Praise Him

 

     Jesus turns our world upside down. shakes a few things loose, sets us back up, and after the dizziness subsides, we look around and nothing is the same. This week, allow Him to show you a new perspective, a topsy turvy, inside out and upside-down new beginning. Let’s begin with praise. Thankfulness and gratitude to God is a great way to begin and end each day. Through it all.

     Praise Him to begin and end your day:

They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening. 2 Chronicles 23:30

     Praise Him through the darkness:

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5

     Praise him for all He has created:

All the earth bows down to You. They sing praise to you, they sing the praises of Your name. Psalm 66:4

     Praise Him for hope:

As for me, I will always have hope. I will praise You more and more.  Psalm 71:14

      Praise Him as you pass it down.

Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will praise You forever from generation to generation we will proclaim Your praise.  Psalm 79:13

     Praise Him for His love:

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever.  Psalm 106:1

     Praise Him for His word:

May my lips overflow with praise, for You teach me Your decrees. Psalm 119:171

     Praise Him for your life.

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

     Praise Him for His power and greatness:

Praise Him for His acts of power, praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Psalm 150:2

     Praise Him with music and movement:

Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings of the lyre.  Psalm 150:3

     He will replace your despair as you praise Him.

And provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.  Isaiah 61:3

     Praise Him for His spiritual blessings:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3

     Praise Him when it is difficult.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that openly confess His name.  Hebrews 13:15

     Praise Him today, even if it is difficult. Praise Him for His love, for His creation, for His Son, praise Him for everything in Your heart. He is worthy to be praised, this morning, this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow and forevermore.

Dear Father in Heaven,

We thank you for the gift of praise and thanksgiving. Remove our despair. Replace our mourning with joy. Replace our ashes for beauty. You change us as we focus on You.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Prayer

 

     A prayer begins our relationship with Jesus as Savior. It is a necessary part of life to keep our relationship with Him growing and active. Prayer changes circumstances, heals hearts, intercedes for friends and family.

     Do you find yourself trying to pray and something comes immediately to mind? Suddenly you remember an e-mail you have to answer or the phone just happens to ring as you begin your time with God. The quiet intimate time with Jesus seems impossible until it becomes a habit. The habit will eventually become the time you look most forward to, the quiet time to get to know and understand the voice of Christ.

     Jesus is always with us. That fact allows us to pray in the middle of a meeting, in a line at the post office, as we remember a sick friend, or witness an accident, or in the middle of a sleepless night. Praying can be habitual and part of our existence, as we practice the presence of God. 

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

     Satan would love to distract us enough, keep us busy enough, make us comfortable enough, make us worry enough, build our pride enough, keep us uncertain enough, to believe we don’t need to pray or believe we have no time to pray. Let prayer become a priority. Find a special time each day for prayer and Bible time. Those two things, understanding and studying God’s word and sitting in His presence in prayer will change your life forever. This relationship with Jesus gives us joy and hope. Don’t do this out of guilt or obligation, but because this relationship has become one of joy and anticipation.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

     Prayer has great power, the power that first connected you to Jesus. The Holy Spirit within you will guide you into prayer, how to pray, what to pray and who should be included in your prayers. It is an honor to pray for others, and if someone prays for you, you are blessed indeed.

     I am pausing in my writing, right now, to pray for each reader. May Jesus fill your hearts and mind with blessings in the joy and hope of His salvation and love. And I thank you, dear friends, for the ways you have prayed for me and our family.

Dear Father,

Let each person reading these words feel Your presence in a new and powerful way. I pray those “Holy Spirit shivers” are running up and down as we unite together in praising You and in believing in the power of prayer and basking in Your mighty presence.

In Jesus powerful name we pray,

Amen

Power

 

     The moment we become believers we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. That spiritual power is beyond this world, beyond what we see with our eyes, or hear with our ears. It is a deep and abiding force that guides us through the rest of our lives. The breath and Spirit of Christ rests upon us. It is beyond our natural abilities. It is supernatural

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1;13

     Yes, that moment you first believed, the Holy Spirit was given to you. Are you ready to hear more about this great power? These next verses never fail to fill me with awe and wonder at what He offers freely when we believe that He exists and died and rose again for us. Paul is praying this prayer for his brothers and sisters in Ephesus. Let this be a prayer for you today. Let it soak into your heart.

