Delight in Him as He Delights in You

    My computer is under repair...not sure when it will be up and running. Please take time today to delight in Jesus.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

As you look to Him, His desires will become yours and your joy will be complete.

Dear Jesus,
We delight in you above all else.  Match our hearts to Yours.
Amen

I will be back to my blog as soon as I can!

Simon (Peter) Says

     As Peter writes his last letter, he makes it clear. God has let him know he will not live much longer. He reminds us of God’s sovereign timing. And he reminds us not to grow weary. Many will scoff at the truth of the Lord’s coming. Do not listen to them. God is not slow in keeping His promises.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

     Peter goes on to write of the final days of heaven and earth, of the new heaven and earth awaiting us. And He reminds us to live in peace with God, to live good and godly lives. How do we do this? Here are Peter’s final words to you and me.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen 2 Peter 3:18

Lord,

Teach us how to number our days and to live our lives in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. He is patient in His coming. He does not want to lose anyone. Help us to grow in our faith.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Simon (Peter) Says

     In the economy of eternity God sees a thousand earth years as a day! According to the Bible we are just beginning the third day since the birth of Christ. From our finite viewpoint, 90 years is a long life and a worthy goal. From our heavenly Father’s eternal viewpoint, our lives are but a moment in time. Peter calls it, “a little while.” (see 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 are like a day. 2 Peter 3:8

     And in 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul calls our earthly tribulations,  “light and momentary troubles.” What would happen if we begin to view our lives in light of eternal reality? Bringing glory to God and sharing love in His name would be of the utmost value.

    Store up for yourself treasures in heaven. (see Matthew 6:20) and I’ll see you in heaven in just a minute.

Father,

Your purposes and plans are eternal. Your thoughts and Your ways are so much higher than ours. Help us to trust You with our finite earthly lives, knowing we have an eternity of glory awaiting us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Simon (Peter) Says

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

     Are you ready to give an answer for the hope within you? Will you be able to speak up for Jesus when an opportunity arises? Can you share the love that has transformed your life? Peter’s last words in this verse are a good reminder to us as we share Jesus; “…do this with gentleness and respect.”

     My greatest desire, my deepest heart-felt prayer, my urgent hope, is for everyone I know and love to know Christ.  Be gentle. Respect others and their opinions. But be ready to give an answer for your joy and peace. Be ready to share the Gospel, the good news of Jesus. Eternity is at stake.

Jesus,

Our hearts long for others to know You and the power of Your resurrection. Everything depends on You. One day soon, all evil will be placed under Your feet. Sin will be vanquished once and for all, and those who believe will be with You forever.

Amen

Simon (Peter) Says

     The apostle, Peter, followed Jesus for three years during His earthly life. He denied Him three times as Jesus was arrested and put to death. After the resurrection Peter would never again deny His Savior and remained bold and brash and courageous until he died for his faith. Shortly before his death, he would write these words:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ in His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 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 1:3-6

     Take in the verses above slowly and rejoice! Through our faith in Jesus we have new birth now and an inheritance, kept in heaven, that will never fade away. This life is, “for a little while.” Let these words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, lift you up, no matter your mood, no matter your trials, no matter your sorrow. In a little while, we will be in eternity, with immortal bodies, living on a new earth and invited into a new heaven, in fellowship with Peter and other believers throughout history. Your loved ones will be waiting to welcome you home. And Your Savior will meet you face-to-face.

Father,

We thank You for the inspired words of Your servant, Peter. We rejoice in the hope of salvation and the inheritance waiting for Your sons and daughters. Let the deep peace and joy of our souls radiate to the world around us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Simon (Peter) Says

     Simon, the fisherman, was one of the first to be called as a disciple. Jesus gave him the name, Peter, which means “the rock.” Peter, along with the others became the steady foundation of the early church. They would write what would become the finished work of the Word of God.

     Peter was brash and reckless and bold. He spoke without thinking on more than one occasion. Right after Pentecost, filled with the Holy Spirit, he converted thousands of men and women to follow our Lord. Can we say without fear, the words of Peter, in fear of being arrested?

