Capture Every Thought

 

     Are you filled with dread about work, family or a physical ailment? Afraid of what is next in your future? Worried and over-stressed? Well…square your shoulders. Take a deep breath. Take another one. And fill yourself with the Holy Spirit. Did God give us a spirit of fear when we were saved?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

     Not only did God give us His mighty power and love, but He has given us the ability to change our thought patterns. (I’m still working on this one)  Take a minute to read this next verse with me.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

     You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives within you and will come to your aid throughout the day. Capture those negative thoughts and bring them to Christ. Change them to thoughts of hope and love.

     Is God’s Spirit one of fear? No, Fear and worry are weapons of Satan. Don’t let his deception win today with the “what ifs”. You have power and love and a sound mind. Believe it! I’m not sure my husband will believe the “sound mind” part for me, but I am counting on it today. I need His focus and power and most of all His love.

Jesus,

Thank you for giving us the gift of Your Spirit. Fear does not come from You. We pray against it today. Capture our negative thoughts and everything that takes us away from Your knowledge and wisdom. Let Your power and love give us the sound mind to get through all we need to do today and tomorrow and every day to come.

Amen

Our Help

 

     Jesus wants to be a part of your day. He is waiting to hear your voice. He longs for an intimate relationship with you. It might be a “Good morning” to Jesus. Or a thank You for the breath of life. Ask Him for opportunities to speak of Him. Ask Him for the right words to speak in a difficult situation.

…do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  Matthew 10:19b-20

     Put worry aside. The Holy Spirit within you is God at work, giving you peace, joy, and the ability to shine with the light of Christ. He is listening. He is available. He does not sleep. Read through this beautiful Psalm and rest through your day.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains-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. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand, the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

Lord,

Watch over us. You promise to be with us wherever we go, now and forevermore. We rely on that. We thank You for Your continual presence. Thank You for the breath of life today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Because He Loves Us

 

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

     God created us to be in relationship. God created us to be in relationship with Him first, soaking in Hi unconditional love, and to use our relationship to love others. Jesus summed up all of the commandments into two:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”  Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:36-40

     Love. Not an easy concept to live by every single day. Jesus loves us all, the shy and weak, the disabled and the poor, the wise and the rich, the annoying and the mean-spirited, the pride-filled and the humble. It is only with love, with HIS love, that we can be changed, transformed and humbled into loving one another.

     It is only with HIS love that we see beyond the façade.

     It is only with HIS eyes that we see beneath the pride to the wound.

     It is only with HIS ears that we listen to the pain behind the abuse.

     It is only through HIS touch that we can melt the coldest heart.

     It is only with HIS Word we may see the change.

     Unconditional love is impossible for us. We are fallen human beings, but the love of Christ knocks down hearts of stone and melts them into love.

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  Exekiel 11:19

Lord,

Remove the stones from our hearts to see, hear, and love others as You first loved us. Put Your Spirit in us and lead us out in a dark world to share Your abundant light.

In Jesus name

Amen

Blessings of the Lord

 

     We routinely say, “God bless you!” when someone sneezes. A blessing from God is nothing to sneeze at! It is a sacred and beautiful Biblical reality to offer others  a blessing. A Jewish father would bestow a blessing onto his children. The Bible shares blessing after blessing for us. Let the blessing of the Lord flow over you as you begin your day.

He will bless those who fear the Lord-small and great alike. May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 115:13-15

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6;24-26

     Jesus will give you what you need today. Let His blessing go before you, surround you and follow you wherever you go.

Jesus,

Bless each person reading this prayer. Lavish Your incredible love upon them and watch over them. Ease their burdens and fill them with Your Holy Spirit.  We receive the blessing of the Lord.

Amen

An Anchor of Hope

 

     The news rarely brightens the day. Today, a young boy’s death, a fire and a car accident. It becomes a habit and a pattern of society to look at the tragic before the triumphant. The headlines take center stage. Our minds are programed to fear and doubt, even when things are going well.

     Choosing to look beyond the tragic headlines, even in our own lives, takes discipline and experience. The tragedies in my life can be taken out and looked at in minute detail. I can picture what I was wearing, the sights and smells, and the reactions of those around me. My mom died almost 34 years ago. Just a month or two ago, I was riding in someone’s vehicle and a scent brought me right back to the hospital where she died.

