An Anchor of Hope

 

     Crises and times of suffering can come upon us without warning, or seep into our lives gradually or may even cast their shadow over a lifetime. Several friends are dealing with serious health issues and another is finally dealing with a lifetime of hiding depression and anxiety.

     This is a fallen world. There is no escaping the tough times that may surround us. This time of the year can be especially hard. Jesus overcame the world for us. He conquered death and felt the sin, the disease, the evil, all of the suffering in His earthly body. We can’t imagine the pain He endured, the price He paid, and because of His suffering, He understands.

     Many times, we come to our knees at just such times of suffering. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go another minute without recognizing my need for a Savior, a comforting friend, a loving Father, a living Lord, a conquering King.

     It can feel impossible to figure out how to comfort and support our friends and families, but no one on the planet can bring more hope and peace than Jesus. His hope moves us beyond this life, into the heavens; hope beyond anything this world offers.

     In addition, He can use our suffering. I don’t completely understand it, but looking back over the decades, I recognize His presence, His power, His ability to use pain to offer solace to others, kindred spirits in need of comfort. The God of eternity offers guidance along the way. He is our anchor of hope, our foundation in a world that can bring pain.

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

Father,

We need You to get us through. Comfort those who grieve. Bring peace to those in pain and let us know and understand hope eternal. Keep us anchored in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Eternity

 

     This earthly life of ours will end and eternity awaits. The missing piece of the puzzle here on earth is Jesus. Our deepest needs are met in Him as we learn to pray, believe, rest and love in Him. His deep peace and joy will abide with us as we recognize the truth of the brevity of life on earth and the certainty of eternal life.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

      Eternity is in our hearts. All we are missing is Jesus. Everything is made clear in Him. Set Your focus on Jesus. He invites you into a life on earth surrounded with His love and a promised life forever in a perfect new heaven and new earth. Why wait?

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

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

Jesus,

We love You. We believe in You. We take rest in You and we pray to You. Take our hearts as we confess You are Lord.

Amen

Love

You are dearly loved by our God.

For we know, brothers and sisters, loved by God, that He has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

     He has called you by name:

He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10;3

He surrounds you:

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:3

His love is perfect:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

He is always with you:

So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

He loves you with an everlasting love:

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”. Jeremiah 31:3

And nothing, not ever, can separate you from His love.

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Romans 8:39

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your perfect love surrounds us. You presence hems us in. We are Your dearly loved children. Nothing, not ever, can separate us from Your everlasting love. You shared that love with us through Jesus, our Lord.

Amen

 

Rest

I have suffered and continue to deal with insomnia. Anxiety and sleeplessness began when I was a teenager. My dad died suddenly in his sleep when I was just fourteen and I felt my world slip out of control. It is easy to become fearful and overwhelmed in the middle of the night as the clock slowly ticks away the hours. Our bodies and our souls need rest.

     When you are frustrated and tired, list some of God’s promises to us and feel His presence and His peace.

The darkness has no power over our God:

Even the darkness will not be dark to You. The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. Psalm 139:12

He cares for me:

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

He is always present:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

He promises rest:

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs3:24

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

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

     Have some verses ready to battle your way through Satan’s attacks, through the fear, the doubt, the sleepless nights. His promises are real.

Lord,

You watch over us. Darkness is as light to You. You are present with us with your everlasting love. Keep us in perfect peace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Belief

 

     God knows the end from the beginning. He knows the words that we will speak before one word leaves our mouth. (Psalm 139) He knows the steps we will take, and He walks ahead of us, making a way. As fallen humans in a fallen world, it is easy to become discouraged when we are facing a trial. Grief is real. Fear is real. Anxiety is real. But God…

     Joseph doubted. But God…(Genesis 41:16) Israel was doomed. But God…(Genesis 45:7) Others can set out to harm us. But God…(Genesis 50:20)  We doubt when we don’t get an answer. But God…(1 Samuel 14:37) We feel guilt. But God…(Romans 5:8) When we feel we haven’t done enough. But God…(1 Corinthians 3:6)

     Believe in the deepest recesses of your soul that God is working. He will overcome all of our weaknesses with His mighty strength. Our constant, steadfast 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

Immediately, the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:24

Father,

We ask You to help us with our unbelief. We long to trust You in every situation, knowing You are ahead of us making a way. Our faith pleases You. We do believe!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Prayer

     None of us are able to understand what is going on deep within the hearts of others. Our outer facades may include putting on our “happy go-to-church” faces, with the typical, “How are you,” followed by the response, “fine,” or “good,” “And, how are you?”  In Minnesota we call it, “Minnesota nice.”

