It’s been an emotional week. Thanks for riding and reading
along with me. I am an overly emotional person by nature. I sympathize, yearn
to fix the things of which I have no control, cry easily and laugh too much. I
broke down in tears today, not in sadness, but in release. I held it together
for our daughter’s wedding ceremony. It was my first wedding to officiate and
my own daughter! Still boggles my mind that God brought me through.
So many prayers
covered us on Saturday. So many prayers covered the weather, which turned out
to be ideal. Prayer is vital. I hope you have prayer warriors in your life.
Mine are the best. When I ask for prayer, they are faithful. It is truly a gift
that fills me with emotion. (well, no surprise there)
I have felt the
power of prayer so many times over the years. When dealing with heavy grief,
prayer sustains us. When we are filled with joy, prayer doubles it. When we
face chaos, prayer gives us peace. Prayers of gratitude bring us to praising
our God.
Our personal
prayer-time with Jesus is essential, both in sharing and in listening. His voice
is real and He will give us specifically what we need. Jesus gives us just what we need, not what we want. If He had granted all
of my wishes throughout my life, my life would be a disaster.
I have a coffee mug
that reads, “A day hemmed in prayer will never unravel.” Hem your days in
prayers. Begin each day and end each day with Jesus.
Proclaiming your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night. Psalm 92:2
Pray throughout
your days. Jesus will never leave your side.
Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Take a minute right
now to open your heart to Jesus. What are your needs today? Safe travel? Prayers
for a loved one? Hope for an anxious friend? The right words to share? Gratitude
for the blessings? Trust Him to answer. And to my prayer warriors? I pray a
prayer of thanksgiving for all of you.
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3
Lord,
We need to be in prayer with You and we need others to pray
for us. You intercede right along with us to answer our prayers. How grateful I
am to have such faith-filled prayer warriors in my life. Give them and each person reading this blog a sense of
Your loving presence right this minute.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Our summer vacation
is here. With our great day-job during the school year of watching our
1-year-old grandson and the wedding planning, it has been a whirlwind year,
filled with unexpected joys and exhaustion! I give my husband credit. Believe
me, it isn’t easy living with a legally blind wife on even an ordinary day.
As my eyes continue
to deteriorate, he steps in to, well…honestly…clean up behind me! I miss so
much as I cook, as I clean, as I walk through my days hesitantly. The missteps
and fear can take over. He wants me to trust his lead, but I tend to hold back
when I sense a step or a problem ahead. It’s as if he is leading an obstinate
puppy or a petulant five-year-old. You can feel his pain.
He gets the medal
of honor for being patient and kind and trying to navigate life with me and for
me. We do appreciate each other for the differences in our personalities, in
our decision-making, in our logic vs. creativity perspectives. But, now and
again, we hit a wall of frustration. You, too?
After the
exhaustion of the wedding, my emotions got the better of me and I felt like I
was letting him down. It happens every now and again, when my eyes take another
drop or the bumps and bruises or hesitations take their toll. This devotion is
for him. God gave him to me for a reason and he has faithfully walked alongside
me for 34 years. He is honest, trustworthy and kind-hearted, a great husband
and the best dad and grandpa I don’t tell him enough, even though our love for
each other is forever and deep and real.
So today, dear
husband, take a bow. You deserve it. There are no words of appreciation strong
enough, no special words of love meaningful enough, no message perfect enough,
to thank you.
My flaws are many,
but love conquers all.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly,
since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Lord,
We thank You for the gift of marriage, which You designed.
Help us to see each other through Your eyes, through the irritations and
annoyances. Thank You for my wonderful husband and for helping us cover a
multitude of sins.
In Jesus name,
Amen
It’s tough getting back to reality after the planning and
celebration of our daughter’s wedding. The bride is back at work and the piles
I have placed away until “later,” now have to be taken out and sorted, the
decorations divided and taken to consignment, and the ordinary events of each
day will unfold again.
Looking back over
decades and decades and decades (yikes the years are piling up) brings fresh
perspective on the passage of time. Weren’t we just eighteen with all of life
ahead of us, or crazily coping with raising two young girls? The ordinary days,
the struggles and sorrows, the joys upon joys add up in our earthly lives.
