I
visited with Marcia for over six years. When our pastor first told me about
her, she was expected to live only another year or two. She had other ideas.
Over the years, she would move from a lovely house, to a townhouse, to assisted
living and finally to a nursing home.
She lost what the world views as most
valuable, her possessions and her health. Her lungs no longer took in much air.
Her heart was failing. Her eyes no longer took in light. Even then, she
breathed softly the words of Christ. Her heart shone with His love. Her eyes
continued to light up the room.
What a testimony she offered to those who
loved her. As a Stephen minister, I was called to walk one-on-one with those in
need. Somehow, Marcia was the one who brought blessings to my life. Jesus does
that. Works through weakness to show His strength.
Our pastor called Marcia an “other” woman. She put others first, never wanting to dwell
on what she was suffering. She would say, “Well, that’s enough about me. How
are you/ Tell me everything!”
One of my sweetest memories came as I
visited Marcia in hospice, along with her life-long friends, all over the age
of 80. Their kids grew up together. They attended the same church for over fifty
years together. Book clubs and knitting were a part of their shared history.
I sat off to the side as her friends
gathered around her bed and sang one beloved hymn after the other to their
friend. It was as if angels were surrounding her bed. Moments never to be
forgotten for me.
Has God brought people into your life like
Marcia? Her testimony remains a part of my life and I can’t wait to see that
smiling face again in heaven one day. I’m sure she will sit me down and say,
“How are you? Tell me everything!”
Therefore, we do not
lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a
glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Father,
This
life can be filled with suffering. Marcia exemplified the verses above.
Inwardly, she was being renewed day by day by Your Spirit. And she now resides
in glory, with no more pain and suffering. We praise You.
In
Jesus name,
Amen
Billy had lost his way from a young age. After being bullied
and trying and failing to fit into a new school, alcohol seemed to be the answer. From the
age of twelve, alcohol and drugs would be his constant, while delving into sex and
pornography. Not an unusual story for teens and young adults.
His world became
darker and he couldn’t find answers. A friend called him oney day to try out
some new dirt bikes; something he had loved years earlier. He wanted to pass
his friend and drove the bike over a jump in the process. He lost control and
another bike hit him, paralyzing him instantly.
Not only was he
paralyzed, but his vertebrae bent into his aorta and he had to have a surgery
that may have cost him his life. At that time, he didn’t care. Dying sounded
preferable to the pain he suffered. As he came to and resided in the hospital
for two months, he tried to find ways to fill the void in his life.
Now sober, he
worked with spinal injuray groups, read self-help books, and still came up
empty. He downloaded a Bible and decided to begin in Genesis and read it
through. As He read God's Word, his heart began to soften and one night, he experienced a vivid dream.
The dream began as
a nightmare, reliving his past mistakes and being chased by demonic figures. As
he ran, he found himself suddenly in a peaceful place. In the peaceful garden-like place, he was led to a tombstone with a Celtic cross on the top, with a soft
glow behind it.
In the dream, he
spoke the name Jesus Christ. As he awoke he felt peace, wondering what had just
happened. He opened his Bible to the book of Job, right where he had left off in his reading. The verses “just happened” to be about God speaking
through dreams, with warnings, just exactly what he had experienced!
He would find a post written by his cousin about their grandpa, who has passed away one
year earlier. Billy found out later that day, that the time of his dream was
the exact time his grandfather had passed away. He insisted on visiting his
grandfather’s grave, something he had not yet done. And there, at the
head of the site was the tombstone with the Celtic cross on top, the same one he had seen in his dream.
His life has been
absolutely transformed from that day forward. Now, years later, his prayers
have been answered; prayers to meet new friends, to find a church and to deepen his
faith. He is now a missionary serving with others from his church.
Billy knows that
Jesus understands his suffering. Jesus meets us where we are, forgives us for
wherever we have been and sets us on His path to a future filled with hope. Billy knows people believe his
life is so much worse now that he is paralyzed, but he responds with the fact
that he has never been happier or more at peace.
Powerful testimony.
Through darkness into light. From suffering to hope. From chaos to peace. Only
Jesus.
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
Father,
We thank You for sending Your Son to suffer and die for us. He
understands everything we experience and meets us right there, day by day,
moment by moment with grace and truth. Thank You for Billy’s testimony and
continue to bless him.
