For The Joy

 

As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

     Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to an end. He knew the anguish He would soon be facing.. He sets out resolutely. Sometimes we need that determination, the discipline to put one foot in front of the other. There is fear or grief, worry and despair, uncertainty and conflict. Somehow, we do it. One small step at a time. We move ahead.

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.  Isaiah 50:7

     Jesus cries out to God in the garden of Gethsemane in anguish, His sweat turns to blood. The only time in eternity He is separated from the Father will come upon the cross, when the world darkens until the work is finished. The suffering of our Lord reminds us. He has been through it all and more.

     We have loved ones in heaven. We know the end of the story. Can we press on? Here are some amazing words to hang onto today:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 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 12:1-2

     Jesus saw the joy beyond the cross. We can see the joy beyond the pain if we fix our eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of our faith, rising above our circumstances with a love beyond words.

Dear Father in heaven,

Remind us of the joy set before us as we struggle and strain through some of our days. Bless us and our families and friends and brothers and sisters in the faith, as we turn to Your Son Jesus. We can rise above with Him.

Amen

I so appreciate all of you reading God’s word with me daily.  Vacation time is here. See you on October 13.  Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep loving.

 

Yesterday, Today, Forever

 

     To rise above, we need to trust and believe God’s promises, praising Him without understanding the world around us. The word of God replaces darkness with light. The word of God is alive, active and powerful. (Hebrews 4) Jesus is the word of God. And His word lived among us. (John 1) Jesus brings joy and understanding.

     When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are “justified.” It is “just as if” we had never sinned. In that moment of true faith, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit forever!

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

     But He is not done with our lives on earth. Justification is past, and sanctification begins. This is the process of setting us apart from the world and growing us in the faith, making us into the image of Christ. The Word (Jesus) transforms our lives and as we become more and more His disciples we can grow in the fruit of the Spirit. We are sanctified in the present and throughout our lives.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22

     One day we will receive our glorification and our resurrection bodies and live forever with Jesus. There is never a moment when He is apart from us from our moment of belief until we step into heaven. You are made right with God. He is working in your life right at this moment and one day we will be praising Him with our loved ones among the angels. Feel the hope and joy. You are His!

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Revelation 19:1

We are justified by Christ, sanctified through Christ and glorified with Christ. Amen!

 

Humble Hearts

 

     I have more questions than answers this week. Searching and seeking over the last thirty-five years always brings me to the foot of the cross. Can I trust God even when I don’t understand? Or do I run from Him and try to figure it all out on my own? Or do I humble myself before the Creator of the universe with the understanding that He will get me through. He will get us through.

     God hates pride above all. There is a list of the seven things God hates in the book of Proverbs and pride is at the top of the list. Lucifer’s removal from heaven came from his desire to be like God.

     Jesus is our example of the humble servant. He humbled Himself to die for us. He chose to live among us and leave the glories of heaven. He loves a meek spirit, a humble heart, a willingness to be the least and put others before ourselves.

     We can’t do it without Him. None of it. Beginning on our knees each day with a willingness to leave the answers to Him will set our hearts and minds in the right place. On Him. And He will lift us up.

     To rise above, we first need to humble our hearts.

“So the last will be first and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and the humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10

Humble yourselves therefore, under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6

     The maintenance man from a church we attended when our girls were growing up told us, “To humble ourselves does not mean to think less of ourselves, it means to think of ourselves less.”  Wise words from a man of faith.

Dear Father,

We come before You this morning, with a willingness to bow before You. We don’t have all of the answers, but You do. Comfort us and lift us up to be Your servants in the world around us.

In Jesus name

Amen

Compassion and Hope

 

     Suffering is all around us. Friends are going through difficult surgeries and waiting for results, along with so many others on my prayer list. I know it’s the same for you. What do we do with the heartache and grief? Where do we go and how do we cope?

     After years of questioning and searching, I turn first in Jesus. Often in the darkness, we catch a glimpse of His light and hang onto hope. The presence of suffering does not mean the absence of a loving God. This fallen world was not His choice. But the offering of the sacrifice of our heavenly Father’s Son to wipe the slate clean came from Him.