Each day brings me
gratitude. My 80-year-old friend, Connie, begins each day with this prayer,
“Thank you, Jesus, for the breath of life today.” A good way to start the day.
Each moment is a gift and when we know Jesus, we can trust He will use all of
the moments, both ordinary and extraordinary, both mundane and miraculous, both
grief-laden and joy-filled into bringing glory to His name.
He turns it all to
focus on Him. He is our eternal home and our steadfast companion. He will never
let you down. He will never leave your side. Enjoy your moments today if you
can. If it’s a tough time, trust Him with it to work it out for His good.
“So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be
dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold
you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Father,
Teach us to appreciate all of our days, no matter the
circumstances. You will strengthen us and uphold us through it all. We savor
the moments we can treasure and hold close to our hearts and they are many.
Thank You for the breath of life today.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Perfect moments, perfect hours, perfect days are rare. Do you
remember a summer day in your youth spent outside all day with friends? Or a
vacation day with gorgeous blue skies and endless water views stretching out
before you. I used to love a rainy day spent with a pile of books. What is your
idea of a perfect day? A day stretching into the wee hours of the morning
laughing with good friends? A day alone?
Saturday, June 22nd
2019 will go down in the life of our family as one of those rare, perfect days.
The moments added up to a magical, unforgettable day filled with love, laughter
and light. Our daughter married the love of her life. The day began for me
reading a devotional with my husband that included a verse I would use in the
ceremony.
Getting ready at
the hotel, seeing my daughter looking like a magazine-cover bride for the first
time, seeing her groom’s children looking like a prince and princess, all
dressed up, the yellow bridesmaids dresses flowing in the breeze of what would
be a perfect weather day (one forecast to include rain) Thank you Jesus!
Yes, the “sun” was
out and the “Son” was there in His full glory. The groom, so handsome, would
shed tears through most of the ceremony and the words of Christ were shared.
The vows were spoken, the kids added in with a sand ceremony, each one with a
glass filled with a color to represent how special and unique they are, would
be poured together, stirred and blended into one family.
Now husband and
wife. God is good and we praise Him for the perfect moments, etched in our
minds and hearts forever. Love. The perfect moments always include love. They
aren’t perfect if they are not shared and we are blessed to have wonderful
family and friends who honored us with their presence. We love you Angela and
De and we couldn’t be more proud of the love and commitment you two share.
“For this reason, a man will leave his father and
mother, and be united to his wife, where the two will become one flesh, so they
are no longer two, but one flesh. What God has joined together, let no man
separate.” Matthew 19:6
Here is the blessing
and the verse I left with them.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine, to Him be the glory forever and ever. Ephesians
3:20
Father,
We thank You for the perfect moments and the perfect days in
our lives. We give You praise for the gift of love that fills our hearts. Bless
Angela and De as they move into the future as husband ans wife.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Our daughter is getting married in two days! We have waited
for, prayed for, and anticipated this day for so long. Today’s blog is for all
of us as we ask for the peace of Christ to sustain us through these next
joy-filled days, to savor the moments and to soak in the blessings.
I don’t know about
you, but I crave the peace of Jesus each and every day. My personality causes
me to fret and worry, to be in my head too much, to question too much, to try
too hard. Our beautiful daughter inherited the same worry gene. Are you hungry
for the peace of God? He tells us it is available. In fact, He tells us to be anxious for
NOTHING!
Be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God. And the peace of God
that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Ultimately, it
comes down to trust. Do we have enough faith to trust God with everything? I
say I do, but the worry and doubt creep in, especially during the night. But
that sweet peace returns over and over again. Keep praying to Him. Keep
believing Him. Keep thanking Him in advance for what He will do. Keep longing
for His peace and thank Him for it. It is there for the asking.
Paul’s letter to
the city of Philippi tells us to learn from his example. The books of the Bible
penned by Paul were written to guide us in the Christian life. Here are some of
his words to follow.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard
from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with
you. Philippians 4:9
Jesus offers us a
unique type of peace. It is not of this world. It is beyond it. A forever kind
of peace, rooted in faith. I leave you today with more words from Christ
Himself.
