Friday, February 27, 2015

We Are Blessed

Receive these blessings from the Word of God to end our week. Take these Words along with you as a promise from your God. He is watching over you and delights in you as you seek Him in your life.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine on us. Psalm 67:1

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.  Numbers 6:24-26

     The cold and snow may chill our flesh, but God’s light shines warmly and graciously into our hearts. Feel His warm light on you today. May He bless and keep you always.

Jesus,
We accept Your blessings upon us. Fill us when we feel empty. Give us hope when there seems to be none. Be merciful to us when we stumble. Comfort us when we grieve. Give us your grace to share with others. We are blessed by You.

Amen

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Blessed Are We!

Let the blessings of God wash over you today. He is with you, wherever you are, wherever you go, whatever you do. Blessed are we.

Our sins are forgiven.

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2

 We have the privilege to serve Him.

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.  Psalm 41:1

We delight in His Word and follow His commands.

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

We are blessed. Receive this blessing from the Lord.

May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 115:15

Amen!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Blessed Are We

     Looking back over the days of study on the Beatitudes, we have been blessed. Our meekness, our humility and our hunger and thirst for God, bring about a change in our hearts and minds as we reach out toward others in mercy, in peace and with a pure heart. We may be persecuted and, sometimes, even hated for His name.
                                                                                                    
     Is it worth the promise of heaven and a blessed life? Listen to the promises as they come together at the end of each Beatitude. (Matthew 5:1-12) Talk about blessings! We will inherit the kingdom of heaven. We are comforted and filled. We will be shown mercy. We will see God! We are the children of God. Who could ask for more?

     Whether we want to admit it or not, this life of ours on earth is short. We realize it more and more the older we get. Each day is a gift. Each breath is a miracle. And each day brings us closer to life with Jesus. You are blessed. We are blessed.

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You.  Psalm 84:12

Father,
We accept the blessings You have given us in Jesus. We trust in You. Let us be the ones who hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. Comfort us and fill us with Your Holy Spirit today.
In Jesus name,

amen

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Beatitudes

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:10-12

     In America, we are blessed to have freedom of speech, but Christians, more and more, are finding it difficult to stand on the Word of God without being judged and hated. The church of Christ should live in stark contrast to the world. Are we fitting in just a little too easily? So many Christians around the world are martyred each day. Would you be willing to stand up for Jesus if it meant your life?

     You may have read about Kayla, the girl murdered recently by the terror group, ISIS. In a letter to her parents she stated that even in prison there was a way to rejoice. She knew Jesus. Just as Paul reminded us in the book of Philippians as he sat in chains in prison;

“Rejoice in the Lord always, Again, I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

     Satan wants to distort truth and many will follow his lies. Jesus reminds us in His Words above, to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted. Only through the Holy Spirit can we feel blessed when others hate us. It should come as no surprise.

Jesus tells us,
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:18-19

     Be prepared. Standing up for Christ may not be easy. Blessed are we when we are persecuted for His name.

Jesus,
Keep us bold in the world around us. Our citizenship is in heaven. We do not belong to the world. You have chosen us. Blessed are we when we stand up for Your righteousness.

Amen

Monday, February 23, 2015

The Beatitudes

     We continue with the Beatitudes, from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5. The first four Beatitudes offer us an inward change toward God, becoming poor in spirit, and humble, the beginning of our hunger and thirst for the things of God. The fifth Beatitude began an outward change; seeing and feeling the sufferings of others; the gift of mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

     God’s work involves our hearts. Our hearts become more and more pure. Because of Jesus, God no longer sees our sin, but He sees Christ in us. And one day we will see Him face to face.

     In the meantime, we belong to Him. Our hearts continue to move toward the desires of God. This does not mean we no longer have impurities in our hearts, but we focus on God. The word “pure” here can be translated into a singleness of heart. Turn your heart’s focus to Him.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Matthew 5:9

     God’s peace is not of this world (see John 14:27) Again this inward working of Christ has an outward flow. Because we have the peace of Christ with us always, we bring peace wherever we go. I heard a pastor say once, “when you have peace with dying, only then can you live.” Our eternal life is set in heaven. Our names have been written in the Lamb’s book of life, never to be removed. All is well with our souls.            

