Personal Tales of God's Perfect Timing

 

     God’s timing is perfect. The unanswerable questions, the unanswered prayer, the unanswered hope can be placed in the Almighty hands of the omniscient One, the One with the everlasting answers.

     Have you been praying for something or for someone for a long time? Is there a family member in trouble? God understands when and if we will be ready for an answer or more importantly, when we will be ready to accept Him as Savior.

     My brother, Jim, was 22 years my senior. We had the same parents and there were no siblings between us. Yes, my mom thought I was a tumor! They wanted more children, but really, 22 years?! Luckily for me, once the diagnosis became a pregnancy, they were delighted.

     My brother suffered from a deep depression off and on for most of his life. He could not imagine a loving God in this dark world of his. He tried to commit suicide several times. Over the last fifteen years of his life, he suffered from a debilitating neurological disorder with no given name. It was “Parkinson-like.” It began in his toes and made its way slowly in upward motion until his body was in a frozen state, with curled toes and fingers eventually moving to his face and to affect his swallowing.

     And God knew the time was right. A few years before his death, he connected with the motorcycle-riding chaplain at the nursing home where he resided. The hymns of old at the Sunday services made him cry tears that had never been shed. An old friend he had not seen in decades heard about him and motored down the avenues in her wheelchair with a Bible in her hand. Amazing coincidence she now lived just a few blocks from the nursing home.

     Coincidence? No, it was God placing the right people at just the right time around my brother. And one beautiful fall day, on his wife’s birthday, he met us in his wheelchair, with his frozen body and his halted speech and said, “I have met Jesus. I am saved.”

     This story still brings me to tears, every time, fifteen years later. We often feel responsible for saving our families, don’t we? We wonder what we can say. We say too little or preach too much until they move away. We forget that God knows. He places the pieces around us in miraculous ways at the perfect time when the eyes of our hearts are finally opened.

     My brother had complete joy and peace and humor for those last years of his life. Amazingly, they were some of the best of his life as he got ready for heaven. His testimony spoke to others about the transforming love of Christ. He gave my brother, and He offers all of us, the peace that passes all understanding.

     Do you need to trust His timing in your life? Trust Him with the answers. Trust Him with the questions. The miracle may be just around the corner.

Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in His salvation. Psalm 35:9

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.  Psalm 51:12

Dear Lord,

I thank you again for what you did in my brother’s life. Amazing grace. Amazing love. Amazing God.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Personal Tales of God's Perfect Timing

 

     This time of unanswered questions, filled with a roller-coaster of emotions moving from full-on hope to full-on despair, to sleepless nights and worried days has found me looking back throughout my life. I hope you will allow me to share some personal stories this week. You have your own and I hope you have opportunities to share them.  

     None of us gets through this life without suffering and loss, without challenges and grief, and most importantly, without joy and blessings. The joy and blessings in my life far, far outweigh any of the tragic circumstances, but as is His way, God brought me closer to Him through the uncertain times. I hope He has done the same for you.

     My dad died in his sleep when I was fourteen. A year earlier my brother tried to commit suicide (more about him later this week) and my cousin was killed in a car accident shortly after he returned from Vietnam.  My idyllic childhood was brought to a crashing halt as I experienced my first bouts with anxiety, and realized there are times in life when we have absolutely no control.

     Luckily, I had the best mom in the world. She and I became dependent on one another, she as my safe harbor, me, a reason for her to go on. The year I became engaged (at the ripe old age of 31) I was diagnosed with the eye disease that would lead to legal blindness and my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer. As she was getting close to death just a couple weeks before our wedding, she insisted we go through with the ceremony. Nip and I went to visit her between the wedding and reception in our wedding clothes and I was able to say goodbye. She waited until the next morning (she did it for me) and we planned a funeral and cancelled our honeymoon.

     Yes, tragic, but God had provided a safe place for me with my mom and now, He had given me the perfect partner in life, one who never blinked an eye with my diagnosis and helped me through the deep grief of losing my mom. This was a time of great searching on my part, a time of endless writing and seeking God. And I found Him.

