Redeemed

     If you know anything about the ancient story of Job, you understand all that he suffered. He was a man of God, a righteous man, and he lost everything, including his children, his land, his health. His friends didn’t help. They wondered where he had failed, what he had done, to deserve such a fate! What is most surprising and hard to comprehend, is how Job kept his faith through it all.

     Can we do the same through the tough times in life? I pray it is so. Our God redeems. He renews, and He gives us just what we need, enough grace for each day. Listen to some verses from the book of Job, spoken after being scorned by his friends.

“But ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you, or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10

     The birds sing praises as the sun rises and Job found the strength and power to endure from his God. Let’s do the same. There will one day be a new heaven and a new earth. Let’s believe with Job.

“I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end, He will stand upon the earth.” Job 19:25

Father,

Each and every minute You are with us. You teach us through the world around us and You have the whole world in Your hands. Our redeemer lives and it is Jesus.

Amen

Renewal

     Counting our blessings during times of turmoil does not come naturally. The fear and doubt invade our hearts and minds, don’t they? Dealing with this time of uncertainty on a global scale, remains difficult. Just for today, let’s take a deep breath together and look around.

     The seasons in Minnesota keep us strong and healthy as our bodies learn to adjust to and accommodate drastic changes, often on a daily basis. A 60 degree day, to us, feels more like 80. Shorts and flip flops will be worn, motorcycles will be seen and heard on the road and grills will be fired up. Birds will be singing.

     The sunshine on our weary faces reminds us of the hope of spring, a time of renewal, of budding trees and blooming flowers. Let this season of hope and rebirth give you the energy needed to face the challenges ahead. Count your blessings with me and look up.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

     Take in the wonders of nature and contemplate the rising and setting sun, the birds of the air, the variety of flowers, the warmth of the sun and the SON.  Jesus was there at the beginning and He is here now.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, sent from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Lord,

Your Word is Jesus. He lived among us, died and rose again. We thank You for His warmth, for the joy and peace He brings and we thank You for the miracles of your creation that surround us and remind us of renewal and hope. Give our hearts and minds renewed energy.

Amen

Coping and Hoping

     God’s strength and power are available to us right now, this very minute. I pray that each one of you can feel His presence through this time and draw closer to Him. If you don’t know Him, I pray you will seek Him.  If you are a believer, I pray your faith grows exponentially. God works in times like this. His love can move mountains and change hearts, shed light on the darkness and redeem lives. I see it happening already.

     The following verses may need some time of meditation to reach us, to encourage us.  I pray your anxiety will lessen as we trust God together and reach for His hope.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have gained access through faith, into the grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

     Peace with God through Jesus and the ability to always, always arrive at hope will give us the strength to get through this time together. Hold onto hope.

Lord,

We love You and need Your almighty strength right now. I pray Your presence will be felt by those who do not yet know You. I pray that the power of Your believers grows into more and more of Your light. We need it right now.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Coping and Hoping

     I have great confidence in the people of America. Our perseverance, our patience, our creativity, the game-changers of science, our health care workers and the work ethic of so many others serving us right now, lead me to believe we will get through this and much good will come out of this terrible time.

     Are you taking the time to reflect? Are there changes forced upon you that you may hold onto in the future? Ideas on letting some things go? Simplifying? I think all of us will appreciate our ordinary freedoms in a new way after this time of necessary isolation. The freedom to gather together with our friends, the ability to sit down together for meals, or to shop freely.

     So much we take for granted. Times like this remind us of our mortality. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, but with Jesus, we need not fear even death. What a privilege it is to follow Jesus and to know, without a shadow of a doubt, we will be with Him one day.

     Let’s ask God to change hearts and minds for good through this time, to appreciate one another in new ways, to think deeply about what we value most. Take time. Take deep breaths. Let’s do this and come out even stronger. There is hope.

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

Father,

Continue to work in our hearts and our minds during this tough time. You understand where we are and where we need to go. We count on You to bring goodness out of this time and to make us even stronger. Fill our hearts with hope today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Coping and Hoping

     My husband and I sat down on our purple recliners yesterday around 4:00, worn out from not doing much of anything, looked at each other and said, “What should we do now?”  Sound familiar? We are reading, walking, cleaning, talking on the phone, watching movies, cleaning out file cabinets and doing the usual laundry, bills, etc.