     Let that peace invade your being today as you continue to live your life at peace with yourself and the world. Share that peace with someone. Bring it into the midst of a conflict or a long-standing disagreement. It’s not easy, but Christ gives us shoes of peace. (see Ephesians 6)

Father,
Give us pure hearts that rest in Your peace. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. We are Your children. Let Your light in us stand out in the world.
In Jesus name
Amen


Friday, February 20, 2015

The Beatitudes

     Jesus gives us the eight Beatitudes in a precise way. The first four involve our attitude towards God. We bow our knees in humility as we seek His forgiveness and turn in obedience, recognizing His ability to fill the desires of our hearts. As our spirits are filled with Him, we can turn outwardly to others. The fifth Beatitude begins:

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

     The gift of mercy from God allows us to feel the pain and suffering of others and reach out to help. Grace is God’s way of giving us what we do not deserve; His love and salvation. Mercy is not giving us what we do deserve. Having been forgiven ourselves, God gives us the ability to see others with compassion and love, offering help and support to others, as we recognize their needs. God’s mercy and compassion for us is new every single day.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

Father,
Your mercies for us are new every morning. Give us merciful hearts and You promise to bless us. Teach us how to reach out and offer hope and healing in the name of Jesus.

Amen 

Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

     Jesus, Creator and God Himself, made Himself meek and humble to become a man. He followed God’s will after He asked for the cup to be removed from Him before He died on the cross. Becoming meek before God is not weakness, but a willingness to follow Him, to walk according to His Word, a call to obedience.

     Jesus is the perfect example. In Matthew 11 He called Himself, “gentle and lowly in spirit.” 

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

     The Holy Spirit within us begins to change our desires as we continually look to Jesus and His Word for answers to our deepest questions. Our strongest desires and appetites now search for God’s truth and His righteousness within us. His desires and His will become ours as we listen to Him and long for a deeper relationship with the One of our hearts. We hunger and thirst for Him.

     Meekness and humility before God in order to walk in His ways is not easy. It takes some discipline, with a willingness to put Him first in our hearts and minds every single day. He will do the heavy lifting when it seems impossible. After all, He created the heavens and the earth, and He created you!

Jesus,
Receive our humble hearts today as we struggle to follow You in a world straying farther and farther from Your ways. Let our desires become Yours as we develop a hunger and a thirst for the life You long for us to live, the abundant and over-flowing life of the Spirit.
Amen


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

     The Beatitudes, I believe, give us an order of how we come to God. The term “poor in spirit” might bring to mind material poverty or an emptiness of being ourselves. Instead, it means humility. Becoming poor in spirit allows us to recognize our need for God. Before our spirits can be filled, we need to make them available to God. Before we can accept Jesus, we need to humble ourselves before Him, and we will be blessed.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:3

     Recognizing our need for God, brings repentance, an acknowledgment and a new awareness of our sinful nature. Part of this awareness is an acknowledgement of the holiness and purity and perfection of God. Seeing ourselves as we are without our God brings about a “Godly sorrow.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) We mourn for what we have done against God, ask His forgiveness and what does He do? He takes us in as we are, forgives our sins, past, present and future and gives us Jesus and His kingdom. Now I’ll say that is comfort!

     This verse is a beautiful reminder that God comforts us throughout our lives. We all have times of mourning, mourning the death of a child or a sibling, the loss of a mom or dad or a spouse, the loss of a friendship or mourning through a divorce. God is the God of all comfort. He wraps His arms around us as we ask for His help.

     Humility and mourning are not signs of our weakness. Our Almighty God looks at them as an opening to a vital, living relationship with Him, through Jesus. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn.

Dear Lord,
We come humbly before You, recognizing we are nothing without you. Fill us with Your love and comfort as we fill ourselves with Your Holy Spirit. You promise us blessings and happy are we to accept them.

