Go!

 

    As I turn 69 today, my greatest desire for our amazing grandchildren is for them to know and love Jesus at an early age. Jesus offers great protection and courage in a world that can feel uncertain and unkind. I am more than grateful that our daughters and our sons-in-law are believers.

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

     This is also my greatest desire for all of our friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Opportunities to share our faith are important and I pray we will be willing and able to share the Gospel with those in our path. Can you imagine the thought of being a part of guiding someone into heaven? What a privilege. What an honor! To think God uses us to shine with His glory.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

     Therefore, go! Pray for people. Pray for opportunities. Pray to share the great love and hope of our Savior. Take your beautiful feet and go!

How, then, can they call on the one they do not believe in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

Go!

Jesus,

Give us boldness. Give us the words. Give us the people. We are willing to go. Send us.

Amen

 

Stillness

 

     The experts are beginning to study the ramifications of technology on our youth and on society in general. Our brains do not mature and function in a normal manner, when various images, words and thoughts fly in and out every couple of seconds. We lose the ability to be still, to contemplate, to relax completely and to concentrate on one thing fully.

     Slow down. Settle in. Be still. Creativity flows in the stillness. Our kids may be losing the ability to think for themselves, to sit and have a long conversation with a friend, to play outside and use their imaginations, without looking at their phones every few seconds. I am often caught off-guard by someone with a headset talking on the phone while out in nature. Or the view of a young mom out to lunch with her kids, yet paying more attention to the device in her hand.

     Yes, I am of the older generation, but I worry about the overuse and misuse of technology. Take some time. Be still. Of course, it is easier to be still when you're my age.  It's tougher to get up! Be completely present with your loved ones.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a

     Getting to know God takes time. Time to pray, time to study, time to be. Time with God is never wasted. He teaches the important and valuable things in life. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5) come from a deep relationship with Jesus. Do you know Him? He shines light in the dark places. He gives rest to the soul. Take the time. Know God.

Lord,

We pray for times of stillness, times to read Your Word, to pray, to take in the love You have for us, to enjoy Your creation. Teach us Your ways and take hold of this younger generation again. Give them a hunger for You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Peace

 

     What causes fear to rise up within you? When you feel displeasure from another? Fear from a news event or a diagnosis? Fear and worry over a loved one? The world is full of fear, as we yearn for peace.

     The only true peace is the peace within our souls. It returns to us again and again as He fills us with His peace through difficult times and times of overwhelming fear.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petitions with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

     I passed along the anxiety gene to our oldest daughter. The above are our go-to verses reminding us of what we have and the One to whom we go. We can unload it all to Him and He will bring us back to peace. The devil roams around waiting to pounce. He knows the weaknesses in our minds and hearts. Don’t allow him control. Be anxious for nothing. Trust in God. Trust in Jesus.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

     The abundant life away from fear awaits. Thank Him in advance for removing your fear. I pray for you to find peace today.

Jesus,

We need You and we yearn for Your peace. When we are out of sorts, bring us back to You. You take our burdens and bring balance and peace. We look to you.

Amen

Praise

 

     We can continue to praise our God through the difficult days. He is higher and more glorious than anything on this earth. When you are in difficult times, focus on Him. When you don’t know what to pray, praise Him anyway. David taught us to do just that. He would cry out to God with all of his emotion and all of his tears and he would continually return to trust and praise. Here is just one example.

Why my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5

     Praise does not come easily when we suffer. But praise can lift us out of the depths as we look to heaven for answers. He is above it all.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Father,

You endure forever and we are Yours. We do not understand everything, but You do. We praise You today for Your ways and for Your thoughts. Shower us with love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trust

 

     Placing our full trust in Jesus with everything in our lives is easier when things are going along the way we expect. We make our plans and when the plans change, when a disruption occurs, a dream is lost or a worry creeps in, we often lose our way.

     Emotions rule the day. Where has faith gone? How can we trust God? I long to trust and have faith each and every minute of each and every day. I’m not there yet, but I do turn back to Him again and again through the uncertain times, placing everything in His almighty hands once again.

     He wants good for us. And sometimes the good comes through and after the bad. Our trust builds as He sees us through yet another trying time. We live in a fallen world. Sin entered the world and we deal with the repercussions all day, every day.

     One thing I know and our daughter, Angela, reminds us, “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.” Our amazing God has all of the working pieces of each life, of each creature, of the number of days left for the earth to revolve.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. Psalm 56:3

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8

Lord Jesus,

We can place the uncertainties in our lives in Your almighty hands. You understand our human nature and the fear that creeps in. Take away our fear as we look only to You.

