Ready?

     The great commission from Jesus Christ is to “go and make disciples.” Do you find it challenging, awkward or scary to bring up Jesus in a conversation? Have you missed opportunities to share your faith? I know I have. I believe, if we are truly looking, God will place the right people at the right time in front of us. All He asks is that we plant the seeds.

     The Holy Spirit knows when a heart is seeking. As believers, we can jump in and assist in God’s work. I find that an impossibly amazing fact. God actually uses us! The Holy Spirit will give us the words. (Matthew 10:19) Let’s be ready the next time an opportunity arises.

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

Lord,

Fill us with courage, with gentleness, and with respect and give us answers for those who ask. You do not want to lose even one.

Amen

Above All

     Can we praise and trust God from the valleys in our lives? It’s easy to shout for joy when we are on the mountaintop, isn’t it? Our comfort zones can leave us lethargic and lukewarm. God asks us to believe and have faith throughout our lives, good and bad, ups and downs, from the pit, and from the top of the world.

     God loves to see our passion and love for Him. Our faith pleases Him. In fact, Scripture tells us it is impossible to please Him without it. (Hebrews 11;6)

     Whatever your view right now, trust Him. Have faith in His presence. Have faith He is working. Watch for the blessings, even in the time of trials and sorrows. He stands in the pit with you. His hand reaches in to pull you out.  Jesus, the One and Only, is your Savior, your Shepherd, your salvation. Nothing is too hard for Him.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18;14a

Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

Jesus,

Take our focus off of our troubles and onto You. You will work it all out in Your eternal time. We trust You above all else.

Amen

More Than We Imagine

     God knows each word that will come from our mouths before we speak them. He understands our deepest desires and our most fervent prayers. Before the beginning of time, He saw us. Our prayers, even before they are uttered, are being worked on by our loving Father in heaven.

     Can we trust Him with our very lives? Looking back over my life, I can say a resounding, “Yes!” There were times I simply did not know how to go on. There have been, and continue to be, times of deep joy and love; more than I could have imagined.  He worked through the suffering and brought good. Sometimes the good can be our ability to share the compassion that Christ first gave us.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

     If you are troubled or tired or confused, let Him comfort you. If Jesus has comforted you, pass it along to those in trouble now. The love moves on and on to heaven’s door. He will use our lives in ways we can’t even imagine.

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 in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen  Ephesians 3:20-21

All For Him

     When you pray or focus on Jesus, do you picture Jesus the man or the resurrected Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Jesus, the perfect man shows us the compassionate, love-focused, forgiving One sent to die for us.  Remember, all things were made by Him and for Him. His glorious power and light are available to us!

For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen Romans 11:36

     Jesus, our Savior, created the heavens and the earth. He sits in heaven and rules over all. He is the One who will judge us. All of us, all of creation were made for Him.

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

Jesus,

All things have been created through You and for You. We don’t understand the magnitude of it all. And You became one of us. You are above all and through all and in all and we worship You. We bow down before You, Creator of all.

Amen

Children of the Day

     What is it about the human race that loves the dark? Like a bug scurrying to go underground when a rock is overturned, we return time and again to our dark and dingy corners. Much of our culture is immersed in the darkness of the world, greed, pride, sexual immorality, drugs and alcohol, carousing and debauchery. Jesus puts it this way:

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

     Once we believe, we become children of the light. I just love that term. I am a child of the light. Jesus changes our desires. He draws us from darkness to light and we begin to crave more and more of it.

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.  1 Thessalonians 5:5

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.  Ephesians 5:8

     Children of the day. Children of light. Let us live in the brightness of it all. Allow Jesus to move you from the night and from the dark into glorious light.

Jesus,

You are the light of the world. You allow us to live freely as children of the day. What a relief. What a glorious gift! Let us live as children of light.

Amen

Looking Ahead

     The trail behind us may be covered with shattered dreams, with broken pieces, with regret. God, through Jesus, can redeem all of it. He takes the broken pieces and makes them into beautiful clay pots. The cracks left in those pots let the light shine through our brokenness.  This healing light of the Savior shines right through them to something new and bright and beautiful.

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:4

     The great potter will mold you into something precious and treasured, unique and beautiful in His sight. You belong to Him.

