His Work In Us

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

     Knowing this and reading those words are completely different than living them. Luckily for us, the Holy Spirit continues to work in us, growing us in faith over time, until Jesus becomes a continual presence in our lives. The Spirit guides us in our speech, our thoughts and our actions. Allow The Spirit to fill you to the brim.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

     God is working on our hearts and souls. Listen for His voice. Dig into Scripture and take good time to pray and the image of Christ will work on you and through you. It is an amazing gift of God.

You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11

     He provides the deepest joy in this life and He promises us eternal joy in the next. Hang on and be renewed.

     If you don’t know Jesus, turn to Him and believe and be refreshed.

Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

Dear Lord,

The best place to be is in Your presence. You give joy and love to the soul. We draw near to You today to seek Your purpose, to live in Your love, to praise Your holy name.

Amen

Renewed Strength

 

     Jesus satisfies our needs, not our wants. God is not Santa Claus. He is enough for our situations today. He provides, just as He did for the Israelites, day-by-day. Seek Him for daily nourishment, just as you do for food and water.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. Psalm 42:1

     Never stray far from His word, from praising Him, from seeking Him in prayer, and He will be enough. Enough for the day. Let Him renew your strength.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall. But they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29

     When my husband suffered a mild stroke in 2009, a friend gave us the verse above. This verse gave us hope when we were scared. We held on to the promises of our God. The verse that precedes the one above, states that God does not grow tired or weary. He is there now and forever, ready to replenish those who are weary and empty. Let Him renew your strength until you are ready to fly again.

Jesus,

Please renew our strength. Be with those feeling tired and alone, fearful and discouraged, those who are mourning, those who are ill.  Lift them up once again in Your mighty strength.

Amen

 

Our Safe Place

 

     The need for safety, security and love run deep within us. Unfortunately, not everyone grows up with their essential needs being met. The lost and lonely of the world need unconditional love from our Savior. God can fill the emptiness in our souls. He can be the parent, the husband, the One of our hearts.

I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. John 14:18

     God promises to be our loving Father. He calls Himself our bridegroom. He offers protection, hope and love forevermore.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

     If you need comfort, if you are tired, if you are lonely, turn to Jesus.

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

Father,

You are good. You love us forever and ever. Ease our burdens. You love the orphan and the widow and widower, the single man and woman, the poor and needy. You love me. Your love endures forever. Offer hope and security today and help us bring others to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Times of Refreshing

 

     Times of refreshing are essential for us, for our mind, for our body and for our spirit. I don’t know about you, but there are days I feel drained. Times I am worried or sleepless, times of doubt, times with no energy. There will be moments of unanswered questions, times of grief and uncertainty.

     Let Jesus refresh your soul today with His love. He can satisfy the weariest spirit, the grieving heart, the uncertain future, the worried mind. Let Him be enough today.

“For I will satisfy the weary soul and every languishing soul, I will replenish.” Jeremiah 31:25

     Times of replenishing are necessary as we allow God to satisfy our needs. I find myself even more grateful for friends and family as I age.  Seeing high school friends, attending celebrations with family or taking a walk with my husband are treasured moments. And the grandkids? They brighten up everything with joy and laughter. Call a friend. Go for a walk. Open your heart to someone you love.

    For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.  Give recognition to such men and women. 1 Corinthians 16:18

     Share a hug. Refresh others or let them replenish you.

Father,

We are grateful for our much-needed time with our friends and family. Teach us how to refresh and rejuvenate those with weary souls around us. Fill them with Your kind of love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Relaxed and Transformed

 

     What if we try to take the week off from worry, anxiety and doubt? What would it be like to relax in confident trust? Let’s give each other a break this week from comparing our lives with others, from believing we aren’t enough, aren’t doing everything right, aren’t measuring up. In our Father’s eyes, we are seen through the image of Christ.

     How amazing is that?! He no longer views our sinful hearts or our weaknesses and failures. He sees us seated in heaven, cleansed and pure, righteous and holy. Relax in your heavenly Father’s care. He loves you so much He sent His one and only Son to die for you. What more do we need?