     Nice is well and good, but heading to church with our fellow believers should give us a safe place to share our hurt, to reach out for help, to forget about people-pleasing or acting in a certain way. How do we reach out to others in need? Or ask for help ourselves?

     What a gift it is to pray for those in need, to offer support and the love of Christ. Are you willing to open up to your fellow believers? I sure have over the years. The power of prayer has lifted me up and give me strength time and time again. Knowing others are praying is powerful and God will move!

     It is a true gift to know others are praying for us. The power of prayer is real and God moves mountains for us. He loves to hear our petitions, our needs and our gratefulness. He understands our deepest needs, the needs that are difficult to share.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With that in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 3:18

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:13-14

     Prayer can meet our deepest needs. Pray continually. Pray for others in need. Pray with praise and thankfulness. Make your requests known to our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and wait expectantly for His answer.

Amen

 

The Potter

 

     The trail behind us may be covered with shattered dreams, with broken pieces, with regret. God, through Jesus, can redeem all of it. He takes the broken pieces and makes them into beautiful clay pots. The cracks left in those pots allow the light to shine through our brokenness.  This healing light brings something new and bright and beautiful.

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:4

     The great potter will mold you into something precious and treasured, unique and beautiful in His sight. You belong to Him.

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the One who formed it, “You did not make me?” Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing?” Isaiah 29:16

     God formed you and He loves you and He will continue to work things out in your life. Ready to begin again? Ready for a new thing? Listen to these beautiful verses made just for you and for me today as we begin again.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

     Let Him show you the way, broken pieces and all.

Father,

It can be hard to look ahead and trust You to transform all that is behind. But You know us inside and out and You will redeem it; all of it. Show us the new things You are doing. Show us the way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Longing For Home

 

     My Uncle Paul died several years ago at the age of 92. He was an inspiration to me over my entire life. When Paul came to town, we were as excited as if we were about to meet a celebrity. He walked on his hands, dove off of cliffs, told joke after joke, and loved nothing more than to make others happy.

     His life was stamped and ingrained with the love of Jesus. He, and my Grandma Pella, were great role models and were filled with the light and love of Jesus. I noticed with both my grandma and uncle and with others in my family and in my church family, that as they aged, they began to long for home.

     They long to see our Savior face-to-face. Our true home is getting closer.

Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11;16

Father,

There are days we long to be with You forever. Thank You for preparing a place for each one of us. This will be our true country, our true home, our blessed assurance of the life to come.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Forever Hope

     Looking ahead to heaven is a worthy way to spend our time.  Our true home awaits us. The number of our years will be just a passing glance in lieu of eternity. Our eternal hope gives us a new reality in our lives. Our most pressing purpose becomes serving the One who offers us our eternal home.

     Living in light of eternity leaves us with hope. On our deathbed there is true hope. Stay in the moment-to-moment events of life with the promise of heaven etched in your heart. Jesus has you this very minute. Trust Him with the next minute and all of the moments to follow.

     Look ahead with hope and with no fear. Let the worries slip away. Worries place the burdens of tomorrow on the blessings of today. Focus on hope. Minute by minute, step by step, there is Jesus. And then there is heaven.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

But in keeping with His promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

Jesus,

You bring hope. Always hope. We eagerly await Your coming. We are looking forward to the new heaven and the new earth. For now, we love and we serve and we trust and we hope.

Amen 

Moving Forward

 

     It’s hard to leave the past behind. In fact, it can be overwhelming and seemingly impossible. Letting a relationship go even when we know it’s the right decision. Letting go of a loved one to death or divorce, being let go from a job you need. Worrying over a diagnosis and the future. Life’s journey can wear us down and out.

      There will be times in our lives when God feels impossibly far away. We know He is there. We believe in His promises to us. Somewhere down the road, we will get there a step at a time. God knows you. He will take your hand and lead you on a new path.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

     Jesus will hold you up. He will comfort your broken heart and move you forward. He will make the memories sweet. He will use your loss and your heartache and your fear for His purposes. Your weakness will be His strength. Hold onto the Savior. He works it out. He moves us ahead. He gives us hope for tomorrow.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13

Father,

Moving ahead can be so hard. Give us the ability to trust you above our circumstances until we can see a bright, new future ahead. Bring hope when there appears to be none.

