The Magnitude of a Moment

     We have been all over the place this week, haven’t we? From a prayer answered in one moment, to a moment of healing after deep struggle, to unexpected death in a split second of time. This morning, I am savoring the moments with our grandson, Gavin, 8 months old.

    I was teary-eyed yesterday on my early walk thinking about the fact that neither of my parents lived to see our two daughters. What a sweet blessing to be caring for this very special little boy.

     Perspective leaves us with the passage of time, gone so quickly. Who can explain it? Today I smile as our grandson is working hard at crawling. Sometimes, he just gets tired and lays his head down on his two little hands as if to say, “I just need a break!”  Cuteness overload!!  His laughs make our day. He is the only one on the planet who smiles at my singing, “Jesus Love Me.”

     And even in the late afternoon, if he is a little whiny, I relate, because I’m tired and whiny, too. These moments, as they all do, will move forward into new milestones, into hesitant steps, training wheels, and cars. After all, Gavin's sweet mama was just learning to crawl a few short moments ago. But, let’s slow down.

     Today, stop for the magnitude of a moment. I hope your special moments will include people you love. Whether it is a spouse, a child, a niece or nephew, a grandchild or a friend, stop and tell them you love them. Sit and smile at the memories and remember the magnitude of one small moment in time.

     It is to be treasured, tucked away and savored over the passage of time.

“A new command I give you. Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning. We should love one another. 1 John 3:11

Father,

The moments You give us go so quickly. Today we understand the importance of love, of taking in each precious second of loving one another. Thank you for the blessings You have lavished on us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

No More Shaky Groud

     So far this week, we have talked about prayers answered in a miraculous way, of lessons learned through hard times, followed by healing and strength, and getting through the tragedies in life. How do we do it? If we could see the future from a young age, I’m not sure any of us would choose to live through it all.  Whew! All of us have our stories to share. God works through all of our stories. He is available all day and all night. He doesn’t sleep.

Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

     In the middle of a sleepless night, talk to Him. After a tragedy, let Him comfort you. When you are facing a decision, listen to Him. When you don’t have an answer, wait for Him. When you are lost, let Him carry you.

     In the middle of the muddle, He is there. In the bottom of the pit, He will lift you out. In the times of rejoicing, He rejoices with you. Let Him be your constant companion through this life. I can’t imagine it any other way. Lean on Him.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:3

     If Jesus is your foundation, you will not be shaken. He will be your foothold, when the ground is shaking beneath you. He will hold you steady. Jesus is our rock. Here are His Words for us today.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

Jesus,

You are the Rock, our foundation through it all. When the streams begin to rise, keep us afloat and above it all, set us on our firm foundation. It is You.

Amen

A Moment In Time

     One moment in time. A stolen car. A police chase. Three innocent people killed in a split second of time on their way home from a gathering of friends. Tragic. Senseless. One of them was an acquaintance of ours, and a good friend of good friends. As sorrow is shared with others, we continue to talk about that split second, that one moment in time, the wrong place at the wrong time. Ten seconds earlier or later, they would still be with us.

     Our lives are fragile. Three lives taken so quickly, so unexpectedly, so tragically stop us in our tracks. God knows the number of our days. He knew us when we were conceived and He knows where we are now. If you read through Psalm 139, you will find the intimacy with which God knows you and how He will be with you every moment of your life.

     He watches over our coming and going and He is with us forever. A comfort through the tragic, a presence in the mundane of everyday life, and a hope for the future. The hope of a heavenly home.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

The Lord will watch over your coming and your going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

Father,

We don’t have all the answers, but You do. Be with the families and friends of those who have died. Comfort their hearts with Your calming presence. Give hope in their sorrow.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Time To Heal

     It is impossible to know the hearts and minds of one another, even those closest to us. 45 years after high school brought back just how difficult those days can be to so many; trying to fit in, being bullied or labeled or hiding emotional pain.

     I had several conversations leading up to our reunion with someone I did not know well back in our high school days.  I would have described her as one of the “cool chicks,” and truth be told, I was a bit intimidated by her

    Turns out high school had been a terrible time for her. Many hurts had followed her for years after and she became an alcoholic. She had not been to any reunions and was filled with apprehension at the thought of this one, even though she has been sober for decades now.