In Jesus name,
Amen
My
brother, Jim, suffered from depression on and off for most of his life. When
the clouds gathered around his eyes, no light could be seen in him and no light
was allowed in. Even those he loved the most could not reach him during these
dark days of depression. There were times he did not want to live and he
attempted suicide three times over the span of thirty years.
Not only did my brother suffer the depths
of depression, he also lost his eyesight gradually. Over the last fifteen years
of his life his body lost muscular control due to a Parkinson-like disease
beginning in his toes and very slowly working its way up to his upper body,
finally affecting his speech and swallowing.
Jim could not imagine God in this world of
his. But the Good Shepherd was searching for my brother, just as He continues
to search for all of His lost sheep. A short time after my brother entered a
nursing home to live out his days, “coincidentally” or, perhaps, “miraculously”
events and people surrounded him.
A woman my brother had befriended decades
earlier when she was accidentally shot and paralyzed recognized his name on a
Metro Mobility bus. They had not seen each other in twenty years. It “just so
happened” she lived a few short blocks from the nursing home. She began to visit
Jim, motoring down the avenues in her wheelchair to visit with a Bible in her
hand.
Jim connected with a motorcycle-riding chaplain and one day during a hymn sing at the home, he broke down in
tears; tears that had not been shed in years, if ever. And when his wife and I
and one of our aunts stopped by to see him on, what happened to be, his wife’s
birthday, he told us.
“I have found Jesus. I am born
again!”
None of us will forget that day. The veil
was lifted from his eyes never to be seen again. The last three years of his
life were spent in physical agony, but inwardly, he was filled with a
countenance of peace we had never witnessed in him.
Yes, Jesus does perform miracles. My
brother’s body and sight were not healed in this lifetime, but his spiritual
eyes were opened and he experienced pure joy for the first time in his life. He
began to focus on the things above, the eternal home of heaven and the loving
kindness of a Lord who forgave him and loved him enough to die for him.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,
since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians
4:18
Yes, my brother lost almost everything the
world holds most dear, but he gained his soul. He was blind, but his spiritual
eyes were opened. And I picture him now, leaping for joy in the arms of the one
who found him
Lord,
Your
amazing grace finds us and opens our spiritual eyes to truth and peace. Thank
You for the hope my brother found in You and we await the day we will all be
together again.
Amen
Have you met
Jesus? If so, you have a testimony of
faith. Our stories are personal and unique and they are meant to be shared. God
uses our stories to shine His light before others.
Many of you know, I
finally came to my knees after a time of sorrow and upheaval in my life. My dad
had died when I was only fourteen and my mom and I became close and dependent
on one another. She became sick before our wedding and died the day after,
without being able to attend. Directly I had also been diagnosed with an eye
disease called retinitis pignmentosa and my husband lost his job.
Seeking God in
prayer and in writing, He answered my questions as only He can and my life
since then has been filled with His peace and joy, unlike anything else on
earth. He took me on a long and windy road along the way, but getting to know
Him better and better over the years has been life-changing.
My husband found a
deeper relationship with Jesus after suffering a stroke. Coming to Jesus doesn’t
always involve suffering, but it is those times in life often find us asking the
deep questions. He is right there, waiting for us to look up.
Both of our
daughters found Jesus at young ages. Lauren has always had a strong and abiding
faith, from the time she was only 4 years old. In fact, I remember her asking
me to lay hands on her tummy and pray for her to feel better, believing Jesus
would heal her.
Angela believed
from a young age also, but her “born again” moment came at an event called,
“Acquire the Fire,” with her youth group at church. Most of them were brought
to tears with the stories and the music they experienced that evening.
Did you know Jesus
from an early age? Did it take a time ofcrisis to seek Him? Share His love with
others if you know Him. This week, we will look at testimonies of some stories I have
witnessed in my life. When we believe and understand Jesus and who He is and what He did,
we can’t help but share.
My mouth
will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name
forever and ever. Psalm 145:21
As for
us, we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20
Jesus,
You are ready with open and welcoming arms when we are ready
to seek You. Give us the courage to speak of You boldly in the world around us.