     Throughout the years, there has been a house fire and my husband suffered a stroke. Both made us stronger as a family and as a couple. But the feelings and emotions suffered throughout these times, came back to me as we worry about our sweet Gavin. All of us have gone down roads in our imaginations that do no good. All of us have lain awake in deep fear and dread. Our human nature takes us away from living in the moment, to fearing the future. So today, I want you to give yourself a break. If you are in a difficult and dark time, let God hold you. He understands when you are too numb to pray, when you cry out when you don’t get an immediate answer. Lean on your friends and family to pray for you. You will feel it, just as we do now.

     And God? He is still there. He will lead you out. His timing will be perfect, just as His will and purposes are always good. On an unfamiliar and scary path? Listen to His words for you today.

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

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

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8;17

Dear Jesus,

Give us hope and comfort through the dark times. Turn the darkness into light before us and turn our lives back to You. Shine Your glory through each event in life, through blessings and worry, through joy and despair. You will guide us on the unfamiliar paths and not forsake us.

Amen

 

Cast Your Cares

 

     The kingdom of God is forever. Our weary bodies will be renewed. The earth and the heavens will be made new. As we view the events of the world shaking around us, let’s fix our eyes on the everlasting.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

     When anxiety creeps in, cast your cares on Him. He is steady. He will sustain you. He will not let you be shaken. It is His promise to you. His grace will see you through another day, the next hour, the next ten minutes.

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

     Because of our Lord, we can never be shaken. Our foundation is sure on the Rock of our salvation. Live in thankfulness and deep joy. He is coming soon. Live in worship and praise, in reverence and awe.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

Jesus,

Your word is filled with Your promises for us. We raise our voices in praise to You, our Rock, the cornerstone of our faith. We cast our cares on the forever One, the First and the Last. Give us Your steady right hand when we feel the world shaking around us.

Amen

 

Our Firm Foundation

 

     Where do you place your faith? …In yourself? …In your spouse? …In your ability to complete the tasks of the day? …In the doctor? …In the pilot? Even if we have enough faith to get through our days, trusting in the people and the circumstances around us, there remains a nagging uncertainty, along with the “what if’s?”

     We just don’t have complete control. A storm hits. The wind blows in a new direction. The seasons change. We age. A loved one dies. There is an accident. A diagnosis. A loss. A hurt. Put Jesus in control. Listen to His words for you, believe them, and put them into practice. Place all of your faith in Him.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

      Don’t allow the storms of life to crush you. Jesus will walk with you. He protects and strengthens. Place your faith in the Rock. He is steadfast, immovable, firm and protective. All other ground is sinking sand.

Jesus,

You are our firm foundation through life. When the storms hit, You are there, in the midst of them. Through the raging waters, You are there. Through the devastation and loss, You are there. You are there eternally. We place our faith in You.

Amen

Our "Abba" Daddy

 

Thank you for the prayers. We appreciate them more than words can express. Gavin had another pretty large seizure last night and they want to keep him until he goes 24 hours without one, so continued prayers are needed and coveted.  Thank you, thank you.

     There is always hope as we look forward to eternity. We need not dread getting older! Each day brings us closer to our heavenly hope. We will only shine brighter as our spirit draws near to home. In the meantime, you are children of the Most-High God.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16

     These Words of love are from your Father. The word, “Abba” is most closely interpreted as “daddy.” Such an intimate relationship with God. We are daughters and sons, adopted and chosen, loved without measure. I pray as the words above state, that your spirit testifies with the Holy Spirit today that you are a child of God.

     And we cry, “Abba!” throughout the day, when we need a kind word, or a soft shoulder, or a place to weep, a joy to share, an anxiety to quiet, some needed advice, the warmth of the Son. He is available anytime, anywhere, every second of every day. Go to your heavenly daddy and seek Him right now.

Jesus,

You want an intimate relationship with each one of us. The word “daddy” is a precious one to us. We come to You as Your children, adopted and wanted. We are precious in Your sight. Jesus loves the children of the world.

