As we gather together in faith and fellowship, as we thank God for other
believers, as we worship and praise Him within our churches and our homes, we
can learn from the Word of God just how we are to treat one another.
Be kind
and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God
forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
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
Such beautiful
words to ponder. Be kind and compassionate. Be forgiving. Gather together with
the Word of God in your hearts and sing songs from the Spirit with grateful
hearts. Just what the world needs and sees too little of these days.
Gather together.
Pray and believe. Gain strength as you study. Give encouragement to the other
believers around you and you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Father,
We are grateful for the fellowship of faith. Do not let us
grow weary, but to continue to gather together in Your name, the name above all
names. We trust You with our prayers for each other. Give us other believers to
strengthen our faith.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The church of Christ is not found in a certain building or a
certain denomination. The church of Christ is His body of believers. Wherever
we go, we are His church. And whenever two or more of His children are
gathered, he is right there in their hearts and minds and surrounding them with
His love.
“For
where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
Acknowledging the
presence of Christ when we gather honors Him. It also brings power and strength
as we pray for something or for someone. The children of two of my good friends
have wandered from the faith and are dabbling in “spirituality.” This is a common buzzword of those trying to
bring all faiths together, to study other religions and to spiritualize
everything around them. Remember, Jesus tells us that no one will see the
Father without Him.
These are not easy
times to stand up for Christ, to try to spread His Gospel, but no matter what,
it will be heard. Others need to hear the word and to believe in their hearts
and they WILL be saved.
Consequently,
faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word
about Christ. Romans 10:17
Six of us are
praying for these two to come to Christ, that they will hear the Word and
believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord. When two or three are gathered in
His name He is there. And He promises He will answer.
“Again,
truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for,
it will be done for them by My Father in heaven." Matthew 18:19
Lord,
We trust You with our prayers and we wait expectantly for You
to work. We believe Your word and all You promise us. Our greatest prayer is
that everyone we know will come to a saving knowledge of You. Thank You for the
sisters of faith surrounding me.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Jesus is always available to be with us, to strengthen us, to
give us His Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, but thank goodness, He gives us
the fellowship of faith. How we need each other in this crazy world.
We are human
beings. When we face temptation, when we falter in our faith, when we stumble
through a tough time, when we grieve and when we rejoice, it is always better
to share it all. Maybe you have heard the saying that goes something like this:
Joy is doubled and sorrow halved when you share life with someone.
I thank God daily
for my husband, for our daughters and their guys, and for our beloved grandson
and for our friends. My “church ladies” as my husband calls them are
invaluable. Their strength, their wisdom, their willingness to share their
stories of suffering and their ability to overcome the most difficult times in
life, always brings me deep gratefulness.
We are called in
the Bible to take care of our brothers and sisters in the faith. We are called
to build them up, to offer them encouragement, to listen and to pray. What a
gift! Here are a couple of verses that remind us to do just that.
Finally,
brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another,
be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of peace will be with you. 1
Corinthians 13:11
Therefore,
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact, you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Father,
We thank You for our fellowship with other believers. Surround
us with the love and hope we need as we walk through life together, ministering
to others in Your Son’s name. We need each other for strength, for
encouragement and for love.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Two sisters of mine in the faith have gone to heaven over the
last two weeks. One I had not seen in a couple of years, but her wisdom, her
sweet prayers and her love will remain with all who knew her. She had the heart
of a servant.
The other, Elaine,
was a fellow-sojourner over the last twenty-some years. We served together at
two different churches and she may be the strongest woman I have ever known.
Her first husband died many years ago at a young age and she ran a dairy farm
for four years with a young daughter.
Over twenty years
ago, when she was 70 years old, she contracted a virus in her heart in the
hospital after knee surgery. The doctors gave her one year to live. She said, “
I choose not to believe that. I believe in the power of prayer.” This story,
along with many others, became one of her famous “God stories,” as she called
them. She was opinionated, stubborn and had a heart of gold.
Over the years,
Elaine and her second husband, took in several foster children. One of them
spoke at the memorial service. After surviving several different foster homes
from the age of 12 to 17, Elaine came into her life. Elaine spoke words of life
and faith into her and remained in her life for the last thirty years.
Elaine was frail
and in and out of the hospital over the past two years, but she still called
many of us before the election to remind us how to vote! I will never forget her.
She also spoke words of life into me. She listened, she loved, she cooked and
offered hospitality to one and all, and she knew how to stand firm in the faith,
no matter what.
