks you to pray, take it seriously. The throne room of God is available through Jesus. He will take your prayers and He will move the heavens with His power and might. Come boldly to the throne room.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  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 4:14-16

Jesus,

You have opened the very throne room of heaven to us through Your death and resurrection. We come boldly to the throne of grace with our needs today. Be with those in need and fill them with Your comfort, Your understanding and Your power to accept all of life’s transitions.

Amen

Stop and See

    God’s peace and strength can be counted on through the most difficult of times. We see this through the Bible over and over again. David praises God as he sits surrounded by his enemies and after the death of his son. Job reminds himself that his Redeemer lives as he suffers the loss of his loved ones, his wealth and his health. Jeremiah trusts and praises God in his loneliness and persecution. And often, they see God in the creation around them.

     Remind yourself of God’s love this weekend and look around you as you go through the day. Stop to smell a flower or to listen to the bird’s song. Take in the beauty of a lake or the ocean. Smell the fresh air after a cleansing rain. Raise your face to the warmth of the sun and praise your God. Every breath of life is precious. And our Redeemer lives. Even death won’t take us out of His grasp.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither 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

Jesus,

Give us Your love and peace as we witness the miraculous surrounding us. Give us Your strength to get through the most dire circumstances with the understanding that nothing in all creation can separate us from You. Nothing, ever.

Amen

Hope

     The writers of the Old Testament, the prophets of old and the disciples faced great persecution. Many were killed for their witness. Jeremiah was no exception to the ridicule and persecution. He was called by God at a very young age. In fact, he told God he was too young to speak. But God used him in a mighty way.

     As usual, Israel did not listen. Jeremiah never gave up. And, as we read in Job’s account yesterday, Jeremiah praises God through his own suffering and fear.

“He made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. When He thunders the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses.  Jeremiah 51:15-16

    Even in Israel’s disobedience, Jeremiah offers hope. He offers hope to you and me in these familiar words. Let Jesus bring hope to your heart today. His creation speaks to us from the heavens above. One day all of our hopes will be realized forever.

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

Lord,

Thank You for the Word. The prophets of old speak of Your hope and Your wisdom, Your understanding and Your sovereignty. We place our future in Your hands. You alone know the number of our days.

In Jesus name,

Amen

My Redeemer Lives

     As we marvel at God’s creation, as we stare into the endless sky or witness the vast expanse of the ocean or the majesty of a mighty oak, we come to a place of humility and reverence. We cannot fathom our gracious God.

How great is God-beyond our understanding! The number of His years is past finding out. He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain in the streams. The clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how He spreads out the clouds, how He thunders from His pavilion? See how He scatters His lightning around Him bathing the depths of the sea. Job 36:26-30

     Job speaks of the wonders of God even though he suffered as much or more than anyone. He lost his wealth, his home, his children and his health. His friends offered no help, other than to ask what he had done to deserve all of it. Job never lost faith in his God. He understood the magnitude of this mighty God that rose above and beyond all of earth’s suffering. You can hear the agony in Job’s words in Job 19 as he scolds his friends and lists all he has suffered. And yet He trusts. At the end of his long list of trials, He praises.

I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes-I and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27

Lord,

As we witness Your majesty in the skies, the seas and all of Your creation, we are reminded of Your eternal ways. Help us to rise above our suffering and trust the Almighty God of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our hearts yearn, along with Job, to see You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God Saw It Was Good

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.  God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth to govern the day and the night and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:14-18

     God set them in the vault of the sky. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? We set the table. God sets the moon, sun and stars in the sky. Did you know the Bible called the earth a sphere long before man confirmed its roundness? (Isaiah 40:22) The Bible also tells us that the earth hangs in the sky. (Job 26:7) Amazing! As science, history and archeology continue to unearth their findings, the Bible stands true.

     And God saw that it was good as He set the moon and the sun and the stars to govern our seasons, our days and our nights. I am grateful. How about you? Our miraculous God not only numbers the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7) He also numbers and names the stars, the infinite number of stars. (Psalm 147:4) Our eternal, infinite, miracle-working, Creator God deserves our unending praise.

Father,

How wondrous are Your ways! We sit in awe and reverence of You and all You give us. Remind us of Your glory today as we watch the day turn to night, as we see the stars You have named and as we sit on the globe of the earth hanging in the sky.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

And It Was Very Good

     God spoke and created the heavens and the earth. There is no way for the human mind to comprehend it. Imagine the stripe of the zebra, the cute face of the koala, the majestic lion, the fragile butterfly, the colorful array of  flowers from the 8-foot sunflower to the smallest crocus, the scent of the rose, or the fragrance of fresh mint or ginger. The creation surrounding us is mind-boggling.

     God spoke it through His Word. And the Word is Jesus. He breathed life into the first man made from the dust and created woman from man’s rib. Notice creation around you today and take it in. Breathe it in. Appreciate all God gave us to enjoy, from relationships to the morning sunrise and the evening sunset, day after day, month after month, season after season; the earth set just the perfect distance from the sun rotating faithfully for our pleasure.