Amen

 

Creation's Rise and Fall

 

This week I am revisiting some blogs I wrote years ago. I ask you, too, if you would continue to pray for our grandson, Gavin. He is in Children’s Hospital going through more tests as his first three meds have not worked on the seizures. Our sweet 1-year-old, Grayson, spent the night and most of the weekend with us. What a joy in the midst of it all. We trust God’s kindness and love for our Gavin and believe in the power of prayer. I am grateful.

    

     The magnitude and magnificence of God is displayed in His creation. Our minds find it impossible to wrap around the enormity of the universe and the millions of stars that dot the sky for us at night. The sun, in its warmth and brightness, is strung at just the right distance from the earth. A bit closer and we would combust, a bit farther away and we would freeze. We can’t deny perfect design in action.

     The earth and all that is in it was created for us and when we fell, the creation fell with us. Just as we wait and yearn for so much more, creation is groaning along with us.

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

    One day, because of Christ, we will live forever in perfect harmony with creation in a new heaven and a new earth.

That the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.  Romans 8:21

     Isaiah saw this perfected earth through the Spirit of God. We can only imagine:

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear; their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.  Isaiah 11:6-8

     One day. No more violence. No more predators even in the animal kingdom. We will live forever, with perfect harmony, filled with joy and peace and glory. The glory of the Son will surround us. Wait expectantly, patiently, purposefully, lovingly. Come Lord Jesus.

Father,

We appreciate all of creation today and wait for the day when all will live in harmony, with no more decay or despair or fear and trepidation. We thank you for Your Word that fills us with hope.

In Jesus name

Amen

Sharing His Light

 

     Shining with Christ’s light will often include walking alongside a hurting brother or sister. We will all struggle and go through trials.  Allowing someone to sit with you while you grieve eases the burden and assists in the healing. We need to let our feelings out, to let the tears flow, to tell our stories.

     There will be times when we are overwhelmed and frightened, lost and filled with sorrow. Be ready to listen, not with a quick answer or a trite comment. Just be there. One of my favorite quotes is from Henri Nouwen’s book, “Out of Solitude.”

     “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

     Be there with the love of Christ.

Jesus,

We don’t have all of the answers, but we have You. We are grateful for each other and for those with the ability to share in pain and in joy, those who listen and tend to our hearts.

Amen

 

Children of the Light

 

     Our deepest love and our first love is Jesus. When we take the time to develop a personal relationship with Him and dig into the deep things of the word, our lives will be filled with perpetual light and hope. Our lives will reflect His light. As His love fills us, we have enough to overflow onto others.  We have the light of life.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

     Live, then, as children of the light. Our glorious Savior lives in us. Shine!

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Lord,

You promise us we will never walk in darkness. We have the light of life. We are children of the day, not of the night. Let us live to reflect Your glory.

Amen

 

Light In Your Darkest Hour

 

     As the apostle, John, is given the vision to write of the events of the very last days on earth, He witnesses the glorified Christ. Our Jesus sits in heaven. He is alive and well, watching over us. Are you sitting in darkness? Is there a huge burden on your soul? Are you bearing a grief and sit in deepest sorrow?

     Jesus sees through your darkness. Nothing is hidden from Him. He understands your pain and will heal your deepest need. Let Him comfort you. He will penetrate the darkness with His unending love for you.

He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what dwells in darkness and light dwells with Him. Daniel 2:22

Even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to You.  Psalm 139:12

     John’s vision of the glorified Christ includes these words from the book of Revelation.

The hair on His head was white as wool, as white as snow and His eyes were like blazing fire. Revelation 1:14

     This pure and holy Christ has eyes like burning fire, penetrating, wise eyes, filled with love. Allow this bright and burning fire to shine through your darkness. The light of Christ will comfort, cleanse and heal. He is with you in your darkest night. He sees right through to your tear-drenched soul. Allow Him to be your Savior.

Jesus,

You have suffered. You understand. Your everlasting, glorified light is available to those in deep hurt. Shine Your light in the darkness today.

Amen

Light Over Darkness

 

     Do not be overcome by the darkness around you. We can be burdened with fear and anguish as we listen to the news. But the light will not diminish. And that light is within us! We are, corporately and individually, the church of Jesus Christ.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1;5

     Share that light with others, but remember. There are those that love the darkness.