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

     When we take in God’s word, our minds will be transformed and refreshed.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Lord,

Keep us refreshed and confident in You this week. We look to You to keep us on track, to fill us with Your promises and love and to offer hope when we need it most.

Amen

Nothing Will Seperate Us

 

    God’s peace and strength can be counted on through the most difficult of times. We see this through the Bible over and over again. David praises God as he sits surrounded by his enemies and after the death of his son. Job reminds himself that his Redeemer lives as he suffers the loss of his loved ones, his wealth and his health. Jeremiah trusts and praises God in his loneliness and persecution. So often, they appreciate God in the creation around them.

     Let’s remember to soak in God’s love in the world around us. It was created for you and me. Stop to take in the sights and sounds surrounding you. Take in the beauty of a lake or the ocean. Smell the fresh air this spring, after a cleansing rain. Raise your face to the warmth of the sun and praise your God. Every breath of life is precious. And our Redeemer lives. Even death won’t take us out of His grasp.

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

Jesus,

Give us Your love and peace as we witness the miraculous and the mundane surrounding us. Each moment is a gift. Give us Your strength to get through the most-dire circumstances with the understanding that nothing in all creation can separate us from You. Nothing, ever.

Amen

 

Hope and a Future

 

     The writers of the Old Testament, the prophets of old and the disciples faced great persecution. Many were killed for their witness. Jeremiah was no exception to the ridicule and persecution. He was called by God at a very young age. In fact, he told God he was too young to speak. But God used him in a mighty way.

     As usual, Israel did not listen to the prophetic word. Jeremiah never gave up As was true in Job’s story, Jeremiah also continued to praise God through his own deep suffering and fear.

“He made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. When He thunders the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses.  Jeremiah 51:15-16

    Even in Israel’s disobedience, Jeremiah offers hope. He offers hope to you and me in these familiar words. Let Jesus bring hope to your heart today. His creation speaks to us from the heavens above. One day all of our hopes will be realized forever.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Lord,

Thank You for Your words of hope. The prophets speak to us over the ages of Your hope and Your wisdom, of Your understanding and Your sovereignty, of Your mighty ways beyond our comprehension. We place our future in Your hands. You, alone, know the number of our days.

In Jesus name,

Amen

My Redeemer Lives!

 

     As we marvel at God’s creation, as we stare into the endless sky or witness the vast expanse of the ocean or the majesty of a mighty oak, or the grace of the bald eagle, we come to a place of humility and reverence. How gracious and great is our God!.

How great is God-beyond our understanding! The number of His years is past finding out. He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain in the streams. The clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how He spreads out the clouds, how He thunders from His pavilion? See how He scatters His lightning around Him bathing the depths of the sea. Job 36:26-30

     Job speaks of the wonders of God even as he suffered as much or more than anyone. He lost his wealth, his home, his children and his health. His friends offered no help, other than to ask what he had done to deserve it all. Job never lost faith in his God. He understood the magnitude of this mighty God that rose above and beyond all of earth’s suffering. You can hear the agony in Job’s words in Job 19 as he scolds his friends and lists all he has suffered. And yet He trusts. At the end of his long list of trials, He praises.

I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes-I and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27

Lord,

As we witness Your majesty in the skies, the seas the timing of the seasons and all of Your creation, we are reminded of Your eternal ways. Help us to rise above our suffering and trust the Almighty God of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our hearts yearn, along with Job, to see You. Our redeemer lives!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Let There Be Light

 

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.  God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth to govern the day and the night and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:14-18

     God set them in the vault of the sky. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? We set the table. God sets the moon, the sun and the stars in the sky. Did you know the Bible called the earth a sphere long before man confirmed its roundness? (Isaiah 40:22) The Bible also tells us that the earth hangs in the sky. (Job 26:7) Amazing! As science, history and archeology continue to unearth their findings, the Bible stands true.

     And God saw that it was good as He set the moon and the sun and the stars to govern our seasons, our days and our nights. The eclipse last week was breathtaking. A full moon, high-beamed spotlight shining for all to see, a sunrise or sunset over a body of water, the constellations in the night sky. All of these wonders created for us. I am grateful. How about you?