     With some encouragement from old friends, she came. She has begun reading the Bible and we were able to talk a bit about healing and moving forward. I told her she could be a blessing to others. Junior high school and high school can be tough. How wonderful to be at an age where we can be ourselves, to share and talk with those we did not know well and to dive into deep conversations. God is good and He is moving.

     And He is there through every season, with a purpose and a plan and an answer.

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Lord,

There is a season and a time and You watch over them all. Give us hope no matter the season we are facing. And help us to see beyond the surface into the hearts of others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Power In Prayer

     Our 45^th high school reunion was Saturday night. What a treat to catch up with friends from grade school, junior high and high school. I always pray before any event for opportunities to share or to speak to the people God has in mind. Believing in the power of prayer works and a story I heard this weekend reminded me of just that.

    I spoke with a friend who grew up just two blocks from me and he shared his story from about ten years ago. He caught the H1N1 virus and it hit hard. His organs began to shut down. His wife and daughters and other family members were called to the hospital. They believed he was dying. His blood pressure dipped to 40/20.

     As his daughter raced to be with him, uncertain and afraid, she called the Christian radio station, KTIS and asked everyone listening to pray for her dad to recover. Five minutes later she ran into her dad’s room.

     “How is he?” she asked with trepidation. Her mom said something like this. “Everything was shutting down until about 5 minutes ago. Suddenly things have begun to turn around.” He still had a very long road ahead and was placed in an induced coma for a week, but all of these years later, he is healed. He believes it was because of the power of those prayers that his healing began.  His daughter never fails to remind him that she saved his life.

     Maybe you, too, have a story of a prayer answered in a real way, a time when you just couldn’t deny the existence of a loving God answering your deepest prayer.

I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:18

Lord,

Remind us of the power we have in prayer. Power to defeat Satan. Power to be in contact with You. Power to strengthen our inner being. Power to transform our lives.

In Jesus name,

Amen

You

     Miraculously, over time,  as we discover the workings of our inner being, we develop passions to use in our service to God. Putting it all together can be exciting;’ a new adventure awaits! What is Jesus asking you to do? Where is He inviting you to serve?

     Discover who you are and what you do best. The word “enthusiasm” stems from the Latin, “with God.” I love that! Let’s show our enthusiasm for our God by serving Him in the best ways we can, with our unique talents, gifts and personalities and let’s appreciate the quiet gifts as much as the gifts used up front and center.  We all need each other. Our gifts are forever.

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

     Jesus gave us the greatest gift of all time, His very own, sinless life was given to pay the price for us and to give us eternal life. Let’s take that gift and give it away. We were blessed to be a blessing.  You are loved! You are uniquely and wonderfully made. You are a beloved child, gifted for His purpose. Give Him your heart and He will direct your path.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

Lord,

Show us what is next. We are created in Your image, uniquely Yours. Let us use the gifts You have so lavishly given us to gift others with that same love and purpose.

In Jesus name,

Amen

You

     Did you know once we have Jesus as Savior, God gives us particular spiritual gifts? Yes, we each have them! You can see more about them in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4.

     We work together to use our gifts for the glory of God and they are used to help the world around us.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7

     Often, the gifts of the Spirit will match up with our natural abilities, but God sometimes pulls us out of our comfort zone. We realize we can count on Him. Our confidence lies in His strength, in His power, in His ability to use us to bless others.

     Watch and observe your children and grandchildren as they grow and encourage them to be comfortable with who they are and how God has made them. Some of the gifts become clear early. Our daughter, Lauren, had a strong faith gift in Jesus from the time she was 4 years old. She taught me along the way. Our daughter Angela has the gift of administration and helps Both gifts fit her personality and her talents.

     Relying on God was difficult for me when I realized He wanted me to begin teaching. Having received my first bad grade in college in a speech class, left me frightened and like Moses, I asked, “Who me?” Obediently, somehow the words changed into, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.”

     The blessings of following His lead are far too numerous to list, but allow Him to lead you into using your gifts. The gift of helps might fit an introvert. Helping others lead, or setting up and taking down after a meeting or class. The gift of hospitality may find you greeting new members in your church or helping to decorate for a time of fellowship.

     Maybe you are a natural leader with the ability to come up with fresh ideas or you have the gift of mercy and encouragement and could fit into a one-on-one ministry for those in need. The list is long and the gifts are many. But we are all members of the body of Christ. How wonderful are His ways.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Sprit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Father,

You work in all of our many parts to make one body of Christ. We all have something to do in the way You choose. Give us confidence to step out and use our abilities, our personalities and our Spiritual gifts to bless others. You continue to bless us right back.

