Our Perfect God

     God has a perfect plan for the earth. Everything will be done in His timing and in His way. We don’t understand, but He is faithful to the end. His faithfulness to us is perfect and He will never leave us or forsake us.

     Can we try to trust Him? Through the dark days and through the daylight and sunshine, His purposes will play out in our lives and in the world and in heaven. What a relief to trust our faithful God. Great is His faithfulness. Perfect is He.

Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.  Isaiah 25:1

     In response to His love and His faithfulness, He promises us peace. Our souls can be at peace. Let’s believe it!

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Isaiah 26:3

     This is a great verse to memorize. Because of our trust, He will keep us in perfect peace. I wish I could believe and rest in this every day. Let’s give it a try.

Lord,

Your promises are deep and personal. Keep us in perfect peace today as we trust in You and Your faithfulness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Perfect God

     One of the many ways God continues His perfect work in us is through His Word. The Bible is flawless, the very Words of our God. The Bible speaks of Jesus from beginning to end, the Redeemer, the Rock, the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Good Shepherd, Mighty Counselor, Root of David, Lion of Judah. The Bible foreshadows Jesus from the first words of Genesis to the final words of the final days in Revelation.

     Studying the Word of God will never return empty.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

     I love the verses above. Just as the snow and rain water the earth to make it flourish, so God’s Word feeds us and grows us. It does not ever return empty. His Word will accomplish His desires for you and me! Let’s get in step with the Word of God and follow His instructions. They are perfect.

As for God, His way is perfect. The Lord’s Word is flawless. He shields all who take refuge in Him. 2 Samuel 22:31

Father,

We thank You for the Word of God. Jesus is the Word come to life in the flesh (John 1) Help us to read the Word daily and to allow the changes You desire in us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Perfect God

     God is perfectly merciful, perfectly just, perfect in love.

He is the Rock. His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. Deuteronomy 32:4

     Because of His perfect qualities and because He died to rescue us from sin, he can continue to work on us to become more and more like Him.

     More and more…never perfect. Only when we arrive in heaven and receive our immortal bodies, when we see His full glory, will we be perfected. In the meantime, we have the freedom to allow Him to work.

     Are you listening? What are the qualities He is working on with you right now? This week we will look at His perfect love and how it drives us to be better people on earth, as we represent Him. It is only through His grace that we can comprehend His complete love and, through that love, to give it away to others.

Lord,

You are perfect and we are not. Keep us steadfast in faith in You as You continue Your great work in us, until we meet in heaven, one glorious day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

January 25, A Date to Remember

     A common, everyday run-of-the-mill date at the end of the coldest month in January can suddenly, miraculously turn into a date forever etched in our hearts and minds. You may understand as this bleary-eyed and teary-eyed first-time grandmother shares the news.

     Gavin Anthony came into the world late last night, perfect in size, all ten fingers and toes wiggling for the proud mom and dad to see. Our precious daughter went through a tough labor, a soon-to-be-forgotten pain in the midst of witnessing this bundle of joy created in love.

     Our prayer from the time he was just a seed beginning to grow is that this child will know and understand the love of Jesus from an early age, that he will come to know His love, protection, compassion and to feel the strength and confidence He provides in a world that is not always easy or kind.

     Gavin, Jesus loves you and knows you more intimately than any of us including your mom and dad. (oh and by the way, you will soon come to know they will be the best mom and dad in the whole wide world.)

     And your grandparents and your aunts and uncles will continue to be your greatest cheerleaders. There’s so much love to go around for an incredible little guy like you. Welcome Gavin Anthony. You are precious and loved.

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

     Most wonderfully and fearfully made. Welcome to the world, Gavin. We love you today and always. January 25^th, a date to treasure.

Father,

There are no words that can express our gratitude and thanksgiving for giving us this precious miracle, made in love. Our baby’s baby. We praise You from the bottom of our hearts, from the depths of our being. We are giddy with joy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blessed Are We

     We have seen, over the last couple of weeks, that we are blessed. The blessings of God come through our meekness, our ability to show mercy, as we trust God with our lives. The blessings, the most valuable lessons, come from within. Keeping hope alive, with Christ, through any circumstances is possible.

     The Sermon on the Mount includes what are called “the beatitudes,” the blessings we have looked at together. The definition for beatitude is “supreme blessedness.” And supreme blessedness is the definition for a life with Christ.

     We should count our earthly blessings throughout our lives; our physical comforts, our loved ones, a sunny day, each birthday and so much more. But the abundant blessings through Christ run deeper. They give us joy, peace, faith and hope. Our souls can be at rest when we give Him our lives.

     Thank Him for our supreme blessedness today and ask Him to fill You with the deep assurance of a life with Him, that leads to eternal life. You and I are blessed!