     Yes, some boredom may set in, but I find myself more relaxed, sleeping better, even in the uneasy chaos and uncertainty around us. Less planning, more fluidity, more creativity, more time to reflect, to write, to pray and to delve into books in a way I haven’t in a long time.

     How about you? Are you finding outlets for this time of isolation? Maybe you are still working and if you are, thank you!  Our gratitude for those on the front lines of health care, for the grocers, for the truck drivers, for the postal workers, and the cooks allowing us to get take-out as a treat, is immense!

     My loving Swedish Grandma Pella, loved Jesus with her whole heart. She always told me, “Yudy,"  (never could pronounce those “J’s”) "idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” If you are a believer in Christ, we can take this time to continue the great commission, and spread the good news.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

     Whatever we put our minds and hearts on during this time, do it to God. Pray while doing the dishes. Do the laundry and the cooking and the cleaning as well as you can, acknowledging Hi presence. Expect Him to work.  Take care of yourself. Eat well. Try to get a good night’s sleep. (Not always easy) Get outside for some fresh air and God is with you, always, until your very last day.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

     God’s love and peace is available. Lean into His presence in the weeks ahead and feel the power available to you. Pray for others. Do everything unto Him and feel your spirits lift.

Father,

Your presence means so much right now. Give us the hearts and minds to remain faithful and uplifted during these long days. Heal our fear, and heal our bodies, and heal our land.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Coping and Hoping

     A degrading and nasty cartoon, politically motivated, and horrifying in its depravity was shared on Facebook. I realize I am prudish, which won’t surprise those of you who know me. But our sense of decency is slipping away. For the first time since I joined Facebook many years ago, I unfriended someone I have known since 7^th grade and explained to that person why. I’m all for letting things go and not sweating the small stuff, but it’s also imperative to stand up. Hopefully, we become more compassionate during this time, but this time may call for new boldness, in standing up for our values.

     The challenges we face are not going to be solved with more division, more mean-spiritedness, more backstabbing, and more lies.  Let’s walk this road together and assist each other, lifting each other up with encouragement and love.  We do need humor, ways to alleviate our tension and our fears. Let’s do that in a healthy way, reminding one another of what is important, offering helpful advice and ideas. God gives us instructions on how to think and what to set our minds upon, and it has never been more important than right now.

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or trustworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8

     I encourage you to think on things above, to focus on the good surrounding us in the excellence and sacrifice at work. The stories are many and the hope is real. We can do this! 

Lord,

Give us the best ideas, the most hope, give us miracles, show us the way through to a better world. Show us Your ways.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Coping and Hoping

     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

     Do not give up. Do not grow weary. There is a vision happening in the world around us, as we draw close together (at a physical distance) in a common goal. Life and death issues, like COVID19, give us opportunities to open our eyes to possibilities.  Our lives, as we lived them, have been turned upside down, and broken down to the bare necessities.

     Groceries, family, friends and health. Is God giving us time to reflect? Will this bring about new generations of caring for one another? This virus will pass and our lives will pick up once again. Will we make more room for God?

     This is a time to do good, to look for decency and honor, to listen to the experts working 24/7 to keep us updated and safe, a time to reach out. Doing good may include a phone call, mailing a card, delivering groceries, simple solutions during a complex time. A vision for tomorrow looks encouraging to me. How about you?

Lord,

Protect us. Lead us. Hear us. Heal us.

Amen

Changes

     What if we allow these changes forced upon us to change us? When facing a crisis, we have choices. I heard someone say last night that this is taking us off the treadmill of our lives. Solitude is so rare in our culture. Maybe when this is over, we can talk about the good that has been given to us, the lessons learned, the gift of family and friends, now more deeply appreciated.

     As new paths open to us, as changes run their course and we adapt and transition, God brings us new light. I pray this light will shine brightly in your life and in mine, as we live through this time together.