     We have a creator who stepped out of heaven and felt it all. He placed it all on His shoulders and suffered the consequences meant for us. He will share the burdens of this life until we are with Him in perfection one day. His Spirit will groan with us, will comfort us, will teach us great lessons through the suffering and bring meaning and purpose to it all.

     In the meantime, we are in this together. We struggle together, cry together, rejoice together and sit with each other when we hurt and when there seems to be no answers and no comfort to be found. The hurt is unbearably tough isn’t it? All of it is temporary and as fleeting as a teardrop. God is collecting those tears and one day will wipe away every last one of them. (Revelation 21)

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. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4

Dear Jesus,

You know our pain and our loss. Comfort us today with Your unfailing love and give us the comfort we can share with others. You understand. One day we will know in full. Give us hope today.

Amen

Return

 

     Jesus understands you, right where you are. He accepts you just as you are and He is available 24/7. When we are sleepless, he is awake.

He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4

     When we lose our faith, He remains faithful. There are verses in the book of Lamentations (chapter 3) that remind us. His mercy is new every day. The titles of the blogs this week have all begun with the prefix, “re” meaning again and again and again. Sometimes, I wonder how God puts up with me. And He says to me over and over again.

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

The Lord came to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

     He continually redeems, renews and refreshes our souls, again and again and again. The well never runs dry.

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

     Keep renewing and refreshing your hearts and souls. Be refreshed and nourished with the living water of Jesus.

Lord,

Here we are again. You are the God of second changes, of renewal, redemption and refreshing. Your patience with us never ends. You love us unconditionally and always want the best for us. We ask for that living water to satisfy our weary hearts and souls.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Reconciliation

 

        I saw someone share on Facebook that God needs to send us all to our rooms for a while. Well, we certainly deserve it, don’t we? Our sports and our busy lives, our celebrities, our technology, our political corners, often take precedence over Him. He yearns for a deep relationship with each of us. He paid the price for us as the mediator between a holy God and us.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man, Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

     Because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we are reconciled forever with God. What a gift! The good news is too much to take in. Because of this sacrificial love, we can move boldly right into the heavenly throne room of God.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find peace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

     Go boldly and with confidence to God and give him your worries, your doubts, your uneasiness, your fear. If we take our time-outs, we will have the time to sit with Him awhile. His mercy is strong enough to return us to peace over and over again. Let your soul be refreshed.

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31;25

Lord,

We know you are there, but sometimes our distractions and our busyness move us into places of fear. This time for all of us is difficult, but You understand. Bring us back to You. Jesus lived among us and was tempted in every way. The only sinless man to walk the earth and He paid the price for us.

Amen

 

Redeemed

 

     As we look to creation around us through each season, from the falling leaves to a dormant winter, from spring and new life to the bloom of summer, remember Jesus. Jesus redeems and renews.  He offers rebirth, a new way to live. As a believer for almost 40 years, I have seen the transforming power of Jesus over and over again. He saved my brother, Jim, as his body gave way to Parkinson’s. People came around him in miraculous, mind-blowing ways and he could no longer deny and turn from the presence of the God who longed to save him.

     I have seen His power in redeeming addicts over and over again, changing lives for His glory. I have witnessed His peace as I ministered in crisis care. This peace and joy of our Lord could be seen in the faces of those in hospice care, of those grieving the loss of their spouse or child, in dealing with cancer, and the list goes on. The spiritual power of Christ gives us this deep peace, unlike anything on earth. His love is over-powering, sacrificial and ever-present.

     I pray for you who read this blog and I pray, always, that God’s word will bring you that peace and joy and hope and love, through everything life throws at us. Do you feel it right now? Let your heart be redeemed, bringing fresh hope.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

“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

     I give you this last verse as a blessing over you today.

May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:1

Amen

Renewed

 

     Counting our blessings during times of turmoil does not come naturally. The fear and doubt invade our hearts and minds, don’t they? Dealing with this time of uncertainty and division as well as our own issues leaves us with questions and doubt.