     God has used the tragedies and pain of experience in my past and most likely yours too, for His good. I always go back to trusting Him when things are looking desperate or hopeless. He has walked me through so much. To Him a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. (Psalm 90:4 and 1 Peter 3:8)

     Take time to stop to pray for families in turmoil, or those left after an accident or friends going through a difficult time. The prayers may have a similar ring, even with different circumstances.

     “Lord Jesus, let them feel Your presence in a real way. Let them get to know You, if they do not. Show them who You are. Surround them with Your Holy Spirit.”

     Jesus will be there in the middle of the mire, in the deepest pit, through the sights and smells of the pain, in each and every minute detail. He will be there and remain until the very end of the age, into eternity.

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

     Hope. Hang onto hope.

    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,

You remain the steadfast anchor of our souls. Keep hope alive for anyone suffering today. Hold them close as you help them out of the pit. You use every bit of suffering to bring about the abundant life. That’s what the cross did for us. We hold on to You.

Amen

Grateful For You

 

     Our family is humbled and grateful for all of you and your prayers for Gavin and for all of us. The power of prayer is real and we feel it. Several of you shared personal stories with me of your own challenges with children and grandchildren. Our testimonies matter and we learn from one another.

     Please let me know how I can pray for you. God will use everything we are going through for His glory. We can’t see the future, but He can and He provides a way for us.  I love thinking of God working ahead of our fear and worry.

The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

     It is impossible to remain completely fear and worry-free when our kids and grandkids face crises. We want to make everything ok, to heal, to find strength, to find the right words. God is so far above us. His ways are higher than ours. The tapestries of our lives will not make sense completely until we are in heaven. In the meantime, remember, He is in control and His purposes are good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8;28

     How do we find good when we feel so lost and confused? It comes down to trust. Trust and remain in Him. Abide…just abide…

If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. John 15:7

By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:13

     In this crazy life, there are times we need to accept, to yield, to abide. Let’s trust the One we love.

Father,

Help us to abide in Your love, to remain firm in our foundation of faith, to trust You when we don’t see the answers. We ache for Your peace and hope. Guide us to the right place and give our sweet Gavin complete healing. Thank You for all of the love surrounding us right now.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blessings Through It All

 

     Our disappointing road trip faded into the distance quickly as our sweet, funny, smart grandson, Gavin, suffered a few more seizures. All of us were taken off guard, so certain that the medication was working after he had been seizure-free for more than two months.

     The uncertainty and fear began anew. Our daughter and son-in-law are amazing parents and filled with faith. But this challenge has brought us all to our knees with the “what ifs” and “whys?”  The plan is to up the same medication yet one more time after several increases. It is the best medication and the safest and we continue to pray. Through the dark times and worries, there have been the blessings. God shares His love and blessings in a myriad of ways if we are willing to pay attention.

     Our friends continually surround us with prayer and support and we feel it. A wonderful Bible-study friend sent me a prayer that has been shared within our family and will be shared at the end of this blog.  One of our daughter’s best friends prayed a beautiful prayer over her on the phone.

     The worship song, “Raise a Hallelujah,” became a favorite for our daughter, Lauren, and her husband, Garrett.  One day she read the back story and discovered two children from the family of a CEO of Bethel Music contracted E-coli, followed by complications.  They feared their young son would die due to kidney failure and seizures. (yes seizures) Two of their worship leaders wrote this beautiful song and the community sang it over their kids. It was a long road but both children are happy and healthy, a true miracle and a message from our God on hope and faith. Raise A Hallelujah - Bethel Music

     One of my best friends stopped over one evening with a beautiful plant. A butterfly remained on the plant all the way from Bachmans to our home and she released it in our front yard, truly a vision of hope and healing and beauty from God.

     The list goes on. I pray you find sweet messages from God in the midst of your own life challenges. He is always right there, available with His love and hope.  Feel it today. He provides good gifts for us and our children.

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him. Matthew 7:11

“if you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for those who believe.” Mark 9:23

The prayer from my beautiful friend, Dianne.

Heavenly God and Father

I strongly and urgently pray in the mighty name of Jesus that angel armies will surround this child. May your power and glory be seen now in this moment. We pray with expectation for the enemy to be held back and the victory all Yours. In this moment, Oh Mighty God.

