Hope

     The rainbow after the storm. When food tastes good again after chemo. First steps after a major stroke. The first breath of fresh air after an asthma attack. The call that a loved one is safe. We should bottle these moments in our life. Why does it take suffering to recognize all we take for granted? The ordinary blessings of an ordinary day should be treasured. Somehow, it takes disaster and grief to appreciate the daily gifts of God.

     And, yet, we blame Him when things go wrong, when the diagnosis is not what we expected, when a loved one dies. The world fell thousands of years ago when man turned away from God. Natural consequences and a fallen world lead to the hardships of life. But God works in them and through them. He redeems and rescues. And He resurrects.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not pur us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

     Christ suffered for the beauty that awaited Him. He suffered for you and for me. When we have Christ, we have a new beginning waiting beyond every end. We have hope and it will never fade away. He is always there at the end of every story, even on to our eternal home of blessing.

Jesus,

Glorying in our suffering sounds impossible. With You, all things are possible. We thank You for every good and perfect gift we take for granted. Help us to look around today and appreciate You and all we have.

Amen

Back on Wednesday. Off for some girlfriend time!

In His Presence

      I’m not sure when life changed or the exact moment when Jesus really and truly became first. I believed in Jesus and His love. I knew I should:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

     Knowing this and reading those words are completely different than living them. Jesus, over time, has invaded my whole being, until His living Words have become a part of me and how I live, unti I want to please Him more than pleasing myself or others, and now I long for nothing more than to be continually in His presence. Prayer and worship and Bible study are no longer duties or pieces in a mandatory puzzle, but my absolute favorite things to do.

     If this sounds alien to you, never fear. Your God is working on your heart and soul. Dig into Scripture and take good time to pray and the image of Christ will work on you and through you. It is an amazing gift of God.

You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11

Dear Lord,

The best place to be is in Your presence. You give joy and love to the soul. We draw near to You today to seek Your purpose, to live in Your love, to praise Your holy name.

Amen

Enough

Jesus satisfies our needs, not our wants. God is not Santa Claus. He is enough for our situation today. He provides, just as He did for the Israelites, day-by-day. Go to Him for daily nourishment, just as you do for food and water.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. Psalm 42:1

     Never stray far from His Word, from praising Him, from seeking Him in prayer, and He will be enough. Enough for the day.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Jesus,

Your love and grace are enough for each day, from now until we arrive in heaven. We seek Your presence and long for closeness with You each and every moment. You will never leave us.

Amen

Our Father

     The need for safety, security and love run deep within us. Unfortunately, not everyone grows up with their essential needs being met. The lost and lonely of the world need unconditional love from our Savior. God can fill the emptiness in our souls. He can be the parent, the husband, the One of our hearts.

I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. John 14:18

     God promises to be our loving Father. He calls Himself our bridegroom. He offers protection, hope and love forevermore.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Father,

You are good. You love us forever and ever. You love the orphan and the widow, the single man and woman, the poor and needy. You love me. Your love endures forever. Offer hope and security today and help us bring others to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Time Off

     What if we try to take the week off from worry, anxiety and doubt? What would it be like to relax in confident trust? Let’s give each other a break this week from comparing our lives with others, from believing we aren’t enough, aren’t doing enough or aren’t measuring up. In our Father’s eyes, we are seen through the image of Christ.

     How amazing is that?! He no longer views our sinful hearts or our weaknesses and failures. He sees us seated in heaven, cleansed and pure, righteous and holy. Relax in your Father’s care. He loves you so much He sent His one and only Son to die for you. What more do we need?

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

Lord,

Keep us refreshed and confident in You this week. We look to You to keep us on track, to fill us with Your promises and love and to offer hope when we need it most.

Amen

Crossing Lines

     Have you noticed that no one appears to be listening? We talk over one another. We get ready to make a response before we hear another voice. Everyone has a story. Everyone is made in the image of God. With so much competition, with so many polarized views, with so many hearts turned cold, maybe we can make a difference.

     Jesus walked into the lives of the marginalized of society, healing the demon-possessed, forgiving the adulterers, dining with the greedy, giving hope to the lost.  Jesus came for everyone, even those most would choose to avoid or ignore.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

     Maybe the people we most want to avoid are just the people God has placed in our lives. Listening and loving is no easy task. Only through God’s own love and mercy given to us, can we reach out to others. After all, Jesus saved us while we were yet sinners.

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

Jesus,

Your grace knows no boundaries. Your love crosses political lines, picket lines, protest lines, cultural lines and religious lines. You hold the hope for all humanity. Help us to cross the lines of society as You did. We need Your courage, Your strength, Your power.

Amen

Seek, Ask, Knock

     60 years of life brings perspective. God has been faithful. There were times I doubted His goodness, or lost sight of Him altogether, Funny thing is, it turns out those were exactly the times He was working behind the scenes. Darkness often leads to searching. We need light. We ask questions and when we seek, we find.