     The seasons in Minnesota keep us strong and healthy as our bodies learn to adjust to and accommodate drastic changes, often on a daily basis. Shortly after our winter months, a 60-degree day feels more like 80. Shorts and flip flops will be worn, motorcycles will be seen and heard on the road and grills will be fired up. Birds will be singing.

     The sunshine on our weary faces can bring hope, a time of renewal. Each season in nature and each season of life has it’s uncertainties and adjustments, but each season has unique blessings we can treasure.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

     Take in the wonders of nature and contemplate the rising and setting sun, the birds of the air, the variety of flowers, the warmth of the sun and the SON.  Jesus was there at the beginning and He is here now.  Let each season of life and in nature bring a sense of renewal in spirit.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John 1:1

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

Lord,

Your Word is Jesus. He lived among us, died and rose again. We thank You for His warmth, for the joy and peace He brings and we thank You for the miracles of your creation that surround us and remind us of renewal and hope. Give our hearts and minds renewed energy.

Amen

Refreshed

 

     Friday was a day to refresh my soul. My 70^th birthday party was filled with my favorite people in the world. A room filled with music, food, family, life-long friends and loved ones. It was an overwhelming blessing for me, a time to savor and treasure forever. Jesus refreshes our souls, wipes us clean, teaches us throughout our lives and gives us rest.

     Let today be a day to refresh your weariness, to think about the gifts we have been given, to savor the people in our lives and to glory in the creation surrounding us. If you have time, soak up some of God’s words today. They will fill you with just what you need.

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

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

Lord,

Refresh our souls with Your words. Refresh our hearts with Your love. Refresh our weary bodies with Your strength. You are everything.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Into Old Age

 

     Along with my husband, many of our friends have retired. What’s next? Do we put our feet up, sit on a beach and indulge ourselves for our remaining years? It’s a tricky question. Certainly, God has placed enjoyment and pleasure in His creation. The warm sunshine, good friends, refreshment and relaxation.

     On the other hand, He never tells us to retire from His service. He has purpose for our lives until He takes us home. What is He asking you to do? Moses did not lead his people out of Egypt until he was 80 years old. Abraham and Sarah had Isaac in their 90’s. Caleb was just as strong at 85 as he was when he began serving God as a young man. John was given the revelation of Christ when he was well over 90.

     No matter what we do, no matter where we land, He gives us the ability to encourage, to share, to teach, to serve, to show mercy, to gain knowledge, and to love. What an adventure! We have only just begun.

They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright. He is my Rock and there is no wickedness in Him.” Psalm 92:14-15

Father,

We want to bear fruit at every age. Give us purpose and opportunities until we walk through heaven’s door. Give us more and more love to share.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

Gilfted With Grace

 

     Just as the baby boomers of South Minneapolis are united in our shared memories of times and places, of friends and memories, so, too, are we united in prayer as followers of Jesus.

     Our prayers are powerful. Our prayers are heard. Our prayers rise to the throne room of heaven, as we pray for each other and our country. Our prayers are needed and they are heeded.

     You are gifted by God, for this time and for this season. Use your personality, your natural talents, your spiritual gifts to make a difference. There is only one you. And together, we are turning things around. God uses us for His purposes with His perfect timing.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7

     Gifted with God’s grace for such a time as this, united in faith, each serving in our own unique way.

Lord,

Show us how and where to make a difference for You in the short time we have on this earth. Guide us to show Your love to others and to keep encouraging each other.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Happily Ever After

 

     I have been honored and blessed to have my husband in my life for 40 years. He has put up with my blindness, my weaknesses, my quirks and with the complete opposite parts of our personalities for a long time. He continues to be my safe and happy place in this crazy world, my earthly happily-ever-after.

     Together, we are moving into what, not that long ago, we considered, “old age.” The cremation plans have been made and paid for and we have given our daughters instructions. The joints are beginning to ache and we are appreciating the blessings of each and every day as we have said our earthly goodbyes to so many we love.   