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, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:18-20

     The same power that raised Christ from the dead is given to us?! Resurrection power. I could use a little of that each and every day. You, too? Feel that great power in prayer, through your struggles, beyond your circumstances and in trusting His ability to use all things for His good. We may not understand it all until we are in heaven, but all of this, every single thing in our lives will not go to waste. Every bit of it will be, somehow, in some way, used for His glory. Believe it!

Dear Lord,

We don’t see all things clearly now. It becomes muddled in our daily existence, but we trust You. One day we will see it all and understand how you used us in unexpected ways. Tune us in to our Holy Spirit power today and every single day for the rest of our lives. Teach us how to be in constant contact with You and to share the power of Your great love with others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Plan

 

     There is no other person on the planet like you. God’s plan for your life is different from any other. You were born at just the right time, for just the right season, for just these moments. You are gifted with a certain personality type, with natural, in-born gifts to share, and when the Holy Spirit comes to live within you, God enhances all of our attributes with gifts of His own, gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are to be used for the common good. (See 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 for the gifts of the Spirit)

     God’s plan will fit perfectly, with great precision, with who you are and where you are and with what you do best. Do you make a plan or go with the flow? Are your decisions based on logical thinking or from the heart? Do you connect with the world with your five senses or intuition? Gifted in administration? Love to entertain? Are you quiet and prefer one-on-one conversation to a crowd setting? Love to teach or to stay behind the scenes setting up for the meeting? Are you meant to shepherd a small group or use your Biblical knowledge to help others? Are you a singer?

     All of these and more can be used to influence the kingdom of God. The community of faith works together as a body. Jesus is the head, and we make up the other parts. Just as our body cannot function without all of its working parts, so our communities cannot function without all of us working in unity.

     The beautiful truth, well, one of the many beautiful truths about the body of Christ, is that God gives special honor to the unseen, less-focused-on gifts. Do you pray for others continually? Maybe you sharpen the pencils in the pews. Or you come early and stay late before and after the meetings and no one knows what you are doing. You are highly honored by our God.

     God’s plan is just right. Not too much, not too little, a one-of-a kind blueprint that fits you like a glove. No guilt-ridden duty. No begrudging giving. Instead, our gifts will be used with joy and passion.

     He will give you the power to do what you are meant to do in ways that may seem impossible without our Creator. He will pull out all of the stops to influence His children on earth. He needs you, and we are in it together.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  1 Corinthians 12:26-27

From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  Ephesians 4;16

     Discovering your gifts and doing your part is an awesome adventure. As you read God’s word, He will show you the way you should go.

Dear Jesus,

We thank you for each part of the body of Christ all over the world. How you orchestrate all of us to work for Your kingdom is beyond our imaginings. Show us our part. Are we your eyes focused on a hurting world? Are we Your hands offering a loving touch to someone in need, or Your feet going to unsaved parts of the world? We all share Your great and powerful heart in love.

Amen

Purpose

 

     How do we find purpose on earth? What is it all about? If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, what does He expect from you and me? He gave up everything to give us all new life. I know I have nothing to give in return. There is nothing we CAN do, nothing God needs. He is everything and He holds everything in His mighty hands. What He wants and asks from us is to have a relationship with Him, to have faith.

     As we get to know Jesus through His word and through prayer, our purpose begins to become clear. Knowing Him, putting Him first, recognizing we can’t do anything without Him, finds us surprisingly able to do things we could not imagine. Our confidence is in Him, rather than in our imperfect selves.

     He may use our stories, our sufferings, our lives as a testimony to others. People may notice a change and ask us about the hope within us. We may speak boldly about our faith to the people God places in our lives. Jesus may even ask us to reach out to someone we don’t like very much. We can’t do it on our own.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

     Get to know Him. Open up the good book. Imagine a new life filled with possibilities. Most of the thoughts in our head, what we worry about, compete for, save to buy, work towards, will not come with us into heaven.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to the power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

     When we meet Jesus, He will burn up the things that are no longer needed as we walk through those pearly gates. But the things we did with Him and for Him and through Him? They will be refined like gold, beautiful and lasting. Good enough to last forever.

Their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one escaping through the flames.  1 Corinthians 3:13-15

     This work is not anything we can do on our own, but only with Jesus, the foundation. He shows us what to do and how to do it, through His Holy Spirit, through His mighty word, through our time of prayer.

     Ready to give it a try, this purposeful life? It comes down to the heart and His love.

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

     What is the condition of your heart? Let it melt into a life with Christ.

Dear Jesus,

You give our lives meaning and purpose. Show us how to take the next step. Help us focus on Your love and getting to know You more intimately. We are one in spirit with You and the Father when we believe.

Amen

Perfection

 

     I want us to work backwards this week, focusing our eyes on the end of the story, and the warmth and beauty of heaven. If you are a believer in Christ (if you are not, stay tuned all week) we know we will live forever!

     One day, at the end of these earthly lives, we will live in perfection.  Our bodies will move from mortal to immortal, from perishable to imperishable (see 1 Corinthians 15;35-58) and yet we will remain our unique selves. Let this truth give you strength and hope, giving promise to a parent’s heart as they witness their child suffer with disability or disease; joy to a widow or widower’s heart as she or he continues to miss a spouse; an end to the labored breathing that comes with lung disease; a day to be free of temptation and addiction. A new beginning at what would appear to be the end of the road.

     Finite to infinite, imperfect to perfect, perishable to imperishable, the unseen will be seen, time will become timeless. It puts our suffering, our temptations, our grief into perspective. God will redeem all of it one day, in His perfect timing.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:17-18  (My life verses)

     We will meet Jesus face-to-face. We will live in glory. No time-frame, no hustle and bustle. A reuniting with loved ones. Our future with no more goodbyes. No more scurrying from place to place. No more stress! We can drink our coffee for hours on end. We will have time to speak to others in history. We will see Moses and Elijah, John and James, Mary and Joseph, Abraham and Isaac. Forever.

     There is no end to our story, other than a giving up of our imperfect bodies. We aren’t striving and struggling just to get to the end of this life. The end is the true beginning. Feel the hope. See the glory. Live out your life with passion and love. All of this is achieving for us a glory that far outweighs it all.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.  2 Peter 3:8

    Our sufferings last only a moment in light of eternity. Take in that strength today. Count on that hope. Believe in eternity. All of this will be redeemed in His glory. And every breath on this earth can be lived for Him. Every breath is precious. He gave you life on earth and He promises new life forever.

Dear Lord,

You give us hope for tomorrow, when we will be like You, with new bodies in a perfect world. A new heaven and a new earth, with Your glory shining all around us. The Son will be the sun of heaven. No more night. No more tears. The hope of glory. Our blessed assurance.

It is Jesus.

Amen

Jesus Prays

 

     Did you know Jesus prayed for you right before He was arrested and sentenced to the cross? He knew His time on earth was short and the 17^th chapter of John shares Jesus’ prayers; for Himself to be glorified, for His disciples to be protected and for all of those who would believe in Him. That’s us!

     Jesus knows what is to come. Before He prays, this is what He says to His disciples:

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

     Even then, knowing what was to come, He is offering comfort to His beloved followers. This God of ours humbled Himself to give everything up in human form to give us eternal life. He understands our worldly life, but He sees the finished work of the cross, and so He prays.

First, for Himself:

After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him.  John 17:1-2

And for His disciples:

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.  John 17:11

And for all believers:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.  John 17:20-21

     This prayer resonates with us more than 2,000 years later. There is something so beautiful and moving in this chapter. I encourage you to read through all of it. Soon, Jesus knows, He will be back in heaven and He is entrusting all of us into His Father’s hands while He is still in the world.

     Jesus prayed for you. He knows your trouble and your worries. Just as He looked upward towards heaven, He is waiting for you to look up and lock gazes with Him and become one with Him and the Father. He is asking you to believe.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for Your followers who continue to spread Your message of truth. You prayed for us before the creation of the world. You prayed for us when you lived among us and You pray for us from the heavens. Thank You for Your word.

Amen

Our Unchanging God

 

     Our Minnesota weather has been a typical roller coaster as winter turns to spring. 70 degrees one day followed by 30 and the chance of snow. Our bodies don’t have much of a chance to assimilate to the drastic changes. It is often true of life.

     Navigating life’s ups and downs can be tricky. In the book of John, Jesus reminds us over and over again that He is God. He will supply the answers to all of our needs.

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

     Jesus is the past, the present and the future. He always was, always is and always will be. He is the everlasting God.  Throughout John’s Gospel He continues to repeat this message. “ I AM” the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12, 9:5),  the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11,14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way and the truth and the life (14:6), the vine (15:1)

     If your soul needs nourishment, feed it with His bread. If darkness is closing in around you, let Him be the light to guide you out. Looking for a new beginning? He will be the door. Feeling lost and alone? The good shepherd will be your comfort. You can be renewed by His death and resurrection. You will find real life in the great I AM. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. Has a storm encompassed you? Become rooted deep in the vine and you will remain standing.

     I pray for those going through tumultuous times. Jesus never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. May God continue to guide, bless, nourish and comfort each of you with His transforming love, into all of the gifts He has planned for you.

Dear Jesus,

Our greatest gift is knowing You. Thank you for being all things to us. Give each of us Your special and unique care for each day. Thank you for the families and friends you give us. Show us how to treasure them every single day. You will provide us with everything we need.

Amen

The Holy Spirit

 

     The words of Jesus were confusing even to His followers. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the words were made clear. For all of us on the other side of the resurrection, we see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior. Rather than needing the signs and wonders of a miracle, we gain the Spiritual knowledge we need to follow Him. Jesus spoke these words about the Holy Spirit that was to come.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him for He lives with you and will be in you.  John 14:16-17

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me.  John 15:25-26

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.  John 16:7

     The Holy Spirit, our advocate, our teacher, our comforter, our counselor, could not be sent to us until after Jesus arrived back in heaven. Through this Spirit we have the very breath and power of God, to guide us into truth, to decipher the word of God, to help us discover and to use the Spiritual gifts God has given us.

     Jesus not only gives us the promise of eternal life and eternal love. He gives us His own Spirit to give us hope and joy throughout our lives. Be filled with the Spirit today, the Holy Spirit of the true and living God. Jesus is the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Dear Father in Heaven,

You are the triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We thank you for filling us with the gifts of the Spirit. Guide us in Your wisdom as we allow Him, the Advocate, the Counselor, the Teacher of our souls to show us the next step.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Eternal Words

 

     Will you give Jesus a chance? In the sixth chapter of the book of John, Jesus is speaking of things that will not make perfect sense until after his death and resurrection. His words will never make sense to some. As He speaks, He knows in His heart that there will be those who will not listen. He is speaking to a group about the things of the Spirit.

The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you-they are full of the Spirit and life.  John 6:63

     At this time, some of His followers turned away and left Him. There are many today that take a peek into Christianity and walk away. After some of the followers left Him, Jesus asks;

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.  John 6:67

  And the answer?

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

     Is it time to find eternal answers? Is it time to get rid of the fear of death? Only then can we live. Jesus has the words to eternal life. Believing and putting our trust in the death and resurrection of the Savior comes with a guarantee. Our flesh counts for nothing. The everlasting, forever, eternal part of us can live in paradise with our Father in heaven through Jesus, our Savior. To whom will you go?

Dear Father in Heaven,

We praise You for giving us the gift of eternal life through Jesus, Your Son. We do not deserve it, but Your all-powerful love found a way to bring us back to You. One day we will be with you forever with no more tears and no more pain. Please open hearts today to hear Your words of eternal life, to believe, and to accept Jesus.

Amen

 

For God So Loved The World

 

     Are you unsure about faith in Jesus? Are you wondering if He is real and if you can trust Him as Savior? We are going to take a peek into the Gospel of John this week. John’s Gospel is different from the other three, (Matthew, Mark and Luke.) John’s words are more relational, more profound, John’s Gospel is a great place to begin in the Bible and a good place to return time and time again.

     John was an eyewitness to the life of Christ as one of His disciples. I love the fact that John calls himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loves.” (John 13:23) Those words can be said by each one of us. You and I are the ones whom Jesus loves.

     It’s all about love, this Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. Let’s begin our peek into John’s words with a familiar verse.

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

     It’s all about love and believing in the Son of God. The word, “believe” is written in John’s Gospel almost 100 times! Accepting the love of Christ and believing in His death and resurrection sums it up. The message is good. This message is real. This message is for you, the one whom Jesus loves. What does He ask of us? To believe.

Dear Lord,

This Good News of Yours appears to be too good to be true. We make it so complicated and confusing. Let the message of Your love sink in once and for all as we believe in You and inherit eternal life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

More and Even More

 

     Jesus offers the abundant, Spirit-filled life. He offers grace upon grace and we move from glory to glory reflecting His image in ever-increasing ways, as He offers us more love. The “more” and “even more” of Jesus is available 24/7 to those who love Him.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 1 Timothy 1:9

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

     Jesus saw you before the beginning of time. He loves you. The reflection of Jesus offers us an inner peace, a deep joy in spite of circumstances, a patient heart and a generous soul. The people around us may need a dose of Jesus.  Could it be you? Can you represent Him? The angriest, most critical, most arrogant, addicted, culturally different people you know need Him more than most. You may not think they deserve Jesus.

     Neither did we.

Dear Father,

You love us, each one of us, right where we are. Change us into Your image with the help of Your Spirit. The abundant life is filled with the giving and receiving of God’s blessings. It’s how life works in the realm of the Holy Spirit. We don’t get it, but we want it.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

More Spirit

 

     Are you recognizing the potential to gain the “more” of Christ? How about the “much more” of His love and His gifts? Our gravity-bound, earth-dwelling selves know how to love. But the love of God is beyond the moon and the stars for us beyond earthly measure.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”  Luke 11:13

     We give good gifts to our children and want the best for them. But “how much more” God gives to us! Did you notice what Jesus instructs us to do? That’s it. Ask for the Holy Spirit. This greatest of all gifts will be your teacher, your guide, your comforter, your intercessor. The very Spirit of God is within you. Sit with your heavenly father and ask for “more” of the Spirit and feel the power of the resurrected King.

Lord,

We ask for complete filling of Your Spirit, the same Spirit that dwells with You! You always have more to give and You tell us to ask. We pray to You this morning in Jesus name.

Amen

 

More Glory

 

     Moses came as close as any man to the presence of God in the Old Testament. God hid Moses in the crevice of a rock and placed His hand over the crevice as His glory moved past. The closeness of the glory of God, even hidden in the rocks, shone on Moses  When he descended from the mountain-top experience, he had to wear a veil in order for the Israelites to look at him!

     As Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple ripped in two. (Mark 15) This veil is believed to have been 30 feet long and 30 feet wide and as thick as a man’s hand. This enormously heavy veil enclosed the inner sanctum where the presence of God’s glory resided. It was called the “holy of holies.”  Only the high priest could enter the sanctuary on the holiest of days.

     Here we are, in the days of God’s grace, beyond the cross and the resurrection. See the “more” of Christ in today’s verses. Paul wrote these words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, about 30 years after the resurrection.

Even to this day when Moses is read a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3-15-18

     These are some life-transforming verses. Let them sink in. We are being transformed into Christ’s image with ever-increasing glory! From glory to glory, the more and even more of a relationship with Christ. In the book of James (Jesus’ half-brother) we see the word of God compared to a mirror. As we read and meditate and learn from it, we are transformed more and more into the image of Christ.

     Reflect God’s glory. Let Him take over and transform your life as only He can. The veil has been lifted forever. It’s His work, not ours. Become that jar of clay.  As He molds you into His work of art, remember His temple, that inner sanctum where He resides, now resides within us. Hallelujah!

Dear Lord,

These words are miraculous and awe-inspiring. Only you could take sin-filled man and fill them with something beautiful and holy; Your Spirit. Let it be said of us that we are Yours.

Amen

More Grace

 

     We are fortunate to live in God’s grace. Grace is the good news of Jesus. In addition to Webster’s definitions of the ways we use the word, like “goodwill” and “beauty of form or movement,” there is the definition, “God’s love.” Yes, grace is God’s love poured out through His Son. We live in His grace day by day and as we continue to talk about the “more” of Jesus, there it is. His abundant grace.

For from His fullness, we have received grace upon grace. John 1:16 ESV

     When we think we can’t be forgiven one more time, when that nasty habit rears its ugly head, when we speak out in anger or use God’s name in vain, the Holy Spirit convicts us with a gentle voice and Jesus waits for us again to come back to Him. He reminds His children that it was finished on the cross. He never leaves us. He just keeps washing over us with His grace. And then more grace. Grace upon grace.

Jesus,

Thank you for Your never-ending grace. Your gospel is the gospel of grace. What a beautiful gift from You. May we never forget it. It is Your gift. The gift of everlasting life. The gift we didn’t deserve and You give it with grace.

Amen

 

More Jesus

 

     I have been a bit down and out over the last two weeks. I have dealt with diverticulitis (kind of an old-person thing) over the last ten or fifteen years. Typically, I can nip it in the bud within a few days following a couple days of liquid diet and bland food. This time it seemed to stick with me and I was exhausted and frustrated and I didn’t even lose a pound!!!

     When we aren’t feeling quite right, we need Jesus even more. Are you a bit depleted? Jesus offers us more. Are you satisfied? He will give you more. Are you empty? He will fill you to the full until it overflows. Do you have more than enough? He offers even more! The choices are stark. Evil may increase more and more. Corruption even more. Sin abounds.

     The contrast? There He is: Jesus. Each day this week we will focus on a verse; a verse with the “more” of Jesus. Think ahead to the choices you have today. Fill up on life and blessing. He offers it in abundance.

     From the Amplified Bible, Jesus tells us:

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) John 10:10 AMP

    Don’t let that pesky devil steal your joy, destroy your health and kill your soul. Ask Jesus to give you more of the abundant life in Him. He gives and gives to the full, until it overflows.

Dear Father in Heaven,

Your Son freely gave Himself for us when we didn’t deserve it, accepting the suffering we all deserve. Not only has He washed us clean from sin and promised heaven, He offers the abundant life on earth. How do we not choose Him?

In Jesus name,

Amen

May It Be So

 

     It has been a week of challenging ourselves to move beyond our own  needs and desires, to bring ourselves closer and closer to Jesus. In getting to know Him more intimately, in growing in wisdom and knowledge, in our times of prayer and within the grace He provides daily, we can continue to bring glory to Him. Our faith pleases Him. Our time with Him delights Him as much as it fills us.

     As I continue to challenge myself in the faith and allow God’s Holy Spirit to do His work, I leave you with this. I pray it over each person reading today. May it be so!

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, and please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9-10

Amen!

All Glory

 

     As we grow in spiritual maturity and in the grace of God, we finally figure out that it’s not about us. It’s all about Him. We are His children, His beloved friends, His inheritance, His disciples. When we live our lives in honor of Him, it brings us out of ourselves into living a life filled with His Spirit.

