Freedom

 

     Victorious in Christ. Victorious over death. Heaven-bound. Immortal bodies. No more pain. No more tears. It all awaits us.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it who overcomes the world? Only the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5

     When we lose our fear of death, we can live in freedom. Each day on earth is a blessing. Every breath to be savored and treasured. We are overcomers in Christ! Force the negative, stress-filled thoughts out of your mind one moment at a time. Dwell on the beauty of the day, the loved ones in your life, the little things that matter. Don’t let those annoying negative stresses take over your thoughts. Take the one good thing and magnify it. Most of our worries may never come to pass. Right now, this very moment, savor life.

     And for those of us in grief? Each day will bring us closer and closer to home and reunion. Our loved ones in heaven want us to be blessed right now.

Jesus,

Because of You we are overcomers. We thank You for the special moments, the loved ones, the beauty of creation, the food on our table and the breath of life.

Amen

 

Victory

 

     Our lives encounter trials and troubles. Jesus has overcome them all. I studied a book called “The Invisible War” with some dear friends and one of the author’s points was, “we don’t fight FOR victory. We fight FROM victory.”

     Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Sins are forgiven once and for all. God sees us, as believers, through Christ’s blood. We are washed clean and we are already seated in heaven. Even death has no hold on us.

     Does this change our perspective on our daily lives? I hope so. We need not fear death. We have an all-powerful God on our side. He wants to use us for the short time we have here. And that is life’s best. To shine with and for God’s glory. To please Him and not man.

     Paul said it this way,

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10    

     Easier said than done. We do want to please people, but God must come first. Let’s try to give Him the glory in our lives. Represent Him well. Your faith pleases Him.

Dear Father in heaven,

The victory over death has been won. Death has no hold on us. Our lives are enriched because of Your forgiveness and Your love. We are victorious in this life and the next.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Overcomers

 

     God’s purpose for our lives is filled with abundant joy and peace.  Satan loves nothing better than stealing our peace and joy and replacing them with fear, doubt, guilt, anger and jealousy. What keeps you from believing God and allowing His joy and peace to reign?

     When we feel anxious, there are several Scripture verses to soothe us. When we fear, God promises He will never leave us. When we are discouraged, He tells us  He will lift us up. His words to us encourage, comfort and bring hope. He knows the world is filled with troubles and trials, but don’t fret.

“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 16:13

     Believe God and His promises today. Let Him fill you with His deep peace and joy, understanding that nothing can ever separate you from Him. Nothing Not ever. His promises are eternal.

Father,

Forgive us for losing our trust in You and for not believing Your word filled with promises. Give us peace and joy in our hearts. Grow within us the good fruit of Your love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Heavenly Hope

 

     These earthly bodies we live in are temporary. Paul refers to our bodies as “tents.”  Our soul and spirit have been redeemed through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are seated in heaven forever. Our immortal bodies will one day replace these temporary tents.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption. It is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:12-14

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

     Death has no hold on us. Our immortality awaits! At the top of my list of favorite Scriptures verses, you will find three verses in 2 Corinthians, the 4^th chapter. These verses remind me to keep my mind and my eyes fixed on God above and on our eternal destiny. Knowing our true home awaits, our forever home, gives us peace and hope. Inwardly we are growing in glory day by day, even as our bodies, our temporary tents, wear out.

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

     Verses of such hope!  Our “light and momentary troubles,” certainly don’t feel light and momentary, do they? But as we fix our eyes on eternity, we understand our glorious arrival will be worth it all. Keep your eyes and minds on things above. Our home awaits!

Father,

Your hope and promise of our heavenly home will give us strength to live out our lives for You. Keep us focused on our purpose in these temporary tents. We await Your coming. Your footsteps draw ever near.

In Jesus name,

amen

Now and Forevermore

 

     God’s heart is with you in your suffering. My heart aches for so many right now, those grieving a loss, for those going through treatment for cancer, for those suffering chronic pain and disability. My prayer list is long and I consider it an honor and a privilege to pray. God hears our prayers. He sees our hearts.