In Him was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

This is the message we have heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

     That light of life is available to us and shines brightest in the dark. If you are reeling from virus fears, from a debilitating disease, from uncertainty in the market or in job security, let the light shine and offer you hope. Our hope in Jesus is eternal. It will only grow brighter as we draw ever closer to home.

     Believe with me; there is a way around the storms and a new path woven through the desert. His living water, His light, the bread of life found in Jesus offers nourishment for the soul. Believe it and witness it in your life.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

     Is He doing a new thing in your life?

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

Jesus,

Help us through this time and set us on a new path, forged with love and peace. We wait for Your timing. Keep us patient and open to new lessons as we endure this time. I pray for each person reading this to feel Your loving presence surrounding them.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Changes

     As we learn to trust Jesus throughout our lives, and at this uncertain time, He is willing to be our navigator. The path is uncharted and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Our path may be rocky and dark, the road ahead not visible. The waters may rise and the winds may blow as we enter a season of storms.

      Jesus is steadfast and faithful, our peace within turmoil. Our lives are in His hands and He understands us intimately. I have shared these verses with you and I will again. They remind me of both my spiritual blindness and my physical blindness and the necessity of trusting God.

I will lead the blind by 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

     Let Jesus make the rough paths smooth before you and turn your darkness into light. He is pure light. Remember to turn to His words in the Bible to find your way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

Lord,

Guide each of our steps today. If we are fearful and filled with doubt, You will light the path before us. You will make the rough places smooth and You will set us on the right path again. We praise You today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Changes

     As I began to reflect and to write about changes within my own life and asking about changes in yours, I could not have imagined or foreseen the immense changes in the world around us. Our country is reeling from the consequences and uncertainty of COVID 19. It has overwhelmed all of us with a sense of unease and anxiety. What will it be like tomorrow? Next month? This fall?

     Adjusting to a new normal together has left me feeling edgy this week. There are so many unanswered questions. Should we still gather with family? Is it as terrifying as it seems? Do we really need to stock up on enough toilet paper to last months? The panic appears to have risen to an epidemic level, along with the spread of the virus.

     As always, in a time of crisis, people rise to the challenge, offering rides, the delivery of groceries, caring for each other any way we can. We comfort each other and we talk it all through with our friends and we will see each other through.

     Nothing comes as a surprise to God. His plans and purposes will be fulfilled in His time. He knows the end from the beginning, and always, always brings about good. Any evils in this world will ultimately, come to an end. In the meantime, let Him be your peace. Pray without ceasing. The power of prayer works. And give thanks for each day. Count your blessings as we work through these days of uncertainty.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

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

“Have I not commanded you? Be bold and courageous. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Loving God,

Keep our minds and hearts focused on You. Keep us in your perfect peace as we give all of our fears to You. We need not be afraid. Let us feel your presence wherever we go.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Changes

     One of the toughest parts of disability and aging is learning to be dependent on others. Our culture insists we can do it all on our own. We can take care of ourselves, thank you very much. Even our two-year-old grandson wants to do everything by himself. He is brave and courageous and he is fast!!!  We have to run to catch him these days as his little legs seem to move 100 miles an hour.

     He insisted on getting on the escalator by himself. My husband was right there by his side and picked him up as he fell. We, his parents, and others will be there as he grows. Watching over him will require us to decide when and how to allow him to learn. It is the same with God as He watches over you and me.

     Jesus allows us to fall. He watches as we do things our own way and in our own time rather than listening to His wise words. We may regret some choices and learn the hard way and wonder why we ever took a certain path, but Jesus will see the error in our ways and teach us to adjust and move ahead.

     His loving presence teaches us how to be wise and patient with our sweet Gavin. He is anxious to learn and to achieve and to try new things. How wonderful! We, too, are never too old to learn lessons. I realize, more than ever, how much we need each other. Remember to reach out for help when you need it. I pray you will reach out to others and to God when you just can’t do it alone.

