The Peace of Christ

 

     The Bible tells us to, “seek peace and pursue it.” The peace of God is an inner peace. We long for world peace, for peace in our divided country, for war to cease. But Jesus tells us conflict will continue to grow as the end draws ever closer. We may pray for that type of peace, but pursuing God’s peace is a work of the soul.

     Knowing and trusting God, leaving our cares with Him, letting go of anxiety and turmoil is no easy task for us as humans. With the help of our God, sitting still and knowing He is God (Psalm 46), and believing He can handle whatever life throws our way, brings peace.

They must turn from evil and do good. They must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11

     As we seek the peace of the Lord, Jesus promises us:

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

Jesus,

Give us the inner peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4) as we trust You with everything. We pursue Your peace today as we seek You. We claim Your promises for us.

Amen

 

The Word of God For You

 

     Pick a verse and proclaim it out loud. The word of God carries with it the power of our God. It is His word and it lives and breathes. It teaches and confronts. It guides and nourishes. It is to be trusted. What’s on your mind? Look up a verse to speak out loud back to God. This is what You told me Father. This is Your promise to me today.

     Here is my verse. This is a prayer and I have changed the ‘you” to “me” and the “we” to “my.”  Put in your own name and personalize some Scripture just for you.

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen (me) with power through His Spirit in (my) inner being, so that Christ may dwell in (my) heart through faith. And I pray that (I), 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 3:16-18

Let the word of God dwell in you richly today as He speaks His words to you.(Colossians 3:16)

Amen

 

He Will Provide

 

     When we are weak He is strong. When we are guilty, He offers mercy. When we fear, He protects. When we doubt, He provides faith. When we weep, He comforts. When we are lost, He shows the way. When we pray, He listens. When we worry, He gives peace. When we mourn, He finds joy.

     Wherever you are, whatever you need, whenever you ask, whoever you are, He will provide.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

      He gives us everything we need. He meets us wherever we are. Count on Jesus today. This morning He provides rain! After so many weeks of drought, He provides.

Dear Father,

You provide what we need, when we need it. We trust You in the darkest of days and in the glorious days of joy. How can anyone survive without You? Our greatest hope is for others to rely on You, to accept Jesus as Lord and to live a faith-filled life in Your mighty power.

In Jesus powerful name,

Amen

God-breathed

 

     Exhausted? Feeling like it’s tough to go on? Remember the fishermen had been up all night with nothing to show for it when Jesus told them to go out and try once more. Floundering with nothing to hang on to? Peter lost his focus and began to sink when Jesus reached out His mighty hand to lift him up. The woman at the well didn’t realize how thirsty she was for the life-quenching, soul-satisfying love of a Savior.

     Jesus will be with you wherever you are, every day, each minute, forevermore. He may answer our prayers immediately. Most often, He walks us through the grief, pain and fear. And sometimes He takes us right up to the throne room of heaven for eternity. Whatever the circumstances, He is there.

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

     Savor and meditate on the living words of our God. Scripture will give you answers. The living water and bread of Jesus is available. A Scripture you have read over and over again may open up in a new way. A word you have never seen will suddenly appear just for you, at the moment you need it most.

For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

     God-breathed and alive. The Bible was written just for us through the Holy Spirit of our God. Take a deep breath and nourish your soul, and you will be thoroughly equipped to take on the deep waters of this life.

Father,

Thank You for the words that lead to eternal life. Keep us fed until we overflow with the abundant life you offer. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus who will lead us home.

Amen

 

 

Rushing Waters

 

     Within the poetry of the Psalms, David takes us with him on the emotional ride of life. He moves from praise to anguish, fear to self-doubt and confession. As the Israelites flee from Jerusalem, he is hungry and thirsty for God. Our fear moves us from faith into the “what ifs” and “why me” questions that surround us. Listen to his words in Psalm 42.

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?  Psalm 42:1-2

     Have you longed to meet with God and He just seems too far away? I know I have felt that way many times. David is feeling swept away in fear. His voice echoes ours as we finally meet with God and once again, feel His overwhelming love.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalm 42:7

     God’s voice in the Bible is described as rushing water, the sound of a waterfall. (Ezekial 43, Revelation 1). David calls out in his deep distress to the depths of God until he is swept away. Feel God’s mighty presence. He wants to fill our lives with abundance and hope.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)

     The amplified Bible goes even further. Jesus offers us an abundant life filled until overflowing.