Amen
It is our grandson, Gavin’s 1st birthday today. It
will come as no surprise that our most recent lessons in finding joy in life
come directly from him.
We have been
fortunate to be able to care for him when our daughter and son-in-law are at
work. His joy is contagious and we have witnessed a thousand changes over this
year. He crawls at high speed, throws a ball like a pro, eats non-stop and
loves to wrestle and giggle.
His dance moves
bring us to tears with laughter, each and every time, as he slowly does deep
knee bends, throwing one arm in the air with a pointed finger raised, as if he
is John Travolta! It’s not hard to make him laugh and that has become our
greatest ambition.
His excitement over
the simplest every-day events remind us to look for wonder in everything around
us. Every single time he eats we hear, “mmmmmmm” as he savors each bite. He squeals
with delight when he spots the same toys he played with the day before. Whether
waving at cars sailing by, oohing and aahing over the sight of a squirrel or
watching Gramps shovel, he is mesmerized and excited by it all.
What a gift it is
to be a grandparent. We thank God for this child and the love and lessons in
joy he brings
Happy birthday to
our sweet sunshine. You are a gift from above.
Children’s
children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Proverbs 17:6
Father,
Thank You for the children in our lives. We praise You today
for Gavin. May he grow strong in his faith in You as he continues to bring joy to
all of us.
In Jesus name,
Amen
You may be familiar with the fruit of the Spirit. When we are
rooted in Christ (the vine John 15) we will grow good fruit. What is this fruit
we should see in believers?
But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22
Each one of us is
unique and flawed. It is amazing to me to comprehend how God places two people,
each fallen humans, into the sacred bond of matrimony. Some of us are logical and left-brained,
while others are creative, distracted and well…messy! Others love to be around
people, others crave quiet solitude. Some make decisions through thinking
through the facts, others from sheer heart and emotion. Many of us view the
world with our five senses, needing to see touch and smell. Still others use
their intuition to guide them through life.
Impossible, right?
I have been shown
mercy and kindness from our God, knowing he chose my husband just for me. We
are alike in many ways, and night and day, black and white in others.
Miraculously, he puts up with my distracted mind, my need for three-square
meals and wanting to talk about each one immediately after finishing the
previous one. Add to that my desire to talk and laugh continually, even when he
is in the midst of something else. (We probably shouldn’t watch football
together!)
Through it all, I
recognize his deep goodness. When I ponder our over-thirty year marriage I
always recognize how blessed I am. He is a good man. Honest, trustworthy,
loyal, strong, the ability to swing a hammer, fixes just about anything and
deep patience in guiding his legally blind wife through our days.
The definition of
“goodness,” reads, the quality of being
morally good or virtuous. With all of our teasing, our minor irritations,
our times of busyness in just living life, I want the world to know about the
great guy I married. He would do anything for our family. Even though he tries
to be a bit hard-core sometimes, the girls and I know, if we just wait a day or
two, or even a few minutes, he usually grants our every wish. (It did take me
about five years to wear him down for those window boxes. Drilling holes in the
house just about did him in.)
The gift of marriage
was written by God. It is a picture of His great love for us. When Jesus is in
the center of it all, when He is the rock, we see each other through deep and
sacrificial love. I thank God for the goodness of my husband today.
Lord,
There are no words deep enough to thank You for the blessings
my husband brings to us each day. For the love he gives, for the great father
and grandfather he is, for the lessons of strength he has shown, I thank You.
Amen
My neighbor, Phyllis, will be 88 years old this year. She and
I and another friend have met each week for prayer and Bible study for almost
20 years. In addition to our weekly visits, she drove me, faithfully, to the Bible study I
facilitated for almost ten years. I cannot overstate the way she
has mentored, loved and brought wisdom to my life.
Her husband was ill
and died at a young age. She needed to work with four young daughters and
became a retail manager at Montgomery Wards for many years. Her faith and
witness never waned over the years of hardship. With the beginning stages
of dementia now upon her, she is still loving, funny and content.
Connie and I visit
her each Wednesday. She doesn’t say much, but once in a while, she will come
out with a witty comment and we all giggle like school girls. She has been, and
continues to be, the one to end our circle of prayer, and her words come
directly from the Holy Spirit.
