Out of the Mud and Mire

     Trusting God’s timing isn’t easy. But faith in His ways will give us the peace we crave through the mountain-top experiences and in the deep valleys of life. If you are suffering, ask for His presence. When you are worried, ask for His peace. When you fear, ask for His protection. When you mourn, ask for His promise of comfort. God brings good from disaster.

     We can use the lessons learned through our dark times to help others out of theirs. God pulls us out of the deep.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

     He has lifted me out of a slimy pit or two, You too? Sometimes He needs to get right in there with us and pull us out and sometimes, He just offers a hand up and we find ourselves on solid ground once again.

     Trust His timing, even when you can’t see the end of the story. His glory will shine from the depths of the pit. He is there beside us. Count on Him to pull you to safety.

Father,

How can we thank You for getting us on solid ground after a time in the pit? Life’s journey is filled with danger and disaster, but You bring back our delight and fulfill our deepest desires. We wait for Your perfect timing.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For Such a Time as This

     God’s timing is eternally precise, His purposes fulfilled.  I became involved with Jesus in my early 30’s. Our two daughters accepted him as Savior at a much younger age, one around age 4 and the other around 13. A close friend of mine met Jesus when she was 60 years old during a time of great suffering. There is a time for each of us and God understands when our hearts are ready.

     The Bible reminds us, too, of God’s timing in the lives of His followers. Moses needed preparation for 40 years in the desert before he led the Israelites to the promised land at 80 years of age. Abraham and Sarah became parents when they were close to 100 years old, continuing the lineage of the faithful. Daniel followed God closely while in captivity, even in the midst of a fallen culture, when he was just a teenager. He never wavered in his faith, even when facing death.

     Count on God’s timing in your own life. He may call you to do something special as a teenager, as a young adult, in middle age or he may perform something miraculous as you enter old age. Watch for His next move in your life. Is He calling you to something new and exciting?

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. Esther 4:14b

     Ester fulfilled her role in God’s plan and saved her people. You are here for such a time as this. God has a plan. Watch for it.

Father,

We have peace in Your hands. You know why we are here and what we are to do. Work for us and through us as we meet the needs around us. Prepare us for such a time as this.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Get up!

So the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! What are you doing down on your face?” Joshua 7:10

     The numbers were overwhelming. The enemies of Gideon’s tribe far outnumbered them many times over. When God found Gideon, he was hiding. It’s tempting to pull the covers over our heads and stay put when our circumstances overwhelm us. God chose Gideon and God chooses you!

     Gideon was from the weakest tribe and considered himself one of its weakest members. But God called him a mighty warrior. With God’s help, the few hundred men led by Gideon conquered their thousands of enemies. And God will conquer yours.

During the night, the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.” Judges 7:9

     Sometimes we just have to get up, move and put it in God’s hands. Let’s face the day today with new confidence. We are in God’s army! With Him as our leader we can conquer the demons surrounding us, we can overcome the obstacles ahead, we can make a difference. Now, get up mighty warrior!

Lord,

Thank You for leading us even when we are overwhelmed. You walk a step ahead of us. Remove our fear as you say to us, “Get up!” We are listening and we believe Your Word.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Thanks Be To God

     Give thanks today for food and family and friends and remember to praise the One who created us all.

Thank Him for the gift of salvation and our eternal security.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

Thank Him for His all-encompassing love for us.

This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

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

Give Him thanks for everything He has created.

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4

Place Him in the middle of all the praise and thanks.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4

     I am thankful for each of you reading this blog. You remain in my prayers, as we are connected through the Holy Spirit of God.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers. Philemon 1:4

Lord,

You are worthy to be praised and thanked each day. Remind us of our blessings today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Let Go

     We let go and allow change into our lives. We let go of burdens and allow God to watch over them for us. We let go of the past that binds us. With Christ’s help, we can learn to do all of the above. We learn from our mistakes. We gain strength through our grief. And we look ahead.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13

     Our ultimate goal is heaven. As days get tougher, we may long for our heavenly home more and more. Paul reminds us. Keep straining ahead. Keep looking forward. Each day brings us closer to our eternal paradise. In the meantime, He has work for us to do.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Jesus,

Sometimes it is difficult to leave the past in the past. We focus our attention on You today and on our final home in heaven. You will help us to let go and let You lead us onward to the prize awaiting us in heaven.

