Another year is
about to begin. There is something hopeful about turning the page, starting
anew, pondering the year ahead of us. Are you waiting for something? Making a
resolution or two? Praying for transformation?
I gave up resolutions years ago. Invariably, they would be set aside after a week or two,
often with no recollection of what I had resolved in the first place. A few
years back my cousin gave me the idea of selecting a word of the year. This
tradition has made a difference to me, as I decide, with God’s help, where to
place my focus and heart and how the Holy Spirit can help.
Without planning,
the first two years began with an “A word,” followed by “B.” In 2017 my word of
the year was “authentic.” I wanted to be truly myself wherever God took me, in every
and all situations. In 2018, the word chosen was “beginning.” That particular
year, our oldest daughter became engaged, our youngest daughter became
pregnant, my husband was newly retired and we took care for our grandchild full
time. Talk about beginnings!
From there, I continued
the alphabetical theme. Last year the word was “content.” This word came to
mind after witnessing my almost 90-year-old neighbor, Phyllis. She has weakened
considerably over the last couple of years, both in mind and body. This dear
friend of mine is always upbeat and content. The Bible verse that reminds me of
her is found in 1 Timothy 6:6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Godly and content. I want to grow up to be just like Phyllis.
Being content with
whatever life brings can only come through Jesus. This year’s word is
“devoted.” The word is described as being loyal, faithful, true, steadfast,
dedicated, devout, loving, affectionate, caring.
All words that
describe Jesus. As we draw closer to Him and His word, more devoted to Him, the
Bible promises us that we will be made more and more into His image, drawing in
more and more of His light. What a gift it is to be be devoted to Jesus.
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. 1 Corinthians 3:18
Devoted
to Christ. Devoted to family. Devoted to friends. Devoted to study. Devoted to
what is most valuable in life.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one
another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
Father,
Let this year be devoted to You, to become more and more like
Jesus, to listen, read and meditate on Your Word and to shine with the light of
Christ to the world around us.
Amen
See you back here on January 6th. Happy New
Year! I will be praying for you.
Jesus came to this earth to fulfill the promises made by our
God. The promises are many and were written for our benefit by the prophets of
old, filled with and led by the power of the Holy Spirit. Over 300 prophecies
were fulfilled at the first coming of Jesus.
God promised a
future redemption when sin first came upon the earth through one man. Another
man, the perfect man, would, one day, conquer death for us all. It is Jesus.
Thank Him this season. Glorify His holy name. Share His promises with others.
Tell them about His goodness and His unfailing love. He is trustworthy and
faithful even when we are not.
Isaiah left us with
these words. They were written over 700 years before Jesus was born. They were
fulfilled in a manger over two thousand years ago.
Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign.
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son and will call Him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7;14
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given,
and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
“He will
be called Immanuel.” Immanuel, “God with
us.” Worship the Mighty Counselor, our Mighty God, our Prince of Peace. It is
Jesus. God is with us.
Father,
Thank You for the miraculous ways You have fulfilled Your
promises to this earth. We are humbled by Your everlasting love for us. Let the
good news of Jesus spread throughout the world.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Merry Christmas! See you back here on Monday for a note about
the New Year.
My mind and my heart have been on a roller-coaster ride of
thoughts and emotions this week, from the sad news of my uncle moving to
hospice, to laughing often and savoring moments with our little grandson. Where
are your thoughts today? Wherever you find yourself this Christmas season,
Jesus is with you.
God is the only one
who knows the span of our lives and He is present from before our birth until
death.
Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days
ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How
precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast the sum of them! Were I to
count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-when I awake I am still
with You. Psalm 139:16-18
God has Your life
in His Almighty hands. Trust Him with your joys and sorrows. Find peace in the
knowledge that He is with you morning, noon and night, from before you were
born until death and beyond. What peace this brings.
May this season of
joy bring you back to the good news that never fades. Jesus was born. The Word
became flesh and lived among us. (John 1) He overcame death for us. And He has
the whole world in His hands.
Jesus,
Your ways astound us and Your Word comforts us. Help each one
of us to find Your peace that passes understanding through the seasons all the
days of our lives. Be with those who mourn and thank You for the joys of the
season.
Amen
The older I get,
the more I appreciate the breath of life. Having reached my mid-sixties, I find
myself filled with gratitude. So many friends and family members are in heaven. The loss of loved ones reminds us of the fragility of
life and reminds us to savor the time we have now, and reminds us to tell
others how much we love them.
Others have told me
about the joys of being a grandparent and, oh my goodness, were they right!
What a gift to be able to care for our almost-two-year old grandson. He is
filled with personality, with action and with snuggles (once in a while when he
stops for a minute)
He has developed a
few minor fears; i.e. the garbage truck, any loud noise, along with the
“eeshies” he spots on the floor. And often, we will respond, “Do you want me to
hold you?”
