Carry One Another

     Walking alongside one another is a privilege. Some seasons of life, (hopefully many) are filled with joy and love, other seasons we endure, those filled with grief and suffering. We are called to share in the ups and downs of life, to ease the burdens of others, to offer compassion, the same compassion we receive from Jesus.

     Is someone hurting? Are you? Can you rejoice when others are happy and content? I want to give up comparing myself to others and to be able to rejoice when others succeed, to sit with others wherever we are, whatever we are going through. Christianity does not promise ease and comfort, but it does offer a deep peace. That peace is one we can share whatever the season, whatever life holds.

Carry each other;s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Father,

Give us your compassion and peace in order for us to share it with others. This life is filled with both joy and tragedy. We need each other. Show us the heart of others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Running The Race

    It is so easy to push God to the bottom of the schedule, to mouth a forlorn, tired prayer as we fall asleep. We rarely acknowledge His existence in our day-to-day routines. We read the newspaper or watch TV more than look to the Word of God. Adding a time to spend with God takes devotion and discipline, putting God first takes practice.

     Let’s practice talking to Him throughout the day, feeling His presence around us, asking for His guidance in our decisions, looking for His answers rather than our own, placing our trust in our relationship with Him more than our relationships with others. Practice makes perfect!

     The apostle Paul uses sports analogies throughout his writing, such as being persistent, perseverance through tough times as we run the race of faith. As he writes from prison, knowing his time on earth is coming to an end, he encourages Timothy and you and me. He has run the race God had planned for him. He is about to receive the prize of salvation, eternity with Jesus.

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

     His instructions to his son in the faith, Timothy, are encouraging, a reminder for us to keep going, to keep the faith, to endure and persevere. One day soon we will receive the crown of righteousness.

Father,

Keep us faith-filled, running the race You have set before us as we get closer and closer to heaven. The end of this life is just the beginning of our everlasting hope.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Abide In Him

     What will you do with today? With this moment? With the next hour? We all have choices throughout our days. Many of the hours are planned for us, with work and schedules, with laundry and meals, with friends and family. Maybe the best choices we make will come from within; our attitudes, our reactions, our ability to stay in step with the Holy Spirit throughout each moment, each hour, each day.

     Abiding in Christ does not come naturally to us. It is a work of the Holy Spirit.  How do we allow the spirit within us to grow into the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus? Make it a habit this year to go to the Word of God during times of frustration, of loneliness, of grief, and of joy and blessings and comfort. In other words, go to Him each day. Pray, read, meditate, love.

Jesus says,

“I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

     Nothing? Well, I do stuff. That is our reaction to the statement of Jesus that we can do nothing without Him. Our purpose as believers is to glorify God and the things we do in the Spirit will be the things that matter to God. And nothing else.

     Sounds opposite of the world around us where we are valued for our education, for our money-making abilities, for our busyness and our business, for the success of our children, for our prowess iin sports, for our looks. With Jesus, we need to abide. Aaaah, sounds wonderful. Abide in Him today. Go to Him for everything.

Jesus,

Help us with out humanness. It is difficult to move away from what our flesh wants and to listen to the Sprit. Give us Your wisdom today as we abide in You through each moment, each hour, each day.

Amen

The Abundant Life in 2018

     Where will God take us this year? Who will He place in our path? He is with us wherever we go. He will provide the strength we need and the power to overcome evil and live life abundantly, full of peace, joy and hope. I’m ready to take a step of faith into 2018. Are you?

     Recommit your life to Jesus this year, step by step. Ask Him for strength to take the next step with Him. He will provide the words, the timing, the people and the comfort we need at the appropriate time. He can be all things to us and we can do all things through Him.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

     Apart from Him, we can do nothing. (see John 15:5) Let’s keep our hearts and minds focused on Jesus this year. The true value in life will be the things we do to glorify Him. Those deeds and workings of the heart flow from the Holy Spirit within us and these are the things that will follow us into heaven and nothing else. I want to seek His advice, serve Him with my whole heart and settle into the light of His glory.

     Let’s make 2018 a year to count for Jesus, living the abundant life found only in Him. His victory is ours. We are overcomers and we can do all things through and for Him. Let our lives become a testimony to Him, through Him, for Him.

Amen

Triumph Through Testimony

     As overcomers living the abundant life in Christ, we have a story to tell. A testimony of Jesus, the light of life. The Word of our testimony, through the blood of Jesus, brings great power into our short lives on earth.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11

     They “triumphed” over the devil. Yesterday we read about the power of overcoming evil with good. Today we see the word of our testimony, recognizing the power of the blood of Jesus giving us the ability to “triumph.” Jesus gives us life now and life forever. Let’s overcome evil this year and triumph over the devil’s wily ways.

Father,

We have the word of our testimony. Our power comes from the holy blood of our Lord, Jesus. Your Son came to live life on earth, from the baby in the manger to the cross that conquered death. We praise You today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Overcomers

     Jesus conquered the grave for us. Death no longer has a hold on us. Death brings us into eternity, life lived forever in the very presence of the Most High God. Allow that miraculous promise to live continually in your heart. One day, as believers, we will all be together in a new heaven and a new earth forever.

     Do not let this short life hold you hostage with fear, doubt and grief. Jesus overcame everything for us and because of His sacrifice, we have power over the evil one. Take in the following verses. The Holy Spirit within us gives us the power of Christ to overcome the world around us.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

     Notice the word, “overcome” in the verses above. That is us; the overcomers. We overcome evil with good. The One within us is more powerful than the evil one. We overcome the world! Take heart! We have faith, faith in Jesus.

Lord,

We are the overcomers because of Your life, death and resurrection. We carry that hope of salvation with us every single day. Overcoming evil with good is only possible through Jesus.

Amen

The Abundant Life

     Happy New Year! I pray this year will be filled with the joy and peace of our Lord, Jesus. Remembering the gifts we have available to us inwardly from the Holy Spirit will be a good way to start us on our way into this brand-new year.

     The word I chose for 2018 is “abundance.” The abundant life is offered to us through Jesus. It doesn’t mean life will be comfortable and easy. We all know life has its share of difficulties, can be hard to maneuver, is often filled with suffering and grief, but Jesus takes us to a place above the earth, into the heavenly realms. Here is His promise to you and me as we begin this year.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10

     The New King James version says that “we may have life and have it more abundantly.”

     Jesus offers life more abundantly, life lived in the Spirit, life lived with others in mind, life lived generously, sacrificially, filled with hope and peace and joy. That is my wish for all of us this year. May we have life, to the full, until it overflows, through Jesus.

Father,

Thank You for the abundant life prmised through Jesus. May we live in His peace and in His joy this year, no matter the circumstances surrounding us. He has overcome the world, and we can come boldly to the throne room of heaven. Thank You.

In Jesus name,

Amen