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do
not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do
not be afraid.” John 14:27
Lord,
Keep us filled with Your peace. It is unlike anything else in
this world. Keep our hearts focused on You. We praise you for the love between
our daughter Angela and her fiancé, (soon to be husband, De) Keep them in your
peace and joy throughout the days, and bless them as they take these sacred
vows.
Amen
God has planned a life of adventure made just for you. Faith
is not a classroom, (or a church pew) where we take in knowledge, comfort and
love for ourselves. God wants us to study His Word, to be familiar with His
character, with His love, with His expectations, with His views on everything
so we can make a difference in the world around us.
After all, He
created everything. He has the right to be in charge! The world has gone off
the deep end in finding ways to make Jesus insignificant or just one of many.
For example, He was a good man and we can learn from His example. As C.S. Lewis
reminded us. (my paraphrase) If we read the words of Jesus, He was either a
lunatic, a liar or He is Lord.
Jesus is Savior,
the way, the truth and the life. He explained everything and the Bible, from
the very first bite of the apple, points to redemption through Him and to the
hope of a Messiah.
When we put into
practice all He says and when we walk in step with the Spirit, He will open
doors of opportunity we could never imagine. The greatest gift for any of us is
to share the Gospel.
Do you know the
Gospel? Have you shared it with others? It is simple and profound. The need for
a Savior ultimately brings us to our knees, as we long for forgiveness, as we
recognize our need to be loved, to belong. And there it is! The truth of His
sinless life, the agonizing death as He shed His holy blood and suffered all of
our sins, the beauty of the resurrection and the offer of freedom from death.
Believe it! Share it!
Watch for the next adventure. It is right around the corner. Adventure with a
purpose just the way God planned it. So often it is easier to sit in our
comfortable pews with people that look like us, act like us and speak like us,
isn’t it?
Jesus and His
disciples and those in the early church took risks. They went into places others
avoided. Jesus spoke with prostitutes and tax collectors. And the religious
leaders at the time? Here is what they thought.
But the Pharisees and teachers of the law
muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:7
They were appalled
when Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They didn’t like that He ate and drank and
enjoyed time with His friends.
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say,
“Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” But
wisdom proved right by her deeds. Matthew 11:19
We can practice the
presence of Christ and His ways wherever we go, with an expectation of new
opportunities ahead. Where will He take us next? Who will we sit next to on the
plane? Who will we meet at work? What opportunities will He place right in
front of our noses? Don’t miss out. There is nothing like being a Christian in
a world starved for Him.
Lord,
Open doors of adventure to us. Help us not to judge as the
Pharisees did, but always, always speak Your truth in love. Your ways are
always best even when we don’t agree with them.
In Jesus name,
Amen
What does God need from me? Am I doing enough? Where do I go
next? Am I letting Him down? All good questions and questions I have asked over
the years. How do we know the purposes God has planned for us? First of all, it is HIS work in us.
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
The book of
Philippians is filled with good advice for us and filled with joy. God’s
purposes always involve love, encouragement and comfort. These next verses
remind us that we are children of the light. They also remind us of how
difficult it is to maintain our lives as Christians! I fall short every single
day.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so
that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a
warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the
sky. Philippians 2:14-15
Without grumbling
or arguing? Impossible most days. Don’t worry. Remember it is God’s work in us.
The Holy Spirit within us will set us on a new path, prompt us in our hearts,
discipline us when needed and continue to love us.
What a relief. His purposes
and His guidance will bring deep blessings as we continue to serve Him in a
dark world. He is way beyond our earthly grumblings and He will use us despite
ourselves until we shine like stars. And His purposes will fit you like a glove, using your very own personality, and your own unique talents and gifts. there is no one like you!
Jesus,
Thank You for never giving up on us. I can’t imagine how You
put up with us day after day, but You love us so much that You died for us and
we praise You for continuing to work on us.