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the One who formed it, “You did not make me?” Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing?” Isaiah 29:16

     God formed you and He loves you and He will continue to work things out in your life. Ready to begin again? Ready for a new thing? Listen to this beautiful verse made just for you and for me today as we begin again.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

     Let Him show you the way, broken pieces and all.

Father,

It can be hard to look ahead and trust You to transform all that is behind. But You know us inside and out and You will redeem it; all of it. Show us the new things You are doing. Show us the way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Looking Ahead

     Looking ahead to heaven is a worthy past-time.  Our true home awaits us. The number of our years will be just a passing glance in lieu of eternity. Our eternal hope gives us a new reality in our lives. Our most pressing purpose becomes serving the One who offers us our eternal home.

     Living in light of eternity leaves us with hope. On our deathbed there is true hope. Stay in the moment-to-moment events of life with the promise of heaven etched in your heart. Jesus has you this very minute. Trust Him with the next minute and all of the moments to follow.

     Look ahead with hope and with no fear. Let the worries slip away. Worries place the burdens of tomorrow on the blessings of today. Focus on hope. Minute by minute, step by step, there is Jesus. And then there is heaven.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

But in keeping with His promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

Jesus,

You bring hope. Always hope. We eagerly await Your coming. We are looking forward to the new heaven and the new earth. For now, we love and we serve and we trust and we hope.

Amen

Looking Ahead

     I spoke with my Uncle Paul this weekend. He lives 2,000 miles away and it was his 88^th birthday. He has been an inspiration to me over my entire life. When Paul came to town, we were as excited as if we were about to meet a celebrity. He walked on his hands, dove off of cliffs, told joke after joke and even to this day, loves nothing more than to make others happy.

     His life has been stamped and ingrained with the love of Christ. He has been and continues to be a great role model and light. I have noticed with my Uncle Paul and with others in my family and in my church family, that as they age, they begin to long for home.

     They long to see our Savior face-to-face. Our true home is getting closer.

Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11;16

Father,

There are days we long to be with You forever. Thank You for preparing a place for each one of us. This will be our true country, our true home, our blessed assurance of the life to come.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Looking Ahead

     It’s hard to leave the past behind. In fact, it can be overwhelming and seemingly impossible. Letting a relationship go even when we know it’s the right decision. Letting go of a loved one to death or divorce, being let go from a job we love. Life’s journeys can wear us down and out.

     Can we get to a peace in our relationship with Jesus where trust wins over fear and doubt? Can we believe Jesus works through all of our drama and anxiety and loss and letting go? Is there a hope and a future no matter the cost?

     Jesus will hold you up. He will comfort your broken heart and move you forward. He will make the memories sweet. He will use your loss and your heartache and your fear for His purposes. Your weakness will be His strength. Hold onto the Savior through it all. He works it out. He moves us ahead. He gives us hope for tomorrow.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13

Father,

Moving ahead can be so hard. It is a strain. Give us the ability to trust you above our circumstances until we can see a bright, new future ahead.

Amen

Looking Ahead

     How do you react to life transitions and change? We move from season to season of life, some with ease, some with discomfort, some with sorrow and some with us kicking and screaming. God opens doors and closes others. Are you living in a time of transition?

     I am stepping down from some leadership roles that I have taken on for many years. It is a bitter-sweet time. Change can be scary. What’s next? As long as we live, God has an answer to that question. I know as He closes doors in my life, there will be new opportunities just ahead.

     Is this time of your life going well? Stop and give praise and gratitude to God. Dealing with some questions about the future? Ask God to guide you through. Pray for answers. Pray for a new passion. Wait, pray, and listen for God’s leading.

     Life brings tragedy and triumph, rejection and reconciliation, disaster and delight. God works through all of it. I pray for you today. I pray you know Jesus. I pray you trust Him above all else. And I pray for you to find triumph and hope in whatever season of life you find yourself.

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

Lord,

Whatever life brings our way, we ask for patience, joy and the willingness to pray and wait. It isn’t easy, but you will bring us through into new life.

Amen

The Most Excellent Way

     In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul lists some gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are all part of Christ’s body. He is the head and we make up the parts. What a beautiful picture of living in Christ. Each part has its function and we cannot fully serve without each other.

     Some of us have gifts of hospitality (not me!). Others of helping behind the scenes. Some show mercy and understand the suffering of others. Others are our encouragers. Some administrate. Others lead and teach. But after all of these gifts are explained and acknowledged, after noting that not one gift is better than another, Paul reminds us of this.