Now, when he is
scared, he will look up at me and say, “Hold you, Nana!”
The cutest! Maybe we
can say to Jesus, “Hold You, Jesus,” when we are scared or worried or anxious
or facing a fear. Just as Gavin relies on his mommy and dada and his
grandparents to protect and hold him, we can always go to our protector and
hang on for dear life.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will
rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge
and my fortress, My God in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
We hope to be here
for all of our grandkids, to assist in teaching, to find delight in playing and
in loving them into adulthood. We savor it all, understanding the passage of
time. And we hold You, Jesus to help us through each day.
Father,
Thank You for the lessons we learn from the young children
around us. Teach us to love and find joy and rely on others to help us through,
too. We have You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Watch the children around you during the holidays. Look at the
magic in their smiles and the light in their eyes. Make sure you tell them
about Jesus. A friend of mine reminded me, “Santa gives you what you want and
Jesus gives you what you need.”
The magic of
Christmas needs the Christ child, the baby born to save the world. Children
understand Him better than we do. Just let them know, He is their God. He will
never leave them. He will be there beside them for the rest of their lives. The
Bible lets us know how important it is to train our children in the faith.
Train up a child in the way he should go, even
when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your
care, watching over them…1 Peter 5:2a
“These commandments that I give you today are to
be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit
at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Let them believe in
the magic of the season and let them believe in Christ!
Amen
It is tough to lose someone around Christmas. It can also be
comforting to know that the anticipation of celebrating the birth of the Son of
God, can be remembered as the time that our loved ones found their way home.
Home. I pray you
are safe and protected and live with loved ones this season. I pray your
memories bring smiles and warmth and laughs. How wonderful it is to share life
with people we care about, to share stories, to share joys and sorrows, to
experience all of life together.
If you are lonely
this Christmas, remember you have brothers and sisters surrounding you in
Christ. Church can bring fellowship and love, can offer others to pray with you
and for you and can provide a home away from home.
Church is meant for
the lost, the forgotten, the weary and the guilt-ridden people of the world.
Christ came for all of us lost souls, to save us and give us new life. Let Him
comfort you, bring you hope, and help you find peace in your soul.
He works in the
deep recesses of our hearts, the spots where it is difficult to bring others
in, the dust-filled, dirty corners of our past, the broken parts where our
loved ones used to reside, the parts we need to share, but don’t have the
courage to do so.
Pour it out. He
came to heal us all.
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a
doctor, but the sick.” Luke 5:31
We are all lost and
forlorn without Jesus. Let Him hear everything, all of it and let the great
physician heal you from the inside out.
Lord,
Thank You for taking us just as we are. We all need Your
healing power in our lives. Bring the right people around us to learn more
about You and what You can do. Comfort the lonely and bring joy to the
burdened.
In Jesus name,
Amen
A card and heart-felt letter was mailed off to my last
surviving uncle immediately after speaking with my cousin last week. My
one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life Uncle Paul was about to be moved from the
hospital to hospice care at home.
The call came as a
complete shock. My Uncle Paul and Aunt Mary Ellen, 92 and 91 respectively,
sounded great on the phone just a few weeks ago. They have been married for
seventy-two years and have led an active and healthy life for all of those
years.
My uncle’s eyes
were watering and one lid was drooping, but other than that, all was well.
After a CT scan on his head, the doctors discovered a mass behind his sinus
area that was pressing on his nose and eye, another mass on the back of his
skull, and they believed both to be cancerous. After moving him to the neurological
wing of the hospital, an MRI came back with more shocking news. His entire body
is filled with cancer, from his bones, to his lungs to his spleen.
God has blessed him
with the absence of pain, a miracle! I always tell him how much he means to me,
in every letter, during every conversation. You see, this man has been a role
model and gift to me since childhood. He and my aunt have lived all of their
married life in Oregon. When they came for visits, it was as if the clouds
parted and the sun came out for all to see.
This talented
athlete, all 6’3” of this delightful man, filled those visits with the most
amazing feats. He walked on his hands
down the block, held this delighted toddler in the palm of one hand, his arm straightened
to the sky above, dove off cliffs, made us laugh until we cried with his corny
jokes, and left us speechless with his escapades and love.
Most of all, he has
lived by his life by faith. Our phone conversations always end in the same way:
“Jesus is coming soon, Judy,” and “Shine your light,” followed by, “We sure do love
you and your family and pray for you each and every morning.” What a gift to be
savored. I can’t express how much I will miss his voice, his light, his
testimony, his love and his faithful prayers covering me and my family.
My mom and her
sister and another uncle were all born in Sweden, Paul was born here a couple
of years after the family arrived. Swedish was spoken fluently, and a large
group of Swedes would often gather around the piano and sing Swedish songs.