     Looking for a miracle? Get a little closer to creation. Hug a friend. Notice the bird’s song. Soak it in. Take in a little vitamin D on your lunch break. Look up at the stars. The list is endless. He made it for you and me. And it brought Him pleasure.

God saw all that He had made and it was very good. And there was morning and there was evening-the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

How many are Your works Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. Psalm 104:24-25

Lord,

We praise You for the creation around us. Forgive us for taking everything that is good for granted. We thank You for our food, for the seasons, for the sun, moon and stars, for the animals surrounding us with all of their wonder, for the birds and the flowers and for the ability to love. Remind us to praise You in appreciation for all we have around us each day. Most of all, thank You for Jesus.

Amen

Unexpected Savior

      God answers us in unexpected ways (not always to our liking). He brings unexpected hope to the hopeless. He gives us unexpected peace that passes all understanding and He allows us to pray unexpected prayers as He listens to us throughout our days.

     And one day soon our Savior will come. We don’t know the date or the hour. Even though His arrival will be at an unexpected time, we should be ready and waiting expectantly! Are you ready? Have you spoken of Him to your friends and family? Do you know Him and love Him with all of your heart, soul and strength? Will you be ready when He arrives to take us home? And will Jesus respond to us like this?

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.’ Matthew 25:21

     The signs Jesus told us to look for are upon us. It might not be in our lifetime, but there is a good chance His unexpected arrival could be soon. What are we to do? Jesus tells us:

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

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

     I pray these words will encourage you. Expect the unexpected. Listen for the answer, look for hope and peace, pray for all things and stand and look up! Your redemption is drawing near.

Father,

Sometimes we long for our heavenly home, but You have things for us to do. We await Your coming with expectant hearts. Keep us awake and ready to meet you face-to-face.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unexpected Prayer

     I don’t know about you, but before I really knew Jesus I did not pray much. There may have been a “forgive me” or a “help me” prayer, but they were few and far between. Before accepting Jesus as our Savior, I bet most of us only go to prayer when we are in trouble. For me, God was sometimes a benevolent figure and other times a vision of an old man in the sky watching for me to do something wrong.

     Instead, Jesus is within us, He is around us and best of all, He loves us. It still boggles my mind that the sovereign, omniscient and magnificent God of ours can use us. He loves nothing more than when we include Him in our everyday needs. Think of the most loving father figure you know on earth and imagine his heart for his children. Multiply that by a trillion and beyond. Jesus loves us that much.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?  Matthew 7:11

     Shoot out an unexpected prayer to Your loving Father throughout the day. He longs to be with you every step of the way. He will use you to bring glory to Jesus. He will answer your everyday needs. Your faith pleases Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone that comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

Father,

Thank You for loving us, for using us, for listening to us. We earnestly seek You throughout the day with unexpected prayers and praise. You love to answer our prayers.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unexpected Peace

     A contest was held for artists with the theme, “Peace.” Many of the artists depicted a scene most of us would imagine; blue skies, ocean breezes, palm trees and solitude. Surprisingly, the winning artist painted a scene in direct contrast to the others. There were dark skies, lightning bolts, scenes of war and confusion. Each scene within the painting brought a feeling of darkness and of chaos.

     But right there, in the center of the confusion, is a small yellow bird singing a song. In our lives, we experience chaos and confusion. Within our times of unease and war, of terror and death, Jesus can provide peace. Jesus reminds us, as in the words of the familiar song, “All is well with my soul.” In the beginning, He was there. In the everyday He is there. At the end of life He is there. He is waiting, watching, and He is ready for the circumstances. We find our peace in Him and nowhere else. And, because of Him, we can find peace in the middle of a storm.

     Both my daughter and I have experienced the fear and anxiety of a panic attack. Here are some words that remind us of the peace available to us through our Lord. Take a deep breath and sing a song of peace in the midst of it all.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Jesus,

Remind us in our anxiety, in our unrest and through our busy days, that we can find deep peace with You. Hear our petitions and our prayers as we thank You for the deep peace within our souls. We need to turn to You each day to find that peace. We ask for it today.

Amen

Unexpected Answers

     God shows up at our weakest moments. When did you first meet Jesus? I searched for answers after being diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease and after my mom’s death. When you seek answers, you will find them. Often the light of Christ appears for the first time or the hundredth time in the dark times of life. Cry to Him. Seek Him. Lean on Him.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. Psalm 6:9

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will made your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

     Cry out to Him with all your heart. Seek Him with all your heart. Lean on Him with all your heart. Trust Him with all your heart. Don't lean on your own understanding. The answers may not make earthly sense, but they bring heavenly glory to Jesus.

Lord,

You understand our weakness. We ask for Your help and we ask for Your presenc to be made known in our darkest times. Let all of us feel Your unwavering presence around us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unexpected Hope

     The rainbow after a storm. A baby’s cry after the pain of childbirth. The first real smile after a time of mourning. Healing after a battle with cancer. The unexpected hope of Jesus. Life is full of surprises and miracles. Are you looking up with hope?