     My husband loves the movie, “The Great Escape,” starring Steve McQueen. As the prisoners in this movie worked to escape the prison walls, they slowly dug a hole through the floor of their cell.  Little by little, they placed the dug-up dirt in their pants legs and slowly let it out in the prison yard. Since my husband knows Lake Nokomis continues to be a special place for me, he said he could do the same with my ashes if I am the first to go home to heaven. I’m down with that!

     After our earthly deaths, we will be in our ultimate happy places forever. In fact, Jesus tells us he is preparing a place just for us! Maybe my mansion will include a lake and, hopefully, a palm tree or two.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many mansions. If it 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 will come back and take you to be with Me where I am." John 14:2-3

     Our earthly bodies will wear out, but our eternal bodies will be ours forever in a place meant just for us, our happy place, our eternal home.

Jesus,

Thank You for preparing the perfect spot for each of us. There are days we can’t wait to be with You. In the meantime, keep us focused on what is important to You.

Amen

Our Happy Place

 

     It’s been a heartbreaking time in our country and world lately.  I wrote these blogs several years ago. Join me in remembering your own happy places and the people you love and have loved this week.

     Do you have a happy place or two? Our home is one for me, any place with family and friends and Lake Nokomis. Lake Nokomis is a happy place for many of us from South Minneapolis, a place filled with sweet moments, with shared memories, over the decades. The husband of my best friend died several years ago and she and her family spent the weekend at his happy place, a cabin in the woods to celebrate his birthday. All of our happy places fill our hearts with memories.

     That same best friend came to my door the day after my dad died at age 14. We walked around Lake Nokomis together, neither of us saying a word.  Such a great friend, who knew just what I needed.

     Think about the places that have and continue to bring smiles and comfort, that inspire your heart. The best place to find true happiness is anywhere spent with Jesus. His joy, His presence, run deeper than any place or circumstance experienced throughout our lives.

     His joy is available no matter our mood, no matter the time, no matter the suffering, no matter the place.  His love penetrates beyond “happenstance.”  Happiness often depends on our feelings and on what is happening around us, rather than our spirit-deep truth.

     Let Jesus remain as your go-to happy place. Recognize what He offers in your life. Give Him your thoughts and your feelings and your hopes and dreams, your sadness, your blessings, let it all out. This happy place, surrounded by His love, will become as real as the best memories in your past, the happiest moments in your present, and the dreams for the future.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

But may the righteous rejoice and be glad and rejoice before God. May they be happy and joyful. Psalm 68:3

Lord,

Your joy is our strength. Thank You for the happy places, the happy times, the happy memories You have given us. You remain our true joy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God's Word

 

     Here is a quote I came across about the Bible: “The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and  deep enough for theologians to swim in without ever touching the bottom.”  Have you been swimming in God’s word lately? I love the ways God teaches us. A Scripture read hundreds of times will suddenly jump off the page with new meaning. A Scripture meant just for you and me will keep coming up at a time we need it most.

     The word of God is powerful. It represents Jesus from cover to cover. The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119 and it is all about the word of God. This Psalm reminds us to keep the word in our hearts, to delight in it, to draw wisdom from it, to know God through it.

 You are my refuge and my shield. I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114

Turn to me and have mercy on me as You always do to those who love Your name. Psalm 119:132

     God has changed me through the Bible. He has confronted me, loved me, given me peace and filled me with deep joy. Sink yourself into its depths. There is no end to the glory and grace it will bestow.

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

Lord,

Today we thank You for the Bible. Keep us on Your path as the world goes astray. Keep us focused as we continue to dive into Your word and its depths.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Eternal Joy

 

     Did you grow up in church? I did. Every Sunday we would use part of Psalm 51 as a doxology, as a blessing. Maybe you recognize the words. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized these words came straight from the Bible.