Amen

Joyful in Hope

 

     How do you react to life transitions and change? We move from season to season, some with ease, some with discomfort, some with sorrow and some with us kicking and screaming. God opens doors and closes others. Are you living in a time of transition?

     Change can be scary. What’s next? As long as we live, God has an answer to that question. I know as He closes doors in my life, there will be new opportunities just ahead.

     Is this time of your life going well? Stop and give praise and gratitude to God. Dealing with some questions about the future? Ask God to guide you through. Pray for answers. Pray for a new beginning. Wait, pray, and listen for God’s leading.

     Life brings tragedy and triumph, rejection and reconciliation, disaster and delight. God works through all of it. I pray for you today. I pray you know Jesus. I pray you trust Him above all else. I pray for you to find triumph and hope through whatever season of life you find yourself.

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

Lord,

Whatever life brings our way, we ask for patience, joy and the willingness to pray and wait. It isn’t easy, but you will bring us through into new life.

Amen

Loving Our Enemies

 

     Our battle in this world is spiritual in nature. Satan and his angels are working overtime to destroy our witness, to continue violence, division and hatred.  All tools of our greatest enemy. He will look for ways to rob our peace.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that you may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10

     Jesus reminds us that evil will increase in the last days. Storms will rise, wars will continue, pestilence will reign and men will call good evil, and evil, good.  None of this comes as a surprise to our Lord. What does He ask us to do? He gives us these challenging and profound words.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5::44

But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

     Only with the help of the Holy Spirit is it possible to pray for those we don’t understand, to love those who want to kill, steal and destroy.  I try to remember that they need love as much as we all do. They are searching for answers and lashing out as we all do. Lord, help us.  When evil is running rampant, these words from the Psalmist may help.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong, for like the grass, they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pastures. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:1-4

     Remember these simple instructions every single day.  Do not fret. Trust and do good. Delight in Him. He will allow us to enjoy and receive His protection in safe pastures. His will be done. Pray for those who want to hurt and destroy. God’s plan will ultimately run its course and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Lord,

Keep us mindful of who You are and how we can best do Your work during these trying times. They come as no surprise to You and You have given us clear instructions. Help us to trust in You and to do good while we are here.

In Jesus name,

Amen

See you back here on October 26th!

Living For Love

 

     It is difficult to be loving in this world right now. The climate is filled with rage and violence, with hatred and suspicion, with division and misunderstanding. When we see so many hurt and lost people, it is hard to know just what to do. Most of the time, we want others to understand and agree with our positions. I know that’s how I feel. There is fear and unrest in the streets. Where do we go?

     The Bible helps us to remember this: We represent a loving God in this world. Showing kindness, encouragement and hope may seem impossible now. My tendency is to pull away from any confrontation or conflict. But we can meet the challenges around us. Here are some clarifying words from the Holy Spirit for us today.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:29-31

     Staying away from all of the above proves impossible in the times in which we live, but we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can live out the following words, in opposition to the malice, anger and violence we witness.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Lord,

Thank You for forgiving us and loving us. Remind us of the people around us who do not know You or Your abiding love. Please help us to be kind and forgiving in the world around us. We need You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Accepting Love

 

     Human love is imperfect. Do we deserve the love of God? How do we accept it for ourselves? We won’t accept it fully, trying to be perfect and by following the rules. Our guilt may keep us from receiving His unconditional love. It might be difficult to believe that His kind of love exists.

     His love is there for each of us, no strings attached. His free gift of eternity and a forever love comes from accepting the birth, death and resurrection of the only perfect man, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. He died for all of us, no matter our past, no matter our weaknesses and frailties, no matter our race.

     Accept His love and be cleansed forever, sins forgiven, and a loving Father, friend, Savior, shepherd, teacher and guide to get us through this crazy life. You will see others in a new light. You will long to change hearts, to share the best news ever given, to show Jesus and His glory, the glory of the Son.

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

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

     His unmerited favor and grace will find you wherever you are. See His glory. Accept His light and love. He is your Savior.