In the letter to
Paul last week, I said to “Greet the Folks at Home.” In Swedish it translates
to “Halsa Dem Darhemma,” one of the songs I still remember so clearly. My Uncle Paul will soon greet the folks in
heaven, our forever home. Paul has been
ready to go home to Jesus for some time. His beloved son, Dan, is there along with his
parents and siblings. He is at peace and I know the Holy Spirit will surround
their family as they wait for the angels to escort him home.
I hope you all have a larger-than-life person to
bring wisdom and joy to your days, one not ashamed to speak loudly the word of
Christ. Paul has touched many lives and I am more than blessed to have known
him.
I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians
1:3
Dear God,
I do thank You for the long and amazing life of Uncle Paul. I
pray his entry into his heavenly home will be soon and that the journey will be
pain-free. And I know he will hear the words he has longed to hear, “Well done
good and faithful servant.” The folks at home are waiting for a joyous reunion.
Amen
I pray you will
find joy as you continue to anticipate and prepare for this Christmas season. We find it in
the eyes of our young children, in the hearts of family and friends, in the
memories we savor and the memories to come. Treasure each moment.
Ponder the ways of
God over this time and picture His majesty. He offers new life now
and forever and all He asks is that we believe in His Son, Jesus, in his birth,
life, death and resurrection from the dead.
One perfect man
took the blame. He suffered the consequences of a fallen world. He took it all
on the cross, over many hours of excruciating pain and agony. And He lives
today. I pray you will give Christ a chance and open your hearts to Him. The
gift is there waiting for you. Is it time to receive it? The answer waits in
your longing heart. The fear of death can be vanquished forever and your life can
be transformed with renewed peace and joy.
Ponder. Treasure.
Marvel. Pray. He is real and He is waiting for you.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one
and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal
life. John 3:16
Jesus,
Thank You for Your saving grace that offers us eternal life. I
pray for each person reading this to feel the presence of Your Holy Spirit and that their hearts will be opened to Jesus.
Amen
The guarantee of our heavenly home should provide all we need
to get through all that life gives, the good, the bad and the ugly. Remember,
we live in a fallen world. Even with our sins wiped clean in God’s sight, we
will remain fallen, frail human beings until we receive our new bodies and live
forever in heaven.
The earth is
deteriorating along with humanity. The Bible describes all that is happening
right now, in our world, in great detail. None of it surprises God. The earth
groans right along with us.
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children
of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19
We know that the whole creation has been groaning,
as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time. Not only so, but
we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, , the redemption of our
bodies. Romans 8;22-23
The creation waits
eagerly. We wait eagerly. Some days seem impossible to navigate. But,
wait! We have hope. Always hope. And our
Savior offers all we need to get through each and every single day.
The older we get,
the more we anticipate heaven, but even the younger generation should keep an
eternal perspective. The end of this short life is only the beginning of all things
new and perfected. Wait in eager anticipation. He is coming again to set up a
new heaven and a new earth for you and for me.
Lord,
The anticipation continues throughout our lives as we draw
ever nearer to heaven. We eagerly await seeing those who have gone before us.
We miss them deeply. But one day soon, we will see You and we will see them and
the reunion will never end.
In Jesus name,
Amen
If you haven’t listened to the song, “Mary Did You Know?” I
highly encourage you to do so. Mary could not possibly know all that her precious Son would mean to the world.
Mary had an
unexpected visit with an angel. Gabriel gave her the news straight from the
mouth of God. This young girl was highly favored in God’s sight and would
have the privilege of carrying the Son of God and raising Him. It was
impossible for her to comprehend this message, nor understand all that was to
come
. Can you imagine
her thoughts as this precious child grew within her womb, as she raised her
face to the sky above the manger brightly lit by the star, witnessing the
worship of the shepherds and the wise men,
along with the full glory of the angelic host?
But Mary treasured up all these things and
pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
It is
hard to fathom the thoughts and ponderings of Joseph and Mary as they raised
their young Son. There is little written about the childhood years of Jesus,
but as they traveled among their community from Jerusalem to Nazareth, Jesus
stayed behind.
When His parents
realized the twelve-year-old was not among them, they were worried and went
back to find Him. Jesus told them they should not be surprised that He needed
to be in His Father’s house. The others in the temple had been astonished at
His maturity and understanding.
The child’s mother and father marveled at what was
said about Him. Luke 2:33
Let’s take time
over this season of anticipation and hope, to treasure all of these things in
our hearts and ponder them, to marvel in all of God’s ways. How can we possibly
comprehend all of the marvelous works of our God? After all, His own mother and
father, His sisters and brothers, and His disciples could not anticipate all
that was to come.
Jesus continues to
provide moments to be treasured, insight to be pondered, and acts in which we
can marvel. Treasure the moments He gives you today.