In Jesus name,

Amen

You

     Our unique talents are a part of us and so are our diverse personalities. Personalities shine from a very young age. How wonderful to watch a baby grow into their own temperament and disposition.

     How do you make decisions? Are you logical and look for the facts or do you decide from the heart and wear your emotions on your sleeve? Emotions or logic? Which one are you?

     Do you prefer to plan your day or go with the flow? Do interruptions bother you or inspire you? Some of us like lists and others want to figure things out as they go. Planners or spontenaity?

     Do you connect with the world with your five senses or your intuition? Do you need to see, touch, feel and smell your way or do you listen to your inner sense of how things work, moving below the surface of what you see and touch?

     How do you gain energy? If you are tired and need to rejuvenate do you want to be around people and places or need a quiet space by yourself? Are you, by nature, more of an introvert or an extrovert?

    You can see from all of the areas listed above, a personality is a complicated part of us. As we discover exactly how we are made, how we make decisions, how we connect with the world and how we re-energize, we discover that others view and make contact with the world in a wide variety of ways.

     If you want to dig deeper, I recommend taking the Myers-Briggs personality test. You can find it easily on line. It gives an in-depth look into all four areas listed above and you will be surprised when you see the description of your very own personality.

     God made you to be you! We often believe one of two things. 1) We need to be more like others or 2) Others need to be more like us! Let's appreciate our quirks, our eccentricities, and try to see the world through another perspective.

     Know and understand that God always looks beneath the surface as He uses our individuality to serve  Him. He needs each one of us for His purpose.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

As water reflects the face, ,so one’s life reflects the heart. Proverbs 27:19

Jesus,

You see us from the inside out. Help us to appreciate the ways in which You have made us and to use our abilities, our temperaments and our passions to walk in Your ways.

Amen

You

     Did you know you were born with natural abilities? Some things just come easier for us as individuals. Love the outdoors and sports? Need to work with your hands? Enjoy doing research and reading? How about creativity and the arts?

     Think back to a project in school you enjoyed. Or maybe it was gym class where you excelled. Math your thing? Some of us like to build, others to dance, some of us (like me) have been bookworms all of our lives. You could be the one who loves to entertain. Cooking and decorating come naturally and others are blessed with your talents.

     The list goes on and on. Just because something comes easily to us, it may not to others. Sometimes we expect others to have the ability to accomplish what comes so naturally to us. You are amazing! Just the way you were created.

     John Holland created a hexagon of career choices and abilities dating back to the 1950’s A version of it is still used to this day. Here is a simple breakdown:

1)    Realistic (the doer) People who work with “things” using activity, skill and strength. The outdoor types, the builders, the engineers, the left-brained at heart.

2)   Investigative (Thinkers) The people who prefer to work with “data” often prefer to work alone rather than people-oriented.   Careers may include researching, librarians, scientists, computer design.

3)   Artistic (Creators) Work with “ideas and things” inventive, original, sensitive, independent and perceptive. May become architects, fasion designers, dancers, musicians, photographers, teachers, artists.

4)   Social (Helpers) Work with “people” work in teaching or helping professions. Relationships are most important and the social types may land in jobs such as pastors, counselors, teachers, human resources, nurses or social workers.

5)   Enterprising (Persuaders) work with “people and data” creating innovative ideas, typically good talkers, with the ability to lead others. They may love the idea of status and power. Professions include economists, business leaders, financial planners, broadcasters, real estate or other sales.

6)   Conventional (Organizers) tend to work with “data and details” love to organize, and are able to be self-controlled Love structure and are task-oriented. Jobs may include accountants, engineers, pharmacist, technical writer.

     You were born with natural tendencies, the natural talents that make you, you!

 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

God created you in a special way, His workmanship, created for His purpose.

Father,

We thank You for our natural abilities, for the in-born gifts You give. How wonderful are Your ways.

In Jesus name,

Amen

You

    This week it’s all about you. You were created in a special way, body, mind, and soul.     There is no one else like you. Unique. Fearfully and wonderfully made. God’s workmanship.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. Psalm 139;14

     You are a one-of-a-kind treasure, created for a time like this, for a moment in time, a season, a generation and God has plans for you! Take that in. And take a path of discovery this week into your natural abilities, your personality type, your spiritual gifts (yes you have them!) and develop all of the above into a passion in serving our Lord.