     Our miraculous God not only numbers the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7) He also numbers and names the stars, the infinite number of stars. (Psalm 147:4) Our eternal, infinite, miracle-working, Creator God deserves our unending praise.

Father,

How wondrous are Your ways! We sit in awe and reverence of You and all You give us. Remind us to witness Your glory today as we watch the day turn to night, as we gaze at the stars You have named and numbered, as we sit on the globe hanging in the sky.

In Jesus name,

Amen

It Was Very Good

 

     God spoke and created the heavens and the earth. There is no way for the human mind to comprehend it. Imagine the stripe of the zebra, the pug nose of the koala, the majestic lion, the fragile butterfly, the calls and colors of a variety of birds, the colorful array of flowers from the 8-foot sunflower to the delicate crocus, the scent of the rose, or the fragrance of fresh mint or ginger. The creation surrounding us boggles the mind.

     God spoke it into being through His word. And the word is Jesus.

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

     He breathed life into the first man created from dust, the woman from his rib. Notice creation around you today and take it in. Breathe it in. Appreciate all God gave us to enjoy, from relationships to the morning sunrise and the evening sunset, day after day, month after month, season after season; The earth is the perfect distance from the sun rotating faithfully for our pleasure.

     Looking for a miracle? Get a little closer to creation. Hug a friend. Notice the bird’s song. Soak it in. Take in a little vitamin D on your lunch break. Look up at the stars. The list is endless. He made it for you and me. And it brought Him pleasure.

God saw all that He had made and it was very good. And there was morning and there was evening-the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

How many are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. Psalm 104:24-25

Lord,

We praise You for the creation around us. We thank You for our food, for the seasons, for the glorious lights in the sky, for the animals surrounding us with all of their wonder, for the birds and the flowers and for the ability to love. Remind us to praise You in appreciation for all we have around us each day. Most of all, thank You for Jesus.

Amen

No More Night

 

     As we focus on light and love this week, remember when this life is through, we will live in the full, undimmed light of Christ. Did you know He is the lamp of heaven? There will be no more night, no more darkness, only glorious light.

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more. The Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of sorrow will end.  Isaiah 60:19-20

     No more sun, no more moon, God will be our everlasting light and Jesus?

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is the lamp. Revelation 21:23

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp, or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5

     One day, the light will shine forever and ever. No more night. No more tears. Our sorrow will end. The glory of the Lord will be our light and the Lamb, the lamp. Amen

Light of Life

 

     Jesus is the light of life. I love that term, “light of life.” Darkness appears to reign all around us, doesn’t it? Darkness is equated to evil in the Bible, but our God offers the light of life. And light always exposes darkness. Light has the power of God, and Jesus is the light.

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

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

     Let’s overcome darkness with light. We follow Him and we walk in the light. Remember that today. Turn on the light within your soul and allow Christ to shine through wherever you go.

Jesus,

You are the light of life and the darkness has no power to overcome it. You are in all and through all and all things were made for You. Give us the light of life on this day.

Amen

 

Perpetual Light

 

     As believers in Jesus, we have perpetual access to light. In fact, we are called to shine the light of Christ. When Jesus walked on the earth, He was the light.  Jesus said:

“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

And, He reminds us, we just need to believe!

“Believe in the light while you have the light, so you may become children of light” John 12;36a

     The light of God belongs to us. And we are to shine!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

     Children of the light. That’s us! When you see the darkness that surrounds us in this crazy world, stand out like the stars in the sky.

So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. Philippians 2:15

     The light that shines through us is for one purpose only. To glorify our Father in heaven, to represent Him, to share Jesus. Shine!

Lord,

This generation needs You. Allow Your light to shine through us so that we may shine like stars glorifying our Father in heaven.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Radical Love

 

     Jesus asks us to love in a radically different way than we would naturally, without Him and His Holy spirit. Without them, we are filled with anger, with pride, with unforgiveness, with competitiveness, with an attitude that we are better than others.