Amen

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The Beatitudes

     Before we get into the eight Beatitudes we looked at yesterday, we might ask, “what is a beatitude?” This word means blessedness, fortunate, happiness. Jesus views blessedness in an upside down way from the world. He changes the way we think about what is important, and of value. This section of the Bible does not tell us how to live to become a Christian. It gives us a peek into our lives after we find Jesus. How have we changed? Do these blessings affect us today or only when we come into the full kingdom of the new heaven and earth one day?

     Words like "poor" and "meek" become strengths. Giving up our pride, coming before God in humility and awe, serving others without needing a return from our investment, seeking Him rather than money and fame. Sounds crazy, but the freedom it allows is worth pursuing. Let’s take a look at the blessings our God promises us we seek first His kingdom. These words are not only future oriented, but for us today.

Blessed are you. Blessed are we. Blessed are the children of God. Let the Spirit of God lead you to blessedness.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:14

Dear friends, now we are children of God and what we will be has not been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Hi, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

Father,
We seek Your kingdom in our lives today. Be with us as we study Your promised blessings for us as believers today and tomorrow and forevermore. We ask for Your blessings upon us.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Monday, February 16, 2015

The Beatitudes

     Jesus changes our hearts and minds and souls. His sermon on the mount reminds us of what life can look like as we follow Him. The Beatitudes paint a beautiful picture of discipleship. Let’s listen to the Words of Jesus today from this sermon and look deeply into each part this week.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:1-12

     Blessed are we.

Jesus,
We want to follow You and obey You. Change us to become the righteousness of God as we learn from Your example.

Amen

Friday, February 13, 2015

Spirit-filled Stories in the Storm

     Standing on our faith, finding stillness and peace within chaos, believing the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) even when we can’t see the answers and finding contentment and satisfaction in any circumstance; these are all the work of the Holy Spirit of God.

     The Holy Spirit’s power and work are supernatural. When we have spiritual eyes, we can focus on eternal purposes and move beyond the temporal. Only with God is it possible. I have heard testimony after testimony on the power of God through the years. The comfort and peace of the Spirit as a loved one dies. A peaceful contentment when facing our own mortality. Finding purpose after a disability is diagnosed. Being transformed after an abusive childhood. You have heard the stories too. You have some of your own. Our stories are meant to be shared. How has the Holy Spirit worked in your own life? Have you seen a prayer answered? Experienced a miracle? Prayed for a stranger? Loved an enemy? Tell your stories to others. Jesus is meant to be shared. The Spirit works in the storm and walks with us until the light bursts through the clouds again.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.  Psalm 107:2

Father,
You have given us Your Son. We all have stories to share about His abiding love. Let the Spirit’s power give us courage to speak.
In Jesus name

Amen

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Satisfield in the Storm

     Are there blessings through a storm? Sometimes we need to search for them during a difficult season. Has someone comforted you? Have your thoughts and discussions been deep and meaningful? Have you found a new purpose after the storm has passed? I think often the blessings aren’t apparent until much later, but having a history with God helps us to trust Him even when those blessings are hard to find.

     Let your peace and satisfaction be in Jesus. Your faith in Him will never return empty. He brings sweetness through sacrifice, beauty from the ashes, joy out of despair, blessings out of grief. Our souls can remain well, when the rest of us is falling apart.  He is there with us. He will never leave us. He loves us. He died for us. Heaven is forever. Suffering is but for a moment. His peace is not of this world.

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

Lord Jesus,
Keep our hearts from being troubled and afraid even in a storm. Our hope and trust are always in You. Keep us peaceful even when the waters of life are turbulent. Give us contentment in You.

Amen

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The Sword in the Storm

     You can wield God’s power in a storm. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. When Satan tempted Jesus at the end of His 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus responded to the three temptations with Scriptures, “It is written…” “It is written…” It is written…” (Matthew 4)

     If you are not familiar with your spiritual armor, read through the 6th chapter of Ephesians, beginning at the 11th verse. Jesus covers us with the armor, all of it defensive, except one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:17

For the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

     Take up the sword and wield it against Satan’s wiles. If he has been deceiving you with doubt, fear, loneliness, grief, pride or anxiety, find a verse and speak it out loud. Puncture the clouds surrounding you and let the light of Christ come through. The power of the Word is alive and active, sharp and penetrating. And the devil will flee!

