Life Lived Separately

 

     Are you living apart from a loved one? The cause for separation can be as simple as moving to another state. Some of our separations are not our choice. I remember speaking to my aunt in Oregon frequently as she tried to imagine life without her husband of 72 years. It seemed utterly impossible for her.  She clung to Jesus and her family and she is now happily reunited with Paul in heaven.

     Others have lost children to addiction or death. There are broken relationships between couples and within families that cause grief and loss. What do we do when we live apart from those we love?

     There are no easy answers and each person’s grief is unique. Grief needs to be walked through and deeply experienced. When we close ourselves off to our true grief, it always comes back to harm us.

     Jesus finds hope in any situation. His words offer us compassion, kindness, graciousness and peace. Our prayers go right to His heart and He is there to heal any wound. With Him, any separation is temporary and as the apostle Paul reminds us, we do grieve. but we grieve with hope.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as the rest who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

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

     Hope is powerful and eternal. The Bible continually reminds us of the brevity of life, comparing our lives to a wisp, a vapor, like the grass that withers away. Here are my life verses.  You will notice that God mentions our troubles on this earth as “light and momentary” when compared to eternity.  It certainly doesn’t feel like that when we suffer.

     But in a little while, in a moment of time, we will be healed eternally, never to die, in paradise with Jesus!

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. For what is seen is temporary and what is unseen in eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

     I pray for many of you and grieve as I see and hear of your suffering. God’s hope is there, eternally present.  Fix your eyes above.  Fix your eyes on what is unseen. Fix your eyes on Jesus.  Amen

Life Shared Spiritually

 

     There is something above the relationship among Christians that is deep and nourishing. When two Christians meet for the first time, there is an immediate bond. I remember one day, as I waited for my husband to be done with a dental appointment, a woman and I began a conversation in the waiting room.

     The conversations couldn’t have lasted more than ten minutes. In that very short time, we shared family news and ended up talking about our favorite Bible studies. As my husband came out, we hugged and said we would pray for each other.

     My husband often shakes his head as I make yet another best friend. That is the life Christ gives us. We have true brothers and sisters all over the world. We have the ability to pray for one another, to be close spiritually, no matter the number of miles between us, and we forge instant connections. The relationships are immediate and real, because Christ is in the center of them.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members, one of another. Romans 12:5

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1

Father,

Today, we thank You for the body of Christ. Keep us united as we take care of one another in love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Life Shared Spontaneously

 

     Many years ago, our daughter and her husband invited a sixteen-year-old relative to stay with them, as she struggled with challenges in her home life. This was unexpected and mutually agreed on in a moment of time. They did not know how long she would stay, or exactly what she needed.

     But, the beauty of our God remains steadfast. He brings people into our lives seemingly out of nowhere. The spontaneity is no coincidence. God’s footsteps continue to walk ahead of us with a plan. As you walk into new situations, trust His lead and His wisdom. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will bring words or heart-felt actions directly from Him. Watch how He will bless others through you.

     I am so proud of our daughter and son-in-law for so many reasons. But their heart for God and for others is a profound blessing to watch.

For the Holy Spirit will give you, at the right time, what you should say. Luke 12:12

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

Lord,

Today we ask You to keep us from fear as You place opportunities in our path. Give us the words and the actions to be Your hands and feet, to speak Your Words, to love in Your ways, as we walk through the rest of our lives.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Life Shared Sacrificially

 

     Sharing life can be difficult. When our family and friends are suffering, we suffer along with them, longing to take away their pain, their loss, their sadness. Loving others sacrificially blesses them and, in due time, we ourselves will be blessed.

     Jesus is the perfect example of sacrificial love. He separated Himself from His Father in heaven, choosing to live out a life for one purpose only. That purpose was to die in our place, to suffer the consequences of all of our sin, to take on a fallen world in what was the most agonizing death of all time, and He overcame death for us.

     If you are in an exhausting situation of care giving, of uncertainty, of giving, if you are tired and weary of waiting and wondering, let Jesus comfort you. He has been along the same, tough road and He understands.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

     Sometimes, others can’t give us just what we need, but Jesus can. He came to do just that. Here are the words Jesus quoted, words prophesied long before His birth. Let them comfort you.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

Jesus,

Comfort the care givers and their families. Give strength to the weak. Give us hope when we see none. Be our guide and our protector.  You will lift us up.

Amen

 

Life Shared

 

     There is a Swedish proverb that reads, “Shared joy is double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” God created us to share life together. He designed marriage, along with the gift of children, for some. He created friendship and family and love.

     When our lives are filled with deep connections and commitment to one another, it becomes more manageable to navigate what can be a treacherous journey at times. When I was a little girl and something wonderful or something awful occurred at school, I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my mom and dad. They had answers. They congratulated, comforted and corrected me along the way.

     Now, I share my deep concerns and deep joys with my family and friends.  What a blessing and a privilege it is to be open and authentic with those we love, listening and lifting one another up with encouragement and hope.

     Walking alongside others throughout our lives is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. If you find yourself alone, remember God is your constant companion. You can run to Him with all that is in your heart and He will find others to surround you. Here is a verse to take along with you as you go through this day.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

Lord,

I thank You for all of the people is my life, my husband and children, my sons-in-law and my grandchildren, my friends and acquaintances and my extended family. Keep all of our eyes open to those in need. Show us how to walk beside others, even for a little while.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Nourishment for the Soul

 

     Life changes find us feeling the need for deep nourishment and rejuvenation. Jesus has the answers and the ability to fill our deepest needs. Our soul and spirit need to be fed and filled just as our physical bodies need nutrients and hydration to survive. In fact, Jesus calls Himself the “bread and water” we need.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

     Filling up with the God’s word and allowing Jesus to feed our souls means we will never be thirsty or hungry for our deepest desires again. A saying came to me last night. I’m not sure if God gave it to me or if I heard it somewhere, but here it is:

     “With Jesus, even when everything else is gone, we are left with everything we need.”

     Jesus knows us deeply. He understands our quirks, our weaknesses, our flaws. He loves us in a more intimate way than anyone else. Allow Him to nourish you today. Ask Him to feed you good spiritual food and the living water that leads to eternal life.

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

Jesus,

Fill the empty places in our souls. Give us the living water that will flow within us. We long to be filled with the bread and water of life.

Amen

 

Capture Every Thought

 

     The changes we deal with may be a product of our own minds. I have dealt with anxiety and panic attacks off and on since I was 14 years old (around the time of my dad’s untimely death.) They appear out of nowhere. My heart races. I want to escape, but can’t. Waves of fear and dread encompass my body and they often raise their ugly heads in the middle of the night.

     I have gone many years without them and suddenly, they are back. I find it interesting how God brought about the verses from the blogs this week to remind me. He is there. He is in charge. When I allow Him to fill my body with His peace and joy, the panic, the fear, the heart-racing will subside. Satan uses our weaknesses to stop us in our tracks from being all God has planned for us.

     God is stronger and mightier and He will bring us into His glorious rest, even iin the middle of the night. The changes this week are to bring God into my thoughts and fears. We can capture EVERY thought. Listen to this verse.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

     Let Christ take control of your every thought. Joyce Meyer wrote a book called, “The Battlefield of the Mind.” That is where so much of my trouble lies. Within my own head!  How about you?

Dear Lord,

Thank You for bringing us the right words and promises for us, just when we need them. Guide us through life changes, even the ones we bring about ourselves from within our own minds. We trust You and believe You can bring us back to hope and peace.

In Jesus name,

Amen