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

A New Beginning

 

     When change is forced upon you, watch for God to bring a new beginning.

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

     It’s easy to get lost in the wilderness of our lives, in those times when we don’t see a way out or a trail to follow. We may be filled with anxiety. What’s next? How do I go on? Where do I go? Here is a word from the mouth of our God for you.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

     Allow the change to settle in your heart trusting God for a new beginning. He is making a new path. Trust Him with no fear. Do not be afraid or discouraged. He is with you every moment before, during and after the changes. In fact, it’s a forever kind of thing.

Lord,

Your presence is with us now and forever. We trust You to show us the way through the difficult changes and turns in our lives. You forge a new way, a beginning, and when we trust, we can remove fear.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For A Little While

 

     The loss of a loved one creates unwanted life change. Our hearts are broken. The person we loved and treasured is no longer there as our partner, our parent, our friend. Voids remain in the absence of their smile, their presence, their part in our lives. Relationships and family are the closest we come to heaven on earth and to what matters. And Jesus loves us even more than our closest relationships on earth.

And I pray, that you being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17a-18

     The love of God can fill us again with hope and life and the knowledge that our believing loved ones are waiting for us in heaven.

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

     Our lives are short, even though we refuse to admit it. As Peter claims in the verse above, “now for a little while.” Our lives in the Bible are seen as “a little while, a wisp, a vapor.” Gone just as the grass withers away. Keep it in perspective. See with eternal eyes. Allow God’s deep and abiding love to fill in the voids, the losses in life, “for a little while.”

Jesus,

Comfort those who mourn (Matthew 5) Joy comes in the morning with You. (Psalm 30:5) You help us through our deepest grief and bring us back to peace and hope. Help those who are suffering this day.

Amen

Life and Change

 

     Life brings change. We age. We move. We have children. We suffer through changes in love, health and finances. Are you working through a change in your life, whether self-directed or one thrown at you with no warning? God can be the steady hand, the firm foundation, the voice in the wilderness. He is there as your guide, your leader, your peace in the chaos.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying “This is the way. Walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

     The voice of God brings peace and confidence. As you pray, as you adjust to change, as you stand at the crossroads waiting for direction, follow peace. God will let you know how to walk in His ways. Follow peace.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

     Fear and doubt creep in so easily, don’t they? Trust God over your emotions today. He offers a new perspective, a fresh start, a change in direction, with peace and love. Do not be afraid.

Father,

We trust Your word. We will follow peace. Keep us calm in the midst of changes in our lives. You promise to be our peace and to guide our ways.

In Jesus name,

Amen