     When our desires match His, when we have confidence in His creation and His plans,, we can be blessed and enjoy the purposes for which we were created. Let’s journey together.

Lord,

Fill us with the blessings of Your love for us and for the way You have created each one of us so uniquely and wonderfully. We praise You for our talents and for our gifts. Take away our need for competition and comparison and give us the hearts to appreciate one another.

In Jesus name,

Amen

First and Last

     Jesus is forever. He was the Word at creation and He is every Word in the Bible. He is in all and through all and everything was made through and for Him.

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

     Let go of the pain and guilt of the past. Trust Him with the now, with this moment. Have faith in the future. He holds the Words of eternal life. He was before and He will be after. He holds the past and the future. He knows the end from the beginning. And you are His. Wallow in that.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13

     Everything is finished. All things will work out for His glory, in His timing. And He seeks all who are thirsty for what nourishes, for what heals, for all what is true.

He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Revelation 21:6

Lord,

You heal our past hurts. You give us peace right now and You take away the worry of tomorrow. We rest in You as our Savior. Our forever home.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Then and Now and Forever

     There was then. And there is now. Where are you living? I tend to over-think. To move into the what-ifs and the details that really don’t matter. Can we trust Jesus just for now? Can we sit in the moment and listen for His voice? Can we believe that the past is just that and believe Jesus can be there with us minute by minute?

     Let the “now” mean something. Right this very minute.  Pondering past mistakes? Reliving words spoken in haste? Worrying and fretting over tomorrow or next week or next year? Just for today, focus on Jesus and let Him give you joy right now, this minute…for now.

     Relax with Him. Take a deep breath. Understand that He is God. He is in charge. All will work for good in the end, and He wins. The victory over death and evil was won at the cross. It is finished. Now, and ever-after. He is God.

He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a

Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. Psalm 113:2

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

To the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages now and forevermore. Amen

Lord,

You are God. We praise You now. We praise You forever. Take our hand this moment and let us savor it. You ask us to “Be still.” We are Yours.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Old and New

     I have heard people say the Old Testament is full of death and judgment. Do we need to read it? To study it? Or do we focus on the New. Focus on Jesus after the cross. There is freedom and grace because of what Jesus has done. But God has been there from the beginning. With a plan and a purpose. He never gave up on Israel. He still hasn’t.

     The prophecies of the Old Testament continue to come to pass. We understand that the promises of old have been fulfilled and continue to be fulfilled.They are important. The characters teach us and lead us to the future with Jesus. Just as the old lessons in our life push us to new understanding, to new wisdom, to more of our Lord, the full measure of the Bible needs to be taken into account. It all matters. It is alive. It never returns to us empty. Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John 1:1

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

As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so, that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes from My mouth. It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and adhere the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

Father,

Your Word, Jesus, has been there since the beginning. Don’t let us discard even one word from the Bible. Each chapter, every single Word is vital and will not return empty. Your purposes will flourish and deliver the promises of the Word that became flesh and lived among us. It is Jesus.

Amen

Before and After

     Do you remember life without Jesus? Some of us have known Jesus since childhood. Others of us, like me, didn’t really have a relationship until later. I was around 30 when I started asking questions and seeking Him.  I have friends who received Him as Savior in their 60’s and 70’s or even on a death bed. Don’t wait if you don’t know Him. Life changes dramatically when He is involved.

      What changes from before? Did you have peace? Did you have deep joy no matter the circumstances? Did you fear death? Did you feel discouraged and wonder why? Wonder if? Wonder what? Wonder how?

     Somehow, all of the answers of the soul become clear after we believe. After we see Him as Savior. It all makes sense. And we can journey trough life with our Redeemer. The One who sees beyond the here and now. To be able to see good beyond the grove. To make us understand that the work we do now can matter after w are gone. To give us love even when others don’t understand.

     The unanswered questions don’t matter. He has the words to eternal life. If we trust Him after death, can we trust Him with our lives? The answer is a resounding, “Yes!”  Where else would we go?

Simon Peter answered Him. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Jesus,

Where else would we go? You have the answers now. You reach back and heal us from behind. And You move us closer and closer to You with ever-increasing glory. You have always been there. Before. And ever-after.

Amen

Behind and Ahead

     Mistakes made, lessons learned, memories made, blessings counted. Yes, the past has it’s share of all of the above. We can’t discount it. We need to learn from it and work our way through it. And look ahead. Right?

