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

 

Don't Give Up

 

     Don’t give up on God. Sarah and Abraham had given up on God’s promise to give them a child. They were growing older. Sarah finally asks Abraham to lay with her maidservant. Not a great plan. This pregnancy led to jealousy and ultimately to warfare between the descendants of Ishmael and Israel even to this day.

     God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah, as He always does. It came just a bit late in life.

Abraham fell facedown. He laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at 90? Genesis 17:17

     Yes, God delivered on His promise and gave them a son, Isaac, is born.

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6

     Such surprising joy! The promises and miracles of God often come at unexpected times.  And the joy of Christ is with us always. The joy of our salvation (Psalm 51) remains deeply in us into eternity. The joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8)

     Jesus saw joy set before Him on His way to the cross. The joy set before Him included you and me. Imagine that! Fix your eyes on Him and feel His joy.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

     Scorned its shame. You can hear the mighty laughter of God. He defeated death for us on that cross.  Find deep joy today.

Father,

We thank You for Jesus, for teaching us how to live by faith with deep understanding and joy. Keep us steadfast. Give us laughter and lessons and hope.

In Jesus name,

Amen

"Eat! Nummy! Yay!"

 

     Today, we look to the man considered to be the wisest in the world, King Solomon. Just as valuable, in my opinion,, we look to our one-year-old granddaughter, Brooklyn. She has so much to share.  

    In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon is perplexed. He is getting older and he finds life meaningless. He is searching. Solomon has been given everything the world sees as valuable. Riches, power, respect and the wisdom of God. Yet, nothing satisfies. He looks for “anything new under the sun,” calls life “vanity,” and reminds us our lives are short, “a vapor,” here today and gone tomorrow. What a downer from the wisest man on earth.

     As he comes to the end of his searching in this book, he realizes it is all about God and following Him. Amen to that, but before his final conclusion, he gives us these instructions.

“So, I commanded the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink and be merry Their joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of their lives God has given them under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:15

     Brooklyn agrees with this advice. When she is hungry, she pats her tummy and says, “Eat! Nummy!”  We can usually distract her until lunch time, but as soon we say it is time to eat, she makes a run for her high chair yelling,

“Eat! Nummy! Yay!”  As she stands by her high chair, she often does a little dance. Ah, the joys of being a toddler. Today, enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Eat, drink and be merry with those you love.

Eat, drink and be merry. I can go for that and as Brooklyn would say, “Eat! Nummy! Yay!”

Father,

Thank You for the simple joys in life. Help us not to take one second for granted. We give you thanks for the children in our lives. They remind us how to find true joy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Cheerful Hearts and Laughter

 

     It has been a heavy couple of months for so many in our lives. A high school buddy reminded me last week how important it is to keep laughter in our lives. He lost his life-time love not long ago after decades of marriage. He still manages to cheer us up with jokes and humor. What does the Bible tell us about laughter and joy?

     Ancient Scripture has proven true over the ages in science, medicine, history and prophecy. Modern science concurs with one such truth in the benefit of laughter in our lives, physically, mentally and spiritually. Doctors now believe laughter helps lower blood pressure and stress.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13

The days of the despondent are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4

     Laughter is good medicine. A positive outlook brings a continual feast of joy. We have all mourned and cried through times of loss and grief. We have all laughed and danced. May this week bring you some deep joy and laughter, no matter where you are on the journey.

Lord,

Give us cheerful hearts that find joy in You. Give us some laughter today to brighten our spirits. Fill our hearts with a continual feast that comes directly from You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Forever and Ever Amen!

 

     As we crawl, walk, run, and stumble throughout our earthly lives, we need God through the days, through the seasons, through the sleepless nights, often relying on His grace minute by minute. He is there, always. Getting through the days without Him would be impossible for me, even more and more as I age. His promises hold true, time and time again.

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

     Listen for His voice as He goes before you. Do not be discouraged and do not be afraid. He is watching over you now, tonight, tomorrow and forever.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

     He is preparing a place for you. He knows the number of our days. He has overcome death for us! Take heart and believe in Him and His promises.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming back and will take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

     Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, night by night, year by year, decade by decade, season after season, closer and closer to home. He is preparing the perfect place for you and for me What a reunion that will be!.

Father,

We wait with expectation for Your imminent return. There are days we long to be with You. Keep us steadfast, patient and working until we see you face-to-face. Keep us mindful of our everyday blessings on earth. Soon we will be with You forever and ever.

Amen

 

 

Into Old Age

 

     At a block party years ago, a young boy about 5, looked at an elderly neighbor and said, “You got old, didn’t you?”  She took the words well and smiled at him and said, “Well, yes, I sure did!”