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

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Lord,

Keep us mindful of all we can do for ourselves, but remind us to humbly reach out to others when needed and teach us how to offer our help to others when the need is theirs. We want to love others as You have loved us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Changes

     My eyesight continues to deteriorate, which leads to adapting and adjusting to the changes. The blessings of having remaining sight at this age (64) is miraculous to me. When diagnosed at age 30, I imagined being totally blind long before this time.

     The perspective of age brings me to my knees in gratitude. Being able to see my grandkids fills me with such joy! Having had perfect sight into my late twenties, and having fairly good sight into my forties led slowly to, what has become, a complete loss of peripheral vision, lack of clarity and trouble distinguishing color.

     Purples, blues and reds appear as one, as well as some blues and greens. Pink and yellow are tough to define. A light green towel may be interchanged with a white one and my husband’s socks, with their emblems of blue, black or red, are often mismatched following each load of laundry.

     Thankfully, my spouse, my daughters and their families and my friends adjust right along with me. My loved ones listen to my needs and accommodate willingly. I love doing laundry, and because of that, my husband is more than happy to reclaim the matched pairs within his dresser drawer.

    What are you dealing with? Adjusting to a diagnosis? Avoiding foods or environments due to allergies? Missing a loved one? Moving into a new phase of life with a new baby or retirement? Each season of life brings new situations, both joy-filled and tragic, some welcome and others filled with dread, each having their own share of transition. What do we do and how do we accommodate the continuing fluctuations in our daily lives?

     The Bible will show us where to go and how to move on with each inevitable change in our lives, with the help of God.

     I am thankful, especially, for my husband, my best friend and confidante. He is by my side each and every day, full of love for me. I get frustrated and fearful and he sees it all. It’s crazy to think of the days I could drive and move in and out of strange places freely and with confidence.  Now each step can falter as I fear a step I don’t see, or as I bump into a person I don’t notice, or as I fall down once again. But each time, I pick myself up and count my blessings and they are many. And always, always, there is Jesus. He doesn’t change. He remains the solid anchor in life.

Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8.

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

Jesus,

Thank You for being our anchor, our foundation, the unchanging Savior. Be with us as life brings about unexpected and expected change. You will show us the way to continue with joy and peace.

Amen

Biblical Characters and You/Joseph

     The story of Joseph and his eleven brothers is found in Genesis 37-50. Joseph became a favorite of his father, Jacob, and because of this, his brothers grew to be jealous. They eventually conspired and sold Joseph into slavery and told their faither he had been killed. Joseph, like Daniel, was placed in captivity in a strange land.

     And like Daniel, the rulers, including Pharaoh could see the strong spirit of Joseph, and the power of his God. Joseph would rise to leadership in Egypt, and years later, there would be a famine in Canaan.  Jacob asked his sons to travel to Egypt to buy grain.

     I encourage you to read through the entire story, but after returning to Egypt the second time, Joseph revelaed himself to his brothers, and forgave them. They had a wonderful reunion. Forgiveness, love and nourishment were offered. You may have heard these beautiful words of Joseph to his brothers.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

     A reminder to all of us. God’s ways are so much higher than ours. His plans go beyond our short lives to eternity and He always works His purposes for good. If you are sinking, focus your gaze on Christ. If you have fallen short, allow Christ to forgive you and put you on the right path. If you are discouraged, and upset at the behavior of someone else, concentrate only on what you are doing, with the help of Christ. If the circumstances look impossible, allow Christ to give you perspective and hope and ask Him to work good through it all. Everything, all of it, comes back to him.

Lord,

These Biblical examples offer us glimpses into all of the marvelous ways you work in our lives. Your unending patience with us as you shower us with grace, knows no bounds and we thank You for continually teaching us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Bible Characters and You/Martha and Mary

     Are you a Martha or a Mary? Both personalities are useful in God’s kingdom. Each one of us has been given our very own spiritual gifts to use in our faith walk. The trouble begins when we start to compare and complain. We may think someone else’s gift is better than ours.

     On the other hand, we may believe our gifts should be natural to everyone, and expect others to follow our lead. This was the trouble (perfectly understandable) when Martha was frantically trying to get dinner ready for a houseful of guests including Jesus!  How about her sister, Mary? What is she doing when Martha needs help?  She is sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His every word.