She designed her
funeral service down to the last detail. The girl who sang, “Children of the
Heavenly Father,” said it was a direct order from Elaine. The pastor apologized
for doing the prayer too early according to Elaine’s format. The caterers made
Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and lingonberries. (Not the usual ham
sandwiches and potato salad!)
What a legacy to
leave. We laughed together, cried together, and savored the memories of this
remarkable 91-year-old woman of God. My friend Connie and I were able to see
her shortly before she died. We were able to tell her what she meant to us as
we prayed over her. I gave her these Scriptures not long ago. They will always
remind me of our Elaine.
Blessed
is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that
sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law
of the Lord and who meditates on the law, day and night. That person is like a
tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose
leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Elaine. You kept her active and strong until the
end, like a tree whose leaf does not wither. Now she is living in the midst of
living water, never to be weak again. What hope and comfort this brings us, to
know she is home with her Savior.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Do you decorate for
the holidays? I have several light-up churches that take up the shelves in our
office. One of them was given to me by my mother-in-law many years ago. They
bring me joy. When I remember the church of my youth or celebrating at Central
Lutheran in downtown Minneapolis when my uncle came to town, or the church we
stood in as we spoke our wedding vows, or the church our daughters grew up in
and the church where I became a Stephen minister and Bible study leader, I recognize
and appreciate the necessity and the value of fellowship.
Worshipping our God
together gives us strength and deep joy. Getting to know other believers as we
dig deeper into the Bible or share stories of life, or pray together for one
another brings wisdom and encouragement as we move through life. Jesus is there
in the midst of the building, in the hearts of the brothers and sisters, in the
words of the pastor, in the fellowship of love.
And let
us consider how we may spur one another on to toward love and good deeds, not
giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging
one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Let other believers
encourage you and build you up. Study the Word together, pray together as we await
the return of Christ.
Father,
Thank You for providing us with brothers and sisters in the
faith. We are grateful. We come together in praise and worship and love.
In Jesus name,
Amen
With a grateful heart, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. My prayer is for readers to accept the love
and warmth of Jesus through His Word more than my own. He changes everything
and when you ask Him to be your Savior, you open up a world of adventure, of
depth, of a never-ending hunger to know Him more.
Remember to thank
Him for your blessings. Stop to pray before your meals, before you get out of
bed and before you go to sleep. Acknowledge His presence throughout the day,
constantly asking Him to guide, to teach to open your heart. Praise Him!
Enter His
gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and
praise His name. Psalm 100:4
All this
is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people
may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15
Thank you for
reading this blog. It opens my heart to new possibilities, to new hope for more
futures filled with His love.
Jesus,
Be with each person reading this today. Let them feel Your
great love for them. Comfort those who are lonely. Be with those who are
grieving. Support those who are worried and anxious. Fill our hearts with peace
and gratefulness
In Jesus name,
Amen
Enjoy this long holiday weekend and please come back on
Monday! Happy Thanksgiving!
Watch for God this week. As we move into the holidays,
remember what is most valued, what events will make the most memories, what
will give you a grateful heart? Look for ways to brighten someone’s day, to
sneak a bit of kindness into someone’s life, to encourage rather than
discourage.
God is moving all
around us and He sees you, right where you are. Where is He asking you to love,
to comfort, to pray? The opportunities will be made clear as we ask Him to be
with us each day, throughout our days.
Are you upset with
someone? Seek forgiveness. Show mercy. Build up your spouse, your friend, your
child, your co-worker. I need some work on what my friend calls our
“sand-paper” people. We all have them.
Praying for those
we find difficult, puts them in a new perspective. Dig deeper, try harder, give
willingly and cheerfully. I need these reminders today as we move into extended
family time over the next month. I
encourage you to listen for God’s words, more than your own.
Therefore,
as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Who is
wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds
done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
James 3;13
Clothe ourselves in compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience?
I definitely need a change of clothes, and a reminder that I am dearly
loved by Jesus Christ. His compassion knows no bounds.
Father,
Teach us to follow Your Son and his ways. Help us to be
different, to act in wise ways, to wear the spiritual clothes of Your choosing.
We need You!
In Jesus name,
Amen
'Tis the season to be thankful. What are you grateful for
today? Good health? A roof over your head? Enough food to nourish your body? A loving,
spouse, friend, child or neighbor? Look around and appreciate what you have.
Look for the blessings as you go through your day and offer blessings to those around
you.