     Christ, through His example, through His living Word, through prayer, through His Spirit, gives us the ability to grow in spiritual wisdom, to grow in love, even to the point of loving our enemies. What? I can’t do that, can you?

     With His help, we can. Listen to the very words of Christ, giving us advice on what to do with our enemies.

But love your enemies. Do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35

     But, did you see what he did? Did you hear what she said? He drives me crazy! I can’t stand her!

     We feel and say and question. How? With Christ. He was kind to us. He saved us when we lived so far apart from God. He is humble and kind and generous and compassionate. Let’s try. We represent Him. What do others see in you that represents Jesus? Let it be love.

     As we struggle with all of this, remember. God is the one to hand out justice. He is the one who sees the heart and He is the one who will seek vengeance one day for His children. As we do good, even to our enemies, He will work it all out.

On the contrary, when your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Romans 12:20

     Now, that’s more like it! God will take care of evil, in its time. For now, we are to reach out to everyone in the name of Jesus and His love.

Lord,

You understand our emotions, our minds and our sinful hearts. We want to be more like You, but some days it seems to be impossible! When we love our enemies, you will handle the rest. We love You and we want to love like You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Love and Light

 

     April showers bring May flowers. The much-needed rain is tapping on the windows of our office this early morning. I love rainy days, although it means missing out on the eclipse this afternoon. Even on the cloudiest of days, we always have the love and light of the Son.

     Stop for a minute. Take a deep breath and fill your heart with the love of Christ. Feeling lonely or unworthy? You are a beloved child of the King. The Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives within you as a believer.

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

     As His beloved family, we are alive spiritually. Those without the Spirit are like the walking dead, trying to find life in the world around them. Live as children of the light. Live in the confidence of the risen Christ. Live as one spiritually alive with the power of the Holy Spirit within. See others with the love and spiritual eyes of Christ and give them His love.

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

Jesus,

Remind us of the power we have available to us because of Your great love. Your Father has filled us with the very Spirit that raised You from the dead! We are alive in You. Show us Your ways and Your thoughts that are above the ways of the world.

Amen

The Living Word

 

     Exhausted? Feeling like it’s tough to go on? Remember the fishermen had been up all night with nothing to show for it when Jesus told them to go out and try once more. Floundering with nothing to hang on to? Peter lost his focus and began to sink when Jesus reached out His mighty hand to lift him up. The woman at the well didn’t realize how thirsty she was for the life-quenching, soul-satisfying love of a Savior.

     Jesus will be with you wherever you are, every day, each minute, forevermore. He may answer our prayers immediately. Most often, He walks us through the grief, pain and fear. And sometimes He takes us right up to the throne room of heaven for eternity. Whatever the circumstances, He is there.

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

     Savor and meditate on the living words of our God. Scripture will give you answers. The living water and bread of Jesus is available. A Scripture you have read over and over again may open up in a new way. A word you have never seen will suddenly appear just for you, at the moment you need it most.

For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

     God-breathed and alive. The Bible was written just for us through the Holy Spirit of our God. Take a deep breath and nourish your soul, and you will be thoroughly equipped to take on the deep waters of this life.

Father,

Thank You for the words that lead to eternal life. Keep us fed until we overflow with the abundant life you offer. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus who will lead us home.

Amen

 

Rushing Waters

 

     Within the poetry of the Psalms, David takes us with him on the emotional ride of life. He moves from praise to anguish, fear to self-doubt and confession. As the Israelites are flee from Jerusalem, he is hungry and thirsty for God. Our fear moves us from faith into the “what ifs” and “why me” questions that surround us. Listen to his words in Psalm 42.

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?  Psalm 42:1-2

     Have you longed to meet with God and He just seems too far away? I know I have felt that way many times. David is feeling swept away in fear. His voice echoes ours as we finally meet with God and once again, feel His overwhelming love.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalm 42:7

     God’s voice in the Bible is described as rushing water, the sound of a waterfall. (Ezekial 43, Revelation 1). David calls out in his deep distress to the depths of God until he is swept away. Feel God’s mighty presence. He wants to fill our lives with abundance and hope.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)

     The amplified Bible goes even further. Jesus offers us an abundant life filled until overflowing.