Amen

Blessed Are We

     As we have seen over the past seven days, Jesus blesses us in ways that are foreign to the world. We are blessed in our humility, as we walk in peace, in the righteousness of Christ, as we are persecuted and as we show mercy. Jesus calls us to continue as vessels of light.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14=16

     We are the light of the world? Only because of the Holy Spirit within us, can we share God’s light. And the purpose of sharing the light is to glorify God! What a privilege! What a gift! What an opportunity! Shine the light.

Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!

Father,

We pray for new ways to glorify You this year. We stand in awe of the ways in which You work. To think you believe in us enough to call us, “the light of the world.” Help us to keep evil at bay in these dark times. The light shines brightest in the dark.

Amen

Blessed Are We

Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Matthew 5:11

     Persecuted, insulted, telling lies about us? Have you experienced any of the verses above? The day is drawing closer when Christians will be more and more persecuted in the world. There have always been martyrs for the faith, from the time of the disciples (all but one was killed for their faith in Christ) to the present day.

     All of those killed in the name of Christ are with Him in heaven, receiving their rewards. We await that day and, in the meantime, if we are persecuted, we stand tall, speaking the name of Jesus. He is our power and our strength. There is nothing to fear. Blessed are we.

The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:6

Father,

The blessings from You are here and now and, more so, in heaven. One day, we weill forever praise You face-to-face. This life is but a breath, a minute in the scheme of eternity. We do not fear.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blessed Are We

     In the day in which we live, this particular beatitude may be one of the most difficult. Living as a peacemaker in a world filled with hate and division would appear to be impossible. Christians will continue to be persecuted and misunderstood. Jesus, too, was hated and persecuted.

     But as much as we are able, in meekness and love, we are to be all about peace. Sharing the good news, living with peace in our souls in the midst of anger and mistrust. Blessed are we.

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

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

     “If it is possible…as far as it depends on you…” Peace won’t always be possible and we need to stand firm on our faith and not compromise with the world. Jesus understands and He will guide our words and our steps as we follow in His peace. Blessed are we.

Jesus,

Your peace is greater than the world around us. Your peace is from within. Help us to be peacemakers, as much as we can, in the ways you show us.

Amen

Blessed Are We

     Only through Jesus can God give us a pure heart. Once, we believe, all of our sins are washed away and God sees us only through the lens of Christ. His righteousness covers us with His holy blood, shed for us.

     We are pure, washed white as snow.

“Come now and let us reason together,”, says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

     We are filled with the Holy Spirit because of the love of Christ. Blessed are we. And we shall see God.

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

Lord,

We thank You for the washing of our sins that leaves us pure in heart. It is all because of Jesus and we praise You today.

Amen

Blessed Are We

     God promises us the gift of His mercy as we show mercy to others. Mercy is giving others the benefit of the doubt, of believing the best in others, of showing compassion and kindness, often giving to others when we believe they really don’t deserve it.

     God has shown us His great mercy. We fail again and again, but His mercy never ends. It is new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.

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

     The world today appears to revolve around hate and anger, eager to dredge up the faults of others and show them to the world. Let’s walk in kindness, showing mercy, encouraging others, believing the best. And blessed are we.

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

Jesus,

Give us mercy each day. Thank You for Your perpetual forgiveness. Give us new mercies each day. Help us to see others with that same mercy and compassion.

Amen

Blessed Are We

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

     Jesus is the bread and water of the spirit. When we long to be more like Him, to be filled with His righteousness, He develops in us a hunger and a thirst for His wisdom, for His knowledge, for His Word, for His righteousness. Do you have a hunger for truth? Do you long to be completely, spiritually filled?

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

     This promise is for you. You will be blessed. You will be filled. You will have the righteousness of Christ.

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

Father,

Fill us with the living bread and water of life and fill us up with Your holiness and righteousness in this crazy world. We hunger and thirst for more and more of Your truth and light. Blessed are we.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blessed Are We

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

     The holy arms of Jesus will wrap themselves around us as we mourn. His comfort is beyond this earth. His comfort is supernatural, raising us above our human  struggles with grief. We can’t do it on our own.

     Our earthly minds and bodies find it difficult to manage a deep loss. What will we do? How will we take our next step? How do we cope? Jesus wept for His good friend. He went through deep agony. He understands our earthly sorrow, and He knows the way through.

     Count on Him. Lean on Him. He will ease our burdens with His unconditional love.

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

     Rest from our burdens. Rest from our weariness. Rest for our souls. Hope in the depths of darkness. Blessed are we.

Lord,

We praise You for the ways You comfort us and ease the burdens of life. They are heaven-sent and we look to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blessed Are We

     The words of Jesus in His sermon on the mount are filled with reminders of our blessings. The blessings from our Lord will not mirror society. The blessings of God turn the world upside down and inside out. They remind us of what we are to value as Christians. We are blessed.