Amen

 

Prayer

 

     A prayer begins our relationship with Jesus as Savior. It is a necessary part of life to keep our relationship with Him growing and active. Prayer changes circumstances, heals hearts, intercedes for friends and family.

     Do you find yourself trying to pray and something comes immediately to mind? Suddenly you remember an e-mail you have to answer or the phone just happens to ring as you begin your time with God. The quiet intimate time with Jesus seems impossible until it becomes a habit. The habit will eventually become the time you look most forward to, the quiet time to get to know and understand the voice of Christ.

     Jesus is always with us. That fact allows us to pray in the middle of a meeting, in a line at the post office, as we remember a sick friend, or witness an accident. Praying can be habitual and part of our existence, as we practice the presence of God. 

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

     Satan would love to distract us enough, keep us busy enough, make us comfortable enough, make us worry enough, build our pride enough, keep us uncertain enough, to believe we don’t need to pray or believe we have no time to pray. Let prayer become a priority. Find a special time each day for prayer and Bible time. Those two things, understanding and studying God’s word and sitting in His presence in prayer will change your life forever. This relationship with Jesus gives us joy and hope. Don’t do this out of guilt or obligation, but because this relationship will become one of joy and anticipation.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

     Prayer has great power, the power that first connected you to Jesus. The Holy Spirit within you will guide you into prayer, how to pray, what to pray and who should be included in your prayers. It is an honor to pray for others, and if someone prays for you, you are blessed indeed.

     I am pausing in my writing, right now, to pray for each reader. May Jesus fill your hearts and mind with blessings in the joy and hope of His salvation and love. And I thank you, dear friends, for the ways you have prayed for me and our family.

Dear Father,

Let each person reading these words feel Your presence in a new and powerful way. I pray those “Holy Spirit shivers” are running up and down as we unite together in praising You and in believing in the power of prayer and basking in Your mighty presence.

In Jesus powerful name we pray,

Amen

Power

 

     The moment we become believers we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. That spiritual power is beyond this world, beyond what we see with our eyes, or hear with our ears. It is a deep and abiding force that guides us through the rest of our lives. The breath and Spirit of Christ rests upon us. It is beyond our natural abilities. It is supernatural

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1;13

     Yes, that moment you first believed, the Holy Spirit was given to you. Are you ready to hear more about this great power? These next verses never fail to fill me with awe and wonder at what He offers freely when we believe that He exists and died and rose again for us. Paul is praying this prayer for his brothers and sisters in Ephesus. Let this be a prayer for you today. Let it soak into your heart.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:18-20

     The same power that raised Christ from the dead is given to us. Resurrection power. I could use a little of that each and every day. You, too? Feel that great power in prayer, through your struggles, beyond your circumstances and in trusting His ability to use all things for His good. We may not understand it all until we are in heaven, but all of this, every single thing in our lives will not go to waste. Every bit of it will be, somehow, in some way, used for His glory. Believe it!

Dear Lord,

We don’t see all things clearly now. It becomes muddled in our daily existence, but we trust You. One day we will see it all and understand how you used us in unexpected ways. Tune us in to our Holy Spirit power today and every single day for the rest of our lives. Teach us how to be in constant contact with You and to share the power of Your great love with others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Plan

 

     There is no other person on the planet like you. God’s plan for your life is different from any other. You were born at just the right time, for just the right season, for just these moments. You are gifted with a certain personality type, with natural, in-born gifts to share, and when the Holy Spirit comes to live within you, God enhances all of our attributes with gifts of His own, gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are to be used for the common good. (See 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 for the gifts of the Spirit)

     God’s plan will fit perfectly, with great precision, with who you are and where you are and with what you do best. Do you make a plan or go with the flow? Are your decisions based on logical thinking or from the heart? Do you connect with the world with your five senses or intuition? Gifted in administration? Love to entertain? Are you quiet and prefer one-on-one conversation to a crowd setting? Love to teach or to stay behind the scenes setting up for the meeting? Are you meant to shepherd a small group or use your Biblical knowledge to help others? Are you a singer?

     All of these and more can be used to influence the kingdom of God. The community of faith works together as a body. Jesus is the head, and we make up the other parts. Just as our body cannot function without all of its working parts, so our communities cannot function without all of us working in unity.

     The beautiful thing, well, one of the many beautiful things about the body of Christ, is that God gives special honor to the unseen, less-focused-on gifts. Do you pray for others continually? Maybe you sharpen the pencils in the pews. Or you come early and stay late before and after the meetings and no one knows what you are doing. You are highly honored by our God.

