Counting Our Blessings

 

     As aging baby boomers, we have witnessed change after change, in our culture, in the world, in our families, in our bodies. We have lost loved ones, fought for relationships, and cherished friends and family. Counting our blessings becomes challenging, but with God, there are many.

     Our losses increase as we age and parts of life become more difficult. Two friends have recently said earthly goodbyes to their spouses. In spite of the grief, we come back to hope. Within all of the changes in our lives, God remains steadfast as our constant companion, friend and Savior.

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

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

     The blessings of God remain, long after we have left this earth. Our loved ones remain in our hearts, minds and memories until we are together forever once again.  God will strengthen us. He will comfort us. He will help us. He is love.

Lord,

Comfort those who mourn. Remind us of our many blessings on this earth. Touch us with Your unending mercy as we count our blessings each day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God's Work

 

     Don’t lose heart. God continues to work in us at all times, even when we don’t understand, even when we don’t feel His presence. He prepares people and places for us, long before we recognize His plans. The Israelites went around the same mountain for 40 years on a journey that should have taken 11 days! And God continued to give them one chance after another. Every single time they faltered, He gave them another chance. They, inevitably, turned back to Him and there He was.

     Are you going in circles around that same mountain? Try a new path. Try it God’s way. Look into Scripture for answers on the tough questions in your life. Some of the journey will be an up-hill battle, but His ways will be in your best interest. His ways will not sound like the ways of the world. It’s really not about us. It’s about Him. And He is working in your life, until that one day He meets you face-to-face.

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

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

Jesus,

There You are, waiting for us to turn back to You. Keep us from the vicious circle of sin in our lives. Move us into the blessings You have waiting for us. You never give up. You just keep on working and waiting.

Amen

 

God's Timing

 

     Change often brings fear and uncertainty. Maybe, like me, you have moved ahead of God’s steps and made the wrong choices. Even when we are following God’s lead, life becomes difficult. Luckily, He never gives up on teaching us His ways. Trusting Him through days of uncertainty can be tough. He asks us to trust Him completely.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

     The Holy Spirit lives in us. As we grow in our faith, we learn to trust His guidance and follow peace within. He sacrificed everything for us. Let’s continue to follow His lead with a humble and a cheerful heart.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

     Today let’s not move too fast. Watch and listen and be still.

He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a

Lord,

Forgive us when we move too fast or lag too far behind. We become impatient in waiting. Your timing is always perfect. We stay still today and listen for Your Holy Spirit to guide us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Entertaining Angels

 

     If you are like me, change can be difficult. God continually guides us to new adventures, new opportunities, and into the lives of the most unexpected people. He brings others into our lives for a lifetime, a season, a year or a day for His purposes. Did you know that even angels can disguise themselves as people? Listen to this verse:

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2

     Keep your heart and mind open to God’s work in your life. Is He asking you to try something new? Has He brought someone new into your life? Are you taking every opportunity to speak of and to show His love? He may bless you with the presence of an angel. The spiritual realm is at work all around us.

     Many of the angels spoken of in Scripture were created to worship and honor God and to surround His holy presence, including the seraphim and the cherubim. Other angels are watching over us:

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1;14

     God protects His own. Pray for His protection, for His angels to surround you and your loved ones and watch for exciting opportunities each day. Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone and into a new adventure.

Lord,

We can’t imagine all the times we miss out on Your work around us. Keep our hearts and minds open to what You are doing and to where You are leading. We thank You for Your ministering angels sent for us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Walk By Faith

 

     God pours out His abundant grace, He offers new mercies each day, He restores our joy when we believe it is lost and grants us freedom for our souls. Count on His all-sustaining presence and love whatever life brings your way. Seek Him. Ask for His help. Your faith pleases Him. He loves being with you. He is everywhere and everything is His. His foundation is secure. Have faith.

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  diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

     God will take you on new paths, to places you may not have chosen or sought. Some may be frightening and uncomfortable. But He will bring You through them, smooth out the rough spots and turn your darkness into light. He will do it. Count on it.

For we walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Jesus,

We don’t understand so much of life, but we trust You to see us through. Shine light on the darkness within and without. Your glory shines through the deepest, darkest nights with the glimmer of a star. You are right there, even when it is hard to see. And one day soon, we will be with You forever.

Amen

Eternal Joy

 

     There are times of great suffering in our lives, those times when we wonder how to take one more step. We groan in the pain of the grief, the loss, the agony. Will we ever witness happiness again?

     God promises us a deep and abiding joy. Someday soon, we will live in paradise. Keep your salvation with you at all times. The suffering will last but a moment. Eternity, in perfect bliss, will last forever. Count on these promises from God.

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.  Psalm 30:11

     Praise Him from the depths. It is easy to sing His praises when all is well and good. Can we praise Him even in the deep valleys of this life?

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them; that those who love Your name rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11

     Finally, allow Him to restore you and to sustain you. Remember your salvation.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

Father,

We pray for those who mourn today. Sustain them and restore them. Give them Your deep joy as they take refuge in You. You alone bring eternal joy. We praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Free Indeed

 

     Sin brought death into the world. Sin holds us in bondage. And yet, while we were in sin, Christ died for us, and bore the pain and suffering we deserve.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     Sin no longer has power over you and me. Be free in the Spirit of God today. You are forgiven and loved forever.  You are free!

 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

     We all know what it feels like to be held in bondage to sin. Worry and anxiety hold us in prison. Addiction holds us in chains. Fear and the inability to forgive eat away at our souls. Grief consumes. We carry the weight as a heavy burden. Remove the chains! Give the burden to the One on the cross. He set you free; free from the yoke of slavery to sin. And free from death.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Lord,

Help our unbelief. You set us free. Let us live in freedom. We are free indeed!

In Jesus name,

Amen