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

     The word, “poor,” conjures up a vision of lack, not enough, but in essence, Jesus teaches us here to be humble, to be poor in spirit, to look to Him first.

     Again, in verse 5, God promises to bless the meek, (not powerless), but rather the humble in spirit. We find our power in Him, our Most-High God.

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

     Notice in verse 3, ours is the kingdom of heaven and in verse 5, we will inherit the earth. Earthly and heavenly blessings! And He will lift us up.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10

     Become humble (poor) in spirit, meek in service and He will lift us up and fill us up. Blessed are we.

Lord,

The poor in spirit are blessed, as we humble ourselves before You. Fill us today with the blessings of the Holy Spirit and lift us up.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Pause For The Miracles

     Pause for the miracles today. In the midst of the drudgery, before the dreaded meeting, after a difficult discussion with a co-worker, walking to the car, wherever you are, look around. God has spoiled us with the riches of His creation and we often take it all for granted. Here in Minnesota the wind chill is a cool -25 so don't pause for too long outdoors, but think about, dwell on, the many miracles of God.

     The spring flowers that perpetually show their beauty after the long winter months. A baby’s smile. A grandma and grandpa holding hands. The worms crawling through the garden making the soil rich and fertile, the cocoon ready to transform into a butterfly. The beauty of a fresh snow. The sunshine rising and setting every single day. The shape of the white, fluffy clouds, the sounds of a bird, a cricket, a cat.

     Add your own to the list above. What will spring up before you, today? Be observant. Praise God throughout your day. Thank Him for the miracles around you. Our God is an amazing God, our Creator, our King.

How many are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all, the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24

Lord,

We stop to praise You for the splendors that surround us each day. Keep us mindful of of the beauty and the miracles around us today and every day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

     The disciples had been out fishing all night and had not caught one fish.This was their way of making a living. They were tired and discouraged. Have you had a time like that? We all know what it's like to feel empty, discouraged, downcast and hopeless.

     The times the future looks bleak, when we keep trying, but nothing happens. We move through life with lethargy and a downcast spirit. What did Jesus tell the disciples?

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4

     Jesus wants us to go a bit deeper, to try again, to persevere, to grow in patience. Did the disciples catch anything after their long night? They obeyed the Lord and their nets became full, so full they could not contain the catch!

     Are you ready to move into deeper waters? It may take awhile. You may go through some discouragement, but Jesus will fill your nets and give you just want you need to the very bottom of your soul.

Lord,

We don’t always understand the wait, the emptiness, the hard work, but You do. Keep us asking You what’s next, where to go, where to cast our nets. The deep waters are waiting.

Amen

Carry One Another

     Walking alongside one another is a privilege. Some seasons of life, (hopefully many) are filled with joy and love, other seasons we endure, those filled with grief and suffering. We are called to share in the ups and downs of life, to ease the burdens of others, to offer compassion, the same compassion we receive from Jesus.

     Is someone hurting? Are you? Can you rejoice when others are happy and content? I want to give up comparing myself to others and to be able to rejoice when others succeed, to sit with others wherever we are, whatever we are going through. Christianity does not promise ease and comfort, but it does offer a deep peace. That peace is one we can share whatever the season, whatever life holds.

Carry each other;s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Father,

Give us your compassion and peace in order for us to share it with others. This life is filled with both joy and tragedy. We need each other. Show us the heart of others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Running The Race

    It is so easy to push God to the bottom of the schedule, to mouth a forlorn, tired prayer as we fall asleep. We rarely acknowledge His existence in our day-to-day routines. We read the newspaper or watch TV more than look to the Word of God. Adding a time to spend with God takes devotion and discipline, putting God first takes practice.

     Let’s practice talking to Him throughout the day, feeling His presence around us, asking for His guidance in our decisions, looking for His answers rather than our own, placing our trust in our relationship with Him more than our relationships with others. Practice makes perfect!

     The apostle Paul uses sports analogies throughout his writing, such as being persistent, perseverance through tough times as we run the race of faith. As he writes from prison, knowing his time on earth is coming to an end, he encourages Timothy and you and me. He has run the race God had planned for him. He is about to receive the prize of salvation, eternity with Jesus.

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

     His instructions to his son in the faith, Timothy, are encouraging, a reminder for us to keep going, to keep the faith, to endure and persevere. One day soon we will receive the crown of righteousness.

Father,

Keep us faith-filled, running the race You have set before us as we get closer and closer to heaven. The end of this life is just the beginning of our everlasting hope.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Abide In Him

     What will you do with today? With this moment? With the next hour? We all have choices throughout our days. Many of the hours are planned for us, with work and schedules, with laundry and meals, with friends and family. Maybe the best choices we make will come from within; our attitudes, our reactions, our ability to stay in step with the Holy Spirit throughout each moment, each hour, each day.

     Abiding in Christ does not come naturally to us. It is a work of the Holy Spirit.  How do we allow the spirit within us to grow into the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus? Make it a habit this year to go to the Word of God during times of frustration, of loneliness, of grief, and of joy and blessings and comfort. In other words, go to Him each day. Pray, read, meditate, love.

Jesus says,

“I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

     Nothing? Well, I do stuff. That is our reaction to the statement of Jesus that we can do nothing without Him. Our purpose as believers is to glorify God and the things we do in the Spirit will be the things that matter to God. And nothing else.

     Sounds opposite of the world around us where we are valued for our education, for our money-making abilities, for our busyness and our business, for the success of our children, for our prowess iin sports, for our looks. With Jesus, we need to abide. Aaaah, sounds wonderful. Abide in Him today. Go to Him for everything.

Jesus,

Help us with out humanness. It is difficult to move away from what our flesh wants and to listen to the Sprit. Give us Your wisdom today as we abide in You through each moment, each hour, each day.

Amen

The Abundant Life in 2018

     Where will God take us this year? Who will He place in our path? He is with us wherever we go. He will provide the strength we need and the power to overcome evil and live life abundantly, full of peace, joy and hope. I’m ready to take a step of faith into 2018. Are you?

     Recommit your life to Jesus this year, step by step. Ask Him for strength to take the next step with Him. He will provide the words, the timing, the people and the comfort we need at the appropriate time. He can be all things to us and we can do all things through Him.

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

     Apart from Him, we can do nothing. (see John 15:5) Let’s keep our hearts and minds focused on Jesus this year. The true value in life will be the things we do to glorify Him. Those deeds and workings of the heart flow from the Holy Spirit within us and these are the things that will follow us into heaven and nothing else. I want to seek His advice, serve Him with my whole heart and settle into the light of His glory.

     Let’s make 2018 a year to count for Jesus, living the abundant life found only in Him. His victory is ours. We are overcomers and we can do all things through and for Him. Let our lives become a testimony to Him, through Him, for Him.

Amen

Triumph Through Testimony

     As overcomers living the abundant life in Christ, we have a story to tell. A testimony of Jesus, the light of life. The Word of our testimony, through the blood of Jesus, brings great power into our short lives on earth.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11

     They “triumphed” over the devil. Yesterday we read about the power of overcoming evil with good. Today we see the word of our testimony, recognizing the power of the blood of Jesus giving us the ability to “triumph.” Jesus gives us life now and life forever. Let’s overcome evil this year and triumph over the devil’s wily ways.

Father,

We have the word of our testimony. Our power comes from the holy blood of our Lord, Jesus. Your Son came to live life on earth, from the baby in the manger to the cross that conquered death. We praise You today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Overcomers

     Jesus conquered the grave for us. Death no longer has a hold on us. Death brings us into eternity, life lived forever in the very presence of the Most High God. Allow that miraculous promise to live continually in your heart. One day, as believers, we will all be together in a new heaven and a new earth forever.

     Do not let this short life hold you hostage with fear, doubt and grief. Jesus overcame everything for us and because of His sacrifice, we have power over the evil one. Take in the following verses. The Holy Spirit within us gives us the power of Christ to overcome the world around us.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

     Notice the word, “overcome” in the verses above. That is us; the overcomers. We overcome evil with good. The One within us is more powerful than the evil one. We overcome the world! Take heart! We have faith, faith in Jesus.

Lord,

We are the overcomers because of Your life, death and resurrection. We carry that hope of salvation with us every single day. Overcoming evil with good is only possible through Jesus.

Amen

The Abundant Life

     Happy New Year! I pray this year will be filled with the joy and peace of our Lord, Jesus. Remembering the gifts we have available to us inwardly from the Holy Spirit will be a good way to start us on our way into this brand-new year.

     The word I chose for 2018 is “abundance.” The abundant life is offered to us through Jesus. It doesn’t mean life will be comfortable and easy. We all know life has its share of difficulties, can be hard to maneuver, is often filled with suffering and grief, but Jesus takes us to a place above the earth, into the heavenly realms. Here is His promise to you and me as we begin this year.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10

     The New King James version says that “we may have life and have it more abundantly.”

     Jesus offers life more abundantly, life lived in the Spirit, life lived with others in mind, life lived generously, sacrificially, filled with hope and peace and joy. That is my wish for all of us this year. May we have life, to the full, until it overflows, through Jesus.

Father,

Thank You for the abundant life prmised through Jesus. May we live in His peace and in His joy this year, no matter the circumstances surrounding us. He has overcome the world, and we can come boldly to the throne room of heaven. Thank You.

In Jesus name,

Amen