     All glory goes to Him, and all of this glory will move with us into heaven one day.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen 2 Peter 3:18

     I love this thought. Bringing glory to God doesn’t mean pleasing others. It doesn’t mean a show of faith and how much we are doing. It might consist of just being in His presence, of being thankful while cleaning the kitchen, or stopping to enjoy the sunrise. He will definitely use us in the lives of others, but our greatest desires should include spending time with Him, and changing other lives so that they, too, can know Him.

I will give thanks to You, O’ Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. Psalm 86:12

     As we mature and grow in the faith, everything we do, will be about Him. Both Peter and Paul lead us into living our lives for His glory.

Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified, through Jesus Christ, through whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen 1 Peter 4:11

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Father,

We are always in Your presence. You will provide what we need, when we need it, wherever we are, with the people we meet. You are everything and to You belongs the glory. Bless this day to Your glory.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Increase Our Faith

 

     If you are struggling with faith, or in trusting God, or in growing in your faith, join the club! The disciples were filled with doubt and fear. They stumbled along the way. They let Jesus down when they fell asleep after He asked them to pray. They were afraid of the storm when He was in the boat. Peter denied knowing Him when he thought he was in danger. The list goes on and on in their lives and in ours. Here is a prayer we can use, just as the disciples cried to our Savior.

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” Luke 17:5

     Our faith and trust in God please Him. Trusting in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus saves us forever. God rewards us as we continue to seek Him and to know Him better, to continually increase our faith.

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

Jesus,

Increase our faith! Show us more and more of You. We do believe that You exist and we earnestly seek You. Bless us with all of the spiritual riches that belong to us because of You.

Amen

 

Spiritual Growth

 

     Training our spiritual muscles takes time and training. Our knowledge of God and our faith-filled life can grow through struggle, through blessings, through tragic times and joy-filled moments. God weaves and works through all of life, if we are willing to let Him change us and train us.

     Our spiritual food is necessary for our souls. Our training in the Scriptures and in prayer brings a harvest of fruit into our lives. Don’t be afraid of disciplining yourself to spend time with Jesus. Just as our bodies sometimes cry out when we push them through some physical training, our spiritual disciplines can test our patience and take up our time. Paul reminds us, it is worth it!

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

     God tells us just what our spiritual harvest will look like, as Jesus works on our hearts through our time spent with Him. Think about what this spiritual fruit looks like in your own life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

     When God works on any one of the fruits listed above, He will provide all of the challenging situations and experiences necessary to grow us spiritually. Have you gone through times that tested your patience and learned from them? Have you learned to discipline yourself in a certain area of your life that wasn’t healthy? Have you blessed someone that is difficult to be around and felt a peace in your soul? There are so many ways in which God grows this fruit.

     If you are being tested in some way right now, take it as a good sign. God may be growing the spiritual fruit necessary to become more like Him. It will bless your life and the lives of others.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:1-3

Father,

Continue to grow us even when we are struggling through our tough times. Teach us Your ways that do not come naturally to us. Keep us rooted in the vine that is Jesus. He will grow the fruit for us that brings true value to our present lives and the lives to come.

In His name we pray,

Amen

Worship

 

    I’ve been guilty of attending church and thinking the message didn’t resonate, or the music was too loud, or wondering why they did things a certain way and not another. You, too? We all have our ideas about what we need and how worship should be done.

     What would happen if we went in with a mind so full of love for Jesus that we brought that selfless spirit in along with us? It would change the nature of our thoughts and maybe bring a smile to someone else, not to mention having a heart full of true worship.

     Paul tells us we, are called to become more mature. It is our responsibility to soak up God’s word, to feed on it, to nourish ourselves with it as if it were as imperative as the food we eat to strengthen our bodies.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Hebrews 5:12

     Just as babies move from needing only milk, to needing and desiring solid food, so, we too, need to develop a hunger and a thirst for more of God. And maybe, we will bring our hearts so full or worship, that we feel God’s presence no matter where we are with a loving Spirit along with us.

God is Spirit and His worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Lord,

Draw us deeper into your Word and into your ways. Let us delight in the spiritual food you offer us on a daily basis and grow us into mature, active believers.

In Jesus name,

Amen