     The deep waters can overtake us, but Jesus meets us right there. Allow Him to save you again from wherever you find yourself today. Hear His words to you. He is with you now and forever.

Lord,

We call out from the deep. Overwhelm us with Your love until we are filled to the brim and have enough to give away.

Amen

Living Water

 

     Are you thirsty? Dry and parched? We feel a deep thirst after a daily jog or workout or after a long-night’s sleep. Is your soul thirsty and begging for more? The abundant love and peace of God can fade into the background of our busy days, as the urgent takes precedence over the more important. Work, computers, drive time and social gatherings leave us little time for drinking the living water to fill our emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

     The Samaritan woman met Jesus at the well during the hottest part of the day. Little did she know she was looking at the Savior of her dry and parched soul.

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

     Soul-thirsty answers, life-quenching truth, free-flowing living water, are available for the taking. Are you thirsty? How do we receive this unending spring of water reaching to eternity?

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

     The gift is offered and we believe. Our tear-stained questions, our pits of shame, our deep longings are refreshed and satisfied with the living bread and water of Christ. Ready to dip in and take a sip? The living water will well up within us and allow us to refresh others, even to eternity.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall lead them, and shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  Revelation 7:17

Jesus,

Walk us beside the still, cool waters of Your saving grace. Fill us to the brim with the living water of Your word. Refresh our souls. We come to the well today.

Amen

Jump In!

 

     The disciples were ordinary folks just like us. Their personalities were varied, like ours. Peter was impetuous and spontaneous, often acting and speaking before thinking. Did you know he took a leap of faith and jumped right out of the boat when he saw Jesus’ walking on the water? Peter spotted Jesus and asked Him to let him come to Him on the water. How did Jesus respond?

“Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:29

     When Peter heard the command of Jesus, he obeyed immediately with no hesitation and the power of Christ was with him. What happens next, is a lesson to all of us, as we jump in to obey the calling of Christ.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30

     When we find ourselves in situations of fear and doubt, of fear and questions, we long to remain fixed on Jesus, keeping our minds and hearts focused in trust and faith. Often, we take our eyes off of Him and feel ourselves sinking. What does Jesus say to us?

Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him “You of little faith,” he said. “Why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Matthew 14;31-32

     When Peter began to flounder and sink in fear, did Jesus leave him? No, immediately Jesus reached out His hand to save him. When you are heading to the deep waters of fear and doubt, cry out to your Savior for help. His hand is reaching out to you, to comfort, to bring peace, to find hope and a new beginning. Wait for Him to calm the storm. When He says, “Come” jump out of the boat and turn back to Him.

Lord,

Thank You for the reminders today. We turn our eyes away sometimes when life gets too hard. You are always there with a steady hand to calm us and to reach down and save us again.

Amen

 

Deep Waters

 

     The men were exhausted. They had been out all night The fishermen and hadn’t caught a thing. Tiredly, they cleaned their nets in the early morning hours. Are you overwhelmed with exhaustion? Have you tried everything and nothing works? Surprisingly, Jesus gets into one of the empty boats and tells them to go back out.

“Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4b

      How would we respond? “I’m too tired.”  “I can’t.”  “I have given it my best and nothing worked.” Here is Simon Peter’s response. It sounds familiar, but we might want to pay attention to the last phrase.

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught a thing, but because You say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5

     Have you been swimming in the shallow end of faith? When the answers are not immediate or your prayers are not answered in the way you expected, do you give up? Jesus challenges us to dive in a little deeper, to tread for a while longer in the living word of God, until eternity is etched in our hearts and Jesus is the answer to everything.

After they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5;6

     Jesus is the answer to the loneliness, the emptiness, the hole in the net of our hearts. He can fill and re-fill our souls until they overflow. Let’s head to the deep water and fill our nets. The abundant life is there for the taking.

Jesus,

Take away our fear of diving into the deep water of faith to trust and obey You. You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68) Let our defeated attitudes change to a resounding, “yes” to living the abundant life with You.