     The deep waters can overtake us, but Jesus meets us right there. Allow Him to save you again from wherever you find yourself today. Hear His words to you. He is with you now and forever.

Lord,

We call out from the deep. Overwhelm us with Your love until we are filled to the brim and have enough to give away.

Amen

Living Water

 

     Are you thirsty? Dry and parched? We feel a deep thirst after a daily jog or workout or after a long-night’s sleep. Is your soul thirsty and begging for more? The abundant love and peace of God can fade into the background of our busy days, as the urgent takes precedence over the more important. Work, computers, drive time and social gatherings leave us little time for drinking the living water to fill our emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

     The Samaritan woman met Jesus at the well during the hottest part of the day. Little did she know she was looking at the Savior of her dry and parched soul.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  John 4:13-14

     Soul-thirsty answers, life-quenching truth, free-flowing living water, are available for the taking. Are you thirsty? How do we receive this unending spring of water reaching to eternity?

“Whoever believes in Me as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

     The gift is offered and we believe. Our tear-stained questions, our pits of shame, our deep longings are refreshed and satisfied with the living bread and water of Christ. Ready to dip in and take a sip? The living water will well up within us and allow us to refresh others, even to eternity.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall lead them, and shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  Revelation 7:17

Jesus,

Walk us beside the still, cool waters of Your saving grace. Fill us to the brim with the living water of Your word. Refresh our souls. We come to the well today.

Amen

Jump In!

 

     The disciples were ordinary folks just like us. Their personalities were varied, like ours. Peter was impetuous and spontaneous, often acting and speaking before thinking. Did you know he took a leap of faith and jumped right out of the boat when he saw Jesus walking on the water? Peter spotted Jesus and asked Him to let him come to Him on the water. How did Jesus respond?

“Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:29

     When Peter heard the command of Jesus, he obeyed immediately with no hesitation and the power of Christ was with him. What happens next, is a lesson to all of us, as we jump in to obey the calling of Christ.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30

     When we find ourselves in situations of fear and doubt and questions, we long to remain fixed on Jesus, keeping our minds and hearts focused in trust and faith. Often, we take our eyes off of Him and feel ourselves sinking. What does Jesus say to us?

Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him “You of little faith,” he said. “Why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Matthew 14;31-32

     When Peter began to flounder and sink in fear, did Jesus leave him? No, immediately Jesus reached out His hand to save him. When you are heading to the deep waters of fear and doubt, cry out to your Savior for help. His hand is reaching out to you, to comfort, to bring peace, to find hope and a new beginning. Wait for Him to calm the storm. When He says, “Come” jump out of the boat and follow.

Lord,

Thank You for the reminders today. We turn our eyes away sometimes when life gets too hard. You are always there with a steady hand to calm us and to reach down and save us again.

Amen

Deep Waters

 

     The fishermen were exhausted. They had been out all night and hadn’t caught a thing. They tiredly cleaned their nets in the early morning hours. Are you overwhelmed with exhaustion? Have you tried everything and nothing works? Surprisingly, Jesus gets into one of the empty boats and tells them to go back out.

“Put out into deep water and  let down the nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4b

     How would we respond? “I’m too tired.”  “I can’t.”  “I have given it my best and nothing worked.” Here is Simon Peter’s response. It sounds familiar, but we might want to pay attention to the last phrase.

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught a thing, but because You say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5

     Have you been swimming in the shallow end of faith? When the answers are not immediate or your prayers are not answered in the way you expected, do you give up? Jesus challenges us to dive in a little deeper, to tread for awhile in the living word of God, until eternity is etched in our hearts and Jesus is the answer to everything.

After they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5;6

     Jesus is the answer to the loneliness, the emptiness, the hole in the net of our hearts. He can fill and re-fill our souls until they overflow. Let’s head to the deep water and fill our nets. The abundant life is there for the taking.

Jesus,

Take away our fear of diving into the deep water of faith to trust and obey You. You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68) Let our defeated attitudes change to live the abundant life with You.