Amen
The promises of God are everlasting. Each one of His promises
will be fulfilled. The Bible is the only book that has predicted the future
with 100 percent accuracy. It is amazing to see how Jesus came just at the
moment predicted in the book of Daniel. Over 300 prophecies came to pass during
the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord.
The Bible is truth.
It has been proven true scientifically, historically, and archeologically.
Miraculous! Only our creator God could have inspired so many writers through
the Holy Spirit to pen His words. Don’t take it lightly. And remember His
promises include you.
It’s all about
faith. Faith in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. Faith that He is
indeed Savior of the world and He promises us eternal life. When you believe,
He gives a guarantee. You know that you know that you know that you are saved
for eternity. Listen to this Scripture
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, who is a deposit
guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s
possession-to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
We are sealed
forever when we believe. The Holy Spirit within us has marked us for eternity
with a guarantee. That’s good enough for me. We can’t earn it. We can’t perform
enough good works or believe traditions of men. Only faith through grace.
That’s all we need.
For it is by grace you have been saved through
faith-and this is not from yourselves. It is a gift from God-not by works so
that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to
do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10
We cannot boast
about becoming children of God or about the things God has planned for us to do.
Jesus came here freely and died and rose for us! And the works He has planned
for us are personal and were prepared for us before the beginning of time!
Relax into His love and His gift of eternity and wait and see what He will do
next. His promises were made for you.
Lord,
Your plans for us begin with our faith in Your promises. They
are eternal and we praise You for the gospel of our salvation. We believe.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Look through the Psalms for words of comfort, for words of
encouragement, for words of understanding, for words of forgiveness, for words
of hope and praise. The Psalms lead is to the character of God. We can continue
to praise Him. He is worthy of our praise.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. His
greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3
Praise Him through
each day. Let’s look at Psalm 37 again, as we have each day this week.
The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in
it forever. The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom and their tongues speak
what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts. Their feet do not slip.
Psalm 37:29-31
We are only made
righteous through Jesus. It is Jesus that wipes the slate clean. It is Jesus
that gives us wisdom and justice, Jesus that keeps us from slipping. Are you
keeping God’s word in your hearts? His word keeps Satan away. His word gives us
strength and always, always, hope.
Hope in the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt
you to inherit the land. When the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. Psalm
37:34
One day, before we
know it, we will receive our promised inheritance, a new heaven and a new
earth, forever in the care of Jesus. Keep hope alive and let the word of God
sing in your heart today.
Lord,
Thank You for the Psalms that reflect our lives and bring us
back to praising and honoring you. Keep us filled with hope. We have it
forever.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who
delights in Him. Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds
him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24
Stumbled a time or
two along the way? Being legally blind finds me not only stumbling spiritually,
but physically as well. Frustration can peak as a knee is bruised, another bump
appears on my head, or I stumble holding a cup of coffee or knock over yet
another glass of water.
Luckily, the Lord
helps me with a sense of humor and a heart of gratitude for all I have. My life
is filled with wonderful people in my friends and family, who continue to be
patient with and kind to me as my eyes deteriorate. Life is good and I am so
grateful for each day and the fact that I still have central vision to watch
the grandkids grow, to gaze at the ocean or the flowers, to see another sunrise
or a sunset. Here is one of my life verses. I know I have shared it many times,
but I hold it close to my heart as I stumble through life. Hang on to Jesus. He
will give you a firm foundation.
I will lead the blind in ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light
before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do. I
will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16
Isn’t this a great
verse? It gives me hope emotionally, spiritually and physically. God guides us
through the tough times, through the dark days, on the paths that are
unfamiliar and sometimes frightening. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He
will pick us back up, brush us off, and send us on our way.
Lord,
Your words continually inspire us with Your truth, Your light,
Your hope. Give everyone the words they need today, for their hearts and minds
and bodies. You give comfort for every aspect of life.
In Jesus name,
Amen
As we continue into Psalm 37, we can hear the wisdom emanating
from the pen of David. He has lived a life that has not been easy, but God
recognized David as a man after His own heart. (see 1 Samuel 13 and Acts 13). David
slept with another man’s wife, had her husband killed and watched as his young
baby son died.