Create in me a clean heart O’ God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy or Your salvation and uphold me with Your free spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

     I did not comprehend the depth of these words or the joy of my salvation until I was well into my 30’s. Knowing Jesus, knowing we need not fear death, understanding His presence, gives us the ability to let our souls and spirits be truly free. That freedom gives us confidence in the choices we make. It gives us the ability to abide in His peace and joy. Listen to these words from another Psalm and do not be shaken.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. My body will also rest secure because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let Your faithful one see decay. 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 16:8-11

     Eternity awaits. In the meantime, rest in His presence. Soar free in His Spirit.

Lord,

Thank you for the life of Charlie Kirk. He served you well in his short life.  Comfort his beautiful family and all who loved him with Your eternal hope. We thank You for the words that guide us, for the depth of what it means to follow Jesus. Keep our focus on Jesus forever.

Amen

Something New

 

     God loves new beginnings. He sees the small steps we take and rejoices. In Zechariah 4, He says, “Do not despise the small things.”  Let Him guide You into what is next. He is with us as we begin again.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

     The Bible tells us over and over to not fear, to not be discouraged, to not give up hope. Our eternal God has a way through, a presence available to show us a way, to give us a new purpose, a new plan, a new perspective even through a dark and stormy time.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28

     Don’t understand? God does. Give Him your worries, your sorrow, your fear, your uncertainty. He is our rock, our anchor, our foundation.

Lord,

You always bring us back to hope. Show us a way through. Give us fresh hope and new beginnings.

In Jesus name,

Amen

You Are Valuable

 

     As we talked about yesterday, God is involved in all of the details of our lives. Along with collecting our tears, He knows the number of hairs on our head! And His word reminds us that not even one sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge. You are valuable to our God.

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

     He is there to heal us, to understand our deepest needs. Our God is beyond our wildest imaginations. He created the sun, the moon and the stars and He numbers and names each one.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power. His understanding knows no limit. Psalm 147:3-5

Father,

Your infinite wisdom comforts us. Your creation astounds us. To think You understand us and all we do. Give us Your unending peace today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Our Tears

 

     God is familiar with everything in our lives. Because He walked the earth, He understands our sorrow, our joy, our hunger, our weariness. He experienced it all, just as we do. But as eternal God, He also understands the unanswerable questions that meet us.

     Did you know God keeps our tears in a bottle? That is so comforting. He holds our happy tears and our tears of deep grief and sorrow.

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book. Psalm 56:8

     Our loving God is with us through it all and one day, we will understand. One day all will become clear. And one day, He will wipe all of the sadness, all of the heartache, all of the worry away.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21;4

Lord,

As we wait for the day we will finally meet You, it helps to remember, You understand it all. Comfort us as we wait and thank You for each blessing You give us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Prayers at Night

 

     When we have too much on our minds, or when we are anxious about so many things in our personal worlds and in the world around us, when we worry about our kids and grandkids, or when we just have too many details to sort through, sleep eludes us. Tossing and turning, watching the clock, minds on full alert. Can you relate?

     I have suffered from insomnia, off and on, since my teen years. I have come to terms with it and don’t worry quite as much about lack of sleep as I once did. After all, I have made it this far with many a sleepless night. Here are a few verses to take with you as you work through a restless night.

He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast and who trust in Him. Isaiah 26:3

I call out to the Lord and He answers me from His holy mountain. I lie down and sleep. I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:4-5

In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:7-8

     I also encourage you to read through Psalm 91 and Psalm 121, as prayers of protection over your life and over your family, knowing that God was with us when we entered the world and He will be with us as we leave this world.

Father,

Be with those struggling to find rest. Give them the ability to sleep and gain strength, to give everything to You from morning ‘til night.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Prayer in the Spirit

 

     If Christ is your Savior, His very Spirit lives within you. The Holy Spirit has several attributes. Throughout the Bible, He is called our advocate, our counselor, our teacher, the Spirit of truth. He is our intercessor and our interpreter. Aren’t sure what or how to pray?

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26

     The Spirit knows the will of God. He hears our hearts and connects with us. He stands up for us, comforts us and interprets our prayers for our own good and gives them to the Father. I don’t know about you, but this leaves me in awe of the work of God. All of the times we don’t know how to pray, He prays for us and feels the emotion right along with us.