Her prayers begin
and end with praise for Jesus, and contain thanksgiving for her friends and for
her family, for the beauty of nature, for our country and for the Bible. Her
prayers are so beautiful, they resound in my mind through the week. What a testimony to the faithfulness of our God and how His love continues through our
struggles and even within an aging mind. I am more than blessed to have this
woman in my life and in awe of God’s presence in all of our lives.
For what
You have done, I will always praise You in the presence of Your faithful
people, for Your name is good. Psalm 52:9
All Your
works praise You, Lord. Your faithful people extol You. Psalm 145:10
She
speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26
Jesus,
Blessed are those who love You and remain faithful servants throughout
their lives. I thank You for Phyllis and others like her, willing to share Your
love with wisdom, strength and faithfulness. Bless her today.
Amen
My friend, Bill Hansen, died over six years ago. We were pals
from kindergarten on. His mom died when he was very young, as did my dad. We
shared a bond that not many others knew or understood at that time. He was a
brilliant student and with our shared love of math and English, you would often
find us doing homework together.
He became a
bio-chemist after earning his doctorate and taking time as a professor at
Berkeley College. Some of his work may result in cures for devastating diseases
including ALS and AIDS. His sister and I
are working to nominate him for our high school’s hall of fame.
One reason I am
writing about him today is because of his humility. Even with his brilliant
mind, he worried himself sick over each and every test, even though I’m sure he
aced almost every single one. He was a natural mentor, showing great patience
as he encouraged me and others to look for other ways to find an answer and to never
give up.
Humility is rare
these days. Putting others first and serving sacrificially do not come
naturally to us. Before we can admit our need for a Savior, we have to humble
ourselves before Him. And as we respond to His love, only then are we able to
show that same humility to others.
Humble
yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. James 4:10
Humble
yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, and He may lift you up in due
time. 1 Peter 5:6
Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others
before yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Therefore,
as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12
Great words to take
into our hearts and with God’s help, we can show the love of Christ to others
with kindness and compassion, putting others first.
Father,
Thank You for examples of humility and patience. It is
difficult to lose our friends and family too soon on this earth, but You give
us lessons to take with us as we continue on.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The students were given an assignment to write down a dream
they had for their lives in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day. 20 years have
gone by, but the memory still tugs at my heartstrings from the paper our
daughter, Angela, wrote for her 4th grade class. I helped out in our
two daughter’s classes once or twice a week throughout their elementary school
years.
Angela’s teacher told
the kids to sit quietly for a minute. (no easy task with this particular group
of students. She told me she believed they would all become lawyers, since it was
impossible to get them to stop talking!) She escorted me to the hallway and
pointed to a bulletin board filled with the dreams of her students..
Most of the kids
wished for what you would imagine coming from the mind of a 10-year-old. One
wished to become a race-car driver, another to be rich, another to own a horse.
Our precious daughter’s greatest dream was for my eyes to be healed. The way to
make that happen was to pray for healing for her mom each and every day.
You can imagine my
mother’s heart that day. I still have that paper. I was thankful she could be
so thoughtful at such a young age, that she believed in Jesus and believed in
the power of prayer. That faith continues to this day for both of our girls. The
hard stuff throughout our lives gives us wisdom and faith, even as young
children.
We forget sometimes
that Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor. His selfless work tor humanity
stemmed from his willingness to serve His God. To work for something bigger
than himself, with no fear of dying, even amidst the dangers he faced day by
day. He reminds us to take a step of faith with these words.
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole
staircase, just take the first step.”
God leads us step by step, even when we can’t
see the path ahead of us. Even when He doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we
think He should. He works for good through it all. Let Him lead your footsteps
today.
I will
lead the blind by ways they have not known. Along unfamiliar paths I will guide
them. I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places
smooth. These are the things I will do. I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16
Father,
Thank You for the lessons along the way. Thank You for the
children you give us to love and nurture and the ways You guide them through it
all. You will not forsake us, even when we can’t see the path ahead.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed
in spirit. Psalm 34:18
He heals
the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
If you are
brokenhearted, Jesus is near. Unburden your heart to Christ. Let Him hold on to
your burdens and heaviness. He is able and willing, and in
return, give you peace and hope. He will use your pain to assist others, to
bring others to Himself, to give comfort, just as He has comforted you.
