Moving Forward

 

     It’s hard to leave the past behind. In fact, it can be overwhelming and seemingly impossible. Letting a relationship go even when we know it’s the right decision. Letting go of a loved one to death or divorce, being let go from a job you need. Worrying over a diagnosis and the future. Life’s journey can wear us down and out.

      There will be times in our lives when God feels impossibly far away. We know He is there. We believe in His promises to us. Somewhere down the road, we will get there a step at a time. God knows you. He will take your hand and lead you on a new path.

“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

     Jesus will hold you up. He will comfort your broken heart and move you forward. He will make the memories sweet. He will use your loss and your heartache and your fear for His purposes. Your weakness will be His strength. Hold onto the Savior. He works it out. He moves us ahead. He gives us hope for tomorrow.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13

Father,

Moving ahead can be so hard. Give us the ability to trust you above our circumstances until we can see a bright, new future ahead. Bring hope when there appears to be none.

Amen

Joyful in Hope

 

     How do you react to life transitions and change? We move from season to season, some with ease, some with discomfort, some with sorrow and some with us kicking and screaming. God opens doors and closes others. Are you living in a time of transition?

     Change can be scary. What’s next? As long as we live, God has an answer to that question. I know as He closes doors in my life, there will be new opportunities just ahead.

     Is this time of your life going well? Stop and give praise and gratitude to God. Dealing with some questions about the future? Ask God to guide you through. Pray for answers. Pray for a new beginning. Wait, pray, and listen for God’s leading.

     Life brings tragedy and triumph, rejection and reconciliation, disaster and delight. God works through all of it. I pray for you today. I pray you know Jesus. I pray you trust Him above all else. I pray for you to find triumph and hope through whatever season of life you find yourself.

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

Lord,

Whatever life brings our way, we ask for patience, joy and the willingness to pray and wait. It isn’t easy, but you will bring us through into new life.

Amen

Loving Our Enemies

 

     Our battle in this world is spiritual in nature. Satan and his angels are working overtime to destroy our witness, to continue violence, division and hatred.  All tools of our greatest enemy. He will look for ways to rob our peace.

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

     Jesus reminds us that evil will increase in the last days. Storms will rise, wars will continue, pestilence will reign and men will call good evil, and evil, good.  None of this comes as a surprise to our Lord. What does He ask us to do? He gives us these challenging and profound words.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5::44

But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

     Only with the help of the Holy Spirit is it possible to pray for those we don’t understand, to love those who want to kill, steal and destroy.  I try to remember that they need love as much as we all do. They are searching for answers and lashing out as we all do. Lord, help us.  When evil is running rampant, these words from the Psalmist may help.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong, for like the grass, they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pastures. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:1-4

     Remember these simple instructions every single day.  Do not fret. Trust and do good. Delight in Him. He will allow us to enjoy and receive His protection in safe pastures. His will be done. Pray for those who want to hurt and destroy. God’s plan will ultimately run its course and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Lord,

Keep us mindful of who You are and how we can best do Your work during these trying times. They come as no surprise to You and You have given us clear instructions. Help us to trust in You and to do good while we are here.

In Jesus name,

Amen

See you back here on October 26th!

Living For Love

 

     It is difficult to be loving in this world right now. The climate is filled with rage and violence, with hatred and suspicion, with division and misunderstanding. When we see so many hurt and lost people, it is hard to know just what to do. Most of the time, we want others to understand and agree with our positions. I know that’s how I feel. There is fear and unrest in the streets. Where do we go?

     The Bible helps us to remember this: We represent a loving God in this world. Showing kindness, encouragement and hope may seem impossible now. My tendency is to pull away from any confrontation or conflict. But we can meet the challenges around us. Here are some clarifying words from the Holy Spirit for us today.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:29-31

     Staying away from all of the above proves impossible in the times in which we live, but we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can live out the following words, in opposition to the malice, anger and violence we witness.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Lord,

Thank You for forgiving us and loving us. Remind us of the people around us who do not know You or Your abiding love. Please help us to be kind and forgiving in the world around us. We need You.

In Jesus name,

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 by following the rules. Our guilt may keep us from receiving His unconditional love. It might be difficult to believe that His kind of love 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 dear 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 sinner, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     God’s love for you is beyond this earth. He died for you and me. Let that lavish love fill you, that 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