Lord,
We can’t thank You enough for the Word of God that brings all
of our human frailties into focus. As we ponder Your birth, and treasure the
truths of who You are, as we marvel at our salvation and all that is to come,
let us praise You from the mountaintops!
Jesus Christ is born! Hallelujah!
Amen
You may have seen or heard about the Advent tradition of
reading through the Gospel of Luke beginning on December 1st with
Chapter 1 and ending on Christmas Eve with Chapter 24. It is always a good idea
to revisit the Gospels and travel along through the birth, life, death and
resurrection of Jesus. There is no better time than in the weeks leading up to
Christmas.
My husband and I began,
what I hope will be, a new tradition of doing just that. Refreshing our
memories on all of the details of the life of Christ will lift us up, and fill
us with renewed anticipation and expectation as we get ready to celebrate all He has done
and all He will do throughout our lives, and for the life ahead in our forever
home.
Maybe these verses
will whet your appetite for more.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For
there is born to you this day in the City of David, a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12
The Son of God and
His humble beginnings, leading to a life of service and sacrifice and to our
redemption as He was raised to new life. Behold! A child is born. Glory to God
in the highest!
Father,
Your Son brought new life and joy into this dark world. The
brilliant star lit the night sky and led the shepherds and the wise men as they
came to the miraculous sight of Jesus. Never let us forget. We anticipate the
celebration.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Are you looking
forward to a future event? Waiting expectantly for an answer? For a prayer to
be answered? For a hopeful outcome? During this Advent season, we anticipate
the celebration of the birth of Christ. We know with certainty that He walked
the earth and grew up as a sinless man, the one who would save us, and we can
anticipate, with certainty, His return.
His timing is
perfect in everything, His purposes fulfilled in their entirety, past present
and future. When the perfect time came to pass, God sent Jesus into our world.
One man brought sin into the world and one man came to redeem us all.
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death
reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s
provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the
one man, Jesus Christ? Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in
condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in
justification and life for all people. Romans 5:17-18
We are filled with
thanksgiving as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ. Christmas
is all about Him, the perfect man. We who believe, receive the gift of His
righteousness, and this precious gift, filled with grace, is given freely to
all who believe!
Jesus,
You gave us life beyond death. There are no words to thank You
for all You have done for this world. We celebrate Your humanity and Your
deity, the Son of Man and the Son of God.
Amen
One other misconception in our culture today is that we can
pray to angels and ask for their help. Angels only listen to and obey God. When
John saw an angel in person as he was receiving information for the book of
Revelation, here is what happened in John’s words.
At this,
I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a
fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the
testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears
testimony to Jesus.” Revelation 19:10
This angel
astounded John and he bowed down to worship. The angel is forceful in his
language. Notice all of the exclamation points! The angels are fellow servants
along with us. There is no need to pray to angels or to anyone else. Jesus is
the intermediary for the Father. We pray in His holy name.
Father,
We praise You for Your plan of redemption and we praise You
for the angels. Someday we will see them face-to-face, along with Jesus. Until
that day, we know they are around us, serving You, just as we do, and we pray
only to the Father through and to Your Son.
In Jesus name,
Amen
There is a misconception among the general population that
people turn into protective angels after death. This simply is not true! We
will be given heavenly, eternal bodies one day, but angels are separate beings,
created by God to worship Him, to serve Him and to glorify Him.
Humans were created
in God’s image. (See Genesis 1) Angels are separate beings described both in
the book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1 and 10 and in the book of Isaiah Chapter 6. The
descriptions of the seraphim and cherubim are incredible and I look forward to
being in the presence of the angelic host one day.
The seraphim:
Above him
were seraphim, each with six wings. With two wings, they covered their faces,
with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Isaiah 6:2
The cherubim:
But each
of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, their feet
were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings
on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings
and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight
ahead. They did not turn as they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of
the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face
of a lion, and on the left, the face of an ox, each also had the face of an
eagle. Ezekiel 1:6-10
Not exactly the
cute image of the cherubs we see in pictures and statues, right? The sights and
sounds of our heavenly home are beyond our imagination and angels are just one
part of all we will see and experience.
Father,
Your creation astounds us as we look around us today during
our earthly lives and when we are in eternity with spiritual bodies and minds
we will see so much more. We thank You for the gift of Your angels. Place them
around us.
In Jesus name,
Amen
I have studied death and dying, have worked with hospice
patients and have heard stories of those nearing death. Many people, as they
near death, see angels There is a story in the Gospel of Luke about an angel
escorting someone to heaven. I love the thought of being introduced into heaven
by an angel. He just might show us around and introduce us to our Lord.
“the time
came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.” Luke
16:22a
This can be a
comforting verse to the dying. Angels are nearby. The dying person may even see
the angels as they near the time to go home to heaven.