“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

     Wondering about God? Is He there? Can He help? Search the Scriptures if you are seeking answers. Ask God and He will bring light to the darkness. Knock and Jesus will come into your heart. His presence is available 24/7. The path for you will be clear in time. He is right there, working for you.

He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3

Father,

We seek You. We ask for Your help. We knock on Your door. You never slumber. You are there. You watch over us and make a way for us through the darkness into Your glorious light.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Long-suffering and Sovereign

     I don’t know about you, but I’ve been turning off the news earlier, switching off the political hate-filled speeches, and grieving over the loss of life around the world and in our own backyard. Violence, anger, bitterness and evil seem to be gaining in strength and in number.

     Some days it is impossible to believe in God’s sovereignty and control.  Man has a choice. We can respond to the gift of our loving God and follow Him or we can go the way of evil. Our God is patient and long-suffering. The Bible tells us this over and over again. The Amorites were an evil clan. It took God over 400 years to finally destroy them. He gives all of us every opportunity.

“The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” Genesis 15:16

     There comes a day. And there will be a final day. When God has to wreak vengeance on evil. For now, we trust Him. He is bringing in the fullness of His church, the rebuilding of Israel and iniquity will reach its fullness. In the meantime, we remember.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

Father,

We look to You in complete faith and devotion. We don’t understand. We want it all to stop. We long for safety and hope and peace. Only Your Son, Jesus, will bring it to an end. We await His coming.

Amen

Forgive Us

     Forgive us, Lord. Forgive us for letting our country move so far away from You. Forgive us for not loving others as You love them. Forgive us for saying and doing what is wrong in Your eyes. You know best and we do not. And yet, You love us. Continue to discipline and guide us more and more into Your truth.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Psalm 51:10-12

     David cries out to God. He needs forgiveness and a fresh start. His heart had always been connected to God. Even so, David turned away. He committed adultery and murder. Even then, God forgies. He sends David to his knees, in humility and sorrow. God forgives. God cleanses us over and over again.

Lord,

Renew our spirits today. Forgive us. Cleanse us. Give us back our joy and peace as we, once again, turn to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Strength In Him

     When life doesn’t make sense, trust God. His ways are beyond our own understanding. When your world seems out of control, He will take the reigns. He can take your anger. He will listen to your grief. He will turn your fear and doubt into confident trust. He is worthy of our trust, our praise, and our service.

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

     Submit to His Word. Acknowledge His presence. He will turn your life right-side up. We can do all things through Him.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Jesus,

Get us back on track today. Guide us into Your ways. You know what is best. Wrap Your loving arms around us today and give us strength through You. We love You.

Amen

Good News For All

     Spreading the Gospel. Somehow our churches have become complacent with social justice. Social justice is important and we should do our best to stand up for those needing help. The world, in many cases, does the same. As Christians, we are called to add to our love and compassion the good news of salvation given for all on the cross.

     I heard a pastor recently remind us we are not to “suggest” the gospel, but to “proclaim” it! The power of our witness is in the gospel; Jesus died for all of us, He was buried and He rose again. That is the offer to all who believe. That we, too, need not fear death any longer.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power. Ephesians 3:7

     Spreading the good news of Jesus is not done on our own power. It is through God’s power, through His grace and by His Holy Spirit. Do not fear. He will give you the right words at the right time. It is our calling. It is our mission. It is our purpose.

Father,

Remind us of the importance of proclaiming the gospel. That is where Your power comes through. Faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) The message is to be shared. Give us new opportunities.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Ours To Choose

     The cross divides. Either you accept the truth of Jesus Christ and Him crucified or you do not. The world believes there can be peace. If we listen, if we understand we are all in this together, if…if…if… And yet, the world has never known peace. It began with Cain and Abel. Wars have run rampant over our earth for over 6,000 years.

     As wars increase, and violence erupts, as followers of Christ try to spread the truth of the Gospel, the world will continue on its course. Jesus offers real peace. It is peace within. His Word divides truth frm error, light from darkness, good from evil. Each one of us has a choice. You may be surprised by these words of Jesus:

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34

     God’s Word is called the sword of the spirit. (Ephesians 6)

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

     Hearing the Word of God and the gospel of Christ stabs the heart. The sword of the Spirit will either open our hearts to Christ or we will choose to say, “no.” The cross divides. The Gospel is a choice. Peace comes from within when you allow the sword to penetrate. Wars will continue. Peace on earth will not come until Jesus comes. But peace within? It is ours for the taking.

Jesus,

The choice is ours. Your Word divides. It pierces. It convicts. We can choose faith or separation from You. Help hearts to be pierced today with Your Words.