And yet, I will show you the most excellent way.1 Corinthians 12:30b

     The famous love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 begins. Love is the most excellent way. Love manages the gifts. Love rises up when we understand the depth of the love of Christ. Love never fails. Love will lead us into heaven. Paul ends the love chapter with these words:

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

     The greatest gift to receive and to share is love. Put aside the distractions of life and focus on love.

Jesus,

Please show us how to love in Your name today. As members of Your body, and with You as the head, we can do all things through You. Give us great power to love.

Amen

Love

     These passages were read at my wedding and again at our daughter’s wedding. Maybe yours too? These words of unconditional love are worth repeating over and over again. God’s definition of love is a pattern worth pursuing. We will fall short again and again, but how beautiful it is to put others first in our lives.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

     When love works, it encourages and enlightens. It lifts up and it serves others. Love never fails.

Father,

Your love for us never fails. These earthly lives of ours will never match Your undying and sacrificial love. Your kind of love is so much more. Teach us how to love in the name of Jesus.

Amen

Love

     Hope and faith lead us to love. The blessed hope of salvation stands firm. Our faith and trust in the promises of Christ are sure. He first loved us and we are called to love in His name. Jesus said others will know us because of our love.

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

     Love one another. Jesus summed up all of the commandments like this:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27

     I fall short on loving others. How about you? The people that need Jesus the most are often the people we avoid. Shining with His love is not easy. But think of what He did for us. He loves each person on earth just as much. Let’s take these Words of Christ as a challenge. How can we love today?

Jesus,

You sacrificed everything to give us new life. Let Your kind of love fill us to the full until it overflows to others. Show us how to love the lonely, the weak and the lost in new ways.

Amen

Faith

     Faith, belief, trust. Jesus asks us to believe in Him, to trust Him, to have faith in Him above all else. 

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

     Maybe you have heard of Joni Eareckson Tada.  Over 40 years ago, as a teenager, she had a diving accident that left her as a quadriplegic. She has given her life to serving Christ. Through the years she has inspired millions. She is an amazing artist, painting painstakingly with her mouth. She is an author, and an advocate for those living with handicaps. Listen to this perspective from someone who has suffered so much

“I want to stay in the habit of ‘glancing’ at my problems and ‘gazing’ at my Lord.”

     Beautiful. Look above the clouds in your life to the glory of the Son. You can trust His promises. You can have faith that He knows what He is doing. Maybe like Joni, He will use your struggles to show His glory. What a privilege.

     When we look over our lives, when we are seated in heaven, the things we did for Christ will remain. Trust, believe, have faith in the One who is worthy.

Father,

Teach us to gaze at Jesus with complete faith and trust. This short life is meant to be lived for Him. He is the missing piece. We were made for Him.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Hope

     With the uncertainties in life, there is hope. Hope remains. At the end of the struggle, with the easing of grief, with remission after treatment, with recovery, with reconciliation and forgiveness, there is hope. At the end of this earthly life stands hope. One day, all of our longings and hopes will be realized.

     In the meantime, hang on. Hope is there. Anchor yourself with hope today.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19

     Hang on to the anchor of hope in your soul. Jesus is guiding you through the uncertainties and struggles of life. He will never let you go. Your foundation is secure with Him.

Jesus,

Sometimes it’s hard to hang on to the hope you offer. Comfort and strengthen those with uncertain futures. You know the number of our days and we hang on to You.

Amen

At Any Age

    

     Many of our friends have retired. What’s next? Do we put our feet up, sit on a beach and indulge ourselves for our remaining years? It’s a tricky question. Certainly God has placed enjoyment and pleasure in His creation. The warm sunshine, good friends, refreshment and relaxation.

     On the other hand, He never tells us to retire from His service. He has purpose for our lives until He takes us home. What is He asking you to do? Moses did not lead his people out of Egypt until he was 80 years old. Abraham and Sarah had Isaac in their 90’s. Caleb was just as strong at 85 as he was when he began serving God as a young man. John was given the revelation of Christ when he was well over 90.

     No matter what we do, no matter where we land, He gives us the ability to encourage, to share, to teach, to serve, to show mercy, to gain knowledge, and to love. What an adventure! We have only just begun.

They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright. He is my Rock and there is no wickedness in Him.”

Father,

We want to bear fruit at every age. Give us purpose and opportunities until we walk through heaven’s door. Give us more and more love to share.