This is the verdict. Light has come into the world’ but people loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

Jesus,

We thank You for bringing us into Your glorious light. We pray today for those in need of Your love and light. Satan deceives us and can appear as an angel of light. Keep us in the true light of faith in You.

Amen

Light Through Darkness

 

     Pandemics, violence and chaos surround us. Are we becoming numb to the mayhem? The news is filled with tragedy after tragedy. The value and respect for life is diminishing. Why are so many people without hope?

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:19

All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Ecclesiastes 5:17

     Their hearts have become darkened. They are frustrated and angry and as King Solomon says, “They do not know what makes them stumble.”

     Hope comes from our Creator. I pray for those with no fear of God, with no sense of hope, with darkness dwelling within and around them. Jesus brings light into the hopeless heart, into the darkest night. I pray for new light to break into the night of the soul. This week we turn to the light of Christ.

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. Psalm 18:28

Father,

We pray for those seeking violence and terror. Turn their darkness into light. Help them to see hope in the face of Jesus. Bless the families that have been touched by evil. Give them comfort.

Amen

Hallelujah and Amen!

 

     Christians can be perceived as judgmental, the moral authority, insisting on good behavior while pointing out the bad. If that is true, we have it backwards. Our job is to point to Jesus. Our lives should be different because of His love for us. Jesus meets us right where we are and tells us He has loved us with an everlasting love.

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

     When we accept the Gospel and ask Him into our lives, the change begins. Miraculously, we develop a hunger and a thirst for the things of God. Scripture is opened up to us in a new way and the Holy Spirit begins to lead us and change us and teach us in ways we could not imagine on our own.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

     Relax into the Spirit. Receive His love and listen for His voice. Don’t expect those not walking with Jesus to get it. Just be ready if they ask. God’s voice is not demanding or condemning. It is filled with loving kindness, slow to anger and covered with an abiding and everlasting love. We don’t deserve it. None of us, but He gave it to us willingly, sacrificially, asking for nothing in return. Except to believe.

     The human language finds it hard to decipher and translate unconditional love. We want to get back what we give. Even-steven. But not God. He gave us the kingdom. It belongs to us for the asking. And the power of heaven and earth will be given to us through Him. It’s Jesus.

Hallelujah and amen!

 

Hear and Believe!

 

     Did you know before we can accept Jesus, we have to hear the word? If you are a believer, you have heard the Gospel.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word about Christ.  Romans 10:17

     I want to share two important segments of Scripture today. If you love Jesus, and have never shared the Gospel, these verses will give you guidance when the time is right! Spread the good news. When someone asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and you will be saved.  Romans 10:10

By this Gospel you are saved if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures. ! Corinthians 15:2-4

     The good news? Jesus, the word, come to life to dwell with us (John 1) born of a virgin, died for our sins and rose again. Believe this word, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, “Jesus is Lord!” and you will be saved. I’ll say that’s good news. Let’s make it contagious with our joy and love.

Dear Lord,

How can we keep from sharing this incredible news? The lost world needs You now more than ever. Give us boldness to be the messengers of the good news.

It is Jesus.

Amen

 

Your Heart

 

     Comparing our lives to others comes naturally. The Jones family has a bigger house. The girl next door drives a more expensive car. We wish we were skinnier, funnier, taller. The list goes on. I pray this week we will begin to believe that we are one-of-a-kind, made just the way God intended.

     Even in the church we tend to compare. If you have the gift of music, you may wish you could sing rather than play the piano. If you teach, you may wish you had a larger audience, not your small group. You get the idea. God does not look at numbers or audiences or as if one gift were better than another. He doesn’t look at credentials or academics or the size of our house.

     God looks at the heart. You may be making a difference in your family, or one-on-one in a quiet ministry. You may be just beginning to know Jesus, excited and nervous about what it all means. Today, just accept His love. The Holy Spirit will teach you what is next. He will move you as He sees fit. The measure of faith, and what He wants us to do? It’s all up to Him.

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines.  1 Corinthians 12:11

Jesus,

Take away our divisions and competitive natures. Let us see each other as beloved children of God, brothers and sisters meant to work together in unity. We can only do that when we accept and believe we are loved, just the way we are and allow You to show us what is next.