Praise be
to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and
the Lord of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
comfort others in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2
Corinthians 1:3-4
God blesses us when
we are a blessing to others. His plans and His purposes are good. Allow Him to
work your pain and suffering for good. Only He can do this. Let Him help you
find peace and joy again. Let Him give you tender loving care, as only a holy,
loving Father can.
And watch what He
will do next. He may use you for His good purposes, in ways you can’t
imagine. As our hearts heal, we pass it along and when we are hurting, the
process begins again. Until one day, our suffering will be done as His plans
are fulfilled forever.
Lord,
Keep us focused on You, as You heal our wounds, as You comfort
us when our hearts are broken, as You lavish us with love. We will be Your
hands and feet as we walk in the world. There is so much pain. Show us how to
help.
In Jesus name,
Amen
This week we have looked back to the life and death and
resurrection of Jesus. We have looked into the truth of His amazing Word, and
how it can transform our lives with hope. And we have recognized His presence through
our most trying times, how He comforts and consoles, gives rest to our weary
bodies and souls, and fills us with eternal hope. Here are words for us from
Jesus Himself.
“Come to
Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke
upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew
11;28-30
“Peace I
leave with you, My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
Let these words of
Jesus bring you comfort and rest. We can run back to Him time and time again.
His arms are always wide open, saying, “Come
to Me.” When we are troubled and afraid, He says, “I give you My peace.”
Allow Him to take
you out of the world, into His presence. It is filled with light.
This is
the message we have heard from Him and declare to you. God is light; in Him
there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
I don’t know about you, but I can use some
peace, some comfort, some protection and some light today. Let Him in and be
filled.
Lord,
Your promises are true and worthy. Your light shines through
the darkest night. Your light may be just a glimmer through our times of
trouble, but Your peace and hope always bring us back into Your glorious,
healing light.
In Jesus name,
Amen
God’s Word, the
Bible, is living and breathing.
For the
Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Miraculously, over
time, God works in us to become more like Christ. We will never attain His
righteousness, but the Word of God is compared to a mirror. As we look into it,
our reflection can change. Listen to these words from the half-brother of Jesus.
Anyone
who listens to the Word and does not do what it says, is like someone who looks
at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they
have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:23-25
The Word of God
transforms lives. It brings peace, comfort and deep joy. It fills souls and
keeps hope alive. We will never understand God completely, until we meet Him
face-to-face, but He allows us into His inner sanctuary.
For now,
we see only a reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face-to-face. Now I
know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians
13:12
How comforting to
know that we are fully and completely known. God knows us more intimately than
any other. And one day, we will see Him face-to-face
Jesus,
Teach us to “do” the Word. Your Word is alive and active, the
bread and water of life for our souls. Give us a hunger and a thirst to know
more about You, as You are reflected to us.
Amen
Over three hundred prophecies came to fulfillment in the
birth, life, and death and resurrection of Jesus. These prophecies were written
by numerous authors over hundreds of years. Some of the prophecies were written
by the prophet, Isaiah, more than 600 years before the birth of Christ. He
tells us Jesus will be a man with no distinct features, a suffering servant
sent to heal our wounds.
He grew
up before him like a tender shoot and like a root out of dry ground. He had no
beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we
should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering,
and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, He was
despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:2-3
Jesus hid His glory
for us, coming as a servant, with no distinguishing features and mankind
rejected Him. But because of Him, our souls are healed. Here is more from
Isaiah.
But He
was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the
punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
The Bible holds an
astounding account of history, science, and truth. Not one jot, not one image,
not one historical, archeological, geological or scientific fact, from the Word
has been proven false. Each prophetic word has been 100 percent accurate and
there are more to come in the second coming of Jesus.
His footsteps draw
ever closer and one day soon, evil will be vanquished and a new heaven and a
new earth will be ours forever. Link your heart to the suffering servant. He
found a way for us to be united with a holy God. He now lives in glory, forever
Lord of all.
Father,
The miraculous prophecies of old have proven true in the first
coming of Jesus. Thank You for sending Him to pay the price for us. Your word
shines as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105)
Amen
Crises and times of
suffering can come upon us without warning, or seep into our lives gradually or
may even cast their shadow over a lifetime. Two friends of ours are facing
end-of-life decisions and another is finally dealing with a lifetime of hiding
depression and anxiety.