Amen

Come Lord Jesus

 

     Life moves through cycles of weakness and strength, of chaos and peace, of sadness and joy, of comfort and unrest. After we come to know Jesus, He sticks with us through it all and as we deepen our relationship with Him, we look more and more forward to seeing Him face-to-face and we yearn for our eternal homes.

     My grandma, Pella, made a huge impact on my life. I was lucky to have her until my late twenties. As she aged and moved into her nineties, she would often say, “I just want to go home to Jesus.” With her strong Swedish accent, she said, “Yesus,” and called me “Yudy.”  I still miss her, but the older I get the more I understand the longing that faith brings and the eternal perspective in life. I treasure her Swedish Bible that is so worn from her years of lovingly reading its contents.

     My one remaining aunt is in her mid-nineties now. Along with my grandparents, she and her husband, Paul, taught by example what it means to live a life of faith. My uncle, Paul, was larger than life to me with his outgoing personality filled with laughter and love, with his ability to speak passionately and pray beautifully, never afraid to share His love of Christ.

     Each time I spoke with him, even as he lay dying, he added the words, “Come, Lord Jesus!”  And to me, “Keep shining the light.” My aunt is close to going home now and each day she prays Jesus will take her to heaven.

     Did you know that the disciples expected Jesus to return at any moment? The apostle Paul wrote often about being ready for the soon return of Christ. Each generation believed He could return at any moment, any day, any season. We, along with generations past, should be ready as well.

     His return is imminent. About to happen at any moment. Are you ready and longing for His appearance?

So, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. Matthew 24:44

Therefore, keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matthew 24;42

     Keep watch. Be alert. Watch the signs and the seasons. As we witness Scripture coming true prophetically, we can be confident in our faith and in the soon return of our Lord.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28

     We have nothing to fear. Live with confidence in Jesus. Wait patiently and with great expectation. Each day is a blessing and our eternity is secure.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come Lord, Jesus. Revelation 22:20

Father,

We say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” What a day it will be when we meet Him face-to-face and move into our glorious eternal home. In the meantime, keep us ready and alert, doing what You ask us to do through our lifetimes here as we await that glorious day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Enjoy the weekend and keep shining!

Come and See

 

     Come and see what the Lord has done! As we live our lives with Jesus, we begin to witness the miraculous all around us. His creation is more magnificent and unbelievably beautiful than we appreciated before knowing Him. The love we share with family and friends becomes more precious because of Him.

     Our eyes open to what is important to Him, the deep and the lovely world that Jesus offers. Deep speaks to deep.

These are the things God has revealed to us through His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10

Deep calls to deep in the roar of the waterfalls, all Your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalm 42:7

     Jesus opens our spiritual eyes with the help of His Holy Spirit. After meeting Jesus and following Him for a while, the deep blessings overwhelm us. His voice reverberates in our souls and we begin to see through His eyes, hear with His ears, serve with His hands, walk in His steps.

     We remain human and fraught with weakness, slipping again and again, but His love remains strong and faithful as He continually welcomes us back to Him and to come and see what He will do next.

Come and see what God has done, His awesome deeds for mankind! Psalm 66:5

     Our testimonies will become filled with His stories, with His ability to walk us through anything, with the blessings of His love. John and Peter had been arrested while sharing the Gospel and were told not to speak in public anymore. After their release, they went right back out. Why? Here is the answer.

“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

     Come and see what Jesus has in store for your life, and you, too, will not be able to stop speaking of everything you see and hear.

Lord,

Your ways are much deeper than our ways. Open our spiritual eyes to see what You have to share with us. The glories You offer are beyond this world, sent from heaven for our pleasure. We love You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Come Follow Me

 

     After coming to Jesus with our hearts, He asks us to follow Him throughout the rest of our earthly lives, trusting Him through each day, with every step, through the tough times and the smooth times.

“Come follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1;17

Then He said to them all, “Whoever wants to be My disciple, must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

“My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they follow Me.” John 10?27    

     Following Jesus does not mean our lives will be perfect and easy. On the contrary, He often works best through our times of suffering and sadness. We become closer to Him. Our testimonies become rich with wisdom and trust. His blessings are much deeper than the blessings the world sees as most vital. His love and hope grow in us when we are most vulnerable.