     Jude is one of the sons of Mary and Joseph, half-brother of our Lord. He encourages us to build ourselves up in the faith. The Holy Spirit assists us in doing just that.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love, as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21

Father,

How thankful we are to have the Holy Spirit residing within us to advocate for us, to comfort us, to teach and guide us and to help us build up our faith. Thank You for Your Spirit.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Prayer At All Times

 

     Recognizing the presence of Jesus can comfort us throughout each day. Small prayers can be lifted up continually as we think of others, as we come upon a new opportunity or circumstance, as we face a fear, or feel that old worry snaking up within us again. Maybe we need to pray for the wisdom to bite our tongues! Paul writes to the followers in Thessalonica with these words.

Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-17

     People always ask, “How do we know God’s will?”  The verses above give us one example. His will is for us to pray in Christ Jesus. As we pray, we can rejoice, we can give thanks and we can pray all the time. Give thanks. Rejoice. Pray

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people Ephesians 6:18

     Jesus will never tire of our prayers. He doesn’t care how we pray, just that we do pray and rely on Him.  Jesus doesn’t care about where you pray, when you pray or how you pray. Just be yourself and seek Him out. He is there waiting. Pray!

Lord,

Give us the how and when and why we should pray. Being in intimate contact with You brings us to praise and thank You in all circumstances. Thank you for sharing Your wise words with us.

In Jesus name

Amen

Morning Prayer

 

     So many of us are struggling with the recent shootings in Minneapolis. There is a feeling of helplessness along with deep sadness and grief.  I am reposting these blogs on prayer.  Prayer has been a comfort to me this week. Let’s continue to pray for these families and staff.

     I rise with the birds. Early mornings have always been a favorite time of day for me. Rising before my husband finds me writing, praying, praising and reading, a great way for me to begin a new day. The power in praying for others is meaningful and mysterious.

     God controls the universe. He knows the words we will speak before we say them (Psalm 139). He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:111). He numbers the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7). This intimate knowledge He has of us and His creation is way over our heads. He watches over every single creature, including each bird (Matthew 10:29)

     And yet, He uses our prayers.

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

     I love this verse in Psalm 5. Lay your requests before Him each day and wait expectantly.  Believe God will answer. He hears your voice.  He loves spending time with you.

     Jesus loved spending time with His heavenly Father. When He walked the earth, He understood the need for prayer. He often went to a solitary place to pray. Beginning the day with God will allow us to give the day to Him, trusting He will lead us in the right way.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place, where He prayed.  Mark 1:35

     When I rise in the dark, early mornings, I love thinking of Jesus walking the earth, praying just as I do. Give it all to Him today.

Lord,

Thank You for the times we pray. As we lay our requests before You, we trust You to work.  You understand us more than we understand ourselves. Give us others who need prayer, so we may lift them up to You.

Amen

 

Patience in Prayer

 

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

     This is a great verse to memorize. It is packed with wisdom and short enough to easily carry in our hearts and pull out when we need it. With Christ there is always hope. Even at the very end of our time on earth, it is just the beginning of forever. There is no end. Hope can be found. Hope that can give us the lasting joy of Jesus.

     Patience is not an easy concept in a fast-paced world. Even waiting for our morning coffee or sitting at a traffic light can be frustrating. Two women I know have faced battles against cancer. Both lost their hair. Both have suffered greatly, one with sickness and nausea. One is dealing with a slow recovery. Patience in affliction? During those long days and nights, when there seems to be no end in sight, hope and patience and even the ability to pray are nowhere to be found.

     I’m finding difficulty finding peace with the aftermath of the shootings in our area. We have friends impacted through these shootings and hope, peace and joy seem far off. During those times of suffering, hopes can be shattered, patience goes out the window, we lash out at those closest to us and what about prayer? Who has the energy? During those dark days, we count on others to pray for us, to give hope when there seems to be none, to be faithful to us even when we don’t have an ounce of faith left. And when all is said and done, Jesus is still there, with joy and hope, with patience to deal with us once again, always faithful. He never gives up.