     Not everyone will reach a ripe, old age. We all dream of living a healthy life into our 90’s and dying in our sleep. It doesn’t usually happen that way. For those of us who will reach old age as believers, God will continue to watch over us. He even loves our gray hair.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16”31

     A crown of splendor. Isn’t that great? I recently allowed my hair to go gray.  I need this verse. If we are blessed enough to live into old age, God promises to take care of us.

Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

     How do we remain strong and bear good fruit into old age? I believe the following verses will give us instruction and promise.

But whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on the law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1;2-3

     Staying strong, bearing fruit in the last season of life comes from delighting ourselves in the word of God. His instructions are life-giving with streams of living water to quench our thirst, to give us renewed strength, to keep giving glory to God. May many of us be blessed with old age. He is in charge of our beginnings and our end on earth into eternity.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

Lord,

We praise You for the older men and women of faith, planted like living trees among us, teaching us great wisdom in following You. Keep us firmly rooted in the vine of life. It is Jesus, minute by minute, day by day, season by season.

Amen

Season by Season

 

     You may be in a difficult season of life. It seems impossible to embrace some of the seasons we are forced to enter and endure. The dive down can be excruciating and we hold our breath wondering if we will ever reach the surface again. God sees right where you are. 

     There may be others surrounding you right now, holding you up. Somehow, He will use this time of suffering, this season of loss, of fear, of loneliness. Often, He uses our tough times to give us experience to help others. It is His way.

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

     There is hope ahead, in the season to come, a new song in spring, a warm summer sun, the beauty and color of fall, the sparkle of winter snow. Each season brings wisdom, love and light when we wait upon the Lord. If this season is a rough one, hang on. He will use this for His glory. If it is a season of joy, embrace it and share it with others. If it is a season of waiting, be patient. God’s timing is absolutely perfect.

Father,

Comfort those who suffer and teach us how to use our times of trouble to comfort others. You teach us through the storms of life and You fill us with the light of hope in the deepest darkness. We rejoice in Your presence no matter the season.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Minute By Minute

 

     Some close friends and family are going through a difficult time. Waiting for a diagnosis, praying for a cure, wondering how to take the next step. Grieving a loss. My prayer list is filled with those in crisis. Our minds take us to places we don’t need to go. God’s grace holds us close. He offers minute-by-minute support and, sometimes, that’s what we need to hang on to for dear life. The next minute.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

     Resting in Christ’s power is a good place to land when we don’t know or understand. When moving on appears to be impossible. His grace is sufficient for this moment in time. And His arms surround us when we are powerless and afraid to move. His shadow covers us.

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

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

Dear Lord,

Wrap your arms around our friends and others during difficult times and moment by moment You will meet their needs. I pray they will feel Your grace, Your love, Your protection as they move through this time. You are sufficient for the day.

Amen

Morning Noon and Night

 

     Is God your last resort? If all else fails, you cry out to Him? You think, why not just try God? Nothing else works. Or is He your first stop on any given day? It can become a wonderful habit to lean on Him, beginning the day in worship and prayer, giving Him all that is on our hearts and minds. He cares about all of the details of our lives.

     Pray as you move through the day. Pray for a friend on your mind. Pray for patience with the co-worker. Pray for the rain to hold off for a picnic coming up. Pray for God to lead you to the right job, to the right spouse, to a healthier diet, to make good choices, to please Him. Pray for comfort, for strength, for grace to meet the next hour.

     Pray before you sleep, asking for protection, for yourself, for your family, for your friends. Thank Him for the past day, and for the one to come. And most of all, thank Him for being your Lord and Savior. He is there listening to your continual prayers.

Pray continually. 2 Thessalonians 5:17

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

In the night, Lord, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law. Psalm 119:55

     Pray with expectation. He will answer.

Lord,

We come to You morning, noon and night with our requests, with our fears, with our needs, with our praise. You are there every time, and we thank You. We look to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Ever-increasing Glory

 

     Beauty in suffering. Goodness from God before, during and following our times of need. The examples of women and men of faith are inspiring. Our struggles tell our stories. Our testimonies reverberate and lift up. Yes, Jesus is the answer. Yes, Jesus has changed my life. Yes, the joy and peace I hold deep within my soul are from Him and Him alone. Yes, He is the beginning and the end. Yes, He is alive and yes, He is my Savior.

     A faith we can trust through all of this life. A living redeemer who died for us. The one and only Son of God. It is all about Him, through the joys of this life and through the tragedies. It is all to bring glory to Him and that glory can radiate through us even now. He continues to change us into His image! Imagine that.

And, we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image, with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

     Hope in Him. Allow His glory to increase as you receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance and as you follow His ways. Miraculous…beautiful…filled with hope.

Jesus,

You are the final answer, the living hope that fills our hearts. In the midst of our lives, You are there, always there, never forsaking, never abandoning, never leaving our sides. We count on You.

Amen