     Follow Him and listen to His voice. He has the answers to the questions you are asking right now. Feel the warmth of His love and comfort. Follow His lead. He will use your stories to shine with His love.

Lord,

Even when life is not easy, we come to You. We follow You. We listen to You. Teach us to trust You and count on You every minute of every day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Come to Me

 

     Have you met Jesus? Accepted him as Savior? Love Him more than anything? If not, He is right there, knocking at your heart. Jesus beckons, welcomes, waits patiently for us to turn our heads His way. Jesus will continue to watch over us, waiting for the opportunity to arise. Often, when we do come to Him, it is during a time of suffering, a time of asking the deep questions in life. Are you seeking answers? Wondering about life and what it’s all about?

“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

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

     Jesus is ready to open the door. You will find Him. Feeling weary and burdened with life? Seeking comfort and hope? Jesus is speaking to your heart.

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

          Rest from our worries, rest from our stress, rest from our grief, answers to eternal questions, peace and joy from now until heaven. He offers us a changed life, one built on the foundation of faith. If you haven’t met Jesus, come to Him today with an open heart, ready to listen, to discover His love, to accept Him as Savior, and He will meet you right where you are.

May Your unfailing love come to me, Lord, Your salvation according to Your promise. Psalm 119:41

Jesus,

Open our hearts today. We come to You with our lives. Open Your loving arms to us and to those who do not yet know You. You are waiting for us to come home.

Amen

Go and Tell

 

     The great commission from Jesus Christ is to “go and make disciples.” Do you find it challenging, awkward or scary to bring up Jesus in a conversation? Have you missed opportunities to share your faith? I know I have. I believe, if we are truly looking, God will place the right people at the right time in front of us. All He asks is that we plant the seeds.

     The Holy Spirit knows when a heart is seeking. As believers, we can jump in and assist in God’s work. I find that an impossibly amazing fact. God actually uses us! The Holy Spirit will give us the words. (Matthew 10:19) Let’s be ready the next time an opportunity arises.

     After their arrest, Peter and John were told by the rulers not to speak of Jesus. Even then, they could not keep the hope to themselves.

For we cannot help but speak of all we have seen and heard.  Acts 4:20

     Are you filled with the hope and joy of Jesus and His eternal hope? Let’s be ready!

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Lord,

Fill us with courage, with gentleness, and with respect and give us answers to share with those who ask. You do not want to lose even one.

Amen

Faith

 

     It can be so difficult to trust God through the deep valleys in life. It’s easy to shout for joy when we are on the mountaintop, isn’t it? Our familiar comfort zones can leave us lethargic and lukewarm. God asks us to believe and have faith throughout our lives, good and bad, ups and downs, from the pit, and from the top of the world.

     God loves to see our passion and love for Him. Our faith pleases Him. In fact, Scripture tells us it is impossible to please Him without it.

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  

     Whatever your view right now, trust Him. Have faith in His presence. Have faith He is working. Watch for the blessings, even in the time of trials and sorrows. He stands in the pit with you. His hand reaches in to pull you out.  Jesus, the One and Only, is your Savior, your Shepherd, your salvation. Nothing is too hard for Him.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18;14a

Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

Jesus,

Take our focus off of our troubles and onto You. You will work it all out in Your eternal time. We trust You above all else.

Amen

 

He Comforts

 

     God knows each word that will come from our mouths before we speak them. (Psalm 139) He understands our deepest desires and our most fervent prayers. Before the beginning of time, He saw us. Our prayers, even before they are uttered, are being worked on by our loving Father in heaven.

     Can we trust Him with our very lives? Looking back over my life, I can say a resounding, “Yes!” There were times I simply did not know how to go on. There have been, and continue to be, times of deep joy and love, more than I could have imagined. He worked through the suffering and brought good. Sometimes the good can be our ability to share the compassion that Christ first gave us.