     We don’t always find answers, but we know the one who holds eternity in His hands. We know the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He sent us Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, the Alpha and the Omega. Can we trust Him with all of it? We can, and as we do, we find peace.

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

     God sees your pain. He will protect you, and walk with you,  and watch over you, now and forever.

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

     His promises and His purposes remain for all of us. His answers are eternal and so are we.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come I say, “My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10.

     God is speaking to all of us in need. His heart is there now and forever.

Lord,

The tragedies and trials of this life cannot be explained in our humanity. But we trust You with our lives. Bring Your hope and peace, Your comfort and Your strength.

Amen

The Tapestries of Our Lives

 

     Allowing God to keep us content at every season of life, allowing Him to give us strength in our weaknesses, does not come naturally to us. What about trusting Him with our very lives? With the lives of our loved ones? I am struggling with this one right now. Some family members lost their 25-year-old daughter suddenly. She was taken to the hospital and two days later, they had to make the decision to let her go.

     How do we handle the grief? How do we find answers? I do know this. To God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. Think about a beautiful tapestry. On the back side all we see is a mess of threads, of knots, with no rhyme nor reason to it. But, on the flip side, we find a magnificent work of art.

     Our lives, in their entirety, won’t make sense until we reach heaven.  God uses our lives in ways, in shapes, in patterns we cannot imagine and often, don’t recognize. It will all be for His purposes. The life of this beautiful girl mattered to God. Her life made an impact on so many. We won’t have the answers to the brevity of her days. It simply does not make sense through our earthly eyes.

     But in the eternal eyes of our God, He knows.  Our days are short here on this earth. Compassion, kindness, and the love of Christ are meant to be shared, even through these dark moments with no answers.

In all this, you greatly rejoice. Though now, for a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:6

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

     In the first verse above notice the phrase, “for a little while.” Our lives matter to God. But we are here for just a little while. Soon, very soon, all will make sense in the beautiful tapestries of our lives.

Father,

Keep us comforted and at peace in our grief. Give us the hope of heaven, the coming home, the final understanding of it all. Bless my family members in their deep heartache.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Our Thorns

 

     As we savor our moments and appreciate where we are in life, we recognize and remember the tough times we had or will experience in this crazy life. Each stage has its ups and downs, its sorrows and joys, and times of living with a constant, “thorn in our side.”

     Our babies get sick, suffer ear infections. There are hospital stays. Our adolescence is filled with awkwardness, with bullies, with emotional roller-coasters. There are dissolved relationships, loss of jobs, death of loved ones. You have your list of heartaches and so do I.

     I live with diminished eyesight on a daily basis, due to an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. God has been faithful and worked in wonderful ways using this for His glory. Several friends live in constant, chronic pain, others with difficult relationships and stress, still others in treatment for cancer. Did you know the apostle Paul lived with a “thorn in his side?”

     Three times he prayed for this thorn to be removed. Each time his request was denied. Theologians have grappled with this thorn. Was it living with persecution, with a chronic health issue? I believe the answer was purposefully left out, so each of us could identify with him.

     My personal belief is that he lived with diminished eyesight like me. There are two verses that speak to me in this belief. A group of friends in Galatia have nursed Paul through an illness. He has preached the Gospel to them. As he warns them about being led astray, he remembers.

Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify, that if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Galatians 4:15

     Paul also makes mention of his large handwriting. (Like mine!)

See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! Galatians 6:11

     There are conflicting views on the verse above. I choose to go with the theory that Paul’s eyesight caused him to print in large letters. Can you relate to living with a “thorn in your side?” God can use all of our thorns, our suffering, our daily struggles to rely on His strength, to develop compassion, to teach and to encourage. How is he using you? Listen to Paul’s answer as his third prayer for healing is denied.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

     May God’s power rest on you today, as you struggle with any weakness or thorn. May His grace be sufficient for you right now.

Lord,

There are no words to thank You for the blessings you bring even through our darkest moments, our deepest struggles, our thorns, our tough times. Your grace is always enough.

In Jesus name,

Amen