     God’s plan is just right. Not too much, not too little, a one-of-a kind blueprint that fits you like a glove. No guilt-ridden duty. No begrudging giving. Instead our gifts will be used with joy and passion.

     He will give you the power to do what you are meant to do in ways that may seem impossible without our Creator. He will pull out all of the stops to influence His children on earth. He needs you, and we are in it together.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  1 Corinthians 12:26-27

From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  Ephesians 4;16

     Discovering your gifts and doing your part is an awesome adventure. As you read God’s word, He will show you the way you should go.

Dear Jesus,

We thank you for each part of the body of Christ all over the world. How you orchestrate all of us to work for Your kingdom is beyond our imaginings. Show us our part. Are we your eyes focused on a hurting world? Are we Your hands offering a loving touch to someone in need, or Your feet going to unsaved parts of the world? We all share Your great and powerful heart in love.

Amen

Purpose

 

     How do we find purpose on earth? What is it all about? If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, what does He expect from you and me? He gave up everything to give us all new life. I know I have nothing to give in return. There is nothing we CAN do, nothing God needs. He is everything and He holds everything in His mighty hands. What He wants and asks from us is to have a relationship with Him.. to have faith.

     As we get to know Jesus through His word and through prayer, our purpose begins to become clear. Knowing Him, putting Him first, recognizing we can’t do anything without Him, finds us surprisingly able to do things we could not imagine. Our confidence is in Him, rather than in our imperfect selves.

     He may use our stories, our sufferings, our lives as a testimony to others. People may notice a change and ask us about the hope within us. We may speak boldly about our faith to the people God places in our lives. Jesus may even ask us to reach out to someone we don’t like very much. We can’t do it on our own.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

     Get to know Him. Open up the good book. Imagine a new life filled with possibilities. Most of the thoughts in our head, what we worry about, compete for, save to buy, work towards, will not come with us into heaven.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to the power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

     When we meet Jesus, He will burn up the things that are no longer needed as we walk through those pearly gates. But the things we did with Him and for Him and through Him? They will be refined like gold, beautiful and lasting. Good enough to last forever.

Their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one escaping through the flames.  1 Corinthians 3:13-15

     This work is not anything we can do on our own, but only with Jesus, the foundation. He shows us what to do and how to do it, through His Holy Spirit, through His mighty word, through our time of prayer.

     Ready to give it a try, this purposeful life? It comes down to the heart and His love.

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.  Proverbs 27:19

     What is the condition of your heart? Let it melt into a life with Christ.

Dear Jesus,

You give our lives meaning and purpose. Show us how to take the next step. Help us focus on Your love and getting to know You more intimately. We are one in spirit with You and the Father when we believe.

Amen

Perfection

 

     I want us to work backwards this week, focusing our eyes on the end of the story, and the warmth and beauty of heaven. If you are a believer in Christ (if you are not, stay tuned all week) we know we will live forever!

     One day, at the end of these earthly lives, we will live in perfection.  Our bodies will move from mortal to immortal, from perishable to imperishable (see 1 Corinthians 15;35-58) and yet we will remain our unique selves. Let this truth give you strength and hope, giving promise to a parent’s heart as they witness their child suffer with disability or disease; joy to a widow’s or widower’s heart as she or he continues to miss a spouse; an end to the labored breathing that comes with lung disease; a day to be free of temptation and addiction. A new beginning at what would appear to be the end of the road.

     Finite to infinite, imperfect to perfect, perishable to imperishable, the unseen will be seen, time will become timeless. It puts our suffering, our temptations, our grief into perspective. God will redeem all of it one day, in His perfect timing.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18

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, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:17-18  (My life verses)

     We will meet Jesus face-to-face. We will live in glory. No time-frame, no hustle and bustle. A reuniting with loved ones. Our future with no more goodbyes. No more scurrying from place to place. No more stress! We can drink our coffee for hours on end. We will have time to speak to others in history. We will see Moses and Elijah, John and James, Mary and Joseph, Abraham and Isaac. Forever.

     There is no end to our story, other than a giving up of our imperfect bodies. We aren’t striving and struggling just to get to the end of this life. The end is the true beginning. Feel the hope. See the glory. Live out your life with passion and love. All of this is achieving for us a glory that far outweighs it all.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.  2 Peter 3:8

    Our sufferings last only a moment in light of eternity. Take in that strength today. Count on that hope. Believe in eternity. All of this will be redeemed in His glory. And every breath on this earth can be lived for Him. Every breath is precious. He gave you life on earth and He promises new life forever.