Father,
Thank You for sharing stories with us about angels. We are
grateful for their presence, for their protection and for their guidance. They
serve and honor You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
I believe we all have an angel or angels assigned to us by our
God. Our “guardian angels,” although there is no such term in the Bible. One
reason for believing each of us has an angel is found in the Book of Acts.
Peter has been
arrested for his association with Jesus. King Herod has already put James to
death and he plans to do the same with Peter. You can read the full miraculous
story in Acts 12. Many of the disciples and followers of Christ are together
praying for Peter. God hears their prayers and sends an angel to free Peter.
Four sets of four
soldiers each are assigned to guard him day and night and when the angel comes
to wake him, he is chained between two soldiers and two others guard the prison
door. Peter thinks he is dreaming as the angel leads him outside to his
freedom.
In the home where
his friends wait and pray, a servant goes to the door and sees Peter standing
before her. She is so flabbergasted, she slams the door, and runs to tell the
others. And they don’t believe her! Listen to what they believe.
“You’re
out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they
said, “It must be his angel.” Acts 12:15
Did you read the
words, “his angel?” Maybe our spiritual angels can manifest themselves to look
like us? We can only imagine, but I love to think of angels surrounding us and
protecting us and leading us to safety. All because we belong to the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jesus,
We thank You for Your angels. We believe they exist. They are
spoken of over and over again in Your Word. Thank You for giving us access to
Your holy angels.
Amen
This week we will revisit the topic of angels. These blogs
were written about fifteen years ago after an in-depth study on what the Bible has to say about angels. You may be surprised at the truth and the misconceptions we
all have about them. Open your spiritual eyes and let’s take a look.
Did you know angels
are messengers sent in service to the believers?
Are not
all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14
That’s me! I am
going to inherit salvation because of Jesus. How about you? Isn’t it exciting
to think of angels as our ministering spirits? They serve us in miraculous
ways. You may have been assisted by an angel or protected by an angel.
Angels were created
by God to serve and worship Him. Created to do God’s bidding, they hearken to
His Word. If you are reading or speaking Scripture out loud, there may be
angels surrounding you. Angles can take on human form to serve us. You may have
heard about or experienced someone coming to help and then vanishing, seemingly
into thin air. Could it have been an angel? Be kind and hospitable to everyone
and one day you may meet an angel in disguise!
Do not
forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown
hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
Father,
Your ways are wonderful and miraculous. Keep us protected,
served and surrounded by Your angels. Keep our eyes open for ways to serve You.
Who knows if one day we will meet an angel?
In Jesus name,
Amen
Everything we do, everything, can bring glory to God. Every
act of service, every sacrificial act of kindness, the love we give our
families can be seen as a gift offering to God. This just fills me with
gratitude. As we give to others, God enriches us in every way. Listen to these
verses.
You will be enriched in every way so that you may
be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in
thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the
needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of
thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11-12
Thanks be to God!
That’s what it’s all about. None of us will live forever on this earth, but we
will live forever with our Lord and we can never repay Him for all He has given
us. As we live out the rest of our lives, let our lives be enriched by His
blessings as we give glory to Him. Give thanks, always. It is His will for us.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is
God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Jesus,
We honor You with our thanksgiving and praise. You give us everything
we need. Keep our hearts filled with Your love over this holiday season, always
giving thanks.
Amen
Happy Thanksgiving! See
you on Monday
One of the greatest gifts we have is prayer. If you tell others
you will pray for them, take it seriously. Prayer moves mountains. Prayer moves
the hand that moves the world. Prayer changes and transforms and provides
miracles.
Today I pray for
you, giving thanks for you and giving thanks to God. Tell others you love them
and tell them you hold them in your prayers. There is nothing more reassuring
to know others are praying for you. Ask for prayer, and keep praying!
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:16
And give
thanks to God in prayer. Never stop praying.
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Lord,
Hear our prayers. How grateful we are to have this gift of
prayer. We give thanks to You for giving us the gift of salvation, and we give
thanks to You for the people in our lives, and for those who pray. We lift up
our voices to You with all of our petitions and our thanks. You hear us.
In Jesus name,
Amen
With Jesus as our Savior, it comes naturally to be continually grateful.
Through joys or sorrow, through doubt or peace, through struggle or smooth
sailing, through it all, we have Jesus. We have His love, His strength, His
power, His truth, our faith in His timing, and we have the promise of heaven.
Because of this, we can live the rich life of
faith with deep thanksgiving. I pray you will share this love with others, as
well as celebrate Jesus with other believers.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly
as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns,
and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3;15
With gratitude in
our hearts. Be thankful today and every day.
Lord,
There are not enough words to thank You, but we are grateful to have
times to give thanks with other believers, teaching one another, loving one
another and singing hymns of praise to You. To You be the glory today and
forever.