     I have watched Jesus work through times of depression, hopelessness, grief, loneliness and despair. I have witnessed a deep and abiding joy in the lives of Christians through the difficulties of life.  The unexpected hope of heaven is just beyond the earth. The unexpected love of a Savior. I pray we will witness the transformation of those we love as they find faith in the glory and light of life with Jesus. He changes everything.

…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They shall be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61;3

     Allow Jesus to bring beauty out of ashes. Praise Him even in the pits of despair. He will turn your suffering into hope and bring joy after your mourning. The unexpected hope of Jesus. He will lift you up.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6

Jesus,

Bring unexpected hope to those in need. You will lift us up when we need it most. We place our hearts and our hope with you forever.

Amen

His Perfect Love

     A perfect kind of love, an unconditional kind of love, a sacrificial kind of love, God in human form kind of love, a suffering servant kind of love, a heaven-sent kind of love; all of the above was given for us, even while we were still sinners.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     Turning 60 puts life in perspective. I recognize the fact that I have many more years in my past than in my future. I pray that age brings wisdom and an acknowledgment of what is most important in the years ahead. I understand I have the perfect love of Christ with me.

     Living in relationship with Jesus should cause each of us to look and act more and more like Him. Have I changed in my attitude towards others? Am I acting out in love? Do I need to be right or can I humble myself to listen to the needs of others? Do my family, friends and neighbors know Jesus? Am I praying for those not yet in His family?

    Only those things we do for the kingdom of God will travel with us into heaven. We won’t be playing harps and sitting on clouds forever. We will have so much to do and we will have the entire universe as our playground. Focus on Jesus. He will give you the answers to life. His perfect love is yours for eternity. Let’s put our lives into His hands for as long as we live. 

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Psalm 16:4

Jesus,

Teach us Your wisdom. Teach us the vital lessons we need to live a life of purpose. Show us what is most important to You. Help us to leave a legacy of love. Thank You for being with us for as long as we live on earth and into our eternity with You.

Amen

He Loves You

     Has the hope and truth of eternal life changed you? When you have no fear of death does your perspective of this life change? Can our fear be wiped out?

There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18a

     This perfect love came in the form of the perfect man. He took the pain and suffering of our sin unto Himself and He asks us to believe in the Son, Jesus. Take these beautiful Words of hope for eternal life into your very soul today and never forget them. You are heaven-bound! Death unto life is ours and heaven will be beyond anything we can hope for or imagine.

Very truly I tell you; the one who believes has eternal life. John 6:47

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:28

And this is what He promised us-eternal life. 1 John 2:25

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son. In His name we have eternal life. Remind us of this hope throughout our lives, through the joy and the mourning, through every season. Keep us anchored in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

He Loves You

     I don’t think it’s possible to take in the enormity of God’s love for us. It may take eternity to figure it out. One way to understand God’s faithful, patient, enduring, unconditional love for humanity is to read His love letter.  This letter, written over thousands of years, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has been revealed progressively through the centuries.

     The Old Testament and the New work together to tell the story of the redemptive love, through Jesus Christ, for a fallen world. The more you read it, study it, meditate on it, the more peaceful and rich life becomes. It is our plum line, our guide book, our definitive Word on how to live life. It is Jesus. He is the Word, the One sent to save.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

     The Word of God brings hope and truth and light into our lives. All of it, every single Word. Do not neglect it!

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope.  Romans 15:4

     May this Word give you peace and joy as you take on the day!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13      Amen!

He Loves You

     Hold on to God’s love for you even in the depths, He is right there beside you. Did you know the Bible tells us that nothing, not anything, can ever separate us from Him? This life will be done one day. And we will step into forever. Whatever today brings, joy or sorrow, doubt or hope, loneliness or fellowship, worry or confidence, Jesus is holding you up. Nothing will ever take Him away.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:37-39

Dear Lord,

These Words bring such encouragement to us. Not even death will separate us from Your love. Surround us with that love and heal the hurting world around us.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

He Loves You

     Your relationship with Jesus is unique. He knows your quirks, your faults, your personality, your doubts and fears, your strengths and weaknesses. He loves you; right where you are right now, this very minute.

    

     Sometimes we compare ourselves with each other, even with those in the body of Christ. And we think we could be more like her or him. Maybe I should pray more? Should I try to teach or sing? She or he appears to be so full of joy. Why can’t I be more like them?

     Let Christ’s love wash over you and let it be enough. Once you are His, He will never let you go. Relax in His presence. Tell him everything on your heart. He won’t tell anyone! And He is there to help, to guide, to teach, to give you power and love and strength.

     Just as each of our earthly relationships is unique, one-of-a-kind and special, so is the relationship with our Lord. Yes, we are somewhat of a dysfunctional family. There are various factions and denominations. But, if we have accepted Jesus as Lord, we are sons and daughters of the King! We are children of the most high! We are brothers and sisters in the faith. Enjoy your relationship, just as it is, made just for you and Jesus. He chose you. You are His.

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you.  1 Thessalonians 1:4

Jesus,

Thank you for loving us, each in our own way. The deep understanding, patience and kindness You give each of us cannot be measured. Meet us right where we are and show us the way.

Amen