Jesus,
You have the words fo eternal life. Satan’s hold on the earth is coming to an end and he is restless and active. Your Word will defeat his many lies and activities surrounding us. Remind us of the sword of the Spirit and give us the time and wisdom to read it, meditate on it, keep it in our hearts and take it out again and again.

Amen 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Stillness in the Storm

     How do we trust Jesus when the storms of life hit? His disciples were overcome with fear when a storm tossed and turned their boat as they crossed the sea. What was Jesus doing? Sleeping peacefully. His fear-filled companions woke Him.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still. Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Matthew 4:39.

     Even when fear begins to overtake you; even when it seems as if your God is sleeping or ignoring your prayers, He is there. He knows it all. Someimtes He takes us through the fire. Sometimes He walks us around it and we avoid it all together. And sometimes He just takes us home. He is in charge and He will fight for us. He is there and understands.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Plalm 46:10

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

    Allow your soul and spirit to find stillness today in the midst of your struggles. He is fighting for you. Trust Him. Let His peace wash over you. Be still. And know that He is God.

Lord,
Our human frailties take over and we lose hope. Help our unbelief. You are there and when the timing is right You calm the waters of our storms. You take us through and we understand more of Your comfort and strength. Give us Your peace right now.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Monday, February 9, 2015

Stand in the Storm

     Cold and flu season is upon us. Yesterday I mustered up the energy to go on an errand or two with my husband and a short walk, after which I proceeded to watch several Hall mark movies in my miserable, tissue-laden, sneezy/wheezy state. Besides the movies my only distraction was trying to hit the wastebasket with my tissues (about six feet away) Yes, I am letting you into my wackiness today. My husband offered to move the wastebasket, but what fun is that?

     In the middle of the mire, there is hope. From the inside of the pit, there is a hand to help you out. Blessings surround us in our misery or in our hopelessness or loneliness. My husband still loves me even when I look like a train-wreck. We have our daughter’s wedding coming up and my cold will be gone! Praise God! Our daughter, Angela, is home from vacation and I get to see her tonight!

     Let’s look for the blessings today, whether it’s a mountain-top view or one from the valley. Christ loves us. He will share our burdens, give us Scripture filled with love and compassion. Read a Scripture on a subject made just for you this morning.

God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life. Job 33:28

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  Psalm 40:2

     Whether lying in bed, going through chemo, grieving a loss or having a blessed day, stand firm on the rock of faith. God has given us a firm place to stand. As I go back to lie down, I am going to remember the rock on which I stand. He will get us through.

Jesus,
Thank you for giving us a hand out of the pit, for giving us smiles when we are miserable, for standing with us in the mud and mire. You lift us up and give us hope. Bring hope to each of us today.

Amen

Friday, February 6, 2015

Loving Together

     Jesus summed up how we should live:

Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

    We can only love the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind if we understand His unfailing, never-ending, sacrificial, unconditional love for us. Allow that love to wash over you today until it fills you entirely. God loves you. He died for you. He wants to change your life with that love. Thank Him. Praise Him. Love Him back and that love will begin to flow unto others. And as we love the unlovable, they will recognize the One who sent us.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  1 John 4:7

Jesus tells us:
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35

Lord,
Thank You for the love you first gave us. Only when we understand how much we are loved can we love others. Jesus shows us how to do it and in His name we pray.

Amen

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Study Together

     Have you found time to read the Bible lately? Have you considred joining a Bible study or looking more in-depth to one of its books? Does it intimidate you? Has it confused you or do you have pre-conceived notions of it? At one time, I believe the Old Testament was filled with hatred and death and the New Testament with all love and grace.