Amen

Kept In Heaven For You

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in His great mercy has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that  can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

     Your inheritance in heaven can never perish, spoil or fade. It is kept in heaven just for you through Jesus, our Savior. Let these verses give you confidence to live your life with His power, His protection, His promises. He loves you. You belong to Him.

     I love the last verse above. We are shielded through our faith! Satan cannot get to us when we stand firm in our faith in Christ above all else. His power lives within us through His Holy Spirit. The Spirit will guide, will teach, will convict, will speak through us if we will just let Him.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14;26

     Don’t worry about what to say. (Luke 12:12) The Spirit will remind us of the things Jesus has taught us through His Word. Relax in His presence. Rely on His power. Remind yourself of His promise.

Jesus,

We are already seated in heaven with You. Our inheritance is secure. The Holy Spirit will walk with us throughout our lives, continually showing us the way and getting us back on track when we falther. Your promises always come to pass.

Amen

The Day of the Lord

     As we witness the chaos and violence around us, we might be tempted to sit back and wait for Jesus. We know He is coming. Do we do nothing and wait or do we continue to work for Him? I believe if you are a Christian and you are alive, God will use you!

     Peter reminds us of what is coming on the earth and in the heavens.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10-13

     Living godly and holy lives comes through our relationship with Christ. Did you notice in the verses above that we may speed His coming? Spread the Gospel. Love everyone, showing compassion and kindness. Be filled with a hope, a hope the unbelieving world does not understand. We know the end of the story. Until then, work diligently in pleasing your heavenly Father.

Lord,

We need You to keep us filled with faith and hope during these difficult days. You are in control even when it appears as if evil is winning. Let us shine with Your love wherever we walk today.

Amen

In The Last Days

     Satan looks around the world with his usual smirking pride. He loves nothing more than lies, violence, confusion, chaos and deception. He hates truth. He wants to be worshipped. He wants the throne. It is no surprise to see the world today. The Words of Scripture prophesied such a time as this long ago.

But mark this. There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

     Quite a list. We witness the above every day. God holds the answer. The answer is His Son. Jesus transforms lives and each life matters to Him. Every person, at one time, will have the choice to accept the gift of Christ’s redeeming love or to turn away. The evil one waits and watches and corrupts and stirs up trouble. One day soon, Jesus will make His move and wipe out evil, all of it, once and for all.

The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Psalm 110:1

     We don’t understand why evil has to run its course. But Satan is on a leash and the time is at hand. What will you do with Jesus?

Father,

It can be a terrifying world. You promise redemption. You promise a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will reign. You promise forever to those who believe. Jesus offers us hope and new life. Open hearts to Him, please.

Amen

Working, Watching, Waiting

     Working for Christ. Watching for the signs of the times. Waiting patiently for His coming. Working, watching, waiting.

And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.  John 2;28

     As we work, wait and watch, God asks us to:

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

     Give thanks in all circumstances, rejoice always, pray continually. How can we do this and why? Here is our answer. Jesus is the answer.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it! 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

     Our God is a God of peace. He will get us ready for His coming. Work, wait and watch. Pray, rejoice, give thanks. He is faithful!

Jesus,

What comforting Words You give us today. Hold us close, so that our entire body, soul and spirit will be ready for the day You appear. You are faithful.

Amen

    

Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

     Do you place complete confidence and trust in our Lord? Do you believe He is working for good even when you don’t see the results or feel His presence? Is your faith in Him growing stronger? Are you gaining wisdom and knowledge from His Word? I pray the answer to the above questions is a resounding “yes!” Here are some verses to remind you of what we have and who we are.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13

     Signed. Sealed Delivered. Not a Stevie Wonder song, but our truth. When we believed, we were forgiven once and for all, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our spot in heave. We are already seated in the heavenly realms. Delivered to eternity. Count on it. Let’s live our lives for the One who saved us.

Jesus,

Remind us of the treasures we have in You. We want to trust You even when our world seems to be crashing down around us. You have the final answers to the deepest questions. We pray for others to understand and to seek You with all of their hearts.

Amen

    

His Representative

We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf. Be reconciled to God.  God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

     The verses above give us confidence in the Gospel, confidence that we are now the righteousness of God and confidence that we might represent Jesus. “He makes His appeal through us!” What a privilege!

     How will He use us today? How can we best represent Him to a world hungry and thirsty for the good news? The soul without Christ will never be satisfied. He is the only One to fill the emptiness, to offer real peace and deep joy.

     Let’s represent our heavenly home with compassion, with comfort for the grieving and companionship for the lonely. We offer the love Christ first gave us. He loved us when we were lost and gave us hope. The hope that lasts forever.

Jesus,

Show us how to represent You today. Teach us Your ways. They don’t come naturally, but the Holy Spirit within us is available to guide us along the way.

Amen