     Martha knows and, hopefully, we do too, that she can come to Jesus with anything. And she does just that. Let’s find our place in the story:

But Martha was distracted by the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered. “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or, indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

     God sets Martha straight, and settles her down, reminding her that Mary is doing what is best for her, and best for all of us, to stay focused on the One most important thing in all circumstances. Focus on Jesus.  Peter looked away and sank.  Daniel kept focused and was saved. Mary remained at the feet of Christ, listening for His wise words. Let it be said of us.

Jesus,

Remind us of our gifts and how to use them, always focusing on You first. Give us eyes to see ourselves through Your eyes and to use the gifts you have given us.

Amen

Bible Characters and You/Daniel

     The Jewish people were captured by the Babylonians when Daniel was just a teenager. He was chosen to be groomed within this new empire. For three years he underwent training in the Babylonian language, tradition, political structure, literature and many other subjects. He worked amidst the best of the best, the elite of Babylonian society.

     His faith would not waver, despite all of the riches and carnality surrounding him. God led Daniel to interpret the dreams of the king, to be given a role of high authority in this new, secular kingdom. He would remain in captivity until he was a very old man. Even with his opportunities, with the temptations surrounding him, Daniel remained true to his God.

     Daniel refused to bow down to the statue of the king and returned to his room to pray and bow down to God. You may have seen pictures of Daniel as a young man with the lions. That’s how he is typically portrayed in children’s stories. The truth is, Daniel was 83 years old by this time, still in captivity, would be thrown into the lion’s den for disobeying the law.

     With the world growing ever darker, and many turning away from the faith, it can be tough to stand up and be faithful to Jesus and to all He asks us to do. The stories of the faith of Daniel are inspiring, reminding us of God’s presence and His protection, even in dire circumstances. Let’s be Daniels, always believing and trusting in our God. Daniel’s life provides a great example to all of us. He remained faithful, prayerful and humble. Listen to the words of an angel, sent by God, after Daniel has faithfully prayed for 21 days!

Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” Daniel 10:12

     Don’t give up. Keep praying. Keep steadfast. Keep believing. Stay in God’s peace.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast and who trust in You. Isaiah 26:3

Lord,

Daniel’s faith gives us courage and hope. His life remained dedicated to You, as he lived in captivity. You used him in mighty ways. Use our faith to instill courage and hope in others.

In Jesus name,

Bible Characters and You/Peter

     Peter’s personality remained volatile, even after choosing to follow Jesus. He was impulsive,emotional, and outspoken. In fact, when Peter saw Jesus walking on the water to meet them in the boat, he asked Jesus to allow him to come.

     Let’s follow the story:

“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come”, He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:28-31

     I’m sure none of us have attempted to walk on water, but Jesus does give us courage to move out of our comfort zones. Have you ever stepped out in faith and faltered along the way? Have you doubted the path you’re on or given up on the strength and power of Jesus when you needed Him most? Peter’s faith faltered along the way. You may remember, Peter would be the the one to deny knowing Christ three times the night Jesus was arrested.

     But time and time again, Peter came back and remained a trusted follower. Jesus forgave him and he forgives us. Peter would one day be hanged for his faith in Christ and asked to be hung upside down, believing he was not worthy to hang in the same way as his Lord. Find strength in the witness of Peter and when you are about to sink, don’t take your eyes, mind and heart off of Jesus.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Father,

Thank You for sharing the example of Your beloved disciple, Peter. Let us always look to You when we feel ourselves sinking, look to You for forgiveness, and to trust You through it all.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Biblical Characters and You

     The Bible is filled with true stories of men and women, just like you and me. The disciples, most of them, were uneducated fishermen, chosen specifically for a time and a purpose. They doubted. They disobeyed. They acted impulsively. They competed. They failed. Just like you and me..

     You may recognize attributes of your own personality in some of these characters. You may read about someone going through a similar situation or reacting in a way that comforts you. You may agree with Martha, in her exasperation, as her sister Mary sits at the feet of Jesus when there is just so much to do!

     Your faith may be as strong as Daniels or as weak as Moses when he doubted his ability to lead the people of Israel. The list goes on and on with hundreds upon hundreds of stories written for us, to guide us in life, to meet us where we are, to offer Christ’s words as He teaches, rebukes and forgives.

     We will look at a few characters this week. Which one will echo in your heart right now? All of us are loved uniquely and completely by Jesus, right where we are, with our weaknesses and strengths, with our failures and our successes. We are His and we are in this together with the same Spirit and the same Lord.

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 in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4=6

Lord,

Teach us through Your word and the stories written in it. All of us are created in You to serve in different ways, to be uniquely guided by You, to be united in the same Spirit.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God Delights In You

     I pray you are feeling the love of Jesus this week, coming to Him as a child, listening to His calming voice as He holds you in safety and peace. This is the type of love we offer our children. We delight in them. We protect them and nourish them.  Allow God to give you that and more. You are His forever.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

     God is not a harsh task master watching to see what we do wrong. He has given us all things, every good and perfect gift of ours is from above, and not only has He offered us eternal life, but right now, this very second, He is delighting in you and singing over you!

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. Psalm 147:11

He brought me out unto a spacious place. He rescues me because He delights in me. Psalm 19:18

For the Lord takes delight in His people. He crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 149:4

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

Father,

You take great delight in us, just as we do in our children and grandchildren. The thought of You singing over us is precious, just as we sing lullabies to our little ones, You sing over us as You guard our lives and we are grateful.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God Protects You

     God’s care for us offers us peace and joy, even when we are faced with new viruses, uncertain markets, strange weather patterns, political unrest and unending terror threats. The world around us can affect us in harmful ways, leading to stress and fear, with anxiety and doubt.  Remember, God never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

     His care for us also includes His protection. Let His strength and power and His protective love lift you up in the days ahead. Listen to His words for us today.

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

     Ever-present. Strong. Powerful. Protective. Our God is a mighty God. And He is right by your side.

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

     I leave you with a few verses from Psalm 91. The entire Psalm will give you comfort and peace as you allow God’s protective arms to give you rest.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91;1

He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

     His angels will be called. His feathers will surround you with warmth. We find rest in His mighty shadow. Find rest for your souls.

Father,

Your protection is available as we live out our lives. Send Your angels to guard us and Your faithfulness to give us peace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

He Cares For You

     Last Saturday, I had the privilege of spending the whole day with my beautiful daughters. Just as earthly parents enjoy the company of their children and appreciate sharing their lives and walking alongside them, so, too, our God loves to spend time with us.

     The comparisons end as we recognize our imperfections and weaknesses and compare them to the perfect love our God has for us. His intimate knowledge of who we are and how we are made and His willingness to guide us and bring good to our lives, allows us to come to Him with full confidence.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:12

     God’s grace and mercy for us is unending.  Cast all of your cares on Him, spend time with Him, run to the throne of grace.

Cast all of your cares on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Lord,

You love spending time with us. As Your beloved children, we can come to You with everything because You care for us. We love You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God Knows You

     Today God’s word will speak for itself. Place yourself within each of these verses and feel how close He is to you, how intimately He knows you. He understands everything. Listen to His precious thoughts about you. I encourage you to read through these amazing verses more than once.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there. If I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to You. The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. 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. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-when I awake I am still with You.  Psalm 139:1-18

Lord,

Your thoughts of us are too much for us to take in! We praise You for Your intimate knowledge of each one of us. How wonderful are Your ways!

Amen

God Loves You

     God’s love for you is beyond full human understanding. It is far deeper, exceedingly more intimate, and much more able to offer us exactly what we need, than any form of human love. God gave His only son to die for us!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

     God loves us so much, that He offers us a clean slate, meeting us right where we are.

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

     Take in His love for you this week and remember, once we believe Jesus died and rose again for us, nothing, not ever, can separate us from His everlasting love.

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Father,

There are no words to thank You for Your amazing love for us. Help us to soak up on that love and show others the road to find it.

In Jesus name,

Amen