This is a fallen
world. There is no escaping the tough times that may surround us. Jesus
overcame the world for us. He conquered death and felt the sins, the disease, the
evil, the wars and the suffering in His earthly body. We can’t imagine the pain
He endured, the price He paid, and because of His suffering, He understands.
Many times, we come
to our knees at just such times of suffering. I don’t know about you, but I
don’t want to go another minute without recognizing my need for a Savior, a
friend, a loving Father, a living Lord, a conquering King.
We long to offer
comfort and support to our friends and their families, but no one on the planet
can bring more hope and peace than Jesus. His hope moves us beyond this life,
into the heavens; hope beyond anything this world brings us. And He can use our
suffering. I don’t completely understand it, but looking back over the decades,
I recognize His presence, His power, His ability to use pain to offer solace to
others, kindred spirits in need of comfort. The God of eternity offers guidance
along the way. He is our anchor of hope, our foundation in a world that can bring
pain.
We have
this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner
sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19
Father,
We need You to get us through. Comfort those who grieve. Bring
peace to those in pain and let us know and understand hope eternal. Keep us
anchored in You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Even with my word of the year, "contentment," I realize there will be days, maybe weeks or months this year
when I don’t feel or act content. You, too? We are human, and even with the best of intentions, our resolutions, our resolve to strive for something new, we
fall short.
God is the God of
second chances and new beginnings. His grace covers our failures. His strength
rises up when we are weak. His wish for us is to trust Him, even when we are
out of sorts and can’t see our way to the next day.
It is impossible
for me to imagine getting through this life without Jesus Christ. He is always
waiting when I return to His grace and mercy. His love endures forever and all
He asks in return is faith, trust and love. Look up and ask Him to be a part of
your life this year in a deeper, more satisfying way.
Run to Him and tell
Him you believe! He died and rose again for you and me. He conquered death for
us. Because of Him, we need no longer fear death.
Where, O
death is your victory? Where O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory
through our Lord, Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Count on Him to get
you to heaven. And count on Him to get you through today, tomorrow and the rest
of your life. Count each day as a blessing. He will turn even our worst days
into something good to bring glory to Himself.
And we
know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have
been called according to His purpose. Romans 8;28
Father,
We won’t always see the good that comes through the tough
times, but we believe You work everything into something good. Your plan rises
above what we see and hear into something that will last forever. We give it
all to You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Peter tells us in Scripture that our lives last for “just a
little while.” When we are young the decades span out before us in a seemingly
never-ending stream of days and nights. Some live just a few years, others live
to a ripe old age. And the years begin to pass, one after the other! Now I ask,
“Where have the last three decades gone?”
And, “in a little
while,” we will all be in heaven. This eternal perspective is not eerie or
something to avoid. This perspective gives us hope and meaning, keeps us
standing firm on our foundation of faith. Time is short through God’s eyes and
He has work for us to do.
What a privilege it
is to share our faith, to be filled with God’s peace and joy, throughout the
most amazing mountain-top experiences as well as the valley times of sorrow and
grief.
Step back and think
about the year ahead. Will you speak of Jesus? Will you give Him more time and
learn more from His Word? Disciplining ourselves in faith-filled activities comes
at a price as we so easily fill the days with busy schedules, with work and friends,
with family, with phones and computers, with travel and housework, with laundry
and “whew,” it is exhausting.
I guarantee a life
putting Jesus first, a life filled with prayer and depth, will allow us to do
everything else in a manner that brings glory to God. Don’t let the world take
you away from faith this year. Dive in and be content. That’s what He longs to give
us. Peace and contentment through this wild and crazy roller-coaster life.
Praise be
to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given
us new birth and a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. The
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
Our inheritance is
secure forever and ever. Rejoice through this life. It’s just “for a little
while.” Blessed are we now and forever.
Jesus,
Keep us focused on what You value. Let us come to You
searching Your word and asking for Your guidance as we greet each new day, whatever
it may bring. We thank You for the breath of life each day.
Amen
Acknowledging God
in everything, trusting His will above our own, allowing Him to lovingly lead
the way does not come naturally to us. In our culture, we are taught to be
independent, rather than dependent. Our natural instincts tell us we can do it.