Amen

Rest

     This is a time of uncertainty, upheaval and unrest. Luckily our protector is available for our 911 call. God never sleeps. He is available 24/7. In those wakeful moments. Give Him your worries. Pray for what you need. Give Him the reins of your life. He is awake and ready to hear.

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

     After you have given it all to Him, you will rest.

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

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

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Father,

Thank You for remaining awake and available to us. Only You can give us complete peace and rest from the concerns of our daily life. We believe Your Word today that promises us rest. We leave our burdens with You as You watch over us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unchanging

     Has it been hard to let go? Life changes continually. Adjusting to change can come easily or with great cost. Letting go of a loved one or a relationship may give us the greatest challenges of our lives. Moving, switching jobs, letting your kids go as they grow into adulthood, retirement, and so much more gives us pause. What’s next? How do we go on? What will life be like now?

     Luckily for us, we have a God who never changes.

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

     When we panic, He remains steadfast. When we doubt, He is faithful. When we worry, He is at peace. His grace and mercy are available to us right now. Let Him hold you up as you adjust. Let Him comfort you as you grieve. Let Him wrap His loving arms around you when you are scared. We can do all things with Him.

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

Jesus,

Thank You for being just what we need when we need it. Thank you for providing for us with perfect timing. Turn our minds and hearts to You through the upheavals in our lives. You remain, always now and forever more our Lord.

Amen

Signs of the Times

     Please do not fear the end of the age. Jesus is with us from the time we are conceived until our dying day and He knows the number of our days. Be at peace as you see all of these things begin to take place. He wants us to be aware of the season in which we live, but no one knows the day or the hour.

He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:2-3

     Jesus could snatch us out of here at any moment. It is time to awake!

Besides this, you know the time, the hour has come for you to wake from sleep, for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. Romans 13:11

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be caught up together with Him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

     One day soon, the trumpet will sound and we will meet the Lord in the air, reunited with loved ones to live with Him forever. I encourage you with these words, dear friends.

Jesus,

We long for the day we can be with You. In the meantime, we find joy in the world around us and strength in Your presence each day. Show us how to live.

Amen

Signs of the Times

     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. 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.

     The Bible will continue to be put down and Christians will be more and more persecuted in these days. The churches will even draw away from truth and follow other teachings. 

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Matthew 24:1

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

     Love growing cold, turning to myths and what our ears want to hear. Let’s stay in the word together and always listen to truth. Jesus wants to remain our firm foundation in a world full of turmoil.

Lord,

Keep our hearts open only to Your truth. How amazing that the prophecies may be coming true in our own time. What a privilege to serve You in these last days.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Signs of the Times

     Timothy was like a son to Paul. As Paul wrote his last letters, knowing he would soon arrive in heaven, he instructed Timothy to take his place. As always, Paul reminds Timothy, as well as all of us, to be aware of all that will take place before the return of Christ.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God. 2 Timothy 3:1-4

     Whew, what a list! Unfortunately, we live in such times. Jesus tells us that the last days will be just as in the days of Noah, full of violence and evil. In contrast, we are told to focus on things above, to renew our minds in Scripture and to think on these things listed in the following verses.

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 praiseworthy-think on such things. Philippians 4:8

     Renew your minds and believe Christ can capture our thoughts to think on those things. Find something lovely today.

Father,

Thank You for the Scriptures guiding us into Your ways. Your ways are unlike the world around us. It is challenging, in this culture, to think like You, but we no longer belong to this world, but to Yours. Thank You, too, for all of the Scripture on understanding the last days.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Signs of the Times

     Floods, earthquakes, rumors of war, pestilence, lack of respect, lawlessness surround us. Today, we will look at some of the signs listed in Scripture as to the coming of Jesus. And look at the headlines of the newspaper each day. It is important to study and be aware.

Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places All these are the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24:7-8

     As storms rise to new levels (Luke 21) as earthquakes increase in frequency and intensity, as pestilence covers the world, do not be surprised. Many believe if we just change our wasteful ways, stop the “global warming” with due diligence, the planet will be saved. God begs to differ. Since the fall of man, the creation has been and will continue to groan right along with us, awaiting the new heaven and earth.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:22

     As we arrive in heaven, meeting Jesus in the clouds, the earth as we know it will be burned, to be renewed and rejuvenated into a forever earth and heaven combined. Talk about global warming!

