Advent and Faith

 

     70 years of life brings perspective. God has been faithful. There were times I doubted His goodness, or lost sight of Him altogether. Funny thing is, it turns out those were exactly the times He was working behind the scenes. Darkness often leads to searching. Light appears. A rainbow peeks through the clouds. We ask questions and when we seek, we find.

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

     Wondering about God? Is He there? Can He help? Search the Scriptures if you are seeking answers. Ask God and He will bring light to the darkness. Knock and Jesus will come into your heart. His presence is available 24/7. The path for you will be clear in time. He is right there, working for you.

He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3

Find faith and hope again.

Father,

We seek You. We ask for Your help. We knock on Your door. You never slumber. You are there. You watch over us and make a way for us through the darkness into Your glorious light.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Advent and Faith

 

     When life doesn’t make sense, trust God. His ways are beyond our own understanding. When your world seems out of control, He will take the reins. He can take your anger. He feels your grief and will comfort you. He can and will turn your fear and doubt and anxiety into confident trust. He is worthy of our trust, our praise, and our service.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

     Submit to His word. Acknowledge His presence. He will turn your life right-side up. We can do all things through Him.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Jesus,

Get us back on track today. Guide us into Your ways. You know what is best. Wrap Your loving arms around us today and give us strength through You. We love You.

Amen

 

Advent and Faith

 

     God loves it when we reach out to Him. Whether we are busy, or struggling with pain, or just getting through our ordinary days, He longs to be a part of it, all of it We end up worrying, fretting, moving through the days, trying to figure everything out on our own.

     He is there. Ask for help and guidance. It can be a simple prayer on the way to work, “God I can’t see the way. Help me,” or “Jesus, give me peace right in this situation,” or, “Give me the right words.”

     As we release our burdens to Him, and ask for His guidance, can we trust Him to work? Yes! He is working ahead of us, making a plan, finding people, finding answers, getting us through the pain with His love and His word, giving comfort and compassion.

     When the dark clouds are hovering nearby, seek His light and His hope beyond it all. His light will reappear, often in the most unexpected ways. His love will wash away any fear. He has conquered everything for us and He understands.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

     The one and only sinless man, tempted in every way, the one who suffered all of those temptations, the trials, the horrors of evil on His very own shoulders for you and me. He gets it. He is above all else and He can and will figure it all out, all of it, because He understands. Trust Him. Have faith.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

Father,

Give us the ability to trust You with every fiber of our being, no matter what. Even when we can’t see the road ahead, we look to You as You make a new way for us.Our faith is in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Advent and Faith

 

     God’s love, His faithfulness, His grace and mercy will never fail. He will never, ever leave you. His promises are eternal and all will come to pass. His plans for you are good and His will is pleasing. All He asks of us is to trust Him, to have faith in Him above all else.

For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last-just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

     We become right with God when we believe in Jesus as Savior. That is all it takes. The verse above tells us. It is all about faith, from first to last. Faith is the foundation of it all. God will remain faithful to you and to me. Let’s trust Him above all else with faith after faith. When doubt and fear rise up, have faith. When grief overwhelms, have faith. When you are lost, have faith.

     Our energetic, sweet, handsome grandsons slept over near Christmas last year.  After Gramps read them, “Green Eggs and Ham” time after time, one of them said, “It just gets funnier and funnier every time.” There is nothing sweeter in the world than the sound of their belly laughs.

     Right after that, Gavin taught me a lesson about faith.  It was time for bed. I tucked them into their bunk beds ready for a story and prayers. I talked about Jesus in the manger, how God had come from heaven to live a life here on earth, how the angels surrounded Him and the shepherds and wise men worshipped Him, ready to share the good news.

     Gavin stopped me and said, “Nana, do you know what the best thing is?” I asked, “No, what?”  He replied, “It’s a true story!”  The faith of a child. Jesus told us just that.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

     Have faith. It’s true!

Father,

The gift of faith in You is a miracle that will keep us secure until we reach heaven. Show us Your love as we continue to trust and have faith in Your Son, Jesus and in His name we pray.

Amen

Advent and Faith

 

     Yesterday, on the second Sunday in December, the second purple candle was lit. This second candle represents faith. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's humble beginnings:

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12, NIV)

     Again, the prophets foretold the birthplace of the coming Messiah.

But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the class of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of old. Micah 5:2

     No other book or person has foretold the future with 100 percent accuracy. Over 300 prophecies came true at the first coming of Jesus and even more are written about His second coming. These prophecies were written over a span of thousands of years and written by multiple authors. Have faith! Our faith pleases Him.

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

See the baby in the manger. The Messiah has come bringing good tidings of great joy!

Father,

Our faith grows as we study Your word. Jesus is the word of God in the flesh and we praise You for the gift of faith.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Advent and Hope

 

     The guarantee of our heavenly home should provide all we need to get through all that life brings, 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 waits 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, (Matthew 24) 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. The birds rise each morning with a song. The sunflowers turn their stunning faces to the son. Let’s do the same. 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. Come, Lord Jesus!

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

 

Advent and Hope

 

     Faith, belief, trust. Jesus asks us to believe in Him, to trust Him, to have faith in Him above all else, to be filled with an everlasting hope for the future. 

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

Maybe you have heard of Joni Eareckson Tada.  Over 50 years ago, as a teenager, she had a diving accident that left her as a quadriplegic. She has given her life to serving Christ. Through the years she has inspired millions. She is an amazing artist, painting painstakingly with her mouth. She is an author, and an advocate for those living with disabilities. Listen to this perspective from someone who has suffered so much

“I want to stay in the habit of ‘glancing’ at my problems and ‘gazing’ at my Lord.”

     Beautiful. Look above the clouds in your life to the glory of the Son. You can trust His promises. You can have faith that He knows what He is doing. Maybe like Joni, He will use your struggles to show His glory. What a privilege.

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

     When we look over our lives, when we are seated in heaven, the things we did for Christ will remain. Trust, believe, have faith in the One who is worthy and the One filling us with hope..

Father,

Teach us to gaze at Jesus with complete faith and trust. This short life is meant to be lived for Him. He is the missing piece. We were made for Him.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Advent and Hope

 

     If you haven’t listened to the song, “Mary Did You Know?” I highly encourage you to do so. Many have sung it over the years. I love all versions and the song never fails to leave me with goosebumps and eyes filled with tears.

    Mary had an unexpected visit with an angel. Gabriel gave her the news straight from the mouth of God. Mary was highly favored in God’s sight. This young virgin 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. He was twelve years old.

     When His parents realized He was not among them, they were worried and went back to find Him. Jesus told them they should not have been surprised to find Him 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

Advent and Hope

 

     With the uncertainties in life, there is hope. Hope remains. At the end of the struggle, with the easing of grief, with remission after treatment, with recovery, with reconciliation and forgiveness, there is hope. At the end of this earthly life, all of our longings and hopes will be realized.

     In the meantime, hang on. Hope is there. Anchor yourself with hope today.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19

     Hang on to the anchor of hope in your soul. Jesus is guiding you through the uncertainties and struggles of life. He will never let you go. Your foundation is secure with Him.

Jesus,

Sometimes it’s hard to hang on to the hope you offer. Comfort and strengthen those with uncertain futures. You know the number of our days and we hang on to You.

Amen

 

Advent and Hope

 

     Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent. The season of anticipation and preparation is upon us. A purple candle on the advent wreath is lit. This candle is typically called the "prophecy candle" or “hope candle.”  The prophet, Isaiah, as well as many others in the Old Testament foresaw the coming Messiah. He fills the world with hope.  

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

     This first candle represents a hope, an expectation, an anticipation of the coming Messiah. The prophets of old longed for His coming. The disciples and the followers of Jesus saw those prophecies fulfilled in their lifetimes. They walked with Him and talked with Him and He will come again one day soon.

     In the meantime, there is hope. We celebrate His first coming during this wonderful season of hope.

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Lord,

We wait for You in hope. Prepare us for this season as we get ready to celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus. Renew our hearts this season with the gift of hope. We also wait with hope for Your second coming. .