Amen

 

Free Gifts

 

     When Jesus comes to us it is never with condemnation, but with grace. His harshest words were for the religious leaders of His day, the rule-followers and judgment-callers, the ones pointing out faults and puffing themselves up with their fancy prayers and knowledge of God.

     Jesus went to the least of the people. His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well is a beautiful example of His love. She comes to the well at the heat of day, long after the other women have come and gone hours earlier. Hearing her story (see John 4) we realize she was probably ostracized because of her five marriages and the fact that she now lives with another man.

     Jesus offers words of encouragement even before she understands the truth of who He is. He tells her she speaks truth and then He explains His offer.

 Jesus answered her. “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the women said, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can You get this living water?” “Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 4:10-12

     Maybe the secret to filling continually with that living water is truth and humility. Our need for Jesus will never go away. Everything else we fill ourselves with will not satisfy. No amount of fun, or food or fellowship compares to our time with our Savior. Let’s humble ourselves before Him and allow Him to flow through us with the living water that will never run dry.

Jesus,

We come thirsty and all you ask from us is to believe. Fill us with the unending stream of the living water of life. That abundant life will follow us into eternity. Turn our lives away from the sin that entangles into the Spirit-filled life that gives us purpose and love.

Amen

Today is the Day

 

     Today is the day. This is it. The moment you believe in God’s unconditional love for you. Believe! Jesus died for you! Believe in Him as Savior and ask His forgiveness. And guilt? Let it go, as far as the East is from the West.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  Psalm 103:12

     You are no longer condemned. You are free!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:2

     God’s grace overcame the law. There is no work you can do to pave the way to heaven. Jesus is the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

    It’s time. Take it in. He died for you. He rose again. The work is done. You are His forever and ever. Just believe.

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

Father,

Let Your words of grace pour into our hearts today. Forgiven. No longer condemned. You are the way, the truth and the life. All because You love us so. We believe! Today is the day and we are Yours forever, because You gave Your one and only Son.

And in His name we pray.

Amen

Changing Our Mission

 

     The stories of our lives are as numerous as the grains of sand on a beach, as unique as each individual snowflake. And yet, through Jesus, we are united in our mission; to share Him through our lives and stories. We are united in the same Holy Spirit, the resurrection Spirit of our God. We are created in His image.

     Our missions in life change after giving our lives to Him. Our goals often change from being self-focused, from achieving power or money, from striving for attention, from a false image facing the world, to a humble giving up of our own desires to find His purpose. Our superficial and selfish ambitions become supernatural and sacrificial, and somehow, we become much more richly blessed.

     By giving up our lives, we gain true life! What a concept. Only our God could imagine this redemptive work of grace and hope.

Jesus said:

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, but forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Matthew 16:25-26

    Our mission becomes His as He changes our minds, our moods, our morals, our messes, to fit His mission. All of our uniqueness, our personalities, our passions can become the basis for His story to unfold. Our true selves emerge in a beautiful way. Amazing grace. Amazing God.

Dear Jesus,

It sounds frightening to give up our lives. We want control where there is none. We want success and it comes up empty. We want love and we find it in You. You give it unconditionally and sacrificially. Show us how to do the same, as You become our mission, each in our own special way.

Changing Our Messes

 

     We’ve all been there; in the depths of a pit, stuck in the mud and mire of a difficult situation, a health crisis, or stuck in our past. We are left with wounds. There is a trail of mess in all of our lives.  We hear the gospel. We read the word and we believe. Jesus begins to take away the hurt, the shame. He forgives it all.

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

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

     Our past messes and hurts are forgiven. We can offer forgiveness and we are set free. Jesus continues to heal our past. He walks with us and changes us in our present. And He offers us a future filled with perfection and love forever.

     We forgive, but we do not forget and because of that, God can use our messes to become our message. Our stories become a part of His as we tell others about the transforming power of Christ. Our personal stories are a testimony to who He is and we can offer the same love, forgiveness and compassion He first gave us.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.  Psalm 107:2

     Let His story become yours. You fit in just perfectly for this time in history. Your story makes a difference. Let Him use your messes, your hurts, your lessons to show His healing power. You are changed and others may want to know why.