     Remember, God will destroy evil at the right time. For now, we have great opportunities as we see the day approaching. Stay at peace, and watch and wait. Enjoy this life until His return.

Lord,

We wait expectantly for You as we see Scripture come to life in front of us. Nothing surprises You. You use each event as an opportunity to open hearts. Keep us awake and aware of treasuring each blessing and sharing Your good news.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Signs of the Times

     The last days began as Jesus ascended into heaven. His disciples believed His return was imminent. The apostle Paul, in his epistles, made sure the followers of Christ were ready for His return at any moment. Followers over the decades and centuries and millennia have believed Jesus would return in their day.

     As each year passes, there are more and more reasons to believe as the Biblical prophecies come more and more alive. Let’s take some time this week and maybe next to look at a few events and signs converging together to make believers look up for their redemption. Peter reminds us that many will ask where Jesus is and why He has not come.

Above all, you must remember, that in the last days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this coming He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4

     As far as God is concerned, we are just entering the third day after Jesus died. What do I mean by that?

But do not forget, this one thing, dear friends. With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9

     As we enter this “third day” after the ascension of Jesus, and think of all that is lining up in prophecy, look up. Our redemption is drawing near.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28

Father,

Open our hearts and minds to the Scriptures that tell us of the seasons of Your return. No one knows the exact date or hour, but we feel Your holy footsteps drawing ever near.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Loving Our Enemies

     Our battle in this world is spiritual in nature. Satan and his angels are working overtime to destroy our witness, to continue violence, division and hatred.  All tools of our greatest enemy. He will look for ways to rob our peace.

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

     Jesus reminds us that evil will increase in the last days. Storms will rise, wars will continue, pestilence will reign and men will call good, evil, and evil, good.  None of this comes as a surprise to our Lord. What does He ask us to do? He gives us these challenging and profound words.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5::44

But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

     Only with the help of the Holy Spirit is it possible to pray for those we don’t understand, to love those who want to kill, steal and destroy.  I try to remember that they need love as much as we all do. They are searching for answers and lashing out as we all do. Lord, help us.  When evil is running rampant, these words from the Psalmist may help.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong, for like the grass, they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pastures. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:1-4

     I need to remind myself of these simple instructions every single day.  Do not fret. Trust and do good. Delight in Him. He will allow us to enjoy and receive His protection in safe pastures. His will be done. Pray for those who want to hurt and destroy. God’s plan will ultimately run its course and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Lord,

Keep us mindful of who You are and how we can best do Your work during these trying times. They come as no surprise to You and You have given us clear instructions. Help us to trust in You and to do good while we are here.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Living for Love

     It is difficult to be loving in this world right now. The climate is filled with rage and violence, with hatred and suspicion. When we see so many hurt and lost, it is hard to know just what to do. And most of the time, we want others to understand and agree with our positions. I know that’s how I feel. There is fear and unrest in the streets. Where do we go?

     The Bible helps us to remember this: We represent a loving God in this world. Showing kindness, encouragement and hope may seem impossible now. My tendency is to pull away from any confrontation or conflict. But we can meet the challenges around us. Here are some challenging words from the Holy Spirit for us today.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:29-31

     Staying away from all of the above proves impossible in the times in which we live, but we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can live out the following words, in opposition to the malice, anger and violence we witness.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Lord,

Thank You for forgiving us and loving us. Remind us of the people around us who do not know You or Your abiding love. Please help us to be kind and forgiving in the world around us. We need You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Accepting Love

     Human love is imperfect. Do we deserve the love of God? How do we accept it for ourselves? We won’t accept it fully, trying to be perfect and follow the rules. Our guilt may keep us from receiving His unconditional love. It might be difficult to believe that His kind of love exists.

     His love is there for each of us, no strings attached. His free gift of eternity and a forever love comes from accepting the birth, death and resurrection of the only perfect man, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. He died for all of us, no matter our past, no matter our weaknesses and frailties, no matter our race.

     Accept His love and be cleansed forever, sins forgiven, and a loving Father, friend, Savior, shepherd, teacher and guide to get us through this crazy life. You will see others in a new light. You will long to change hearts, to share the best news ever given, to show Jesus and His glory, the glory of the Son.