Father,

Help us to receive Your unending love deep into our hearts, never to be lost again. Guide us into more and more love and change this dark and violent world with Your grace and mercy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Searching For Love

 

     Feeling the need to be loved? Why not seek out God? Ask Him for His love. Seek that love with all your heart and soul. Believe He has been waiting for you with open arms, waiting to fill the empty spaces and love you as His own, never to leave you again.  Listen to the yearning is these words from Psalm 42.  Maybe they echo the words of your heart right now.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul, how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One, with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 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 42:1-5

     Maybe, like David, you are discouraged, wondering where to find God. David is lost and disturbed. Where is God? And yet in verse 5, He still praises Him. He reaches out to Him. He loves Him.  He seeks Him even when He does not feel His presence.

     How is your soul? Find rest as you pant for God as a dear pants for water. Seek Him with all your heart and He will be there with you. Seek Him and have faith and He will reward you with His presence.

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

Lord,

We seek and need Your presence right now. Lift up our downcast spirits as we continue to praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Longing For Love

 

     The abused child. The betrayed man or woman. The neglected family. All of us, all of humanity, craves love. If we don’t receive it naturally and think of ourselves as valuable and worthy to be loved, we lash out, we numb the pain, we blame or turn inward.

     God loves each of us. With all of the pain and suffering in the world, man finds this tough, if not impossible, to believe and understand. God continually seeks us and gives us opportunities to find Him, to know Him, to receive love from Him.

     We can’t work our way there. There is not enough “good” we can do for others to earn that love, no certain amount of prayer, no sacrifice worthy enough.

We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God demonstrated His love for us in this; that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     God’s love for you is beyond this earth. He died for you and me. Let that lavish love fill you, that kind of love we long  to receive. It is there for the asking and the love of Christ will transform you forever.

Lord,

So many are hurting and lashing out. Love them. See them. Let them hear Your everlasting voice declaring unconditional love. The one who saves. It is Jesus.

Amen

Our Inheritance

 

     God gave us Jesus, His Son, to show us who He is. The death and resurrection of Christ opened up the door to heaven for us, now and as we leave this earth. How wonderful to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

     Just as our parents leave us with an inheritance, of genes, of family wisdom, of love and character and of their worldly possessions, we inherit even more from our Father in heaven. He has given us the keys to His kingdom through Jesus!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:3=5

     Missing your earthly father? Missing ever having a loving father? Let our Father fill in any gaps in your life with His unending love. Your belief in Jesus brings about every spiritual blessing, a home in heaven, and a loving Father and Son to walk with you every step of the way. Their love is unconditional, their Spirit alive and well within you, along with arms of comfort to calm the storms around you. The keys to the kingdom are available to all! Open the door of your heart today and call out, “Abba” Father, our daddy.

Father,

You remind us again and again of our spiritual heritage. Help us to hear Your voice in a stronger way in the days ahead, to trust in You completely and to allow You to feed and nourish our spirits until they are whole.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Guide

 

     God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. He trains us and disciplines us. Discipline is never easy, but it is necessary. If you are a parent, or are involved in the lives of children, you know how important it is to set boundaries, to work for their good, even when it is hard for everyone.

     God’s discipline is always, always filled with love. The tough love we give our children and that God gives us, will build our character, will make us into people that resemble Jesus. As God gives us opportunities to build our character and build us up in the fruit of the Spirit, He will build in us a strong sense of self-discipline.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

     True and loving discipline brings peace to our children and to our families.

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace. They will bring you the delights you desire. Proverbs 29:17

     If God is working on an attribute of your character, He will bring you through some difficult situations to build you up. It isn’t easy, for us or for our children, but the end result is worth it.

They discipline us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:10-11

Father,

Thank You for Your example in raising our children. Your word is filled with wisdom and knowledge as we raise our families and as we learn from You. Continue to discipline us when necessary to grow in our faith and in our righteousness. You are a loving Father.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Shepherd

 

     The job of a shepherd is similar to that of a father. Sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice. The shepherd keeps them from wandering, brings them safely back when they are lost, feeds them and gives them a soft place to land.

     You may be familiar with Psalm 23, reminding us that our Father is our Shepherd. Our Father tends to our needs in all ways, and we build our trust in Him, just as the sheep learn to trust the one in charge of them.

     Today place your trust in our good Shepherd. Listen for His voice. It is unlike any other.