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. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

     If you are troubled or tired or confused, let Him comfort you. If Jesus has comforted you, pass it along to those in trouble now. The love moves on and on to heaven’s door. He will use our lives in ways we can’t even imagine.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen  Ephesians 3:20-21

All Things

 

     When you pray or focus on Jesus, do you picture Jesus the man or the resurrected Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Jesus, the perfect man shows us the humble, compassionate, love-focused, forgiving One sent to die for us.  Remember, all things were made by Him and for Him. His glorious power and light are available to us!

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

     Jesus, our Savior, created the heavens and the earth. He sits in heaven and rules over all. All of us, all of creation were made for Him.

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

Jesus,

All things have been created through You and for You. We don’t understand the magnitude of it all. We are grateful You became one of us. You are above all and through all and in all and we worship You. We bow down before You, Creator of all.

Amen

 

Children of the Day

 

     What is it about the human race that loves the dark? Like a bug scurrying to go underground when a rock is overturned, we return time and again to our dark and dingy corners. Much of our culture is immersed in the darkness of the world, greed, pride, sexual immorality, carousing and debauchery. Jesus puts it this way:

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

     Once we believe, we become children of the light. I just love that term. I am a child of the light. Jesus changes our desires. He draws us from darkness to light and we begin to crave more and more of it.

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.  1 Thessalonians 5:5

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.  Ephesians 5:8

     Children of the day. Children of the light. Let us live in the brightness of it all. Allow Jesus to move you from the night and from the dark into glorious light.

Jesus,

You are the light of the world. You allow us to live freely as children of the day. What a relief. What a glorious gift! Let us live as children of light.

Amen

We Believe

 

     There is no other faith under heaven and earth that offers eternal life as a free gift of God’s grace. Only Jesus. And Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with a living, loving God. There are religions that believe we can get to heaven on our own. Others believe we need to come back and live more lives before we achieve a heavenly state. Others need to pray a certain number of times each day, to follow the rules, to live a “good” life or to keep working and meditating to achieve a deeper peace.

     The truth is, none of us are good enough to work our way to heaven. The God of the universe is holy and perfect and just. And we are not.

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

    Don’t buy into rules, regulations and religion. Jesus offers us the finished work of the cross. He paid the price for all of us and all He asks is the faith to believe He came, He died and He rose again. To believe He is the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9-10)

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

Come and see! He is real.

Father,

What a gift. It is amazing grace. After the darkness of Friday, there came a Sunday, full of light and hope. The gift You have given us in Your one and only Son. He paid the price. He took on the suffering that we deserved. He took on our sin, all of it. We believe.

In Jesus name,

Spirit Power

 

     The enemy of our souls prowls around like a lion ready to pounce (1 Peter 5:8) He accuses us. (Revelation 12:10) He disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) He knows our weaknesses and knows how to discourage us. He wants nothing more than to discredit our witness.  If you are working for Christ, he is your enemy. The best thing for us is to recognize the enemy and his wily ways, but to understand, we have the resurrection power of the almighty God within us.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

     The power of the Spirit of Christ within is greater than our enemy!

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

     Recognize your foe with no fear. He has to flee from us!

Father,

Thank You for Your protection and thank You for the Holy Spirit that resides within us. He is mightier than the one in the world. Keep us steadfast in the faith, submitting to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Beauty of the Day

 

     Victorious in Christ. Victorious over death. Heaven-bound. Immortal bodies. No more pain. No more tears. It all awaits us.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it who overcomes the world? Only the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5

     When we lose our fear of death, we can live in freedom. Each day on earth is a blessing. Every breath to be savored and treasured. We are overcomers in Christ! Force the negative, stress-filled thoughts out of your mind one moment at a time. Dwell on the beauty of the day, the loved ones in your life, the little things that matter. Don’t let those annoying negative stresses take over your thoughts. Take the one good thing and magnify it. Most of our worries may never come to pass. Right now, this very moment, savor life.

     And for those of us in grief? Each day will bring us closer and closer to home and reunion. Our loved ones in heaven want us to be blessed right now.

Jesus,

Because of You we are overcomers. We thank You for the special moments, the loved ones, the beauty of creation, the food on our table and the breath of life.

Amen

Victory Over Death

 

     Our lives encounter trials and troubles. Jesus has overcome them all. I studied a book called “The Invisible War” with some dear friends and one of the author’s points was, “We don’t fight FOR victory. We fight FROM victory.”

     Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Sins are forgiven once and for all. God sees us, as believers, through Christ’s holy blood. We are washed clean and we are already seated in heaven. Even death has no hold on us.

     Can this change our perspective on our daily lives? I hope so. We need not fear death. We have an all-powerful God on our side. He wants to use us for the short time we have here. And that is life’s best. To shine with and for God’s glory. To please Him and not man.

     Paul said it this way,

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10    

     Easier said than done. We do want to please people, but God must come first. Let’s try to give Him the glory in our lives. Represent Him well. Your faith pleases Him.

Dear Father in heaven,

The victory over death has been won. Death has no hold on us. Our lives are enriched because of Your forgiveness and Your love. We are victorious in this life and the next.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Peace and Joy

 

     God’s purpose for our lives is filled with abundant joy and peace.  Satan loves nothing better than stealing our peace and joy and replacing them with fear, doubt, guilt, anger and jealousy. What keeps you from believing God and allowing His joy and peace to reign?

     When we feel anxious, there are several Scripture verses to soothe us. When we fear, God promises He will never leave us. When we are discouraged, He tells us  He will lift us up. His words to us encourage, comfort and bring hope. He knows the world is filled with trouble and trials, but don’t fret.

“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 16:13

     Believe God and His promises today and every day. Let Him fill you with His deep peace and joy, understanding that nothing can ever separate you from Him. Nothing Not ever. His promises are eternal.

Father,

Forgive us for losing our trust in You and for not believing Your word filled with promises. Give us peace and joy in our hearts. Grow within us the good fruit of Your love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

He Knows

 

     Allowing God to keep us content at every season of life, allowing Him to give us strength in our weaknesses, does not come naturally to us. What about trusting Him with our very lives? With the lives of our loved ones?

     How do we handle the grief? How do we find answers? I do know this. To God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. Think about a beautiful tapestry. On the back side all we see is a mess of threads, of knots, with no rhyme nor reason to it. But, on the flip side, we find a magnificent work of art.

     Our lives, in their entirety, won’t make sense until we reach heaven.  God uses our lives in ways, in shapes, in patterns we cannot imagine and often, don’t recognize. It will all be for His purposes. We won’t have the answers to the brevity of her days. It simply does not make sense through our earthly eyes.

     But in the eternal eyes of our God, He knows.  Our days are short here on this earth. Compassion, kindness, and the love of Christ are meant to be shared, even through these dark moments with no answers.

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

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

     In the first verse above notice the phrase, “for a little while.” Our lives matter to God. But we are here for just a little while. Soon, very soon, all will make sense in the beautiful tapestries of our lives.

Father,

Keep us comforted and at peace in our grief. Give us the hope of heaven, the coming home, the final understanding of it all. Forever is just around the corner.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Ever-increasing Glory

 

     Beauty in suffering. Goodness from God before, during and following our times of need. The examples of women and men of faith are inspiring. Our struggles tell our stories. Our testimonies reverberate and lift up. Yes, Jesus is the answer. Yes, Jesus has changed my life. Yes, the joy and peace I hold deep within my soul are from Him and Him alone and they are real. Yes, He is the beginning and the end. Yes, He is alive and yes, He is my Savior.

     A faith we can trust through all of this life. A living redeemer who died for us. The one and only Son of God. It is all about Him, through the joys of this life and through the tragedies. It is all to bring glory to Him and that glory can radiate through us even now. He continues to change us into His image! Imagine that.

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 3:18

     Hope in Him. Allow His glory to increase as you receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance and as you follow His ways. Miraculous…beautiful…filled with hope.

Jesus,

You are the final answer, the living hope that fills our hearts. In the midst of our lives, You are there, always there, never forsaking, never abandoning, never leaving our sides. We count on You.

Amen   

The Way

 

     Suffering finds us scrambling for answers. Why is this happening? What do I do now? When will this end? There are no easy answers to the questions, are there? One thing I have discovered over the years. God knows. He understands. He will bring good through it all as we live to serve and trust Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

      These may not be the most helpful or encouraging words to offer someone in the midst of suffering. More likely, we just need a listening ear and a hug, no quick platitudes, no formulas, no pat answers. The grieving process is important and it takes time, so much time. Everyone grieves in their own way, in their own time.

