The Potter

 

     The trail behind us may be covered with shattered dreams, with broken pieces, with regret. God, through Jesus, can redeem all of it. He takes the broken pieces and makes them into beautiful clay pots. The cracks left in those pots allow the light to shine through our brokenness.  This healing light brings something new and bright and beautiful.

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:4

     The great potter will mold you into something precious and treasured, unique and beautiful in His sight. You belong to Him.

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the One who formed it, “You did not make me?” Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing?” Isaiah 29:16

     God formed you and He loves you and He will continue to work things out in your life. Ready to begin again? Ready for a new thing? Listen to these beautiful verses made just for you and for me today as we begin again.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

     Let Him show you the way, broken pieces and all.

Father,

It can be hard to look ahead and trust You to transform all that is behind. But You know us inside and out and You will redeem it; all of it. Show us the new things You are doing. Show us the way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Longing For Home

 

     My Uncle Paul died several years ago at the age of 92. He was an inspiration to me over my entire life. When Paul came to town, we were as excited as if we were about to meet a celebrity. He walked on his hands, dove off of cliffs, told joke after joke, and loved nothing more than to make others happy.

     His life was stamped and ingrained with the love of Jesus. He, and my Grandma Pella, were great role models and were filled with the light and love of Jesus. I noticed with both my grandma and uncle and with others in my family and in my church family, that as they aged, they began to long for home.

     They long to see our Savior face-to-face. Our true home is getting closer.

Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11;16

Father,

There are days we long to be with You forever. Thank You for preparing a place for each one of us. This will be our true country, our true home, our blessed assurance of the life to come.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Forever Hope

     Looking ahead to heaven is a worthy way to spend our time.  Our true home awaits us. The number of our years will be just a passing glance in lieu of eternity. Our eternal hope gives us a new reality in our lives. Our most pressing purpose becomes serving the One who offers us our eternal home.

     Living in light of eternity leaves us with hope. On our deathbed there is true hope. Stay in the moment-to-moment events of life with the promise of heaven etched in your heart. Jesus has you this very minute. Trust Him with the next minute and all of the moments to follow.

     Look ahead with hope and with no fear. Let the worries slip away. Worries place the burdens of tomorrow on the blessings of today. Focus on hope. Minute by minute, step by step, there is Jesus. And then there is heaven.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

But in keeping with His promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

Jesus,

You bring hope. Always hope. We eagerly await Your coming. We are looking forward to the new heaven and the new earth. For now, we love and we serve and we trust and we hope.

Amen 

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