As for us, we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

Jesus,

Keep us bold. Change our lives so much that we can’t help speaking of all You have done for us. Like Peter, we want to share You with others.

Amen

Great Advice-The Word

               

     Read God’s Word. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Research it. Dig into it. Saturate your mind with it until it settles into your heart. I guarantee a hunger and a thirst will develop for it. The more you read, the more you want. There is no end to the blessings it offers. You will get to know Jesus and His ways. Truth will reign.

     Sit in awe at the scope of wisdom offered, the prophecies that have come true and the prophecies yet to come. See Jesus foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament and how His death and resurrection fulfilled the law and the prophets. Read about His return and the glories of heaven. Not one Word has been proven wrong. Science, archeology, and history only continue to prove its truth.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. Psalm 19:9-10

     Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh. (John 1) The Bible is all about Him, from Genesis to Revelation. The story of creation, of Israel, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of David and Solomon, of the prophets from Deniel and Isaiah to Micah and Zechariah, from the story of Moses and the escape from Egypt, to the baby born in a manger. Read about the flood and the ark, of Jonah and the whale, of the twelve disciples, about the transformation of Saul into Paul. Read about life and how to live it and about the life to come. Eternity awaits. Read all about it ahd go forth and live it!

Jesus,

We pray for Your Word to enliven us, to restore us, to redeem us, to teach and guide us.  Develop a hunger and a thirst in our hearts to meditate on it daily, until everything we do and see is seen through Your eyes. Let us live for You.

Amen  

Great Advice-Grace and Truth

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

     Our churches today may err on one side or the other of grace and truth.  Truth hates sin. Grace loves sinners. How do we balance them both? Jesus shared His compassion and love with all people. He came for the sick, the sinner, for you and for me. He saves us and turns us from our sin.

     Strong Christians today are known for the truth they stand on, which is important. And too much grace with no Biblical truth waters down the Gospel and brings us into the follies of the world. Love and share Jesus and stand for His truth. It works. The Gospel saves and Jesus transforms. He lavishes His grace on us and sets us on the road to obedience. He wants only the best for us, not a watered-down version of what the world says is best. Don’t settle for conformity. You are sons and daughters of the King. Accept His protection. Accept His grace. Follow His truth and you will be blessed.

Lord,

Keep us balanced in truth and grace, filled with compassion and not compromise. You love all of us, but you do hate sin. Let Your Spirit continue to sanctify us into the life You have in store for us. It is beautiful and blessed.

Amen

Great Advice-Be Filled

     Being filled with Jesus will increase your joy and peace. Jesus calls Himself the bread and water of life. Our spiritual health is more vital than our physical health. In fact, our spiritual health can overflow into our physical health and well-being.

     Place your faith in Jesus. Trust Him to take care of you and your life. Spend good, quality time with Him. Make Him the number one priority of your life. As His Word and the Holy Spirit fill you, the power of Christ will overflow onto others.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5;6

…and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Jesus,

Fill us to the brim until we overflow with Your love. Keep our focus on You and let Your Spirit work in our hearts with the abundance of joy that only comes from You.

Amen

Great Advice-Be There

     The best advice is often the advice not spoken. Our one-on-one care ministry team has been trained in the art of listening. Allowing others to talk and to grieve and to unburden their hearts gives them the opportunity to heal. The more we can allow ourselves and allow others to let go of, the more we come to a place of understanding, a place of peace.

     In most cases, the best gift we can give another when they hurt, it to be present.  Quick answers and platitudes offer no real cure. A silent friend can be the most refreshing and effective.

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

     When we bring Jesus into the presence of a hurting person we bring His comfort. He refreshes the weary with His gentleness, His kindness, His goodness.  Do not be quick with solutions and answers. Bring the presence and love of Christ. The Holy Spirit will guide you as you listen and love.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Jesus,

We trust You with our silence and with our words. Guide us as we enter into the suffering of others. Take away our fear of silence. We share Your comfort as we have been comforted.

Amen

Great Advice-Listen

     The Holy Spirit is our teacher and our guide. Many times I find myself trying to take His place. I judge or I preach or I talk over others with a point I want to make. When it comes to my beautiful daughters I have often given them answers to questions they did not ask. Wanting the best for our children often means allowing them to find the answers for themselves just as we did. We learn through trial and error, through prayer, through patience and, often, through suffering.