If we work harder, stay busier, strive to please others, buy more, give more,
the list goes on and on and it is exhausting. Not only exhausting, but
impossible!
What if God has a
plan? A plan for you? A plan for me? A plan that gives us freedom from trying
too hard, from never being enough, a plan filled with unconditional love and a
plan totally dependent on Him? Memorizing the following verses may help. Our
arsenal found in the word of God can consistently remind us of what is
available to us every minute of every day. God promises this:
I will
instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my
loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8
Instruction and
counsel from God? I’m in! And here is how we can take part:
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
As we struggle, as
we question, as we try too hard again and again, we can tell ourselves, remind
ourselves, bonk ourselves in the head (too harsh?) with these words.
Acknowledge Him.
Lean on Him. Trust in Him. And His
promises to us? He will direct us. His loving eye will be upon us. He will
instruct us and counsel us. Count on it this year. Our path can become His and
we can be free and authentic as His beloved children.
Father,
It seems impossible to remain under Your guidance, but You
promise us it truly is possible. Lead us to lean on You when everything seems
to overwhelm us. Teach us to trust the counsel of Your word beyond what we see
and hear. Help us to dig deeper into relationship with You as we trust Your
will for our lives.
In Jesus name,
Amen
A deep relationship with Christ does not come without us
taking part. Any relationship requires time, communication, commitment and
love. Did you know Jesus loves to spend time with you? He loves it, just as we
do as parents, when our children come to us with their needs, with their hopes,
with their questions and dreams.
His voice is gentle
and kind. His Holy Spirit listens and interprets our prayers. God will weave
our dreams with His and answer our deepest desires, according to His will. Remember, His will is always found with our
best interests in mind. He wants to give us hope and contentment, as we wander
through our life’s journey.
This is
what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and
established it-the Lord is His name. “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell
you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:2-3
How marvelous are
His promises to us! He gives us deep answers and the Holy Spirit will teach us
the unsearchable truths of God! Listen to these incredible promises for you
today:
However,
as it is written, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no
human mind has conceived”-the things God has prepared for those who love
Him-these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit
searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
These verses are
mind-boggling! The Holy Spirit within us, the very Spirit of God Himself,
teaches us the deep things of our God. No human mind can conceive these
thoughts, no eye can see them, no ear can hear them, but through our relationship,
we have access to them.
Take some time this
year for Jesus. Sit at His feet and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you
unsearchable things, not found on this earth. Dig a little bit deeper and find
true joy in His presence.
Lord,
These truths are too marvelous for our human minds to
comprehend. Teach us through Your Spirit. You give to us lavishly, lovingly,
and generously. We long to know more and more about You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Happy New Year! As
you sit today and ponder the year stretching out before you, what is your
mindset? New beginnings, letting go, fear, excitement, anticipation, dread?
Life holds the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the new and the old,
and God is there through it all.
My word for this
year is, “contentment.” Being content with whatever life holds can only be
found as we allow God’s lead, as we acknowledge His authority, as we stop and experience
His presence. He will get us through each and every day, with compassion, with
love and ultimately, with hope.
The apostle Paul
had his share of ups and downs through his years of ministry, much of those
years filled with suffering and hardship. You can read a list of just some of
what he went through in 2 Corinthians
11:23-30. There are two Scriptures that inspired me to use the word,
“contentment” this year, both scripted by Paul. With all Paul suffered,
including being whipped and flogged, starved, shipwrecked and imprisoned, this
is what he says,
I am not
saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content no matter
the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to
have plenty. I have learned the secret to being content in any and every
situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Philippians 4:11-12
But
godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
There are no crystal balls to
plot out our year ahead, and that is ok. God is with us, in plenty and in want,
in our sorrows and our joys. With Him, we can strive to be content as He
continues to work in us and to work through us. Paul continues to speak to us
about contentment. How is it possible? Here is our one and only answer.
I can do
all things through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
His strength. His
power. His lead. His way. Contentment. Ahhh…lean on Him.
Lord,
Give us contentment each day, no matter the circumstances.
Give us Your perspective as we look ahead to what is next. Take our hand and
show us the way.
In Jesus name,
Amen