Dar Lord,

Be our hope when there appears to be none. Be patient with us when we don’t have it in us to wait. Lead us in prayer when we don’t feel Your presence and when others are suffering, lead us to be the Jesus in their lives, bringing strength, hope and love. Give us the ability to share joy, patience and faithfulness when affliction comes.

Amen

Help Us, Lord

 

 Our hearts are broken around our state, throughout our country, as yet another shooter has taken the lives of our children.  The senseless acts of a young man with no sense of the value of life, with hate and murder in his heart. I’m thankful for prayer. I’m thankful for the Holy Spirit. I’m thankful these beautiful children are with Jesus. I’m thankful I heard the story of one of the 5^th graders hiding in a pre-school room. She and her friend prayed the entire time and she felt a guardian angel with them.  We don’t know why. But God will, somehow, change lives through this evil act and He will offer comfort and He will grieve with those precious children and families. Please pray.

     If you are reading this, know you have been prayed for this morning. I love the fact that we are connected through the Holy Spirit. God tells us we are of one mind and of one spirit living as the body of Christ.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. Ephesians 4:4

     Let’s continue to hold each other up, to pray for each other, to recognize the power living within us, to have confidence during these chaotic days, to trust Jesus above the highs and lows of life. He is the risen Lord. Be of one mind and be at peace. And keep praying for our country.

Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Philippians 2:2

Jesus,

Hold these families close, as we continue to grieve with them and pray for them. We belong to You. Let that be enough for us each day. Your grace is enough. We thank You for the connection between us. Keep us united in spirit and in peace and in prayer.

Amen

 

Accepting Love

 

     Human love is imperfect. Do we deserve the love of God? How do we accept it for ourselves? We won’t accept it fully, trying to be perfect and follow the rules. Our guilt may keep us from receiving His unconditional love. It might be difficult to believe that His kind of love even exists.

     His love is there for each of us, no strings attached. His free gift of eternity and a forever love comes from accepting the birth, death and resurrection of the only perfect man, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. He died for all of us, no matter our past, no matter our weaknesses and frailties, no matter our race.

     Accept His love and be cleansed forever, sins forgiven, and a loving Father, friend, Savior, shepherd, teacher and guide to get us through this crazy life. You will see others in a new light. You will long to change hearts, to share the best news ever given, to show Jesus and His glory, the glory of the Son.

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

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

     His unmerited favor and grace will find you wherever you are. See His glory. Accept His light and love. He is your Savior.

Father,

Help us to receive Your unending love deep into our hearts, never to be lost again. Guide us into more and more love and change this dark and violent world with Your grace and mercy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Searching for Love

 

     Feeling the need to be loved? Why not seek out God? Ask Him for His love. Seek that love with all your heart and soul. Believe He has been waiting for you with open arms, waiting to fill the empty spaces and love you as His own, never to leave you again.  Listen to the yearning is these words from Psalm 42.  Maybe they echo the words of your heart right now.

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? My tears have been my food day and night while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul, how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One, with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 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 42:1-5

     Maybe, like David, you are discouraged, wondering where to find God. David is lost and disturbed. Where is God? And yet in verse 5, He still praises Him. He reaches out to Him. He loves Him.  He seeks Him even when He does not feel His presence.

     How is your soul? Find rest as you pant for God as a deer pants for water. Seek Him with all your heart and He will be there with you. Seek Him and have faith and He will reward you with His presence.

And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Lord,

We seek and need Your presence right now. Lift up our downcast spirits as we continue to praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Longing for Love

 

     The abused child. The betrayed man or woman. The neglected family. All of us, all of humanity, craves love. If we don’t receive it naturally and think of ourselves as valuable and worthy to be loved, we lash out, we numb the pain, we blame or turn inward.

     God loves each of us. With all of the pain and suffering in the world, man finds this tough, if not impossible, to believe and understand. God continually seeks us and gives us opportunities to find Him, to know Him, to receive love from Him.