     Unfortunately, the past can hold us hostage. It can keep us from moving forward from hurt and guilt, from abuse, from pain, from grief. Jesus offers us a way through and out. A hope and a future. Can you give everything to him?

     The past can be just that…the past. Learn from it. Gain wisdom from all you  have experienced. And listen to the voice that calls you out. The voice of the One who loves you so much. Your Savior. Your Father. Your Jesus.

     He will listen to your past hurts. And He will heal them. He will walk you through your past experience. And find a new way. He will deal with the voices from behind. And lead you to what's ahead. There is new life. There is transformation. There is deep love. Look ahead. There is a future.

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,

Straining toward what is ahead is no easy task. We think back. We look behind. Teach us to learn, with Your wisdom from our past and to move ahead with You in charge, using all of the past to give us hope and a future.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Deepest Needs/Love

     You are dearly loved:

For we know, brothers and sisters, loved by God, that He has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

     He has called you by name:

He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10;3

     He surrounds you:

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:3

     His love is perfect:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

     He is always with you:

So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

     He loves you with an everlasting love:

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

     And nothing, not ever, can separate you from His love.

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Romans 8:39

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your perfect love surrounds us. Your presence hems us in. We are Your dearly loved children. Nothing, not ever, can separate us from Your everlasting love. You shared that love with us through Jesus, our Lord.

Amen

Our Deepest Needs/Rest

     I have suffered and continue to deal with insomnia, It began when I was a teenager. It is easy to become fearful and overwhelmed in the middle of the night as the clock slowly ticks away the hours. Our bodies and our souls need rest.

     This past week I have had a couple of wakeful nights. Frustrated and tired, I decided to list some of God’s promises to me. And I felt His presence and His peace.

The darkness has no power over our God:

Even the darkness will not be dark to You. The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. Psalm 139:12

He cares for me:

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

He is always present:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

He promises rest:

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs3:24

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

     Have some verses ready to battle your way through Satan’s attacks, through the fear, the doubt, the sleepless nights. His promises are real.

Lord,

You watch over us. Darkness is as light to You. You are present with us with Your everlasting love. Keep us in perfect peace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Deepest Needs/Belief

     God knows the end from the beginning. He knows the words that we will speak before one word leaves our mouth. (Psalm 139) He knows the steps we will take, and He is always ahead of us, making a way. As fallen humans in a fallen world, it is easy to become discouraged when we are facing a trial. Grief is real. Fear is real. Anxiety is real. But God…

     Joseph doubted. But God…(Genesis 41:16) Israel was doomed. But God…(Genesis 45:7) Others can set out to harm us. But God…(Genesis 50:20)  We doubt when we don’t get an answer. But God…(1 Samuel 14:17) We feel guilt. But God…(Romans 5:8) When we feel we haven’t done enough. But God…(1 Corinthians 3:6)

     Believe in the deepest recesses of your soul that God is working. He will overcome all of our weaknesses with His mighty strength. Our constant, steadfast faith pleases Him.

And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Immediately, the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:24

     All God asks of us is to trust, to have faith, to believe.

Father,

We ask You to help us with our unbelief. We long to trust You in every situation, knowing You are ahead of us making a way. Our faith pleases You. We do believe!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Deepest Needs/Prayer

     None of us know what is going on deep in the hearts of others. Often, we may put on our “happy go-to-church" faces, with the typical, “How are you?” And the response, “fine,” or “good,” “And, how are you?”  In Minnesota we call it, “Minnesota nice.”

     Nice is well and good, but heading to church with our fellow believers should give us a safe place to show our hurt, to reach out for help, to forget about people-pleasing or acting a certain way. How do we reach out to others in need? Or ask for help ourselves?

     Our daughter is on a prayer team at her church. The team stands in the front of the church after earh service, offering to pray for anyone with a need. What a gift it is to pray, to offer support and the love of Christ. Are you willing to open up to your fellow believers? I sure have over the years.

     It is a true gift to know others are praying for you. The power of prayer is real and God moves mountains for us. He loves to hear our petitions, our needs and our gratefulness. He understands our deepest needs, the needs that are difficult to share.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With that in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 3:18

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. James 5:13

     Prayer can meet our deeptest needs. Pray continually. Pray for others in need. Pray with gratefulness and praise for your blessings. Make your requests known to our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen