Times of Refreshing

 

     Jesus satisfies our needs, not our wants. God is not Santa Claus. He is enough for our situations today. He provides, just as He did for the Israelites, day-by-day. Seek Him for daily nourishment, just as you do for food and water.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. Psalm 42:1

     Never stray far from His word, from praising Him, from seeking Him in prayer, and He will be enough. Enough for the day. Let Him renew your strength.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall. But they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29

     The verse that precedes the one above, states that God does not grow tired or weary. He is there now and forever, ready to replenish those who are weary and empty. Let Him renew your strength until you are ready to fly again.

Jesus,

Please renew our strength. Be with those feeling tired and alone, fearful and discouraged. Lift them up once again in Your mighty strength.

Amen

 

My husband and I  are heading out for times of refreshing. I will miss being with you each morning, but will return soon. I will continue to pray for all of you as we remain in Him.

 

Times of Refreshing

 

     Times of refreshing are essential for us, for our mind, for our body and for our spirit. I don’t know about you, but the year of Covid drained me. Worry was everywhere, distance was mandatory, there was a multitude of unanswered questions, and we could not hug one another!

     I am a hugger, often in an uncomfortable way. I know when I’ve overstepped as others give me the one-armed light hug or move back as I invade their space. If you are a hugger, (and maybe if you aren’t) Covid took its toll. Luckily, Jesus has a way of refreshing our souls, of filling us to the brim with His love, just when we need it most.

“For I will satisfy the weary soul and every languishing soul, I will replenish.” Jeremiah 31:25

     Times of replenishing are necessary as we allow God to satisfy our needs. With the vaccines and a letting up of our restrictions, I find myself even more grateful for friends and family. Last week I attended a beautiful wedding shower outdoors for the daughter of one of my best friends. What a gift to be with so many people for a joyous occasion. It revitalized my spirit to witness the happiness of this special couple.

     A day earlier, I went for a walk and had coffee with two dear sisters in Christ, two women I have studied with and prayed with and for over many years. They refreshed me. How about you? Give recognition to those that refresh your soul.

For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.  Give recognition to such men and women. 1 Corinthians 16:18

     Someone around you could use a hug today, whether they believe it or not.

Father,

We are grateful for our much-needed time with our friends and family. Teach us how to refresh and rejuvenate those with weary souls around us. Fill them with Your kind of love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Times of Refreshing

 

     What if we try to take the week off from worry, anxiety and doubt? What would it be like to relax in confident trust? Let’s give each other a break this week from comparing our lives with others, from believing we aren’t enough, aren’t doing everything right, aren’t measuring up. In our Father’s eyes, we are seen through the image of Christ.

     How amazing is that?! He no longer views our sinful hearts or our weaknesses and failures. He sees us seated in heaven, cleansed and pure, righteous and holy. Relax in your heavenly Father’s care. He loves you so much He sent His one and only Son to die for you. What more do we need?

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

Lord,

Keep us refreshed and confident in You this week. We look to You to keep us on track, to fill us with Your promises and love and to offer hope when we need it most.

Amen

For The Joy

 

     Gratitude and joy. Jesus faced the cross with the joy set before Him. As He moved into Jerusalem understanding what was to come, He set His face toward the goal.

Now it came to pass when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

     Jesus knew what was about to take place. He set His face steadfastly. Other versions use the word, “resolutely”. Have you had struggles to face? We know the feeling of having to go through something so deep and so traumatic, we just set our face and do the best we can. Jesus understands. In fact, the prophet Isaiah foretold what would take place hundreds of years earlier. Listen to these words about the coming Redeemer.

I offered my back to those who beat Me, my cheek to those who pulled out My beard; I did not hide My face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps Me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:6-7

     Flint is a hard, sedimentary rock. When struck against steel, a spark ignites. Jesus knew the difficulties about to strike Him and He set His face like flint, resolutely, steadfastly. The cost, many times, is worth the pain. Have you come through a difficult time and gained something more valuable? Wisdom, personal change, a deep spiritual joy, an abiding faith?

     Jesus helps us to set our faces as we move against our struggles, with the joy set before us. He is our joy and our home. Let’s move steadfastly, resolutely toward Him.

Jesus,

One day soon, we will be with You forever. Guide us through the tough times and bring us out with new purpose and joy. We thank You with grateful hearts this week, for all You have done, for all You will do. The joy of You brings us strength to face the days ahead.

Amen

For The Joy

 

     Live in constant awe of the gift Jesus gave. A grateful heart goes a long way in this short and difficult journey on earth. A grateful heart lifts the spirits. A heart filled with thanksgiving for even the tiniest blessings will exude joy. The joy of the Lord can win others to Him.

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

     I believe this. The joy of the Lord gives us strength to get through it all. Fill your heart with gratitude. Remember what Jesus has given us. A heavenly home awaits. In the meantime, He will guard our hearts and minds with His peace that passes all understanding.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

     As Paul sat in prison, wondering if he would live or die, he was able to pen these words. Hold them in your heart today and every day.

Rejoice in the Lord, always. I will say it again. Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Father,

We rejoice in Jesus today. Guard our hearts and our minds. Give us peace. Help us to find the joy and remind us, each day, to be grateful.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For The Joy

 

     Jesus came to bridge the gap between us and God. He came as a man, humbling Himself to serve and to sacrifice. And He did it for us. He offers heaven and He offers life now for our souls. He is the word of God. The Bible points to Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.

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

     The one and only Son, the Word of God became flesh for us. All things were made for Him and by Him and through Him.

Through Him all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3

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

     We don’t understand the magnitude of the glory of God, through Jesus. But we believe.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

     I pray you are filled with that inexpressible joy that comes from Jesus. He honors your faith.

Lord,

The Word came to live among us. All things are for Him and we believe. Fill us with deep joy and peace on this day.

Amen

For The Joy

 

     Not only did Jesus sacrifice for us, He came to earth willingly, suffered willingly, died willingly, for us. Listen to these words that are foreign to humankind.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

     For the joy set before Him? How do we reconcile the agonizing pain of the cross with joy? His joy is you! And it is me! He did it for us. He longs to be with us forever and ever. How I pray everyone will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. His love gives us strength and peace and comfort and we, too, find joy in Him.

     Imagine the joys of heaven, meeting Jesus face-to-face, no more pain, no more tears, no more struggles, no more sin. Maybe we can endure anything in this life, for the joy set before us. It is offered to us through Jesus. May our joy be complete.

Jesus,

Our deepest joy is found in You. As we wait for heaven, let us live our earthly lives in peace and joy, those found only in You. Remind us of what we have now and what lies in store for us as we move closer and closer to heaven.

Amen

 

For The Joy

 

     Fill your hearts with joy and gratitude for our amazing God! We can never move too far, make one too many mistakes, or run far enough away from God’s grace and mercy. Are you dealing with guilt or shame over the past? Is it still painful? Remember, Jesus died for every single sin, every single atrocity, every single lie, every single word said in anger, every word of gossip, every sexual sin and the list could go on for pages, couldn’t it?

     How does our loving God forgive? Only one perfect man could shed His holy blood to renew our souls, to wipe the slate clean. Ask the one and only, Jesus, for forgiveness, accept His free gift and take a deep breath. Freedom reigns. God only sees us through Jesus. He is our redeemer, our intercessor, our intermediary, our Lord.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man, Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

     The perfect man, the perfect death, the perfect mediator between us and a perfect God. Forgiven, washed clean, now and forever. Believe it.

Father,

We praise You for Your Son, Jesus, for His willingness to go to the cross for us. Dead to sin and alive in Him. Help us to understand Your mercy and Your grace which is given lavishly to us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Thankfulness

 

     Thank you for allowing me to share something so personal with you this week. We can’t thank all of you enough for your warm thoughts and prayers. The power of prayer is real and we appreciate each of you. Our daughter gave me permission to write. Writing continues to be my source of release, of communication, of refreshing, of time with God, of letting go and working through. Both of our daughters love the written word as well, along with grammar and spelling, as I do. Our oldest daughter has written notes or sent e-mails over the years when she has something to share with us..

    This often brought an, “Uh, oh, what’s up now?”  I get it. I used to write my mom notes and letters, too. I am still working through these last months of worry and confusion with our precious grandchild. The love we have for our kids and grandkids is profound and beyond words, spoken or written.  Many of you understand. The love is overpowering and precious and we are blessed.

     Let’s continue to hang on tight to Jesus and to each other. Life isn’t easy. But life is filled with hope and joy, with laughter and love, with sunshine and roses. The thorns may prick and the storm clouds may approach again, but with God and with each other we will get through it all. After all, eternity awaits.

Rejoice always. Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Father,

Thank You for Your grace, for Your love, for Your presence. Keep us praying. Keep us rejoicing. Keep us filled with thanksgiving for each other and for You. Thank You for the loved ones in our lives. We are blessed.

In Jesus name,

Amen

When You Walk Through The Fire

 

     My husband and I have shed tears, become overwhelmed with worry and suffered through sleepless nights over witnessing our grandchild’s seizures. My prayer has been to remain strong for our daughter and her wonderful family. It hasn’t necessarily worked out that way. I have, reluctantly, come to the conclusion that strength can often be found in being able to cry together, to talk through our fears, along with theirs. We are in this together and sometimes we just need to fall apart.

     Walking with others through crisis was my ministry for over twenty-five years. The training and the experience abandoned me completely as we all struggled. Luckily for all of us, we have a great team of prayer warriors and friends who lifted us up. We could feel it, all of us. And we are grateful.

     Why is it so hard to ask for support? We want to remain strong and give our complete trust to God, to say we are ok when, in reality, we are not. When crisis strikes, we can’t see our way around it. It is life and we are human and God understands. After all, He was one of us. My daughter and I had some amazing conversations through all of this. Her faith has been her strength since she was four years old and for the first time, she was struggling, too. 

     Losing weight, combined with sleeplessness and worry, trying to teach her young special needs students, all took their toll. And, finally, after several seizures, after all of the tests, after the dose increases, those meds have taken hold, and he has been seizure-free for 6 weeks. Hallelujah!!!  We pray after a couple of years on meds, he will outgrow them, as most young children do.

     Be gentle with yourself. It’s ok to fall apart. Allow the tears to flow. Ask someone for a shoulder to lean on. Ask to talk it through. Cry out to God in your confusion. Life is about support and love. And Jesus is always there, even when we don’t see or feel His presence.

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 40:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

Lord,

When the foundation crumbles, when we are swept away in the flood, when we can’t see Your face, find hope for us. Give us love. Bring us back to trust and hope. Give us the strong rock to stand on as you lift us back up.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trust in the Trial

 

     Gavin has the best parents. He trusts them, loves them, is at his worst and his best with them, as are all of our children. Our young children need to listen and follow us. They don’t understand why the shots hurt, why they can’t run into the street, but those shots are necessary for their well-being, as are the rules and restrictions we place on them. Gavin didn’t understand why he couldn’t sleep in his own bed when he and dad stayed at the hospital for his overnight EEG.  

     The trials that hit us along the way often give us no choice. They arise out of nowhere, leaving us reeling and filled with unanswered questions. The pain and joy of our children becomes our pain and our joy. The connection is eternal. When they are young, we strive to guide them in the way they should go. As they grow, letting go and watching them learn through tough choices and suffering is agonizing and necessary. Hopefully, trust has built. Lessons have been learned. Responsibility and hard work have become goals. God does the same with as as we live our lives. We won’t always understand, but He ALWAYS works for our good.

     He leads and He disciplines. He, unlike us, knows the end from the beginning. Trust Him through the tough stuff. Watch Him work. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel when we are still in the dark. He is the light. Allow Him to transform whatever You are going through. And trust.

Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act. Psalm 37:5

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

Lord,

Just as our children do not understand what will, ultimately, be for their good, we don’t always understand things out of our control. Guide us into peace and light.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Secret Things

 

     As I was pondering parenthood and the challenges face us along the way I was reminded of how often we keep things from our children. There is no reason for them to worry about money issues, the fear in the diagnosis, and a list of so much more. We decide what is “age appropriate.”

     Protection and love allow us to sacrifice our own needs to place theirs first. Our daughters and their husbands understand all of this now. Our sweet 3 1/2-year-old grandson, Gavin, has experienced several seizures over the last few months. I pray we never see another one. The days have been filled with worry and fear, with doctor’s appointments and 24-hour vigilance, causing a roller-coaster of emotions.

     Our daughter and her husband have risen to these challenges over these months, talking through decisions, taking turns staying up to watch Gavin, sitting at the hospital through a sedated MRI and a 24-hour EEG (daddy took this one)

     Their goal continues to be to keep Gavin feeling loved and protected, just as our God does for us. Gavin, thankfully, has no recollection of the seizures. Right now, there is no need to tell him. After trying a few doses of medication, it finally appears to be working and the side effects continue to diminish. Praise God!

     God also gives us just the information we need to live out our lives. He gives us “human-appropriate” guidance in His word. The Bible gives us enough, all we need. There is a beautiful verse in Deuteronomy I want to share with you.

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed to us belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

     God cannot reveal all to us now. What is revealed to us is enough for us and for our children. And our daughters and their families know Jesus. Yes, we hold back to protect and to nurture. God understands and He will see us through. He is enough.

Father,

We give you thanksgiving and praise for our precious, smart, funny and sweet Gavin. We thank you for medications and doctors, for giving us hope in the midst of fear, for walking with us through it all and for showing us how to love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Much-Afraid

 

     Watching our children go through suffering and tough times is heart-wrenching. We continue to want to protect and take away their pain, but we also understand that life comes with both joy and sorrow and God works through all of it

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, for we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

     When in the midst of crisis, we often lose sight of God. Worry and fear seep in and overwhelm. And God works and weaves His way back in. There is a book called, “Hinds Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard. This beautiful allegory is the story of a girl named Much-Afraid, someone much like you and me.

     Much-Afraid lives in a valley with her relatives, including Envy, Pride, Anger and Fear. Can you relate? One day, she spots a Shepherd walking by the water and sees something trustworthy in His eyes. Following Him becomes challenging as her relatives continue pursuing her and leading her back to the valley., but she longs for the mountaintop she sees in the distance and continues her journey.

     Her companions for the journey are Sorrow and Suffering, something she will not understand until much later. She witnesses the hind (deer) in the distance following a much easier path to the top. Why doesn’t the Shepherd guide her along an easier path? Why are there storms along the way?

     Looking back, I see the value attained and the wisdom learned, often the hard way, through times of great suffering and loss. God uses all of it, every teardrop, every agonized moment, every challenge. Look for the blessings. Watch for the opportunities along the way to share the hope you have in Christ.

Father,

Our companions, sorrow and suffering, give us opportunities to trust You, to follow You, to witness for You and to come through with more character and hope. Keep guiding us and our children through the times we just don’t understand.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Open Hearts

 

      Believers in Jesus Christ have an eternal bond. Studying God’s word with other believers is such a gift. Meeting another Christian is like meeting a sister or brother. We share the joys and burdens of life.

 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12;15

     Open your heart to other Christians and welcome their love for you. It is a deep and powerful feeling to know that others are truly praying for you. They bring joy and encouragement.

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Philemon 1:7

Jesus,

Remind us that we are here to serve one another. Give us the strength we need to bring joy and encouragement to others and the strength to receive it when we are in need.

Amen

 

Open Hearts

 

     Be thankful. Begin each day with an open and grateful heart. Jesus loves you and He is beside you and within you right now. He is with you and within you tonight, tomorrow, next month, next year, into your old age and as you step into His eternal glory.

     With truth like that how can we help but have grateful hearts? When life gets tough, focus on Jesus. When the next step hurts, lean on Jesus. If you are scared, trust Jesus. If you are weak, rely on His strength. If your heart is burdened, give it to Jesus. When you lie on your death bed, look into His eyes and get ready to meet Him face-to-face.

     Face today with an eternal heart, fixed on Jesus and be thankful.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

Jesus,

Your sacrifice gives us access to You. We come to You with everything on our hearts and minds today. We give everything over to Your sovereign might and power. Give us thankful hearts as we focus on things above.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Open Hearts

 

     With God’s guidance can we make a difference today?  Has God placed you in the life of a difficult person? Could your kind words change a mood or change a life? Maybe Jesus chose you. As our hearts are open to His love, it begins to show in our actions, words and deeds.

     With God’s help, we may have just a bit more patience than the person behind us in line. Through the Holy Spirit our anger can rise more slowly than the other person lashing out at us. Could one of us be the one to speak the words that one person has been longing to hear?

     Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s me.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?”  And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

Jesus,

Here we are. Send us! Use us! Let it be us that represent You wherever we go. Let Your Holy Spirit flow through our lives as we use words of love, encouragement and kindness. It is us.

Amen

Open Hearts

 

     Rather than focusing our greatest desires on riches or power, let our greatest desire be to love and honor God and to pray the same for our friends and family. Here are two more verses to pray over others. Pray they might be saved. Pray that the eyes of their hearts may be opened to find Jesus. Eternity awaits.