Amen

Happy Easter!

 

     This weekend, in addition to the Easter bunny and candy eggs, sit back in wonder and celebrate the good news of the empty tomb. Jesus offers the greatest gift ever given and all He asks is that we believe. All other religions take hard work, duty-filled prayer, endless obligations, finding a place of bliss through our own struggle, or believing we come back to life again and again before we get it right. I think it’s an impossible dream to believe we can work our way to God.

     God needed to come to us and He did, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived among us, suffered our sins on a cross, overcame hell and death and rose again. Believe and be saved. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

He is not here. He has risen just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Matthew 28:6

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Come and see the risen Lord.

Hallelujah! Happy Easter!

 

The Tomb Is Empty!

 

     After darkness covered the globe as Jesus died, there came a day. A Sunday of hope. A Sunday following a dark and sorrowful Friday, a day above all others. The tomb is empty! He is not there. The first to see the empty tomb were the women, His followers. They loved Him so.

     Mary Magdalene was the very first person to see Jesus alive!

When Jesus rose early, on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had delivered seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him and who were mourning and weeping.  Mark 16:9-10

     Women in the days of Jesus were looked at as less-than, second-class citizens in every way. Men were not even allowed to speak with them in public> Jesus, however, looked upon them with favor. He picks Mary, this woman previously filled with demons, to be the first witness and missionary after His resurrection. He loves each one of us equally, each one of us uniquely, each one of us to be used for His purposes. Go tell. The tomb is empty. He lives!

Jesus,

Thank You for the witnesses who began the testimonies of Your love. So many witnesses saw You after You rose from the dead. And we see You today. Give us the wisdom to share the truth with others. You are alive! And we can live forever, too.

Amen

It Is Finished!

 

     The words of Jesus on the cross give us so much insight We see His heart, His love, and His ability, even then, to see the resurrected hope to come.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals-one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 23:33-34a

     One of the criminals mocked Jesus, the other one believed. That’s all. He just believed. And Jesus said to him and He says to us as we breathe our last:

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23;43

     And after all of the agonizing hours on the cross, as He suffered all of our sins on Himself:

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit. John 19:30

     Even then, on that horrible cross, He wants to forgive, He wants to promise heaven, He wants to offer hope. He saw you and He saw me. The Holy Spirit of the One and Only Son offers Himself as the final sacrifice. The Lamb of God, the One with the words of eternal life has overcome death and we are forgiven. If it finished. Amen

He Understands

 

     Jesus understands our sorrow and suffering. His emotions match ours in intensity, in dread and grief, and finally, in obedience. As He moves away from everyone into the Garden of Gethsemane, He is in anguish. Listen to His words and feel the pain.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me, yet not My will but Yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.  And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:42-44

     In suffering, we too, pray more earnestly. We beg. We cry. We moan. We ask God to remove the depth of sorrow. Jesus and His angels are right by our side, coming to our rescue. Find hope in Him and no one else. Jesus, in His anguish, knows what He has to do and He will do it. He did it for you and for me.

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

Lord,

You know where we are right now, this very minute. Comfort our hearts and minds as we give it all to You. Grant us hope and peace throughout our lives until we are by Your side.

Amen

 

The Passover Lamb

 

     Holy week is here. Walking with Jesus as He willingly makes His way to the cross reminds us of His human agony, His overwhelming suffering, His love for us and His divinity. He overcame death. He fulfilled the law and offers grace. Everything in the Old Testament points to and foreshadows the Redeemer, Jesus. As we begin to understand the richness, the depth, the complexities of the Word of God, we can get a glimpse of His majesty, His timing and His ability to be personally involved in each of our lives.

     As Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem preparing for His death the following Friday, His timing is perfect. The Passover celebration was upon Jerusalem. The sacrificial lambs were being led into town, just as the Lamb of God is entering. Each lamb brought in to be sacrificed for sin was to be scrutinized and found to be without blemish, just as Jesus was scrutinized by the leaders of the day. They found no fault in Him.