A simple
compliment, a smile, a hug, a phone call, a card or a pat on the back.
Blessings can come in small packages and kind words. They can be offered easily
when we look for opportunities. How can you and I brighten the life of another?
Do to
others what you would have them do to you. Luke 6:21
The “golden rule,” the verse
above has been labeled. Look for the best in others and give them the benefit
of the doubt. We don’t know what goes on in another’s life or in their heart.
Encourage, appreciate, be kind and gentle, and we will fulfill the wishes of
God.
Be grateful and
pass it on.
Lord,
We come to You with praise and a grateful heart. Help us to
appreciate all we have, to look for the best in others, to humble ourselves, to
look for opportunities. Show us how, where and when.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Have you heard this before? “God does not call qualified
people. He qualifies the people He calls?” Just like Moses and so many others
in the Bible, we can believe we are not enough, not gifted, have too many flaws, to be used by God. Moses had a speech impediment and went into exile for 40 years before God called him to
lead all of Israel.
Gideon was the
weakest man from the smallest group of men and God called him a “mighty
warrior.” Peter spoke and acted before thinking. (I can relate) Paul wanted to
arrest and kill Christians before God transformed his heart and turned him into
the greatest evangelist of all time.
Give your life to
Christ and He will give you exactly what you need, in exactly the right way, at
exactly the perfect time to witness for Him. Scary? Yup. But He gives us His
strength, His power, His Word, His Spirit. Now that gives us confidence in Him!
Go and serve! He
needs you. He will qualify you with His mighty hand.
Now may
the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back
from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with
everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to
Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen Hebrews
13:20-21
I pray
that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His
Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16
Father,
It is amazing to us how You can use us to do Your work. You
are sovereign. You are Creator. You are omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent
and yet you have designed us to be a part of Your everlasting plan. Give us the
strength, power and qualities to do Your bidding.
In Jesus name,
Amen
I still miss my childhood home. I was one of the lucky ones to
have a safe home with loving parents. After my dad died when I was fourteen, my
mom and I become best friends. Even as an adult out on my own, I often ran back
home to mom, for words of wisdom, for loving arms, and a listening ear, not to
mention enjoying my favorite comfort foods.
Home is where our
hearts reside. My mom was in the hospital dying on my wedding day. It was the
best and most difficult day of my life. God provided a safe home with my
husband at just the right time. Mom died the following day and I still miss her
after more than 30 years.
I relish these days
as a mom and grandma. My parents did not live to meet our daughters, and I recognize and appreciate these days. I pray that our daughters, their husbands and children will consider
our home as “home” to them as well.
And one day soon,
we will go to our final home in heaven. I long for the day when I will see my
mom and dad, my grandparents, and my friends who have gone on ahead. How
about you? I pray you have safe and loving places on earth. Our forever home is
with Jesus.
He is here with us
now and He provides what we may be missing. He offers comfort, protection, nourishment for
the soul and unconditional love. If you didn’t experience the safe, loving arms
of your earthly parents, or are grieving a lost sense of “home,” run to Jesus,
our eternal best friend, parent and Savior forevermore.
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
11:6
For we
know that if the earthly tent in which we live is destroyed, we have a building
from God, an eternal home in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians
5:1
But our
citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20
Jesus,
Thank You for the promise of our heavenly home. You gave up so
much to give us a way to be with You forever. Thank You for the love You place
around us as we live our lives on earth. We are grateful.
Amen
Grief, loneliness,
too much or too little time or money or responsibility can bring about a state
of weariness to our bodies, minds and spirits. As we consider God’s voice and
His heart, we can find quiet times and learn to listen to what is most
important, and we can make wise decisions on where and how to move next.
When weariness sets
in, ask God to give you His peace. Run back to Jesus time and time again. A relationship
with Jesus is number one. He wants us to know Him intimately, to serve
cheerfully, to find peace in our daily lives. Come to Him when you are weary
and remember, the good we do in His name glorifies Him and brings joy to our
weary souls.
“Come to
Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew
11:28
Let us
not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Come to Jesus each
day. Let Him comfort you and give you peace as you set out to do His work. The
good we do in His name will reap a harvest of blessings for others and for us!
Lord,
You do bless us as we serve. Remind us to stay focused on what
You want, not to overdo or become overwhelmed, but to do Your work in the ways
You choose. Comfort us today.
In Jesus name,
Amen
I believe our
service and our love in the name of Jesus will follow us into heaven. And many
of our good works, maybe the ones we are most proud of, may not count. A tough
lesson to learn is to remember that God loves a cheerful giver.