In Jesus name,
Amen
It has been a week
of challenging ourselves to move beyond our own selfish needs and desires, to
bring ourselves closer and closer to Jesus. In getting to know Him more
intimately, in growing in wisdom and knowledge, in our times of prayer and in
the grace He provides daily, we can continue to bring glory to Him. Our faith
pleases Him. Our time with Him delights Him as much as it fills us.
As I continue to
challenge myself in the faith and allow God’s Holy Spirit to do His work, I
leave you with this. I pray it over each person reading today. May it be so!
For this reason, since the day we heard about you,
we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to
fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and
understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the
Lord, and please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in
the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9-10
As we grow in spiritual maturity and in the grace of God, we
finally figure out that it’s not about us. It’s all about Him. We are His
children, His beloved friends, His inheritance, His disciples. When we live our
lives in honor of Him, it brings us out of ourselves into living a life filled
with His Spirit.
All glory goes to
Him, and all of this glory will move with us into heaven one day.
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
I love this
thought. Bringing glory to God doesn’t mean pleasing others. It doesn’t mean a
show of faith and how much we are doing. It might consist of just being in His
presence, of being thankful while cleaning the kitchen, or stopping to enjoy
the sunrise. He will definitely use us in the lives of others, but our greatest
desires should include spending time with Him, and changing other lives so that
they, too, can know Him.
I will give thanks to You, O’ Lord my God, with all
my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. Psalm 86:12
As we mature and
grow in the faith, everything we do, will be about Him. Both Peter and Paul
lead us into living our lives for His glory.
Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking
the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the
strength which God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified,
through Jesus Christ, through whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and
ever. Amen 1 Peter 4:11
Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Father,
We are always in Your presence. You will provide what we need,
when we need it, wherever we are, with the people we meet. You are everything
and to You belongs the glory. Bless this day to Your glory.
In Jesus name,
Amen
If you are
struggling with faith, or in trusting God, or in growing in your faith, join
the club! The disciples were filled with doubt and fear. They stumbled along
the way. They let Jesus down when they fell asleep after He asked them to pray.
They were afraid of the storm when He was in the boat. Peter denied knowing Him
when he thought he was in danger. The list goes on and on in their lives and in
ours. Here is a prayer we can use, just as the disciples cried to our Savior.
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our
faith!” Luke 17:5
Our faith
and trust in God please Him. Trusting in the birth, death and resurrection of
Jesus saves us forever. God rewards us as we continue to seek Him and to know
Him better, to continually increase our faith.
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
Jesus,
Increase our faith! Show us more and more of You. We do
believe that You exist and we earnestly seek You. Bless us with all of the
spiritual riches that belong to us because of You.
Amen
Training our spiritual muscles takes time and training. Our
knowledge of God and our faith-filled life can grow through struggle, through
blessings, through tragic times and joy-filled moments. God works through all
of life, if we are willing to let Him change us and train us.
Our spiritual food
is necessary for our souls. Our training in the Scriptures and in prayer brings
a harvest of fruit into our lives. Don’t be afraid of disciplining yourself to
spend time with Jesus. Just as our bodies sometimes cry out when we put them
through some physical training, our spiritual disciplines can test our patience
and take up our time. Paul reminds us, it is worth it!
For physical training is of some value, but
godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present and
the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8
God tells
us just what our spiritual harvest will look like, as Jesus works on our hearts
through our time spent with Him. Think about what this spiritual fruit looks
like in your own life.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22
When God works on
any one of the fruits listed above, He will provide all of the challenging
situations and experiences necessary to grow us spiritually. Have you gone
through times that tested your patience and learned from them? Have you learned
to discipline yourself in a certain area of your life that wasn’t healthy? Have
you blessed someone that is difficult to be around and felt a peace in your
soul? There are so many ways in which God grows this fruit.
If you are being
tested in some way right now, take it as a good sign. God may be growing the
spiritual fruit necessary to become more like Him. It will bless your life and
the lives of others.
Father,
Continue to grow us even when we are struggling through our
tough times. Teach us Your ways that do not come naturally to us. Keep us
rooted in the vine that is Jesus. He will grow the fruit for us that brings
true value to our present lives and the lives to come.
In His name we pray,
Amen
I’ve been guilty of attending church and thinking the message
didn’t resonate, or the music was too loud, or wondering why they did things a
certain way and not another. You, too? We all have our ideas about what we need
and how worship should be done.
What would happen if we went in with a mind
so full of love for Jesus that we brought that selfless spirit in along with
us? It would change the nature of our thoughts and maybe bring a smile to
someone else, not to mention having a heart full of true worship.
Paul reminds us as,
Christians, we are called to become more mature. It is our responsibility to
soak up God’s Word, to feed on it, to nourish ourselves with it as if it were
as imperative as the food we eat to strengthen our bodies.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers,
you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God,
and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Hebrews 5:12
Just as babies move
from needing only milk, to needing and desiring solid food, so, we too, need to
develop a hunger and a thirst for more of God. And maybe, we will bring out
hearts so full or worship, that we feel God’s presence no matter where we are
with a loving Spirit along with us.
