The Beauty of the Day

 

     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 Over Death

 

     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 holy blood. We are washed clean and we are already seated in heaven. Even death has no hold on us.

     Can 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

 

Peace and Joy

 

     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 trouble 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 and every day. 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

He Knows

 

     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?

     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. 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. Forever is just around the corner.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Ever-increasing Glory

 

     Beauty in suffering. Goodness from God before, during and following our times of need. The examples of women and men of faith are inspiring. Our struggles tell our stories. Our testimonies reverberate and lift up. Yes, Jesus is the answer. Yes, Jesus has changed my life. Yes, the joy and peace I hold deep within my soul are from Him and Him alone and they are real. Yes, He is the beginning and the end. Yes, He is alive and yes, He is my Savior.

     A faith we can trust through all of this life. A living redeemer who died for us. The one and only Son of God. It is all about Him, through the joys of this life and through the tragedies. It is all to bring glory to Him and that glory can radiate through us even now. He continues to change us into His image! Imagine that.

And, we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image, with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

     Hope in Him. Allow His glory to increase as you receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance and as you follow His ways. Miraculous…beautiful…filled with hope.

Jesus,

You are the final answer, the living hope that fills our hearts. In the midst of our lives, You are there, always there, never forsaking, never abandoning, never leaving our sides. We count on You.

Amen   

The Way

 

     Suffering finds us scrambling for answers. Why is this happening? What do I do now? When will this end? There are no easy answers to the questions, are there? One thing I have discovered over the years. God knows. He understands. He will bring good through it all as we live to serve and trust Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

      These may not be the most helpful or encouraging words to offer someone in the midst of suffering. More likely, we just need a listening ear and a hug, no quick platitudes, no formulas, no pat answers. The grieving process is important and it takes time, so much time. Everyone grieves in their own way, in their own time.

     Something begins to happen over a lifetime of following Jesus. Our trust builds. We witness the ways in which He works. We get through the suffering and come out of it more in love with Him, praising His name and finding hope. He is good. He loves us and His love endures forever.

     Our redeemer lives and one day we will be with Him.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. . If it were not so, would I have told you that I go and prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

    We do know the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:5

Father,

Help us to sit with the grieving, to listen to those in need, to offer compassion where there appears to be no hope. These are Your ways. You show us how. You know our hearts. You understand our deepest needs and You show us the way back to You.

Amen

The Ultimate Hope

 

     You may know the story of Job. We tend to believe that if we do everything right, we won’t suffer. Surely, we will be rewarded for our goodness, our faithfulness, our righteousness in Christ. When we read through the Book of Job, we learn the truth. We all suffer. Maybe no one has suffered more than Job, other than Christ Himself.

     Job followed God. He was a righteous man, rich in family and in possessions. He lost everything. Everything, including all of his children, all of his possessions, even his health. His friends muttered helplessly, placing the blame on Job himself. Read through the book of Job when you have time.

     Job reacts as we might. He weeps, and wails and tears his clothes in anguish. He asks why over and over again, even wondering why he was born. One thing remained unchanged in Job. He held on to one hope. He did not lose faith in his God. Our God. He placed his trust and hope in Him, even in the most-dire circumstances.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship. Job 1:20

     Worship? Is this the first thing you think to do when grief and tragedy hit? Job did. Listen to his confident words. They may be familiar.

”Naked I come from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised. Job 1:21

     Job did not understand, but he never blamed God. Hope remained. Hope in the risen Lord. Finally, Job speaks these words of faith. We can do the same.

“I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth.” Job 19:25

Lord,

Thank You for the examples You give us in Scripture and in our lives of men and women of faith, never doubting Your love and promises. We know we will live with You one day forever. Give us the hope and worship of Job.

In Jesus name,

Amen