He did some
terrible things in his life, but God recognized him as the one who would be
king. He would become reverent, repentant, loving and devoted to God with a
humble heart. The Psalms are so beautifully written, echoing the emotions of
our own hearts through sorrow, deep regret, forgiveness, fear, loss, and hope. He
finds himself going back, always, to God, trusting Him, looking to Him for
answers, loving Him with his whole heart.
David has learned
to trust God after going through so much in his life. Are you waiting for an
answer, not sure what to do next? Have you given everything to God, trusting
Him to answer? Let’s read on and see what David says:
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for
Him. Do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their
wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath. Do not fret. It leads
only to evil. Psalm 37:7-8
Be still and wait?
There are days I find this almost impossible! Do not fret? There are nights my
mind just won’t stop! Are you angry or worried? Are you impatient with waiting?
We are only human,
after all. Be still and listen for God’s
heart. He is in this life with us, working for our good. Trust Him, without
becoming angry or worried. I’m willing to try, if you are. Let’s be called men
and women after God’s own heart. He will be there.
Father,
Thank You for the words of King David. His life was fraught
with sin, anger, danger and worry. His words repeat the very words of our own
hearts. The wisdom and the care he shares with us are valuable and filled with
wisdom. Help us to be still and wait patiently for You. Your timing is perfect.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Isn’t it wonderful to be saved by Jesus? No more fretting
about death, sins washed clean, past, present and future. He is our
righteousness. He suffered all of our sins upon His body. David often wrote in
the Psalms about forgiveness, about redemption, about trust and faith. Listen
to the beautiful words of King David He went through so much in his life and
this Psalm was written by him in his old age.
Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He
will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your
vindication like the noon-day sun. Psalm 37:6
Have you committed
your way to Jesus? I hope so. If not, think about acknowledging Him, seeking
Him, inviting Him to be your Savior. He is a life-transforming God, alive and
well, ready for a relationship and to cover your sins with His holy blood.
God is pure light.
Let Him shine on you like the noon-day sun, giving you the righteous reward of
everlasting life, where His light will shine on us forever. I love this
blessing. Let it wash over you today.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make
His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up His
countenance upon you and give you His peace. Numbers 6:24-26
Father,
Bless each person reading these words of Yours today. Open
their hearts to Jesus if they do not yet know Him. He is waiting for each of us
to honor Him as Savior.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land
and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the
desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not
on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct
your path. Proverbs 3:5-6
The verses above
are worth meditation and deep thought. Trusting God beyond our own
understanding seems impossible. The world around us can turn upside down in an
instant, can bring fresh discouragement on a daily basis, or can find us in
pure moments of joy. Can we trust God with every single moment and continue to
delight in Him?
We can and we
should. God commands us to trust Him beyond the worries, beyond the fear,
beyond the grief, beyond the loneliness, beyond our health issues, beyond this
life. He is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. He knows all and will
direct our paths.
Acknowledge Him in
everything around you today, in the morning sun, in the details of the day, in
the people around you, in the times you are weary and in the struggles of the
day. Thank Him for the blessings and be grateful for your family and friends.
You can trust our
Father and His Son and His Holy Spirit to work in you. Delight in Him above all
else, and He will give us the desires of our hearts! When we become closer to
Him, more intimate in our prayer life and in listening and reading His Word,
His desires will become our own.
Trust, delight, acknowledge
and watch Him work.
Lord,
You see the path ahead of us. You are a step beyond what we
can see. You know the moments of our lives before a word is spoken from our
lips. How amazing. Keep us steadfast in our faith and trust in You today. Thank
You for these words that always bring hope.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Today marks the last day of the school year for our daughter,
which means the last day for us to spend with our 1-year-old grandson
Monday-Friday. I never want to forget these moments of taking care of our
baby’s baby. The joys are endless, the exhaustion real and the memories forever.
He arrives and walks
past the chair I sit in, eyes on me, with a mischievous grin on his face. His
eyes never leave me as he starts to make a turn and we cry, “Look out!” He
adjusts before hitting the wall and runs on tippy-toe down the hall.