Amen

Abundant Blessings

 

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

     Take in the blessings of God this week. Allow Him to fill the holes in your heart and bless you in all things at all times. Jesus loves you to the moon and back and beyond the stars. After all, He has washed your sins as white as snow. Take that love and the blessings of God and give some away. Count your blessings on Thanksgiving Day and every day. And don’t forget to pray for others and allow others to pray for you.

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.  2 Corinthians 9:14-15

     God’s gift of grace is meant to be shared. And prayer changes things. Prayer opens hearts and heals wounds and brings peace to the soul. I thank God for each one of you and I pray that God’s gifts be given to you in abundance so that you may overflow with joy.

Happy Thanksgiving! See you Monday.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Your indescribable gifts. We take each one as a blessing from above and we ask to be given opportunities to give to others.

Amen

Calm Before the Storm

 

     Well, let’s admit it. Along with the delightful, smells, tastes, sounds and anticipation of the season, there is more. More stress, more busyness, more annoying relatives. There are the gifts that don’t work, that don’t fit, that we don’t need. We overeat, we over shop and we overdo.

     Take a break before the hectic days and the hoopla begin and remember the One above watching over us.  Above all else, He is there.

Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.  Colossians 3:2

  This time of the year is especially difficult for those grieving the loss of loved ones. Jesus is there to comfort, to find hope, to remind us of His great gifts. Remember the blessings and, remember, there is a great cloud of witnesses awaiting us in heaven.

     What do you think? Can we rise above the craziness and focus on the hope that awaits? Shine with hope this season. Let’s focus on the love around us and share memories of loved ones waiting for us and the One who came for us. It’s all about Him after all. He can change everything.

Jesus,

Calm our spirits as we get ready to celebrate the loveliest and purest gift ever given, the life You sacrificed for us, offering us grace and forgiveness. Keep our focus on You and on sharing all of the noble gifts You give to us. Please comfort those who mourn.

Amen

The Aroma of Christ

 

     The sights, smells and sounds are upon us. Leaves have fallen. Christmas lights and displays are ready to greet us. The smell of pine will soon infiltrate our homes. Many of us will savor the smell and taste of our Thanksgiving feasts. I love this time of the year and look forward to decorating, baking, spending time with loved ones. Picking out gifts and delighting the young ones around us add to the holiday anticipation.

     What about the reason for the season? What about the anticipation of celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus? The sights and sounds of the choir of angels greeting the shepherds as they tended their flocks? The realization that the Savior of the world was wrapped in swaddling clothes? What were the sights and sounds and smells of the manger where he slept?  The surroundings were common, but the magnitude of the event, astounding!

     Did you know we can be the aroma of Christ? Imagine that as this season engulfs our minds, our senses and our hearts, as we become distracted from the true meaning of Christmas.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere.  2 Corinthians 2:14

Jesus,

Help us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of You throughout this season. We celebrate You. Born of a woman and the Son of God! Sent to save us all. We look forward to celebrating Your birth. Help our focus to remain on You throughout this busy season filled with sights, sounds and smells of the holidays.

Amen

The Amazing Word of God

 

     I pray for all of you as I write, praying that God will be with you and speak to you through His words. The Bible holds great power. It is alive and it goes deep into our souls. Memorizing Scripture will prepare us for any and all circumstances. Saying the word of God out loud shoos Satan away and beckons the angels to surround us.

Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Psalm 103:20

There are Scriptures just for you no matter where you are, no matter what you need. Comforting Scripture to combat fear and grief, to rejoice in praise or gratefulness, to share the Gospel, to remind you of heaven and hope, to ease our anxiety. We read through history, enjoy the poetry of the Psalms  or sit amazed at the prophetic word that has proven true.

Scripture holds the keys from the beginning to the end. Jesus has the answers.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10

Thank You Father for the gift of Your word. Give us time to dig deeper into it, to understand more and more of who You are and Your plans for us. We resist our enemy and listen to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

Our Songs

 

     My mom died the day after my wedding.  The final stages of cancer left her in the hospital the week of and during our special day. Walking through that grief as a newlywed left me helpless and left my husband wondering what to do with me. Throughout that time, I was diagnosed with an eye disease that would, one day, leave me legally blind, and my husband lost his job. All of the above left us floundering for answers.

Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5b

     I began to pray. This was the beginning of finding Jesus. I came to the end of myself and asked for help. God placed the right people in my life and sometimes slowly, but steadily, He has given me great opportunities to serve Him, such as leading crisis ministry teams and teaching Bible studies and now through the written word.

     It is astounding for me to look back over what now spans over thirty-five years of a deep and abiding marriage and a deep and abiding faith. Jesus has changed my life in so many ways. His purpose for me continually drives me with passion and joy and He provides enough grace to guide me through the challenges in life. Much suffering has been a part of our family’s life over the years, but the blessings far outnumber them. The craziness of it all has given me a strong and loving marriage as well as two amazing, beautiful, kind, awesome (you get the picture) daughters, the best sons-in-law and, you guessed it, the most wonderful grandkids in the world.

     Hang on through the sorrowful times. Jesus will bring good from them. I saw a quote years ago when I was feeling down about the circumstances surrounding me and I have never forgotten it.

“If God removed the rocks, a brook would lose its song.” Author unknown.

     I pray your song is making a beautiful melody today.

Lord,

I can only thank You for everything, all of it, difficult, delightful, and disastrous. You continue to give us difficult and necessary lessons along the way. I put my trust in You to get me through life’s journey, until one day, the tears, and the pain will be gone forever. Joy will remain.

Amen

The Journey

 

     Many years ago, I read a book called, “Hinds’ Feet On High Places.” It is the story of a girl named, Much Afraid, a girl like you and like me. She wants to stay in the valley where she is comfortable and knows her way around, until one day she has an encounter with the Good Shepherd.

     How she longs to follow Him, but her pesky relatives keep holding her back along the way. Friends and cousins like Pity and Pride, Fear, Resentment and Bitterness. They hinder her journey. She does not understand it at the time, but the Shepherd chooses Sorrow and Suffering as her companions and, slowly, she heads up a tough mountain trail.

     The hinds (or deer) she spots up ahead near the top of the mountain take an easier route, and she wonders why the Shepherd insists she take another way. But one day, she reaches the uppermost place, the highest place, lessons learned and joy attained.

     This allegory speaks to us as we journey along in life, never quite understanding all of it along the way. But Jesus does, and one day we, like the hind, will reach the mountaintop. Sitting in heaven, everything done for Jesus following along with us with whispers of “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He causes me to stand on the heights. Psalm 18:33

Lord,

We won’t have all of the answers until we meet You in heaven. Keep us filled with hope and trust throughout our journeys on earth. Even when our companions include sorrow and suffering, You know the way out and through it all. We love You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Hope In What We Do Not See

 

     I recently searched through and perused some of my writings from years past. I realize that much of my most prolific times of writing have come both during and after times of great suffering. Suffering offers us hard-earned life lessons. Life throws so much at us and as we go through the tough times, it can seem impossible to see a way out, or to find a beacon of hope.

     Jesus taught me the most valuable lessons through these times. I learned to trust. I learned to hang on to hope. I relied on friends and family in ways I might not have had things continued to be comfortable and easy. We can carry each other’s burdens. And the God of hope travels along with us, opening our eyes to spiritual truths, to an eternal perspective, to a life beyond.

     If you are navigating a time of trial, reach out to Jesus with hope.

 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Jesus,

Thank You for the hope you bring to us and thank You for celebrating with us through the joys of life and staying close by our side through the difficult days. We can always find peace and hope when we trust in You.

Amen

Jesus Is There

 

     How is your view today? Are you in the deep valley of grief and sorrow or doubt and fear where the thought of seeing the sun again seems a far-off dream? Are you sitting on a mountaintop with a clear view? Life is in a good place, breath-taking and full of joy. Maybe you are on your way down after just such an experience or find yourself with the long climb up, about halfway but nowhere near where you want to land.

     The good news about Jesus, besides that He offers us eternal life, is that He never leaves our side once we take Him as our Savior. He is with us as our closest companion on the darkest of days, in the pure moments of joy and everything in between. He understands the dark better than anyone, and He resides in the gates of eternity where all things are possible.

     Give Him your heart this morning. Fill Him in on where you are and what you need. (As if He doesn’t know) He knows the answers far better than we know the questions. He will fulfill what we need, not just what we want. The deepest truths in life are found throughout the journey of life. As He reaches out to comfort and help us find our way, we can pass it along to others.

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

Lord,

Wherever we are, there you are also, offering companionship and comfort. We thank You for showering us with Your love and we ask that you give us someone that needs that same compassion and love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Just For Today

 

     What holds us together when everything within us and around us tells us we should be falling apart? Just for today hang onto God’s word for you. Each day can be a new beginning. He is enough. Just for today.

     His grace is sufficient for each moment. His power is released in our weakness.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12

     When we fall away, His unending mercies are waiting to meet us each day.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

     He is near to our broken hearts.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

     His deep peace, His perfect peace, His peace that passes understanding is ours

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

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You. Isaiah 26:3

     When our faith fails, He remains faithful.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

     He protects us when we are scared.

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

     His love is yours until eternity.

Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ and to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:21

     When hope seems unavailable, His hope remains forever and ever. Amen

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father who loved us and by His grace gives us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Just for today.

Amen

 

Faith

 

     As Jesus begins His work in our hearts and souls and minds, we begin to change. The changes may be subtle, transforming us slowly over the years. Other changes are dramatic, life-transforming, in an instant of time. Jesus changes everything.

     After walking with Jesus for almost 40 years, looking back over the decades, I have experienced what it means to follow Him. I still fight with the devil’s schemes as we all do. My anxiety raises its ugly head now and again. But my trust and faith in Him never waver. I return to His overwhelming grace each time I falter.

     All God desires from us is to trust Him, to remain faithful, to love Him and spend time with Him. As the Creator of all we see and experience, He really doesn’t need us to complete His purposes. But He chooses us to be a part of the plan, to help Him achieve His purpose and plan before He sets up the new heaven and the new earth.

     Trust Him with your life and experience His deep joy and peace. It is available and your faith pleases Him.

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

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Lord,

Increase our faith as we earnestly seek You. You will reward us with the deep and abiding joy of Your presence.

In Jesus name,

Amen

We Can't Help But Speak

 

     Some say faith is a private issue. It is a personal and unique relationship between an individual and God. True, but, as Christians, the Holy Spirit fills us to the brim with the living water of Jesus and we have to speak! Peter and John had been arrested. They were forbidden to speak about Jesus.

     Did that stop them? Not at all. They were right back out in the public square preaching the news. This news was too good to keep to themselves. The Spirit within them would not allow them to be quiet. Here is their response:

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes, to listen to you or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about all we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20

     As for us, we can’t help speaking of all we have seen and heard. Let it be true of us as it was for Peter and John.

Jesus,

Let us speak in Your name, even as we are persecuted and ridiculed. You want everyone to know You.

Amen

Your Story

 

     Each of us, as believers, has a story to tell. Some of us have known Jesus since childhood, others met Him as seniors. I love the fact that Jesus is ready whenever we are. He knows when our hearts are ready to receive Him.

     I have witnessed how He places the right people at the right time in our lives to share the Gospel. Sometimes we just don’t want to hear it from our own family or friends. A stranger could just “happen” to walk into a life with the good news.

     If you know Jesus, you have a testimony. No one else met Him in the same way or at the same time. All of our stories have meaning and purpose. Maybe God is preparing you to share the love of Christ, how He has changed you, how He has opened your heart, how He loves you. Your story is unique and maybe, just maybe, someone around you is ready to listen. Don’t be afraid. The Holy Spirit will give you the words.

At that time, you will be given what to say. Matthew 10:19b

For the Holy Spirit will teach you, at that time, what you should say. Luke 12:12

     Go and tell what God has done for you.

I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

Father,

We lean on You to help us speak of Your wonderful deeds. Lead us to those ready to hear Your voice and let the Holy Spirit give us just the right words.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Seek Him and Find Him

 

     God is waiting for you. Have you noticed a yearning in your heart? Are you hesitant to come closer? See if Jesus is for real? Is it possible God truly sent His Son to earth over 2,000 years ago?

     The profound and transforming answers to those questions will change your life. The blessed assurance of finally and forever letting yourself go safely into His arms will set you free. Free from the penalty of sin, free to find peace for your soul, free to be loved forever, free to hope for the reality and assurance of eternity.

     How can you go wrong? Here is His voice speaking to your heart.

You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all of your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

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

     Believe He will answer your seeking heart.

I sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

     All of us fall short of the glory of God. All of us. God gave us a way to Him through Jesus. Jesus Christ died for you and for me. The only sinless man to walk the earth. Fully God and fully man. He rose again and conquered death and He is alive! He has risen! No more death and all we have to do is believe. Here is the good news for those of you seeking an answer.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe resulting in righteousness and it is with your mouth you confess resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10

     It is a pure gift of grace. None of us deserve it. None of us can attain it without the one and only Son, sent from the Father.

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

Lord,

There are no words that can express the thanksgiving we have in our hearts for Jesus. Please open more hearts to His truth, to His Gospel, to His grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Fullness of Christ

 

And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.  Ephesians 1:22-23

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:10

     When I taught Bible studies, I used this example. On a table sits a pitcher filled with sand, an empty jar and three rocks. Imagine taking the pitcher of sand. As you pour it into the empty jar, you list the ways you spend your days. Pour in the work, time with the kids, cooking, watching TV, reading, laundry, phone calls, computer and anything else that comes to mind.

     The jar is plum full. You love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and strength. The three rocks represent the Bible, prayer and service. You try to squeeze them into the top of the jar but they just won’t fit. Now picture the sand being poured back into the pitcher. The three rocks are placed into the bottom of the now-empty jar first. And the sand? As it is poured back in, it all fits!

     We think we do God a favor by sitting in a church pew for an hour each week. One hour out of the 168 available to us. If the service goes over an hour, we look at our watches, think about the game about to begin or what we will have for lunch. A distracted faith. It’s there, but we place little value on it when all is said and done.

     Jesus wants a real relationship with us, not a ritual, not a religion, not squeezed into the last five minutes of our days The Bible is His gift to us. It is a way to get to know the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit intimately. I guarantee when you soak yourself in the word you will develop a hunger and a thirst for more.  Remember the living water yesterday? It is always available.

     And reading Scripture and time with Jesus won’t feel like an obligation or duty, it will be the most important and valuable portion of the day.

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

     And you will be filled.

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

 Dear Lord,

We long to sit with You on a daily basis, filling up on Your word and praying and talking with You. Let that be the desire of our hearts from this day forward. Develop in us a hunger and a thirst for Your righteousness.

Amen

Soul-quenching Love

 

     Is your soul thirsty and parched? That abundant love and contentment Christ offers can fade into the background of our daily existence, when the urgent takes precedence over our needs, our physical, mental, and spiritual needs. The Samaritan woman at the well during the hottest part of the day, met the One who would fill the dryness in her life. Here are His words for her and for you and to me.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

     The lost woman believed. She would become one of Jesus’ first evangelists as she offered the Messiah’s truth to her family and the surrounding area. Soul-thirsty answers, life-quenching truth, free-flowing living water available whenever and wherever we need it. Is it time to stop and drink?

    How do we receive this flowing spring water that will last until eternity?

“Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”  John 7:38

   Believing in Jesus begins with His abundant love. We realize our need for a Savior and His offer is iron-clad. We are His until He will wipe the earthly water from our eyes and we will walk with Him beside the streams of living water forever.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Revelation 7:17

    Heaven will provide perfection one day. What about our dry, cracked souls today? He offers us thirst-quenching answers for every tear-stained question, for every deep longing, for every pit of shame. The water is satisfying. Thirsty? Dip into the life-quenching well of Jesus.

Dear Jesus,

Walk with us beside the still, cool waters of Your saving grace in our uncertain lives. Take our hands as we search for answers and lead us to the Words of life. Refresh our souls. You are the answer to our longings. Fill us to the brim.

Amen

Overflowing Love

 

     The ordinary events of everyday life can be filled with the presence of Jesus. It takes practice. It takes time. It takes a deepening sense of who He is and how to seek Him in the middle of the muddle, in the sorting of the laundry piles, in the sneak peek out the kitchen window while cleaning the dinner dishes, in the warm embrace of your spouse. His presence is everywhere, anywhere, anytime. Ready?

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow, the hills are clothed with gladness. Psalm 65:12

     Creation overflows with gladness. Ok, our Minnesota winters may not fill our hearts with gladness. But this fall has been glorious. The last couple of days have been around 60 degrees with bright blue skies and vibrant colors.  God gives us these spectacular colors before the cold sets in.  With Jesus we can overflow with hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

     Trusting Him allows us to live in hope.

All this is for your benefit so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4;15

      God’s extravagant love, His overflowing grace is available to us in His presence and in His word Weaving through the intricacies of our lives we find balance and a rhythm as we walk with the Holy Spirit of God. As our knowledge grows and our lives change, the love that has filled us miraculously begins to overflow.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  1 Thessalonians 3:12

 Dear Father in heaven,

Thank You for Jesus. He gives us a life overflowing with grace and love that rises up to eternity, that extravagant love that fills our hungry souls. Overflow our lives with that love, so we can give it away, just as You gave it to us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Extravagant Love

 

     Extravagant love. What comes to mind? Is it a bracelet dripping with diamonds, a trip around the world, a love poem written just for you? Our world tells us, “You deserve the best.” “You are worth it.”  “You need this to be happy.” Jesus turns all of that upside down with His sacrifice on the cross. While we were yet sinners, He took it all upon Himself, suffered and died, because He loves us.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  1 John 3:1a

     Extravagant love may not come in the way we envision it. It comes in the heart of the mom with the disabled child. There is not much time to think about herself or her needs. She would not have wished or dreamed about this life for her family, but would she have it any other way? No, the love is deeper than anything she has or will ever experience.

     Sacrificial love. It’s all around us, in the care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or cancer, in caring for the poor, in missionary work in other cultures, in the service of our country, in the front-line heroes. These lives are all around us and they are beautiful. The extravagant love of Christ is available and ready to be absorbed and shared.

     This sacrificial love is often found in places and with people the world would rather avoid. The difficulties and sufferings we are called to endure, often become the very places we witness the holiness of Christ and His love. Don’t be afraid of His lavish love. It is there for the taking. He gives it richly, abundantly, extravagantly, sacrificially. Can we do the same?

Jesus,

You, the pure light of the world, washed the filthy feet of Your disciples. Show us how to love in the ways of Your heart. Take away our fear as we step a little closer to serving others sacrificially in Your name. After all, that’s what you taught us to do.

Amen

Satisfying Love

 

     It was a summer, Saturday evening about 30 years ago. The picture is etched in my mind. Our daughters were somewhere around the ages of six and four. The house was clean. The gardens were planted. The yard freshly mowed and trimmed thanks to my husband. Our girls sat quietly with their French braids, clean from their baths in their freshly laundered nightgowns.

       “Ahh.” Pure satisfaction. You may have noticed the time frame. This is not a daily experience. Far from it. We have those moments when all seems right with the world; when the jobs are done, the tough project complete, after enjoying a satisfying meal, or a day off. Then hunger returns. Another project rears its ugly head. Dishes are dirty. Laundry is piling up. The house is in chaos, the kids squabbling, just too much to do.

     Jesus offers us this deep and satisfying, soul-quenching contentment. All day. Every day. When we place our lives totally in His hands, we recognize the kids are from Him, the grass and all of creation was breathed into existence, just for us. And our lives can be given completely to Him, the satisfying days, along with the frustrating and chaotic days. What Jesus offers us is more than a momentary feeling of satisfaction. He offers us the abundant life, grace-given, love overflowing assurance of the more-than-enough life.

But Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

     Contentment with Jesus is available in the midst of the chaos, in the fear of the moment, in times of hunger and peril. Every moment can be entrusted to Him. Let’s dig into the abundant life this week. In the meantime, breath out a satisfied, “Ahh” with me. He has you in the palm of His hand. Be content there and then go tackle that mess.

Dear Father,

You gave us Your Son. He gave everything up for us and loves us too much to ever let us go. Give us that Godly contentment every day no matter what is in front of us.

In Jesus name

Amen