Dear Lord,

You give us hope for tomorrow, when we will be like You, with new bodies in a perfect world. A new heaven and a new earth, with Your glory shining all around us. The Son will be the sun of heaven. No more night. No more tears. The hope of glory. Our blessed assurance.

It is Jesus.

Amen

God's Workmanship You!

 

     I pray you are feeling extra special this week. You are! His plan for your life is pleasing and perfect. He will work for the good even when you can’t perceive it. His love is astronomical. As one of my favorite authors Max Lucado wrote, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.”

     You are His precious child. You are His workmanship. God’s plan for you is intimate and personal. He longs for a relationship with You, all day, every day. Your future looks bright in His mighty hands.

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

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

     God has a hope and a future for you, plans for you to do His good works that will bless you and bless others. We were created with certain gifts unlike anyone else! You are His handiwork, His piece of art, His love.   

     But, how do we know what that plan is? What do we do? Where should we go? Will we miss out? No, never!  Relax into His mighty, all-powerful hands. God's work always continues even when we don’t notice. His hand is upon us day and night. He will provide opportunities when we least expect them. We are unique in this crazy world. We belong to Jesus.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, perfect and pleasing will. Romans 12:2

     Take the following words from Scripture as a way to begin your plan today and be blessed.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:9-12

Amen!

 

Unconditional Love

 

     One of the greatest gifts in life is the gift of unconditional love. Maybe you were blessed to grow up in a family that gave and received love. You knew, no matter what, no matter the mistakes made on either side of the relationship, love remained.

     When we are loved unconditionally, our confidence grows. Our confidence in ourselves as people worthy to be loved and confident enough to give others our love and loyalty and trust..

     Jesus offers us unconditional, everlasting love. His love is beyond even our greatest and most love-filled relationships on earth. Jesus can fill in the gaps suffered from unloving relationships. He can fill our hearts with His love when we are lonely, and fill our hearts with renewed peace and joy.

     As believers, we will have Jesus forever. Nothing we can do will pull us away from His grasp. We belong to Him. We can conquer anything with His kind of love. Here are a few more of my many, many favorite verses.  Place them in your hearts and be filled.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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 8:37-39

Jesus,

Your love is so deep and wide, so sacrificial and so overwhelming, it is hard for us to accept. Thank You for loving us. Let Your Holy Spirit wash over us and lavish us with the much-needed love today and every day. May we never forget.

Amen

 

 

His Special Possessions

 

     Once we are saved through our faith in Jesus, we are seen as holy in the eyes of our holy and perfect heavenly Father. We don’t understand it. The gift is too wonderful to comprehend. But it is true.

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22a 

     As we are given the righteousness of Christ, our sins are painted as white as snow. As His children, we now live in His glorious light.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

     His special possessions. I love that. Each step of this life draws us closer and closer to our heavenly home. There is no need to fear. We are with Him now. We will be with Him later.

For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

     I have witnessed the yearning for heaven, time and time again, in believers close to death, in the aged, in the burdened. For those living in grief, to those longing for a loved one in heaven, this is such a solemn and profound promise.  We will be with them one day. We will live with them forever. Do not fear. Be confident in that.

Lord,

Keep us mindful of the brevity of life and the hope of tomorrow. We now live in Your righteousness and Your light. To live is You and to die is gain. How profound! Keep us from worry. Keep us in peace. We are Yours.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

Blessed Chosen Forgiven

 

     If you want to feel cherished and loved and grow in your faith in Christ, a great chapter to read is the first book of Ephesians. Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is filled with the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. I won’t print the entire chapter, but here are a few blessings we have with Christ as our Savior.
We have been:
• blessed in the heavenly realms (v.3)
• chosen (v. 4)
• adopted as sons and daughters (v. 5)
• given His glorious grace (v. 6)
• forgiven (v. 7)
• given his wisdom and understanding (v. 8)
• made a part of His perfect and pleasing will (v. 9-11)
• included in Christ (v. 13)
• sealed with the Holy Spirit (v. 13)
• guaranteed a heavenly home (v. 14)
     As I close this devotion, please read carefully through the following words from this beloved chapter. These words are given for you as a believer in Jesus Christ and I pray them over you today. Listen to the love and power you now have available as children of the most-high God.
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:15-21
     These words are too wonderful to comprehend! The very same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead now lives within us! Take that with you today. Have confidence in the one who has saved you! He is risen and His power lives with us.
Jesus,
We praise You for all of the many gifts and blessings You have lavished on us. Thank You for these beautiful reminders in Your precious word for us. We love You
Amen