Dear Lord,

Somehow you use our past mistakes, along with the suffering we have been through to show Your glory. Teach us how to use our past hurts and present suffering as ways to share our message about You, to glorify You. Thank you for Your forgiveness, for helping us out of the pit and giving us a firm place to stand..

In Jesus name

Amen

Changing Our Morals

 

     Belonging to Christ changes us. Our minds, our moods, and our morals can be matched to His will. The Holy Spirit within begins to convict us. Our knowledge of Jesus increases through His word and through prayer as our lives slowly become His. The little white lie doesn’t seem so little anymore. The extra change given at the grocery store is burning a hole in our pockets until we return it.

     The slightest enhancement on our tax return is deleted. The swear words don’t flow easily from our lips. The list goes on and on. Before I share the Scripture verses for today, I want to remind you that God never condemns. We are no longer under condemnation. We are free in Christ. We are not under the law. We are free in His truth. He always knows and wants what is best for us and what is healthy for our minds, bodies and souls.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Colossians 3:5

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these; anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  Colossians 3:8-10

     Our lives are a journey of growing in the knowledge of Jesus and being renewed day by day. His Spirit within will tell us what to do and how to do it, what to say and how to say it. It’s all about cooperating. As His ambassadors in the world, we should be walking, talking and acting like the One we are representing. How do we do that? We can go back to that battle of the mind we talked about on Monday.

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

     Set your minds on Him. Over time you may not even recognize your old self. Enjoy the journey. Set your minds and your hearts on Jesus. He will do the rest.

Dear Father,

Thank you for your convicting Spirit. Take away our fear as we listen to Your voice. You want the very best from Your children. We love you.

In Jesus name

Amen

 

Changing Our Moods

 

     Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Co-workers annoying you? Someone cut you off in traffic? Crabby kids? Angry at your spouse? Time for a pity party? We all have our moods. The world doesn’t understand us. No one else gets it.   

     The humbling sacrifice of our God takes the puff out of our pride. He died for us while we were yet sinners. His example, His love, His understanding allows us to give others the benefit of the doubt, to forgive when it seems impossible, to smile when we feel like our faces might crack.

Get rid of bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

     A perfect and holy God forgives us. We know, because of Him, we will live forever. That is something to be grateful for every single day. Be kind because He is kind. Show compassion because He is compassionate. Be grateful for His grace. Look for the blessings. They are all around us. We have the breath of life today. We are forgiven. Can we show mercy and grace to others with a smile? I think I’ll give it a try today.

Dear Father,

Your Son, Jesus changes even our moods. Move us away from grumpiness, pride, anger and unforgiveness. Let us show the kindness and goodness You have shown us. Help us to see others through Your loving eyes. Give us gratefulness today.

Amen

Changing Our Minds

 

     Our warfare is not against flesh and blood. It is a spiritual battle. We wear the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace and hold the shield of faith firmly in place. Our two offensive weapons are the word of God which is the sword of the Spirit and prayer.

     Our own minds and our thoughts can be our greatest enemy. Negative thoughts about ourselves, our circumstances and others can become habitual and self-defeating. I highly recommend a book by Joyce Meyer, called The Battlefield of the Mind if you have not read it. Again, the word of God can help us overcome our thought processes in order to believe God above all else. I used part of the following Scriptures last week, but needed them for myself again this week.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 10:4-5

     Take captive every thought? Let’s believe it. We are chosen and loved. We are here for a purpose. We can overcome the powers of darkness as we study and believe Scripture and put it into practice. Jesus used the words of God to combat the temptations of Satan. Satan knows our weaknesses and when we are most vulnerable. With every temptation, Jesus spoke God’s word out loud. It is a powerful weapon, the power to demolish the strongholds in our lives.

Dear Father in heaven,

You give us the power to overcome even our own thought processes. Help us to demolish whatever is keeping us from serving, obeying and trusting You above all else. We capture every negative thought and change them to Your will.

In Jesus name,

Amen