Amen

The Strength of Christ

 

     After being confined to our homes for so long, with the inability to connect with friends and family other than on social media sites, it is no wonder we were hit by culture shock on our road trip. From isolation to overwhelming noise and crowds left us with a desire to just be alone again! For the most part, it has been wonderful to hug friends and family, to experience life together, to celebrate weddings and the gathering of friends.

     There are times we need to slowly adjust to the changes in our lives. Each milestone, each tragedy, each circumstance offers us opportunities to meet the challenges, to find new wisdom, to dig deeper in how we choose to live out our lives, to build our spiritual strength with Jesus.

     In our younger, busier days, there is often no easy way to reflect, to stop and savor, to think about what God may be teaching us. With the passage of time, God reveals how He has worked in the past, how much He has grown us in our faith and gives us the courage to adapt to all that lies ahead.

     What is God saying to you today? Where is He leading you next? What will the year ahead look like and who will you spend it with? With Christ, all things are possible.

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

     Let go and lean on His mighty strength and power when you can’t see the way ahead. He is there, ahead of you with the right plan.

Jesus,

We count on Your strength through each day. Give hope where there is none. Give strength when we face weakness. Give patience in the midst of confusion. And fill us with peace for the day ahead.

Amen

Heavenly Power

 

     Thanks for allowing me to whine about such an insignificant topic as a vacation gone wrong. We are regaining our energy after our grueling road trip, the crowds, the noisy neighbors, the impossible lines. How do you find new strength after a tiring trip, a long day, a health crisis, a stressful day at work? Some of us work out. Some of us go to the mall. Some of us call friends. My elixir is solitude. Solitude revitalizes me. My favorite type of day includes a long walk, and time to reflect, write and read. Digging in the garden is a slice of heaven for me. And chocolate never hurts.

     Seeing the kids and grandkids always helps and we missed them terribly. The years continue to fly by as they continue to grow too fast and we grow ever older. Find a way to re-energize.  Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with His kind of strength. It is a supernatural power able to sustain us at all times.

     Feel the essence and power of the Holy Spirit within you and conquer your fear and exhaustion. He will renew your strength, until you are filled with His heavenly power.

Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you with the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Lord,

Help us to stir up the gifts You make available to us. We need Your kind of love and power. Keep our minds steadfastly focused on You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Lines and Trucks and Bears Oh My!

 

     So much for relaxation and refreshment! Looking back, we gained some insight on our road trip to Tennessee. My husband is an amazing man and driver. Since I no longer drive due to my eye disease, he put on over 2400 miles in 8 days. We make good road trip companions, even when stuck in an ocean of semis for over an hour or lost in an iffy neighborhood in Kentucky.

     I still love Ferris wheels. God’s creation is stunningly beautiful and inspiring. And we will NEVER return to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It may sound like a quaint town, but, to our dismay, it, instead, was a town filled with a never-ending array of resorts and kid’s adventure areas, all understaffed, with overcrowding such as we have never seen, even at Disneyworld.

     Gatlinburg could not be explored as each place of interest had the familiar mile-long line. We made the mistake of following a stream of cars on an 11-mile journey for views of a “cove” in the Smoky Mountains. This 11-mile trek took an hour and fifteen minutes, as once again, we were stuck in a line of bumper-to-bumper traffic, basically circling an empty field!!! A bear was sighted in the wooded area surrounding the field and forest rangers came running which put a complete stop to our line of traffic. Of course, we never saw the bear. Reminded me of the Israelites and what should have been an 11-hour journey to the promised land taking 40 years.

     Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure we had some fun. We found spectacular viewing areas in the Smoky Mountains. Still a little early to think back on it with a smile. After the last 11-hour leg of our journey, we were simply ecstatic to arrive home. (We left a day early) After sharing a glass of wine, there was a quick retreat to the man cave for my husband and a Hallmark movie for me.

     God is good and He will provide lessons and laughter from this experience. But no road trips for this family for a looong time. As God continues to teach and refine and mold us, He will continue His good work. I could use a refresher course on patience and peace in the midst of chaos. Right now, we need a vacation from our vacation.

I am sure 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

     Our best made plans often take strange turns.

In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Lord,

You teach us through every experience in our lives. Keep us open to You wherever we wander and in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. Thank You for Jesus. He will never abandon us, even in a messy crowd.

Amen