I follow him into
the bedroom, as he stops to pick up the wooden rings on the wooden pedestal,
dumps them over, places them back on in a non color-coded way, dumps them over
again, moving on to the large airplane with the little people seated inside. He
pulls them out one by one and throws them as hard as he can. Throwing anything
and everything is his favorite pastime and he has quite an arm. The dents in
the wall prove his strength.
And he’s off to the
office. As he passes a small stuffed lamb, he picks it up and offers a kiss
with an “mmmmm-a!” He pulls a few magazines off the rack. Once in a while, he will
sit with me as we thumb through the pages, but it is early. He sits crouched on
his haunches, looks at one picture and he’s off! I am not as spry or as fast as
I once was and by the time I am up, he is in the living room.
Our neighbor boy,
Darren, a fifth-grader, loves to play basketball and Gavin loves to watch. On
the way to watch “Dao-dao,”he picks up Dewey, “Do,” the stuffed animal kitten
he loves. His Papa, “other grandpa” has a cat named Dewey and it makes sense to
Gavin that every cat would have the same name. He grabs “Do” by the tail and
drags him to the front door. Darren waves, which absolutely delights our little
guy.
It lasts for about
two minutes and off he runs to the dining room. Somewhere along the way, he and
I have created a game around the dining room table, screaming at the top of our
lungs at opposite ends until we break into giggles. He won’t play this game
with anyone else.
I wonder if it’s
close to nap time, check the kitchen clock and it’s been fifteen minutes since
mommy left. Phew! Time to tag off with Grandpa. Thank goodness there are two of
us.
Gavin loves to
chatter. His vocabulary is large for a one-year-old, but most of the time he
gabs about nothing, but he believes we understand. We tend to agree with him,
“I hear you buddy, know just what you mean,” or” really?”
Throughout the day
we will receive hugs and snuggles, some quiet time before naps to read books,
and this week, as we sit together on the love seat in the afternoon watching
Grandpa mow the lawn, he looks at me and says, “Nana” as if I am just the best
thing ever and he hugs me. Oh, the joy! That one moment will never leave me nor
will the joy in witnessing his growth in height and weight, in vocabulary and
motor skills and in new discoveries. Turning over a new toy each and every way
brings chortles of delight.
What a privilege to
watch this child grow and to be a part of his life. At this age in our lives,
we understand the passing of time and the precious moments to be savored. God
delights with us, too. He allows us to discover things on our own, to take a
misstep now and again, to fall down and to pick ourselves back up. And God
understands our needs and our prayers, even when our words don’t make sense. He
intercedes with a nod, just as we do. God works with us a step at a time,
protecting us from danger, or walking us through and interceding for us with
what we need and not what we want.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself
intercedes for us with wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows
the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in
accordance with the will of God. 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 8:26-28
Lord,
What a gift we have in our grandson. We praise You for his
life, for his parents and for all those who love him. He has blessed our lives in
countless ways in such a short time. How exciting to watch him grow! You feel
the same about us, watching our spirits grow under Your loving care. Watch over
Gavin and we pray He will love You from an early age.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The blessings and the heart of our God are completely at odds
with the world views of today. Rather than achieving, collecting, adding more power,
God blesses us with humility, with self-sacrifice, with unconditional love as
our goals.
The crazy thing is,
the life He wants for us is the one filled with the most joy and peace.
Struggling with too much? Too much work? Too much on your mind? Too many
worries?
We all deal with
these struggles every single day. Let Jesus take you away to a quiet place and
let Him sooth your heart and soul with what matters most. Take time when you
are most stressed and harried, to be with Him. Even ten or fifteen minutes at
the beginning and the end of the day to read His Word, to pray to Him, to ask
for His words and His guidance, will give you a sense of calm. He offers a
different life, a life worth contemplating and a life to be attained. He offers
Himself. Trust Him.
Look to your heart
today and take care of it. Remember you are a child of the light. Here is what
that looks like.