     The Holy Spirit will do His job. He will find the answers and the solutions. Some great advice comes from the Holy Scriptures:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

     The Holy Spirit will do His work in our lives and in the lives of other believers. He intercedes in our lives and brings us into God’s will. Be quick to listen.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance of the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Father,

We thank You for the Holy Spirit’s work within us. He will teach and guide, comfort and intercede for us as we grow in our faith. We long to be quick to listen and slow to speak as we trust in You, our triune God to act.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Yes and Amen!

     We’ll finish out the week with praises to God! We say “Yes!” and “Amen!” to Him on this brisk winter day. His glory shines brighter than the brightest sunshine. His grace falls upon us when we don’t deserve it. His mercies are new every single day. Think about Jesus as you go about your day and represent Him well. Seek kindness and goodness. Forgive and show love. Smile with His joy and rest in His peace.

Yes!” “Amen!”

For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen  Romans 11:36

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen! Galatians 6:18

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen  Ephesians 3:21

To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:11

Jesus,

In Your name the powers of heaven and earth rest. To You comes the glory forever and ever.

Amen

Yes and Amen!

     Let your soul say, “Yes” to God’s rest. Give Him every achy muscle, every worry of your heart, every unanswered question, every unkind thought, every unhealthy habit, every anxious moment and lay it at His feet. He will guide the works of your hands today. He will be beside you to listen. The future is in His almighty hands. Yes, it is.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God, my hope comes from Him. Psalm 62:5

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us-establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17

Lord our God,

We find rest in you. Quiet our anxious thoughts. Establish our ways to align with Yours. We say, “yes” to You. Shine Your favor on us

in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Yes and Amen!

     One day every person under heaven and earth will see Jesus. For many it will be too late to stay in the presence of God; why not bow the knee to Him today and say, “Yes!”  All of His promises have come true. All of creation is waiting for His return. Are you? Wait expectantly for Him to work in your life. Wait expectantly for Him to show Himself to your friends and family. And wait expectantly for that day when He returns for us.

Therefore, My people will know My name; therefore, in that day, they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I! Isaiah 52:6

Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow on heaven and on earth and under the earth. Phillipians 2:9-10

     One day every single knee will bow, even the demons under the earth. And on that day it will be too late to say, “Yes!” He gives everyone a chance to do so. He does not want to lose even one.

Jesus,

Your name has the power of heaven and earth within it. We praise Your name today above all else. God has given You all authority over heaven and earth. You are the One. You came for us to save us.

Amen

Yes and Amen!

     The word, “Amen” is a universal word. There is no other way to say it in every culture. When we say, “Amen” after a prayer or after hearing a sermon, we are agreeing wholeheartedly with what has just been said. It means, “Yes, let it be so.”

     The Jewish people traveled to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. As they traveled up the hills to the temple, they would sing and speak the Psalms of ascent, followed by “Amen!”  Let it be so that we may praise the Lord and glorify His name.

Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.  Psalm 72:19

Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen! Psalm 89:52

Jesus,

We say “Yes” and “Amen!” to You every day as we sing Your praises. May the whole earth be filled with Your glory.

Amen and Amen

Yes and Amen!

     Jesus never changes. He is eternal. He is Creator and Lord. All things were made by Him and for Him. He is not surprised by the world. He has overcome it. He knows the words you will speak before one comes out of your mouth. Why do we continue to doubt? Why do we fear? Why do we fret? So much of life appears to be beyond our control. But not His.

     When we sin, He forgives. When we doubt, He reassures. When we fear, He comes alongside. When we grieve, He comforts. When we are burdened, He says, “Come to Me.”

     Believe in His sovereign grace to see you through this sometimes impossible life. He works for your good. He turns things around. He redeems and restores. He is your Lord. You can put everything in His mighty hands. Yes and Amen!

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen”  is spoken by us for the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Jesus,

We say “Yes!” and “Amen!” to You. Give us Your complete peace with the understanding that You are sovereign above all things. We trust You to work through our circumstances to show Your glory.

Amen