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. Romans 10:1

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people. Ephesians 1:18

Father,

We live on for eternity, all of us. Let our desire be to share the truth of Jesus. He does not want to lose even one and neither do we. Hear our prayers for our loved ones today. Keep us bold and courageous in talking about You to others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Open Hearts

 

     Jesus offers us eternity. It is a free gift, ours for the taking. Whether we understand it or not, something will be missing from our lives until we accept Jesus. He satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst. His Spirit opens our eyes to see the truth. He opens our ears to hear and understand His word. And best of all, He turns our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

     Are you praying for someone to accept Jesus? Never give up on that prayer. God’s timing is perfect. He knows the precise moment our stony hearts will be ready to hear His word of grace. He will send the right person, at the right moment, in the best setting. In the meantime, pray.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Jesus,

You do not want to lost one soul. Open the eyes of the hearts of those we love. We will continue to pray for them.

Amen

 

The Light of Life

 

     Jesus calls YOU the “light of the world.” (Matthew 5) His word brings radiance to our eyes. Plug yourself into the Holy Spirit’s light and begin to shine wherever you go. You know the Author and Finisher of life, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace.

     You know Him, the One born to a virgin, the Son of God who walked the earth, suffered your pain, and rose again. You know Jesus. God with us. Our Father, our friend, our advocate, our comforter, our teacher, our purpose. You have the light of Christ. Amazing gift. Amazing Gospel Amazing grace.

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

Jesus,

We have the light of life because of You. You give us new life. Thank You for saving us and giving us the opportunity to share You with others. Shine favor on and through us throughout the years to come. We love You.

Amen

The Light of Life

 

     The Bible confirms that our eyes are the lamp of the body. Through someone’s eyes, we can see into their soul. We witness the glistening tears of joy and sadness, the twinkle of laughter, the wink of shared connections, and the lifeless look of depression. You can tell so much by the gaze of another, in love or anger, in surprise or confusion.

The eye is the lamp of the body. It your eyes are healthy, your body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22

     I have gained so much through the older women of faith through the years. I hope I am just like them when I grow up.  What gives them that gleam in their eye, the infused joy in their spirits? I know for a fact, for many of them, it is their love for and knowledge of God’s word.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  Psalm 19:8

     Let the good news of Jesus fill your hearts with joy today and shine the light of Him from the tips of your toes to the light shining through your eyes and share the joy with others. Be his messenger of hope.

Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones.  Proverbs 15:30

Jesus,

Your word brings health and joy to our very being. Let our eyes shine with the brightness of Your love. Fill us with Your word which gives us the radiance of Your love. Let us be Your messengers today and every day.

Amen

The Light of Life

 

     In our, often, dark world, Jesus shines brightly. I love the words included in the following verse, “light of life.”

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 have the light of life surrounding you each day when you have Jesus. Discouragement easily takes hold as we see the darkness increasing around us with violence, disease, with the threats of wars and the increasing frequency of earthquakes, storms and volcanic eruptions. The world needs Jesus. And we are the ones to spread the light. After Jesus calls Himself the light of the world, He tells us:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on the stand, and it gives light to everyone in the room. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16

     Don’t hide your love for Christ. Let it shine so everyone in the room can see it. Our goal is to glorify God. Let it be about Him today, and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. You may be just the light someone needs right now.

Jesus,

You are the light of the world and because we have You, we are able to shine the light before others. Show us how to do that today and we can glow with warmth in a dark world, shining like stars. (Philippians 2:15)

Amen

The Light of Life

 

     How did we live life without Jesus? We have fought disease, been hurt by friends, struggled through school, birthed babies, grieved over lost loved ones and cried buckets of tears. Jesus comes into our darkness and shines with His light. The tiniest glimmer of hope, or the first tinge of a smile or a burst of sunshine suddenly and surprisingly warms our heart.

     He is the light of the world. He is the lamp of heaven. His light overcomes darkness. Ask Him to shine light into the deepest part of you. Anything you have hidden from yourself or others, anything that still tingles with hurt and sadness, anger and guilt. You know those old scabs that break open to wound you time and time again? Jesus will place a soothing balm over them until they heal completely.

This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

     Invite the light of Christ to shine on you. He will remove the darkness of Satan’s work. Don’t let him take another day of joy from you. The light of Jesus has come to give you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Choose the gift of His light. In Him there is no darkness at all.

Jesus,

Let Your light shine on and through us. You humbled Yourself from full glory to live as a man. Your glory is complete and it is available to us each day. We want to live in that light without any darkness at all.

Amen