In Jesus name,

Amen        

Be Kind

     The following verse was put to music in a sweet song that my two daughters still sing. They first sang this little ditty in a pre-school music session at church.   Music, lyrics and all, seem to flow through our memory banks more easily than anything else.

And be kind to one another, temder hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgives you. Ephesians 4:32

     At the end of the song, they slid one hand over the others and said, “Yeah!”  Be kind, one to another today. Be tenderhearted. Forgive one another. After all, Jesus has been kind, tender-hearted and forgiving to you.

Jesus,

Your Word continually teaches us. Your heart shines through each page as our redeemer, our friend, our teacher, our companion. Show us today how to be more like You in kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

Amen

Believe In The One

     Some questions came up this week in Bible study. How do we invest and utilize our time for God? Are we doing enough? Are we praying enough? Are we spending enough time with God? All of these questions can be healthy and good for making some changes.

    

     However, these questions can also lead to unnecessary guilt and a “works” mentality. God does not like “religion” and dutiful obedience. Sometimes we do more and pray more because of pride, rather than serving from a heart filled with the love of Jesus.

     We are loved. We belong to Jesus and we will live in heaven one day. He will never leave us. These are His promises for you and me. We are forgiven, past, present and future.

     All God asks of us is to believe. That’s it! What a gift! What a relief! What a joy it becomes to serve Him, when we humbly accept what He has sacrificially and freely given.  The disciples asked Jesus a question similar to one we would ask:

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” John 6:28

     Good question. What do we have to do? What does God require?

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this; to believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:28

     Believe in Jesus. When you feel like you have let Him down, He forgives. When you don’t do enough, He is enough. When guilt and pride rear their ugly heads, humble yourself before His throne. He is working, even when we are not. He is all for us. Just believe.

Jesus,

The work of God is to believe in the One He sent. That is You! We believe. Continue Your good work in us. (Philippians 1)

Amen

Iron Sharpens Iron

     Studying God’s Word with other believers has been one of the highlights and greatest blessings of my life. Sharing insights, studying deeply, and caring for one another help us live out our lives for Christ.  As we study together, Jesus opens the eyes of our hearts and adds joy and wisdom to our lives. My Tuesday morning ladies have brought all of the above to my life over the last ten years and this verse will forever remind me of them.

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

     We have laughed and cried. We have welcomed new women of faith and said goodbye to some beloved friends. Wherever you are and wherever you go, you have the family of Christ. Those that love Him have an immediate connection. We share His love. We love His Word. We are true heaven-bound, forever brothers and sisters.

     Let the Word of God dwell among you richly. Study the Word with others, if possible. It will change your world. As Solomon says:

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

Jesus,

Thank You for making us one in Spirit. The deep fellowship of believers is like nothing else on earth. Show us how to sharpen one another into all wisdom as we strive to serve You. Your Word changes us into Your image.

Amen

Fan Into Flame

     The Bible is filled with life-giving power. The Word will light a new fire in your soul. After the resurrection, Christ walked with two men and explained to them all of the Old Testament prophecies declaring the coming Messiah. Later that day, they spoke of Him.

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:32

     Has God’s Word lit a fire within you? Ask Jesus to open the Scriptures to you.  Paul mentored Timothy to become a pastor of the Lord and he told Timothy this:

For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  2 Timothy 1:6

     Pray for God to fan into flame the gifts that are within you. Let God’s Word burn into your heart and, maybe, like John Wesley, you can say:

“I ask God to set me on fire and let people watch me burn.”

     As we focus on God and His Word, as we spend more and more time with Him, He can become our greatest passion. Set us on fire, Lord.

Father,

Your Word is truth. Help us to fan into flame that truth so others may see the glorious future you have planned for us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

He Surrounds You

     God’s presence surrounds you. This week we read about the overwhelming thought that Jesus is not only behind us, but in front of us and within us.  Whether you feel Him around you or not, He is there. Whether you are trusting Him or not,, He is trustworthy. Whether you have faith or not, He is faithful.  Fill your soul with these Words:

You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there. If I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there, Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:5-10

     He is right there, holding you fast. Through every day. Through each and every night. He is there, even then.

Jesus,

Your presence surrounds us. Your Spirit lives within us. Your Word burns in our hearts. Give us the passion to live this life as Your servants. You will hold us with Your righteous right hand.

Amen