     Something begins to happen over a lifetime of following Jesus. Our trust builds. We witness the ways in which He works. We get through the suffering and come out of it more in love with Him, praising His name and finding hope. He is good. He loves us and His love endures forever.

     Our redeemer lives and one day we will be with Him.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. . If it were not so, would I have told you that I go and prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

    We do know the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:5

Father,

Help us to sit with the grieving, to listen to those in need, to offer compassion where there appears to be no hope. These are Your ways. You show us how. You know our hearts. You understand our deepest needs and You show us the way back to You.

Amen

The Ultimate Hope

 

     You may know the story of Job. We tend to believe that if we do everything right, we won’t suffer. Surely, we will be rewarded for our goodness, our faithfulness, our righteousness in Christ. When we read through the Book of Job, we learn the truth. We all suffer. Maybe no one has suffered more than Job, other than Christ Himself.

     Job followed God. He was a righteous man, rich in family and in possessions. He lost everything. Everything, including all of his children, all of his possessions, even his health. His friends muttered helplessly, placing the blame on Job himself. Read through the book of Job when you have time.

     Job reacts as we might. He weeps, and wails and tears his clothes in anguish. He asks why over and over again, even wondering why he was born. One thing remained unchanged in Job. He held on to one hope. He did not lose faith in his God. Our God. He placed his trust and hope in Him, even in the most-dire circumstances.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship. Job 1:20

     Worship? Is this the first thing you think to do when grief and tragedy hit? Job did. Listen to his confident words. They may be familiar.

”Naked I come from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised. Job 1:21

     Job did not understand, but he never blamed God. Hope remained. Hope in the risen Lord. Finally, Job speaks these words of faith. We can do the same.

“I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth.” Job 19:25

Lord,

Thank You for the examples You give us in Scripture and in our lives of men and women of faith, never doubting Your love and promises. We know we will live with You one day forever. Give us the hope and worship of Job.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Beauty From Ashes

 

     We live in a fallen world. There is no way to get through our lives without suffering. At the ripe old age of 70, I have seen my share both in my own life and in the lives of loved ones, friends and acquaintances. Suffering often brings us to our knees. For me, finding Jesus came through a time of deep questioning and grief. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.

     Beauty and suffering, an oxymoron? Beauty rises from the depths of suffering. We’ll ponder that this week. Let’s think back through our past and imagine the lessons learned, the burdens shared, the wisdom found, within and beyond the times and seasons we believed we would not endure.

     Finding God, sitting with the dying, crying common tears, working out good through it all, is walking on holy ground. There is a richness through suffering, deep and indescribable. The Holy Spirit’s presence is often felt in ways seldom experienced at other times. We wouldn’t wish it on anyone and we pray we will not go through it again, but as we dig deeper, we see how God works through the worst of times to show His glory. Here is His promise from the words of Isaiah:

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 pleasure. Isaiah 61:3

     Hang on to these words if you are going through a tough time. God will provide the spiritual clothes to replace our black robes, to comfort us in our mourning and grief, to replace our feelings of despair. Is it time to put on the crown of beauty, the oil of joy, the garment of praise to our loving God?

Father,

We don’t understand, but You can work good through the worst of times on this earth. When our lives seem to be falling apart, when we have reached our limit, You reach down and offer a secure foundation, a deep joy and peace, and, finally, a heart that wants to praise You through it all.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Tomb is Empty!

 

     After darkness covered the globe as Jesus died, there came a day. A Sunday of hope. A Sunday following a dark and sorrowful Friday, a day above all others. The tomb is empty! He is not there. The first to see the empty tomb were the women, His followers. They loved Him so.

     Mary Magdalene was the very first person to see Jesus alive!

When Jesus rose early, on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had delivered seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him and who were mourning and weeping.  Mark 16:9-10

     Women in the days of Jesus were looked at as less-than, second-class citizens in every way. Men were not even allowed to speak with them in public. Jesus, however, looked upon them with favor. He picks Mary, this woman previously filled with demons, to be the first witness and missionary after His resurrection. He loves each one of us equally, each one of us uniquely, each one of us to be used for His purposes. Go tell. The tomb is empty. He lives!