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

     His unmerited favor and grace will find you wherever you are. See His glory. Accept His light and love. He is your Savior.

Father,

Help us to receive Your unending love deep into our hearts, never to be lost again. Guide us into more and more love and change this dark and violent world with Your grace and mercy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Searching for Love

     Feeling the need to be loved? Why not seek out God? Ask Him for His love. Seek that love with all your heart and soul. Believe He has been waiting for you with open arms, waiting to fill the empty spaces and love you as His own, never to leave you again.  Listen to the yearning in these words from Psalm 42.  Maybe they echo the words of your heart and soul.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul, how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One, with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:1-5

     Maybe, like David, you are discouraged, wondering where to find God. David is lost and disturbed. Where is God? And yet in verse 5, He still praises Him. He reaches out to Him. He loves Him. He seeks Him even when He does not feel His presence.

     How is your soul? Find rest as you pant for God as a dear pants for water. Seek Him with all your heart and He will be there with you.

Lord,

We seek and need Your presence right now. Lift up our downcast spirits as we continue to praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Longing for Love

     The abused child. The betrayed man or woman. The neglected family. All of us, all of humanity, craves love. If we don’t receive it naturally and think of ourselves as valuable, we lash out, we numb the pain, we blame or turn inward.

     God loves each of us. With all of the pain and suffering in the world, man finds this tough to believe and understand. God continually seeks us and gives us opportunities to find Him, to know Him, to receive love from Him.

     We can’t work our way there. There is not enough “good” we can do for others to earn that love, no certain amount of prayer, no sacrifice worthy enough.

We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God demonstrated His love for us in this; that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     God’s love for you is beyond this earth. He died for you and me. Let that lavish love fill you, that love each of us is longing to receive. It is there for the asking and the love of Christ will transform you forever.

Lord,

So many are hurting and lashing out. Love them. See them. Let them hear Your everlasting voice declaring unconditional love. The One who saves. It is Jesus.

Amen

Beloved Child

     Our oldest daughter married the most amazing man last summer. Luckily for us, not only did we gather another wonderful son-in-law to the family that day, but we also celebrate the added bonus of his two children, Tenley and Ryker.

     Loving these two children comes naturally and easily. Tenley is a little caretaker at 7 years old and loves nothing more than encouraging and sometimes scolding her younger brother and taking charge when there are other kids around. She has a huge and compassionate heart and a love for dance. Ryker, almost 5, is never still. His boundless energy and his joy for life are contagious. He is funny and athletic and non-stop entertainment.

     Along with every single detail of our lives, there are challenges and blessings, give and take, small details and huge moments. Our daughter and son-in-law have proven they are up for the challenge, putting the kids and each other first, above all else (except for God) and navigating shared custody with grace and love. We couldn’t be prouder.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22;6

     It’s all about love. The more love we can spread to the children around us, the more valuable they will see themselves.  God loves us unconditionally, just as we love our children and their children.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Father,

We praise You and thank You for the beauty of this extended family. Show us how to support and to love and to encourage in any way we can.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Beloved Child

     Grayson Alden was born two weeks ago. Stories will be told of the quarantine, of the fact that mommy had to be tested for a virus sweeping the world. There was worry over the hospital stay, about the clinic visits, about who could and should see the new baby.

     This will be just one of many stories told to this sweet, beautiful boy. Our daughter and son-in-law blessed me in the choosing of his middle name. My dad died in his sleep of a heart attack when I was just fourteen years old. His name, (one I have always loved) was Alden. A legacy to pass on and to celebrate, just as our daughters continue the legacies of their shared lives with their families.

     The children of our children bring rare blessings to this life. Neither of my parents lived to see our children, so the miracle of being a “nana” will never be taken for granted. I am savoring and treasuring each and every moment we get to spend with these precious children.

     Welcome to the world, Grayson Alden. Our love for you is immeasurable and forever. We will pray for you, care for you, weep with you and jump for joy with you as we watch you grow. You have the most remarkable big brother and the best and most incredible parents and a God who gave His Son just for you.  You are blessed.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged…Proverbs 17:6a

     And the most valuable legacy we will pass on is the legacy of faith, in the one and only, Son, Jesus Christ.

Lord,

There are no words that can adequately express the joy in having grandchildren.  We ask You to bless them and keep them always under Your almighty care. May they grow to know You as Savior.