The giving we do
grudgingly or out of guilt, or so that others will notice, rather than to bring
glory to Jesus, God will not use. Allowing the Spirit to move us into serving
with our time, our talents and our treasures will bless us and shine the true
light of Christ.
Over the years I
have given to others with a sigh, with a weariness, with a bad attitude. You,
too? Keep a cheerful heart as you give to His causes. He wants our hearts to be
so full of His love, we can’t help giving it away, even when it comes with
sacrifice.
A
cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22
Each of
you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly, or
under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
Jesus,
Continue to teach us Your ways. We love you and want to give
with a cheerful heart in the ways You desire. Change our hearts and attitudes
to serve You without tiring.
Amen
Jesus calls Himself, “the vine,” in Scripture. I love this
analogy. When we are rooted deep in Him, we can bear much fruit. The fragrance
and ripeness of healthy fruit increases its value and nourishment. As we grow
in the vine of Christ, we, too, may bear much good fruit for the glory of God.
Listen to these
words of Jesus.
“I am the
vine and you are the branches. Remain in Me and I in you and you will bear much
fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. John 15:5
Just as an avid
gardener, prunes his trees and bushes, so does God prune and pluck things out
of our lives that are not healthy and good. His discipline does not always feel
good. It may not match what we believe we want and need, but when we follow Him
and allow Him to cut off some unhealthy branches, we will blossom!
We did not
appreciate discipline from our earthly parents at the time, but later, we
realize it was meant for good.
No
discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it
produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained
by it. Hebrews 12:11
Is God asking you
to give up a bad habit, to walk away from temptation, to change a life-long
attitude, to close an unhealthy relationship, to change the channel? Lean on
Him, trust His discipline. And we will bear the fruit of the One who loves us.
Here is what the fruit looks like to the world around us. Let it be said of us!
But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
As you read through the list
above, ask God which fruit needs a bit of trimming, some Godly discipline, some
good new growth. Don’t be surprised, when you pray, He may bring some
challenges to grow you in His good fruit. Stay rooted in the vine.
Lord,
Teach us to appreciate Your many ways of discipline. They are
designed, always, for our good and for our growth. You are the master gardener.
Let the pruning begin!
In Jesus name,
Amen
This week we are talking about God’s discipline, the ways He
challenges us through the Words of Scripture and through prayer and through experience. He also
teaches us through others. I have learned so many valuable lessons from my
brothers and sisters in the faith. And God has a sense of humor, too!
I remember being
overwhelmed when it was my year to serve Thanksgiving dinner. Full disclosure,
another spiritual gift that has not been given to me is the gift of
hospitality. I marvel at those who love to entertain, whose door is always open
to others, and miraculously, seem to have food available to serve at any time!
Even though we have unique spiritual gifts and personality types, God does ask us to
move out of our comfort zones from time to time. I was worrying and grumbling
and, as God often does, two Scriptures just “happened” to be in front of me
during that time.
Share
with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13
Offer
hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9
Well, that stopped
me in my tracks and my irritable mood. “Practice hospitality,” and “without
grumbling,” spoke to my heart. I made it through with a changed attitude and a heart to serve..
Understanding what
God’s will is can guide us into the most difficult of tasks, even the ones that
don’t necessarily fit with grace and, yes, humor.
Lord,
Grumbling about my lack doesn’t help anything. Keep us filled
with positive attitudes and humor as we struggle with so much. The struggles
are often unnecessary. You change our thoughts and our abilities to move ahead
in Your plans.
In Jesus name,
Amen
God has challenged
me throughout my faith life. I have volunteered for ministries that were just
not meant to be fulfilled by me! My friend, Kim, talked me into leading the
entire vacation Bible school at our church many years ago. Luckily, she ended
up doing most of the work. The gift of administration, finding volunteers,
ordering supplies, finding spots for 120 children and leading opening worship
left me with sleepless nights and feelings of despair!
Finding my
spiritual gifts was one of the most valuable lessons God gave to me. Many times,
the discipline comes from doing the wrong things even when our hearts are in
the right place.
There are
different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are
different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working,
but all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians
12:4-6
I highly recommend
investigating the Spiritual gifts of our God. They are found in many places in
Scripture. For example, 1 Corinthians 12,
Romans 12 and Ephesians 4. There are spiritual gifts inventories and tests
available on line. God needs each one of us, all different parts of the same
body. Don’t learn the hard way like me! Allow Him to find your specific gifts. Using
our designated gifts bring joy and peace, rather than unrest. They will fit
you, your personality, your natural gifts and your values like a glove!