Jesus,

Thank You for the witnesses who began the testimonies of Your love. So many witnesses saw You after You rose from the dead. And we see You today. Give us the wisdom to share the truth with others. You are alive! And we can live forever, too.

Amen

 

     This weekend, in addition to the Easter bunny and candy eggs, sit back in wonder and celebrate the good news of the empty tomb. Jesus offers the greatest gift ever given and all He asks is that we believe. All other religions take hard work, duty-filled prayer, endless obligations, finding a place of bliss through our own struggle, or believing we come back to life again and again before we get it right. I think it’s an impossible dream to believe we can work our way to God.

     God needed to come to us and He did. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived among us, suffered our sins on a cross, overcame hell and death and rose again. Believe and be saved. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

He is not here. He has risen just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Matthew 28:6

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. Romans 10:9

Come and see the risen Lord.

Hallelujah! Happy Easter!

 

Hip replacement today.  Not sure when the blog will return. As soon as Im comfortable sitting at my PC.  In the meantime, I will be praying for all of you.

It Is Finished

 

     The words of Jesus on the cross give us so much insight We see His heart, His love, and His ability, even then, to see the resurrected hope to come.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals-one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 23:33-34a

     One of the criminals mocked Jesus, the other one believed. That’s all. He just believed. And Jesus said to him and He says to us as we breathe our last:

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23;43

     And after all of the agonizing hours on the cross, as He suffered all of our sins on Himself:

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit. John 19:30

     Even then, on that horrible cross, He wants to forgive, He wants to promise heaven, He wants to offer hope. The Holy Spirit of the One and Only Son offers Himself as the final sacrifice. The Lamb of God, the one with the words of eternal life has overcome death and we are forgiven. It is finished. Amen

He Understands

 

     Jesus understands our sorrow and suffering. His emotions match ours in intensity, in dread and grief, and finally, in obedience. As He moves away from everyone into the Garden of Gethsemane, He is in anguish. Listen to His words and feel the pain.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me, yet not My will but Yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.  And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:42-44

     In suffering, we too, pray more earnestly. We beg. We cry. We moan. We ask God to remove the depth of sorrow. Jesus and His angels are right by our side, coming to our rescue. Find hope in Him and no one else. Jesus, in His anguish, knows what He has to do and He will do it. He did it for you and for me.

He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

Lord,

You know where we are right now, this very minute. Comfort our hearts and minds as we give it all to You. Grant us hope and peace throughout our lives until we are by Your side.

Amen

 

Holy Week/The Passover Lamb

 

     Holy week is here. Walking with Jesus as He willingly makes His way to the cross reminds us of His human agony, His overwhelming suffering, His love for us and His divinity. He overcame death. He fulfilled the law and offers grace. Everything in the Old Testament points to and foreshadows the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. As we begin to understand the richness, the depth, the complexities of the word of God, we can get a glimpse of His majesty, His timing and His ability to be personally involved in each of our lives.

     As Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem preparing for His death the following Friday, His timing is perfect. The Passover celebration was upon Jerusalem. The sacrificial lambs were being led into town, just as the Lamb of God is entering. Each lamb brought in to be sacrificed for sin was to be scrutinized and found to be without blemish, just as Jesus was scrutinized by the leaders of the day. They found no fault in Him.

     The Passover supper He shared with His disciples included the wine which represented His blood and the unleavened bread to represent His broken body. How beautiful! How astounding! How miraculous! Yeast always signified sin in the Bible. Unleavened bread means bread with no yeast, or the one Holy man with no sin.

      John the Baptist recognized Jesus when He first began His ministry three years earlier.

The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ”Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1;29

     Let us behold Him this week as we prepare for the Holiest of weeks.

Father in heaven,

Keep us mindful of everything Jesus has done and what He will do at His return. We marvel at the timing, the miraculous ways prophecy has and will be fulfilled and that Your Son, the One with no sin, lived with us, died for us and conquered death to save us.

In Jesus name,

Amen