     The Passover supper He shared with His disciples included the wine which represented His blood and the unleavened bread to represent His broken body. How beautiful! How astounding! How miraculous! Yeast always signified sin in the Bible. Unleavened bread means bread with no yeast, or the one Holy man with no sin.

      John the Baptist recognized Jesus when He first began His ministry three years earlier.

The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ”Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1;29

     Let us behold Him this week as we prepare for the Holiest of weeks.

Father in heaven,

Keep us mindful of all that Jesus has done and what He will do at His return. We marvel at the timing, the miraculous ways prophecy has and will be fulfilled and that Your Son, the One with no sin, lived with us, died for us and conquered death to save us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Do Not Lose Heart

 

     I had, what I am convincing myself was a “funny” moment this week reminding me of my age. Our daughter, granddaughter and I had an outing with the Easter bunny and as we were leaving the mall, Brooklyn wanted to sit on a bench. As we sat, an elderly couple walked by very slowly. I am guessing they were in their mid- eighties or nineties in age. The woman was frail, bent over and walking with a cane. Brooklyn looked at them and shouted, “Nana!”

     Now, that was a wake-up call! This month we have four memorial services and another in April, another reminder of the smaller number of days ahead, than behind. We baby boomers have been through much, including saying our earthly goodbyes to family and friends.

     But we do not lose heart. Jesus knows the number of our days. Some will live long lives. Many will not. Those who know me, know the following are my life verses. I share them often, and once again, they fit.

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are growing day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

     Live for each moment. Savor every blessing. Be reminded of the sweet memories and make more. Wondering what God’s will is for your life? The Bible answers us with words to embrace.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

     Thankful, prayerful, joy-filled lives. I can get into that, even at this advanced age.

Father,

Thank You for these little ones in our lives that speak their minds. Thank You for the reminders to keep going and not to lose heart, to focus on the unseen and to be thankful, joyful, and prayerful.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Grace Through Suffering

 

     There is something beautiful in Christianity that comes through suffering. As a leader of one-on-one crisis ministry for many years, I came to discover that most the the men and women putting in the time to train and minister to others had suffered through some difficult times of their own.

     God does that. He loves us through and leads us out of our times of deep loss, our most difficult trials, our times of losing hope. He sees us through.

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

     Often, Jesus works in our hearts even before we know Him through our suffering. This is certainly true of me. After being diagnosed with an eye disease and losing my mom the day after my wedding, I cried out to a God I did not know.

     From that moment on, He has been leading me through each day, sometimes in ways I could never have imagined. The beautiful pattern of my life is filled with tears, with loss and with blessing after blessing. I have witnessed the truth of how God works time and time again

     Every single one of the many men and women I trained to become Stephen ministers had suffered and had been brought closer to Jesus. And they wanted to share. They were passionate about it and went through 50 hours of in-depth training to confidentially meet with others in crisis.

     God plays it forward through us. He uses our gifts to bless others in ways that are beautiful and profound. How will He use you? Let His comfort wash over you as you reach out to others.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Dear Father of all comfort and compassion,

We praise You for Jesus and for the ways He uses us through all we have received. Show us how.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Jesus Never Gives Up

 

     The seeds of our faith grow over time. We build trust in Jesus. He upholds us through the difficult times in our lives, comforts us, rejoices with us, gives us strength when we don’t know how to take another step, and encourages us with hope. We witness the hope and belief of other brothers and sisters, using their example when we need to make use of their experience. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes a life time.

     Never will we reach perfection, but God’s work will continue, never giving up. The instant gratification of this era may take a step back once it meets Jesus. He is in no hurry. He will watch us fumble, fret and fall down time and time again.

     His patience never wears thin. His love and His faithfulness never end.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

     He never grows weary. And because of that, we continue to grow in our faith. And we are blessed. His mercies and grace are everlasting.

But You, O’ Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth. Psalm 86:15

     God will never lets us go. He wants all of us to come to an understanding of Jesus.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting for any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Lord,

There are days we don’t understand. There are times we don’t feel Your presence. But You remain faithful, kind and patient with us, never giving up and You continue to love us no matter what. Thank You for sticking with us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

"Do You Believe This?"