Father,
You teach us in so many ways. Help us to find our fit within
the body of Christ, so that we can fulfill the desires of Your heart.
In Jesus name,
Amen
God has been working in my life for over twenty-five years. I
am grateful for the gift of faith, the love of the Word of God and the Holy
Spirit that guides and changes me. Remember, GOD does the work if we allow Him
to open our hearts and minds to His will.
Being
confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
This verse gives me
such comfort. Obviously, we aren’t going to become perfected until we arrive in
heaven, but God can use us as His ambassadors while we are here. Until God’s
work is complete in us, He will keep striving, disciplining, and moving us more
and more into His likeness.
As we age, we can
look back and see God’s hand through even the most difficult and tragic times
of our lives. No matter the circumstances, He weaves it all together to bring
glory to Himself. Trust Him to use the tough and the terrific times for good.
And we
know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have
been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
Trust in these
verses again and again. God disciplines. God works for good. God transforms.
And, if we continue to pray for His will to be done, He will continue to work
for good in our lives. We are called according to His purpose.
Father,
Sometimes it seems impossible to see your hand in all that we experience
throughout our lives on this earth. Open our eyes to Your purposes, which moves
beyond this earth to eternity. Help us to see with eyes of faith and trust.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Did you know or have you experienced the discipline of our
Father in heaven? As believers, we are adopted sons and daughters, inheritors
of the kingdom of heaven and God wants us to live our best life according to
His will. Just as our earthly fathers discipline us for our own good, so too,
does our Father in heaven.
Blessed
is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Job 5:17
Blessed
is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law. Psalm 94:12
Endure
hardship as discipline. God is treating you as children. For what children are
not disciplined by their father? Hebrews 12:7
All discipline is
for our good. And the Holy Spirit within us gives us the ability to follow
God’s commands and implement the changes He views as necessary.
For the
Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power love and
self-discipline.
Lord,
Shine Your light into our lives and remove any darkness in our
attitudes, in our giving, in our habits, in our minds. We look to You to
transform us even when it is not easy.
Amen
This week, w
e have sorted and let go, humbled ourselves in love, gazed in
wonder at the beauty that surrounds us and laughed with delight at the young
ones in our lives. All of the deepest desires and delights of our hearts can be found with Jesus. He is the one with the wisdom, the one to open our eyes to the joy around us. Finally,
the simple joys of this life are found in Christ Himself.
He continually brings deep joy and that deep
joy continually gives us strength. Here is a great verse to memorize when worldly
joy comes up empty, when grief dwells within, when hope has vanished. Each day
is holy and good in His presence. Jesus remains.
This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy
of the Lord is our strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b
Jesus will walk
with you, talk with you, comfort you, strengthen you and guide you home to
heaven. Seek Him and find Him. Believe that He died and rose again for you! He
is there. He is love and He provides deep joy, always. Acknowledge His presence
and feel the strength of this joy.
Jesus,
The spiritual joys you provide are miraculous. Even in the
face of tragedy or trial, You give us with what we need to face another day.
You offer peace and joy amidst chaos and confusion. We cling to Your strength
and the joy that remains. Stay with us.
Amen .
It's easy to take our relationships for granted, to become
annoyed with the people closest to us and around us, to look for the imperfect
rather than the perfect, for the deficiency rather than the delight. Jesus
gives us a heart to look for the good in others, to humble ourselves and to do
good.
Therefore,
as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to
the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
These Scriptures
are easy to gloss over. When you read through them more than once, it can be
difficult to imagine fulfilling these words as followers of Jesus. But, with
God’s help, with the Holy Spirit flowing through us, we can ask to become
humble, to serve with love, even when we are irritated or annoyed. Impossible?
Jesus has a reminder for us today.
Jesus
replied, “What is impossible with man, is possible with God. Luke 18:27
I can do
all this with Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Find simple joy
with the people around you this day. Give encouragement and compassion, put others
before yourself. Humility, gentleness and kindness are rare these days. Shine
your light. Be different in a world gone mad. Never easy, but with God, all
things are possible. Rely on His strength.
Lord,
We do know that You bring deep joy when we obey Your Words.
Give us the joy You provide by humbling ourselves, by looking for the good in
others, for bringing encouragement and to appreciate those we love most.
In Jesus name,
Amen