Lord,
Draw us deeper into your Word and into your ways. Let us
delight in the spiritual food you offer us on a daily basis and grow us into mature,
active believers.
In Jesus name,
Amen
God gave us Jesus,
His Son, to show us who He is. The death and resurrection of Christ opened up
the door to heaven for us, now and as we leave this earth. How wonderful to be
heirs of the kingdom of heaven.
Just as our parents
leave us with an inheritance, of genes, of family wisdom, of love and character
and of their worldly possessions, we inherit even more from our Father in
heaven. He has given us the keys to His kingdom through Jesus!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us
to adoption as sons and daughters by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the
good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:3=5
Missing your
earthly father? Missing ever having a loving father? Let our Father fill in any
gaps in your life with His unending love. Your belief in Jesus brings about
every spiritual blessing, a home in heaven, and a loving Father and Son to walk
with you every step of the way. Their love is unconditional, their Spirit alive
and well within you, along with arms of comfort to calm the storms around you.
The keys to the kingdom are available to all! Open the door of your heart today
and call out, “Abba” Father, our daddy.
Father,
You remind us again and again of our spiritual heritage. Help
us to hear Your voice in a stronger way in the days ahead, to trust in You
completely and to allow You to feed and nourish our spirits until they are
whole.
In Jesus name,
Amen
God is more interested in our character than in our comfort.
He trains us and disciplines us. Discipline is never easy, but it is necessary.
If you are a parent, or are involved in the lives of children, you know how
important it is to set boundaries, to work for their good, even when it is hard
for everyone.
God’s discipline is
always, always filled with love. The tough love we give our children and that
God gives us, will build our character, will make us into people that resemble
Jesus. As God gives us opportunities to build our character and build us up in
the fruit of the Spirit, He will build in us a strong sense of self-discipline.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,
but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
True and loving
discipline brings peace to our children and to our families.
Discipline your children, and they will give you
peace. They will bring you the delights you desire. Proverbs 29:17
If God is
working on an attribute of your character, He will bring you through some
difficult situations to build you up. It isn’t easy, for us or for our
children, but the end result is worth it.
They discipline us for a little while as they
thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share
in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later
on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who
have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:10-11
Father,
Thank You for Your example in raising our children. Your Word
is filled with wisdom and knowledge as we raise our families and as we learn
from You. Continue to discipline us when necessary to grow in our faith and in
our righteousness. You are a loving Father.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The job of a shepherd is similar to that of a father. Sheep
recognize their shepherd’s voice. The shepherd keeps them from wandering,
brings them safely back when they are lost, feeds them and gives them a soft
place to land.
You may be familiar
with Psalm 23, reminding us that our Father is is our Shepherd. Our Father
tends to our needs in all ways, and we build our trust in Him, just as the
sheep learn to trust the one in charge of them.
Today place your
trust in our good Shepherd. Listen for His voice. It is unlike any other.
“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My
sheep know Me.” John 10:14
My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they
know Me. John 10:27
Do you recognize
the voice of our Shepherd? He knows you inside and out. Listen for Him.
Lord,
You are a gracious Father and Shepherd. You guide us and teach
us and work for the good in us. Transform us with Your precious voice that is
always available.
In Jesus name,
Amen
As we come to our
Lord as children, it is important to remember to teach our young children to do
the same. Our son-in-law’s 4-year-old son, cries out to his daddy in the night
when he can’t sleep, knowing he is nearby to comfort him. Our almost 2-year-old
grandson considers his “dadoo” his favorite person in the world.
These two little
boys have the best daddies. But sometimes our earthly dads are away at work, or
have gone on to heaven, or aren’t there in the middle of the night. We can all
come to our heavenly Father when we are scared or need a shoulder to cry on. He
is always there, inside us, and surrounding us.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present
help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Psalm 91 is a
beautiful Psalm of God’s protection over us. Remind your children and
grandchildren that God will provide angels to surround them when they are
afraid.
For He will command His angels concerning you to
guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11
Father God,
We praise You for Your protection, for the angels that
surround us and for being our comfort and our strength.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Our Father God is our “daddy.” If you grew up with a loving
dad, you knew you were loved unconditionally. You understood he was there to
protect you, to guide you and to discipline you. Our Father God does the same
for us.
When parents
brought their children to Jesus to be blessed, His disciples tried to shoo them
away, knowing He was busy and worn down. Here is His response.
When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to
them, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom
of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14
Even as a 64-year-old,
I can be a child in God’s eyes. What a marvelous thought. I still miss my
parents so much and how blessed am I, (are we) to be able to come to our Father
in heaven for our deepest needs.