     We can’t work our way there. There is not enough “good” we can do for others to earn that love, no certain amount of prayer, no sacrifice worthy enough.

We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God demonstrated His love for us in this; that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     God’s love for you is beyond this earth. He died for you and me. Let Him  lavish love on you and fill you with the kind of love we long  to receive. It is there for the asking and the love of Christ will transform you forever.

Lord,

So many are hurting and lashing out. Love them. See them. Let them hear Your everlasting voice declaring unconditional love. The one who saves. It is Jesus.

Amen

Keys to the Kingdom

 

     God gave us Jesus, His Son, to show us who He is. The death and resurrection of Christ opened up the door to heaven for us, now and as we leave this earth. How wonderful to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

     Just as our parents leave us with an inheritance, of genes, of family wisdom, of love and character and of their worldly possessions, we inherit even more from our Father in heaven. He has given us the keys to His kingdom through Jesus!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:3=5

     Missing your earthly father? Missing ever having a loving father? Let our Father fill in any gaps in your life with His unending love. Your belief in Jesus brings about every spiritual blessing, a home in heaven, and a loving Father and Son to walk with you every step of the way. Their love is unconditional, their Spirit alive and well within you, along with arms of comfort to calm the storms around you. The keys to the kingdom are available to all! Open the door of your heart today and call out, “Abba” Father, our daddy.

Father,

You remind us again and again of our spiritual heritage. Help us to hear Your voice in a stronger way in the days ahead, to trust in You completely and to allow You to feed and nourish our spirits until they are whole.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Discipline

 

     God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. He trains us and disciplines us. Discipline is never easy, but it is necessary. If you are a parent, or are involved in the lives of children, you know how important it is to set boundaries, to work for their good, even when it is hard for everyone.

     God’s discipline is always, always filled with love. The tough love we give our children and that God gives us, will build our character, will make us into people that resemble Jesus. As God gives us opportunities to build our character and build us up in the fruit of the Spirit, He will build in us a strong sense of self-discipline.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

     True and loving discipline brings peace to our children and to our families.

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace. They will bring you the delights you desire. Proverbs 29:17

     If God is working on an attribute of your character, He will bring you through some difficult situations to build you up. It isn’t easy, for us or for our children, but the end result is worth it.

They discipline us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:10-11

Father,

Thank You for Your example in raising our children. Your Word is filled with wisdom and knowledge as we raise our families and as we learn from You. Continue to discipline us when necessary to grow in our faith and in our righteousness. You are a loving Father.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Shepherd

 

     The job of a shepherd is similar to that of a father. Sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice. The shepherd keeps them from wandering, brings them safely back when they are lost, feeds them and gives them a soft place to land.

     You may be familiar with Psalm 23, which tells us that our Father is our Shepherd. Our Father tends to our needs in all ways, and we build our trust in Him, just as the sheep learn to trust the one in charge of them.

     Today place your trust in our good Shepherd. Listen for His voice. It is unlike any other.

“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” John 10:14

My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they know Me. John 10:27

     Do you recognize the voice of our Shepherd? He knows you inside and out. Listen for Him. Allow Him to guide you.

Lord,

You are a gracious Father and Shepherd. You guide us and teach us and work for the good in us. Transform us with Your precious voice that is always available.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Our Protector

 

     As we come to our Lord as children, it is important to remember to teach our young children to do the same. Our grandchildren have the best dads in the world. They are  ready to ease their frustration, to hold them in the middle of the night, to take care of them when they are sick.

      Sometimes our earthly dads are away at work, or have gone on to heaven, or aren’t there in the middle of the night. We can all come to our heavenly Father when we are scared or need a shoulder to cry on. He is always there, inside us, and surrounding us.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

     Psalm 91 is a beautiful Psalm of God’s protection over us. Remind your children and grandchildren that God will provide angels to surround them when they are afraid.

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

Father God,

We praise You for Your protection, for the angels that surround us and for being our comfort and our strength.

In Jesus name,

Amen