Amen

Beloved Child

     Our children and grandchildren represent what is sustaining us during this time. The following devotion was written almost 2 years ago. Now, we celebrate the birth of another sweet grandson. This devotion and the miracle of birth reminded me of all we see and all we experience through these amazing lives of ours. And we remain God’s beloved children no matter our age.

     Our precious children bring us delight, worry, wonder and deep love. As our youngest daughter is dealing with an almost 6-month old who doesn’t want to sleep in his crib, I am reminded of the attachment we share. I have sleepless nights worrying about her sleepless nights. I pray for our daughters’ well-being every day and pray for peace, joy and happiness for both of them and their families.

     I also recognize the fact that life is tough. There will be tears along with the laughter, struggle along with the sunshine, worry along with the wonder. The journey of life teaches us along the way, through the tough and through the terrific times.

     Our little sunshine, Gavin, is learning to sleep on his own, slowly, but surely. They are using a sleep-training method, where they go in the room every few minutes at first to pat him and comfort him as he cries and then extend the amount of time, and it looks like it just may be working.

     God trains us that way, too. Patiently, slowly, with a pat on the back, here and there, recognizing for us (which we don’t often recognize until much later) that the tough times in life bring out the best in us. As we teach our children through discipline or by allowing them to experience struggles without bailing them out, (and allowing our babies to cry it out a bit) we need to remember; it will, ultimately, be for their own well-being.

     Just as we remain in our children’s lives to support, to love, to teach and to nurture, so Jesus remains close by our side through the ups and downs of life. He doesn’t get dizzy on the ride. He won’t get off because He is tired or worn out. He doesn’t sleep. In the midnight hour, He is there, ready to listen and to assist.

     Just as we are here to answer the phone or to give our daughter a break from the exhausting life of new-baby care, God is there in a much deeper way. He knows the future. He doesn’t worry. He won’t make mistakes along the way, as we will. He knows our hearts. As much as we love and care for our children, He loves and cares for them even more.

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:1-3

Father,

Thank You for watching out for our children and grandchildren. Our hope and trust is in You. We praise You for being there through the days and nights of our lives. Protect us all and teach us everything You desire to make us servants of Jesus.

Amen

Beloved Child

     The questions of the quarantine remain. The conflicting advice and uncertainty continue. Each day there are bright spots with talk of promising vaccines, a slow reopening of restaurants, parks and sporting events. Our distancing will continue for a while longer and it is extremely challenging for all uf us.

     Along with this uncertainty, we are faced with continuing and escalating racial divide, political agenda, hate and violence and the escalation of evil around us. Each of us has differing thoughts on how and what and when and why, don’t we? The differing viewpoints have continued to decline into incivility, anger, rebuke and rigid views on right and wrong, left and right. Everything appears to be political and the divide ever widens.

     My goal is to remember I am a beloved child of God. God does not look at the outside and neither should we. My God gives me instructions on staying away from anger, on striving to look at the heart, on remaining true to the fruit of the Spirit.

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

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

     There are times we need to speak and honor the truth. And most times we should think before we speak. (James 1:19-20) Keep praying, keep hoping, keep sharing the good news and the hope for tomorrow. Love abounds. Love wins. The love of our Father abides with us. Trust Him.

Father,

We need You each minute. Watch our mouths. Keep our minds focused on what is important. You are in control, even when we believe everything is in chaos. Teach us through these difficult times and let us represent You wherever we are. Protect us. Save many. Bring goodness out of evil.

In Jesus name,

Amen

    

Beloved Child

     Maybe you are feeling alone and lost right now. Or waiting desperately for a prayer to be answered. Maybe you don’t have the best relationship with your parents or with your children.  You may have a child who has strayed into trouble. Pain is real and all around us right now. Unrest, unease, uncertainty.

     What will the world look like as our grandchildren grow?  How about you? We need each other more than ever and we need the presence of God to steer us.

     He is our ever-present help.

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

     Whatever your worries, whatever your fears, whatever your circumstances, you have an anchor for your very soul, and a loving Father looking after you.

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

     God’s great love has been lavished on us (1 John 3:1).  Rely on Your Father and sit with Him awhile. Hold on to the anchor of hope, firm and secure, forever. God always looks at the heart. You are His beloved child.

Amen