Three verses in
Scripture use the term, “Abba, Father.” It’s meaning is to place full
confidence in and have deep affection for a father. In our language, it can be
interpreted as “daddy.” Jesus used the
term in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He was in anguish before His journey to
the cross, and called out to His Father.
In Romans we are
reminded that the Spirit of God has allowed us to be adopted as children and we
can call out “Abba!” to Him. Here is the third verse in which the term “Abba”
is used.
Because you are His sons and daughters, God sent
the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,”
Father. Galatians 4;6
Cry out to your
Father in heaven when you feel the need for a daddy, who is closer to you than
your own father.
Lord,
How can we thank You for adopting us as Your beloved children?
We cry out to You with our needs as You comfort us and protect us.
In Jesus name,
Amen
I pray the headlines of your life are
filled with blessings at this moment in time. Look underneath and over and
beyond any darkness and watch for the light of Christ to shine. He is with us
now and He will be with us tomorrow. We are His eternally. That is forever and
ever! You are a child of the light, never to walk in darkness again. Believe in
Jesus!
You are all
children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or
to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5
When Jesus
spoke again to the people He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John
8:12
You will never walk in darkness, but will
have the light of life. Take these verses to heart. Allow His light to offer
hope and comfort and blessings each and every day. I love the verses about His
light. I see that special light in my brothers and sisters of the faith. The
light that shines for others in the darkness. The light of compassion and
kindness. The light that looks beyond the circumstances to the true light of
the world.
That is Jesus, our
Savior.
Lord,
Shine Your light
brightly in our hearts. Let it shine around us so that others may see Your
face. When we light the way for others, it lights our path as well.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Beyond the
headlines of the day, Jesus is working. Beyond the struggles in our life, Jesus
is working. Beyond the worry and the fear, Jesus is working. His work in us
will never stop. That brings me comfort. How about you?
Being confident
in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Let’s open our hearts to Him and begin
anew today. Ask Him to work and then believe! Remember, He always, always works
for the good of those who are called according to His purpose.
And we know
that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and have been
called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
He who began a work in you will carry it
on to completion. And as those who love Him, we can be confident in His working
for the good.
Lord,
Give us the
confidence and the peace we need today. You are working even when we don’t see
the outcome, even in the midst of uncertainty. You are in control and we praise
You for Your good works.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The saying goes, “They are so heavenly
minded, they do no earthly good.” In
fact, the opposite is true. With our eyes fixed spiritually, understanding the
nearness of Jesus, we will concentrate more and more on Him and what He has for
us to do.
As we look beyond this world, it doesn’t
mean we aren’t involved. We are citizens of the communities around us. We vote with
our conscience, we volunteer, we recycle, we know right from wrong.
Jesus reminded us to follow the laws of
the land.
Then Jesus said
to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” and
they were amazed at Him. Matthew 12:17
We are also called to respect the
authority of the land and to pray for our rulers. Prayer can move mountains and
will move the hand of our God.
First of all, then,
I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for
all people, for kings and for all in high positions, that we may lead a quiet
and peaceful life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good and it is
pleasing in the sight of God, our Savior, who desires all people to be saved
and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Remind them to
be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every
good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to
show perfect courtesy to all people. Titus 3:1-2
These verses are in such sharp contrast to
what is happening in our country. The respect for authority is dwindling,
common courtesy is disappearing. Gentleness is hard to find.
Let’s be different. God wants to save
everyone. And He may use us to save others, if we look beyond the headlines to
Jesus. He is love.
Jesus,
Let us be Your
people, doing Your work in the work You have chosen for us. Help us to raise
our children and grandchildren to love You and to be kind and compassionate.
Teach us and keep us safe and protected as we move into the world.
Amen
Can we see beyond the headlines in the newspaper?
Can we move beyond the division in politics, the worry over war and violence,
the fear of global warming and weather pattern changes to see with eyes of
hope?
If you know the word of God, you know none
of what is happening around us comes as a surprise. If you believe God is
ultimately in control and will one day vanquish evil and restore a new heaven
and a new earth, we need not fear.
Let’s look at a few verses found in
Matthew 24 and Luke 21, both chapters answering the questions the disciples
asked Jesus, about His final return.
When you hear
of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first,
but the end will not come right away. Luke 21:
As it was in
the days of Noah, so it will be in the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:37
There will be great
earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and
great signs from heaven. Luke 21:11
Do not fear, do not be alarmed, do not be
frightened, all commands from Jesus. Keep your eyes fixed beyond this world and
unto heaven. He is in charge and we know He is near. Live at peace within and
don’t get caught up in the worries and tumult of the world. He needs us to
shine with His love right now.
Jesus,
We don’t understand
the presence and the increase of evil, but you do. It has to run its course
until You come for us and take us home. We wait expectantly, as the signs grow
ever closer.
Amen