 

     Once we ask Jesus into our lives, the journey begins. At this “older” age of mine, God has given me the privilege of witnessing a wide variety of believers, those He calls His children. The brothers and sisters in our amazing faith, each one of us, is just as unique and valuable as another.

     Some have met Jesus as children and have been by His side for their entire lives, never doubting, always trusting. I have envied those that have had such an intimate relationship over their entire life. But Jesus does not want us to compare, compete and contrast our lives with others.

     Remember, His timing is perfect. He knows us so well and knows when each of us will be ready to meet Him and accept His wonderful gift. He plants seeds over a lifetime, through other believers, through television or radio, through “coincidences,” through our consciences, through His love.

     Those seeds begin to grow in us in miraculous ways. One day, we realize we need Him. We want to meet Him and never live another day without Him. And His mighty work begins. Has He been searching for You? Are you beginning to believe in His existence?

     Jesus may overwhelm us in an instant. He may find us in childhood. It may take some of us until we lie on our death bed to understand. What is your story? Never give up on a loved one or an acquaintance. God is ready and willing to step in and to meet us where we are. He hears our prayers. Jesus’ friends, Mary and Martha spent time with Him and He knew they were ready.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son od God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:25-27

     Are you ready? Jesus is. Maybe you have heard about Him from others. He is the Savior. He is the One. He will come into your heart and save you. Do you believe this?

Jesus,

Thank You for understanding us, for meeting each one of us in such a variety of ways. You see us and know when we will be ready. We pray for those who do not yet know You, that they may believe that You are the one to save us.

Amen

 

Instant Gratification

 

     Things have changed over the years. As our culture continues to move swiftly along, our needs and wants are seemingly met in a split second. We have microwaves, fast-food restaurants, groceries delivered to our cars, and immediate connections with friends and family through texts and social media, ready at a minute’s notice within easy reach. Whew! It is hard to keep up. The changes we have witnessed as the baby boom generation are astronomical and sometimes puzzling.

     Jesus does offer instant gratification, too. When we believe He exists, when we place our trust in Him as Savior, when we ask for forgiveness, and ask Him into our lives, there is an instant transformation. Oh, we may not feel it at the time, but the transformation is very real.

     In that moment of time, we are instantly given Christ’s righteousness. We are instantly guaranteed an eternal home. We are instantly forgiven, now and forevermore. Jesus promises us a new life, a changed life, a life lived with Him. He is ours now and forever. Talk about instant gratification!

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

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. John 5:13

For it is by faith you have been saved through grace, and this is not from yourselves. It is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8

     There is nothing we can do to earn this instantaneous gift. It is a gift from God. It is an immediate, life-changing, faith-inspired, sacrificial gift. Put aside the cultural amenities we now believe we need. Forget about our worldly needs and desires. This is the most important decision of our lives. This is Jesus.

Lord,

You change us in just a minute of belief. Change hearts to see what You offer us. You give us eternity. You give us hope. You change our darkness into light. You transform and enlighten.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

God Delights in You!

 

     In the book of Proverbs, Solomon regales us with much advice and wisdom. He is writing to his son and includes proverbial advice on anything from discipline, to honoring our parents, to following God’s commands, to avoiding wild women, to staying away from anger and folly. Here are two Proverbs my husband finds funny.

A quarrelsome wife is like a leaky roof in a rainstorm. Proverbs 27:15

Better to live on the corner of a roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 25:24

     It’s good to laugh. God’s mighty laugh is not the type to split our sides. It splits the universe as He gets ready to set things right.

But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that His day is coming. Psalm 37:13

     While we wait for heaven and the new earth, remember, even when we give up on God, as Abraham and Sarah did, He does not give up on us. When life feels meaningless and we are searching, as Solomon did, the true meaning of life is found in Jesus. Understand that God delights in you and me.

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. Zephaniah3:17

     Delight yourself in the Lord today and keep laughing.

Lord,

You are in charge and You will be victorious. Show us how to laugh at the enemies of our souls. Our faith is in You and Your power and might. May we continue to delight You as You give us great joy.

In Jesus name,

Amen