For you
were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of
light. For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and
truth and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10
Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value
others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Therefore,
as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Later, in the book
of Colossians, God reminds us to bind all of the above with love. We are called
to peace and love. His kind of love. Place Your busy lives and worries in His
capable hands and rest for a little while. He is leading us to peace, to a life
of giving, to His kind of world.
Lord,
Keep working with us. Move us closer and closer to the life
you see for us, to be children of light, in all of Your goodness, peace and
love. It is worth longing for and working towards each day, step by step,
minute by minute.
In Jesus name,
Amen
My heart is busting with joy and love these days. We have been
fortunate enough to care for our 1-year-old grandson this school year while our
daughter was teaching. We will miss him so this summer, but we are grateful he
will spend each day with his mama.
Our other daughter
is getting married in less than 3 weeks!!!
Are we ready? Are the details complete? We know it will all work out and
it will be the happiest day of her life, along with our future son-in-law. It will also be one of the happiest days for
her mom and dad.
God feels the same
way. He will be sharing in the joy of that day and He will share in the
blessings of love for our entire family. He is there with us in the sorrows and
the joys. He even sings over us!
The Lord
your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight
in you. In His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you
with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Just as we delight
in our kids and grandkids, God delights in us. Take that in and fill your heart
with His love today. He is rejoicing over you, His beloved child with singing.
I am rejoicing over
this upcoming wedding, but I’m sure they hope I won’t be singing! Maybe just a little bit, inside.
Father,
We praise You for loving us so much. We don’t understand it,
but our hearts are filled to the brim with joy at Your everlasting love. Thank
You for the joy-filled moments of our lives. You delight in us and You sing
over us.
In Jesus name,
Amen
This living water is given to us through the Holy Spirit of
the living God. This Spirit fills us with the abundant life, a life that can be
lived through the heart, a life able to recognize what is important and vital
to God, rather than what we see with our earthly eyes.
Jesus wants us to
guard our hearts and minds at all times, being filled with His Word and with
His Spirit. He always judges the heart of the matter
Keep your
heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
God watches over
our hearts. He understands our motives. He longs to take over the use of our
hearts to show to the world around us. He always, always sees the heart, not
the outward appearances of our lives. (see Samuel 16:7)
What is the
condition of your heart? Do you try to see through your spiritual eyes into the
lives of others, or are you judging by behavior, looks and the things that
irritate you? It’s difficult to be a human being isn’t it? It’s hard not to
compare, compete, judge, be critical or to think we know what is going on
within the heart of another. Jesus changes that. He knows our histories and our
stories and His will is to fill our hearts with Him.
Lord,
Show us how to love like You. It appears to be nearly
impossible day-to-day. We can only do it when we fill up on Your word and
understand Your ways. Let Your Spirit guide us as we move along in our lives,
giving us more wisdom and understanding each day.
In Jesus name,
Amen
God fills our
hearts, watches over our hearts and reminds us that guarding our hearts is most
important. Whatever resides within a man or woman’s heart will reveal itself as
they live out their lives. The Bible reminds us of this truth in several
verses. Here are a couple:
For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
For out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:24b
We have all witnessed
cruel anger or experienced the harsh tongue of another. When the heart is not
filled with love, evil abounds. The lives of so many are burdened with violent
outbursts, with abuse or addiction.
Where do they go?
How will they learn to fill their hearts with goodness and love, with peace and
comfort? Of course, you and I have the answer, don’t we? It’s Jesus. The love
of the perfect Savior transforms, redeems, rejuvenates, and fills the lives and
hearts of the lonely, the abandoned, the lost and the hopeless.
No life is too far
gone. No addiction is too strong. No history of abuse is impossible to undo and
become beautiful and bright. I’ve heard the testimonies. I have seen lives
changed. You, too?
How can we help but speak of this truth?
This mind-blowing, unimaginable truth? He is real. He is waiting with open
arms. He will change lives. He has changed mine.
Lord,
Open hearts to be transformed. Help us to dig deeper into the
needs of others. We can’t imagine walking in the footsteps of others who need
You, but we can share our stories, be a witness for You wherever we go.
In Jesus name,
Amen