“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” John 10:14

My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they know Me. John 10:27

     Do you recognize the voice of our Shepherd? He knows you inside and out. Listen for Him.

Lord,

You are a gracious Father and Shepherd. You guide us and teach us and work for the good in us. Transform us with Your precious voice that is always available.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

His Protection

 

     As we come to our Lord as children, it is important to remember to teach our young children to do the same. Our young grandchildren and our own two girls would cry out to their daddies in the middle of the night.

     Sometimes our earthly dads are away at work, or have gone on to heaven, or aren’t there in the middle of the night. We can all come to our heavenly Father when we are scared or need a shoulder to cry on. He is always there, inside us, and surrounding us.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

     Psalm 91 is a beautiful Psalm of God’s protection over us. Remind your children and grandchildren that God will provide angels to surround them when they are afraid.

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

Father God,

We praise You for Your protection, for the angels that surround us and for being our comfort and our strength.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Like A Child

 

     Our Father God is our “daddy.” If you grew up with a loving dad, you knew you were loved unconditionally. You understood he was there to protect you, to guide you and to discipline you. Our Father God does the same for us.

     When parents brought their children to Jesus to be blessed, His disciples tried to shoo them away, knowing Jesus was busy and worn down. Here is His response.

When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14

     Even as a 71-year-old, I can be a child in God’s eyes. What a marvelous thought. I still miss my parents so much and how blessed am I, (are we) to be able to come to our Father in heaven for our deepest needs.

     Three verses in Scripture use the term, “Abba, Father.” It’s meaning is to place full confidence in and have deep affection for a father. In our language, it can be interpreted as “daddy.”  Jesus used the term in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He was in anguish before His journey to the cross, and called out to His Father.

     In Romans we are reminded that the Spirit of God has allowed us to be adopted as children and we can call out “Abba!” to Him. Here is the third verse in which the term “Abba” is used.

Because you are His sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,” Father. Galatians 4;6

     Cry out to your Father in heaven when you feel the need for a daddy, who is closer to you than your own father.

Lord,

How can we thank You for adopting us as Your beloved children? We cry out to You with our needs as You comfort us and protect us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Life Lived Separately

 

     Are you living apart from a loved one? The cause for separation can be as simple as moving to another state. Some of our separations are not our choice. I remember speaking to my aunt in Oregon frequently as she tried to imagine life without her husband of 72 years. It seemed utterly impossible for her.  She clung to Jesus and her family and she is now happily reunited with Paul in heaven.

     Others have lost children to addiction or death. There are broken relationships between couples and within families that cause grief and loss. What do we do when we live apart from those we love?

     There are no easy answers and each person’s grief is unique. Grief needs to be walked through and deeply experienced. When we close ourselves off to our true grief, it always comes back to harm us.

     Jesus finds hope in any situation. His words offer us compassion, kindness, graciousness and peace. Our prayers go right to His heart and He is there to heal any wound. With Him, any separation is temporary and as the apostle Paul reminds us, we do grieve. but we grieve with hope.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as the rest who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now, for a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:6

     Hope is powerful and eternal. The Bible continually reminds us of the brevity of life, comparing our lives to a wisp, a vapor, like the grass that withers away. Here are my life verses.  You will notice that God mentions our troubles on this earth as “light and momentary” when compared to eternity.  It certainly doesn’t feel like that when we suffer.

     But in a little while, in a moment of time, we will be healed eternally, never to die, in paradise with Jesus!

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary and what is unseen in eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

     I pray for many of you and grieve as I see and hear of your suffering. God’s hope is there, eternally present.  Fix your eyes above.  Fix your eyes on what is unseen. Fix your eyes on Jesus.  Amen

Life Shared Spiritually

 

     There is something above the relationship among Christians that is deep and nourishing. When two Christians meet for the first time, there is an immediate bond. I remember one day, as I waited for my husband to be done with a dental appointment, a woman and I began a conversation in the waiting room.

     The conversations couldn’t have lasted more than ten minutes. In that very short time, we shared family news and ended up talking about our favorite Bible studies. As my husband came out, we hugged and said we would pray for each other.

     My husband often shakes his head as I make yet another best friend. That is the life Christ gives us. We have true brothers and sisters all over the world. We have the ability to pray for one another, to be close spiritually, no matter the number of miles between us, and we forge instant connections. The relationships are immediate and real, because Christ is in the center of them.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members, one of another. Romans 12:5

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1

Father,

Today, we thank You for the body of Christ. Keep us united as we take care of one another in love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Life Shared Spontaneously

 

     Many years ago, our daughter and her husband invited a sixteen-year-old relative to stay with them, as she struggled with challenges in her home life. This was unexpected and mutually agreed on in a moment of time. They did not know how long she would stay, or exactly what she needed.

     But, the beauty of our God remains steadfast. He brings people into our lives seemingly out of nowhere. The spontaneity is no coincidence. God’s footsteps continue to walk ahead of us with a plan. As you walk into new situations, trust His lead and His wisdom. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will bring words or heart-felt actions directly from Him. Watch how He will bless others through you.

     I am so proud of our daughter and son-in-law for so many reasons. But their heart for God and for others is a profound blessing to watch.

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

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Lord,

Today we ask You to keep us from fear as You place opportunities in our path. Give us the words and the actions to be Your hands and feet, to speak Your Words, to love in Your ways, as we walk through the rest of our lives.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Life Shared Sacrificially

 

     Sharing life can be difficult. When our family and friends are suffering, we suffer along with them, longing to take away their pain, their loss, their sadness. Loving others sacrificially blesses them and, in due time, we ourselves will be blessed.

     Jesus is the perfect example of sacrificial love. He separated Himself from His Father in heaven, choosing to live out a life for one purpose only. That purpose was to die in our place, to suffer the consequences of all of our sin, to take on a fallen world in what was the most agonizing death of all time, and He overcame death for us.

     If you are in an exhausting situation of care giving, of uncertainty, of giving, if you are tired and weary of waiting and wondering, let Jesus comfort you. He has been along the same, tough road and He understands.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

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

     Sometimes, others can’t give us just what we need, but Jesus can. He came to do just that. Here are the words Jesus quoted, words prophesied long before His birth. Let them comfort you.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

Jesus,

Comfort the care givers and their families. Give strength to the weak. Give us hope when we see none. Be our guide and our protector.  You will lift us up.

Amen

 

Life Shared

 

     There is a Swedish proverb that reads, “Shared joy is double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” God created us to share life together. He designed marriage, along with the gift of children, for some. He created friendship and family and love.

     When our lives are filled with deep connections and commitment to one another, it becomes more manageable to navigate what can be a treacherous journey at times. When I was a little girl and something wonderful or something awful occurred at school, I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my mom and dad. They had answers. They congratulated, comforted and corrected me along the way.

     Now, I share my deep concerns and deep joys with my family and friends.  What a blessing and a privilege it is to be open and authentic with those we love, listening and lifting one another up with encouragement and hope.

     Walking alongside others throughout our lives is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. If you find yourself alone, remember God is your constant companion. You can run to Him with all that is in your heart and He will find others to surround you. Here is a verse to take along with you as you go through this day.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

Lord,

I thank You for all of the people is my life, my husband and children, my sons-in-law and my grandchildren, my friends and acquaintances and my extended family. Keep all of our eyes open to those in need. Show us how to walk beside others, even for a little while.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Nourishment for the Soul

 

     Life changes find us feeling the need for deep nourishment and rejuvenation. Jesus has the answers and the ability to fill our deepest needs. Our soul and spirit need to be fed and filled just as our physical bodies need nutrients and hydration to survive. In fact, Jesus calls Himself the “bread and water” we need.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

     Filling up with the God’s word and allowing Jesus to feed our souls means we will never be thirsty or hungry for our deepest desires again. A saying came to me last night. I’m not sure if God gave it to me or if I heard it somewhere, but here it is:

     “With Jesus, even when everything else is gone, we are left with everything we need.”

     Jesus knows us deeply. He understands our quirks, our weaknesses, our flaws. He loves us in a more intimate way than anyone else. Allow Him to nourish you today. Ask Him to feed you good spiritual food and the living water that leads to eternal life.

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

Jesus,

Fill the empty places in our souls. Give us the living water that will flow within us. We long to be filled with the bread and water of life.

Amen

 

Capture Every Thought

 

     The changes we deal with may be a product of our own minds. I have dealt with anxiety and panic attacks off and on since I was 14 years old (around the time of my dad’s untimely death.) They appear out of nowhere. My heart races. I want to escape, but can’t. Waves of fear and dread encompass my body and they often raise their ugly heads in the middle of the night.