     The Old Testament is filled with the foreshadowing redemption of Jesus. The stories of the lives of the characters fill in the details of the Messiah to come. Over one hundred prophecies from the Old Testament came true in the first advent of Jesus. Hundreds more are beginning to be fulfilled in our lifetime! Yes, there is judgment and destruction coming before the new heaven and new earth.

     All of this should give us an urgency to spread the news of Jesus. Study the Word. Be ready to give an answer.

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

     Do we have a hope in us? How would you answer if someone asked you about Jesus? Sit in with others and learn from one another. What a privilege it is to have the freedom to study the Bible together, to ask questions, to discern truth, to dig in. We sharpen one another.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Father,
Thank You for Your Word. The truth gives us hope as we await Your final coming. Give us opportunities to study together and sharpen one another and allow others to see a hope within us.

In Jesus name
Amen

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Worship Together

     Coming together to worship God gives us increased faith and strength to meet the challenges of our days and weeks. Sharing God’s love together and singing songs to honor Christ, saying the Words we believe and hearing the Word, draw us closer together and brings about a deepening faith.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as we see the day approaching.  Hebrews 10:25

     The Bible is clear. As the day of the Lord approaches, the whole earth will be shaking with earthquakes and wars and an increase of evil. There is no need to fear. We are to encourage one another and gather together as children of the light. The light shines brightest in the darkness.  Do not forsake the assembling of the church. Worship and praise and sing and take in the Word. He will be here soon, in the twinkling of an eye.

Jesus,
Keep us from fear. You are with us every step of the way. Your plan is perfect. We will continue to gather together to strengthen and encourage as we shine Your light and joy in the darkness surrounding us.
Amen


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Pray Together

     Jesus took time to pray with His Father when He was on the earth. He would often venture off to solitary places to pray. I hope you do the same. Along with praying alone with Jesus, it is comforting to ask others to pray for us. And, even more powerful, is to pray together. Jesus promises us; He will be there.

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  Matthew 18:20

     Ask others to pray with you. Pray with your children before they fall asleep. What a blessing to let them know that Jesus is right there with them throughout the night. He listens, and He works, and He intercedes with us in heaven to answer us. Heaven is filled with the incense of our prayers.

Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.  Psalm 141:2

And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.  Revelation 9:4

Father,
Thank You for the privilege of prayer. Let the incense of our prayers rise up to You today.  You are there, in the midst of us, when we gather to pray, in the name of Jesus.
Amen        

Monday, February 2, 2015

Working Together

     I love the fact that God uses us in so many unique ways. Have you allowed Him to use you in an unexpected way? He knows your personality, your weaknesses, your talents and your fears. Sometimes He even takes a weakness and uses His strength through it for His purposes.

     I facilitate a Bible study on Tuesday mornings for about 30 wonderful women. As a legally blind instructor I need a whole team to make this work. The beauty of working together inter-dependently is counter cultural.  We crave our independence, beleving we can do it all ourselves. We are strong! We are invincible! Now, don’t get me wrong. We can all use a good pep talk now and again and we do need to press forward on our own once in awhile.

     But Christ reminds us that we need each other. We are called into the church to work together as His body, each one doing our part. I am reminded of this truth each week as my sweet 84-year-old neighbor drives me to and from Bible Study. I am reminded of it when my husband and daughters read me some small print. I am reminded of it when the technology whiz at church helps me mirror the small screen to the large viewing screen and as I watch the 30 women around me minister to one another.

     We need each other through the valleys and the mountain-top experiences. We need others to be strong when we are weak. We need teachers to teach and the hospitable to welcome and serve and the serving heart to set up and clean up. We need the pastors to preach and the intercessors to pray. We need the administrators to keep us on track and the encouragers to give us those pep talks.

     Celebrate our differences today and, miraculously, celebrate how God weaves us together in a way that works. After all, we have one Spirit and One Father in heaven and He distributes the gifts.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:4-7

Father,
We are all one in You. Teach us to appreciate each other and to work together as You see fit. Give us the gifts You desire to live out our purposes for You.
In Jesus name,

Amen