     I have gone many years without them and suddenly, they are back. I find it interesting how God brought about the verses from the blogs this week to remind me. He is there. He is in charge. When I allow Him to fill my body with His peace and joy, the panic, the fear, the heart-racing will subside. Satan uses our weaknesses to stop us in our tracks from being all God has planned for us.

     God is stronger and mightier and He will bring us into His glorious rest, even iin the middle of the night. The changes this week are to bring God into my thoughts and fears. We can capture EVERY thought. Listen to this verse.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

     Let Christ take control of your every thought. Joyce Meyer wrote a book called, “The Battlefield of the Mind.” That is where so much of my trouble lies. Within my own head!  How about you?

Dear Lord,

Thank You for bringing us the right words and promises for us, just when we need them. Guide us through life changes, even the ones we bring about ourselves from within our own minds. We trust You and believe You can bring us back to hope and peace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A New Beginning

 

     When change is forced upon you, watch for God to bring a new beginning.

See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

     It’s easy to get lost in the wilderness of our lives, in those times when we don’t see a way out or a trail to follow. We may be filled with anxiety. What’s next? How do I go on? Where do I go? Here is a word from the mouth of our God for you.

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

     Allow the change to settle in your heart trusting God for a new beginning. He is making a new path. Trust Him with no fear. Do not be afraid or discouraged. He is with you every moment before, during and after the changes. In fact, it’s a forever kind of thing.

Lord,

Your presence is with us now and forever. We trust You to show us the way through the difficult changes and turns in our lives. You forge a new way, a beginning, and when we trust, we can remove fear.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For A Little While

 

     The loss of a loved one creates unwanted life change. Our hearts are broken. The person we loved and treasured is no longer there as our partner, our parent, our friend. Voids remain in the absence of their smile, their presence, their part in our lives. Relationships and family are the closest we come to heaven on earth and to what matters. And Jesus loves us even more than our closest relationships on earth.

And I pray, that you being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17a-18

     The love of God can fill us again with hope and life and the knowledge that our believing loved ones are waiting for us in heaven.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:6

     Our lives are short, even though we refuse to admit it. As Peter claims in the verse above, “now for a little while.” Our lives in the Bible are seen as “a little while, a wisp, a vapor.” Gone just as the grass withers away. Keep it in perspective. See with eternal eyes. Allow God’s deep and abiding love to fill in the voids, the losses in life, “for a little while.”

Jesus,

Comfort those who mourn (Matthew 5) Joy comes in the morning with You. (Psalm 30:5) You help us through our deepest grief and bring us back to peace and hope. Help those who are suffering this day.

Amen

Life and Change

 

     Life brings change. We age. We move. We have children. We suffer through changes in love, health and finances. Are you working through a change in your life, whether self-directed or one thrown at you with no warning? God can be the steady hand, the firm foundation, the voice in the wilderness. He is there as your guide, your leader, your peace in the chaos.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying “This is the way. Walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

     The voice of God brings peace and confidence. As you pray, as you adjust to change, as you stand at the crossroads waiting for direction, follow peace. God will let you know how to walk in His ways. Follow peace.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

     Fear and doubt creep in so easily, don’t they? Trust God over your emotions today. He offers a new perspective, a fresh start, a change in direction, with peace and love. Do not be afraid.

Father,

We trust Your word. We will follow peace. Keep us calm in the midst of changes in our lives. You promise to be our peace and to guide our ways.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Joy Forevermore

 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore onto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your free Spirit.  Psalm 51: 11-13

     You may have sung these words on a Sunday morning. These words are in a traditional church hymn sung through the ages. What beautiful words to sing to our God. Not feeling joy-filled at the present moment? The joy of our salvation wanes and weaves from our hearts and minds as we live out our lives. But God will restore that joy to you as you continue to ask Him for His holy presence in your life.

     God’s presence is not always a tangible, emotional feeling. But believe it; He is ever-present! It takes faith and trust in a God who is more than able and available. He watches over your life.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

     A reason to rejoice! Your salvation in Christ brings great joy. His ever-present guidance is available right now this very minute. Ask Him to restore your joy and be filled with His free and willing Holy Spirit.

Jesus,

We ask for Your complete joy to fill us today. Thank You for watching over us all the time. Remind us of the heaven to come.

Amen